Latest news with #gatherings
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Three charged after Hamilton anti-social car chaos which left one person seriously injured
Police continue to investigate a number of vehicles seen blocking or obstructing intersections. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Three drivers have been charged after a night of anti-social car chaos in Hamilton in May. On Saturday 24 May, police were called to multiple large gatherings around the city and outlying areas. During one gathering, a person was seriously injured after being struck by a car doing burnouts on Horotiu Bridge Road at around 12.45am. At another gathering on Airport Road approximately 300 cars were said to be congregating, with around 20 cars performing skids on the road. Three drivers, aged 20, 21 and 23, have since been charged with a range of different offences . The 20 year-old was charged with operating a vehicle in a manner to cause sustained loss of traction causing injury and failing to stop to ascertain injury. The other two drivers were charged with sustained loss of traction, dangerous driving and failing to stop. All three vehicles have been impounded. In addition, police said a number of vehicles have been issued non-operation orders, and a number of fines were also issued to drivers and passengers. In a statement, police said they are continuing to investigate a number of vehicles seen blocking or obstructing intersections. "Police have also identified a number of vehicles and drivers requiring follow up action from the event on 24 May, and we continue to follow positive lines of enquiry in relation to those vehicles." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Tanagra's Together in Bloom Edit Will Add a Touch of Spring to Your Home
A refined trio of table settings, each styled with the luxury boutique's signature brands, makes a compelling case for elevated get-togethers Hosting gatherings are an integral part of the cultural in the region, which makes adding little details even more important. Tanagra's new seasonal campaign, Together in Bloom, brings focus back to those small but meaningful intricacies, whether they are floral arrangements, layered tableware, or simply mastering the art of being hospitable. Running through May and June, the campaign involves three thoughtful scenes: Al Fresco Dining, Picnic Garden Gathering, and Springtime Tea Ritual. The star of each setting is Tanagra's specially curated homeware. There's the hand-finished beauty of Bernardaud's Augusta collection, which brings a refined French sensibility to the table, and Baccarat's Tulipe platters and bowls, which play with light and form in all the right ways. Ralph Lauren Home's Bailey collection adds a layer of rustic charm with its grounded, unfussy, yet distinctly elegant designs. Lalique's vases serve as centrepieces in more ways than one. For instance, the sculptural Merles et Raisins and iconic Bacchantes bring the floral storytelling to life, making even a few stems feel special. Additionally, Reflections Copenhagen's vibrant crystal pieces add a modern, almost playful contrast, sunlight bounces off their cut angles, casting colour across the table. Together in Bloom is another page in Tanagra's book of appreciating intricate pieces and connection. The luxury homeware boutique is all about choosing designs that hold meaning, tell stories, and bring people closer with an added touch of glamour to your space. And if you're looking for the perfect Eid Al Adha gifting ideas, the edit brings you plenty of thoughtful options. For more information, visit or follow @tanagra on Instagram.
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Overwhelmed by company? Five introvert-friendly ways to hang out
When I arrive at a gathering I tend to announce my departure in the same breath as my greeting. 'Hi! I brought some wine, where do you want it? Just letting you know I can only stay an hour because I start work really early on Sunday mornings.' Then I might throw in a little yawn and stretch. Restaurants aren't much different: my leg's likely to be jiggling before the order has been jotted down. The last mouthful of dessert sounds a last-drinks bell in my head. It's not that I don't love my friends. I've just got a window of tolerance for face-to-face activities, and then the agitation kicks in. I've been so fascinated by social reluctance that I wrote a book exploring it, The Introvert's Guide to Leaving the House. In my 30s, I'd embarked on a five-year mission to become more outgoing, figuring out which situations I could be comfortable in, and setting myself exercises in social etiquette, empathy and positive reframing. These techniques became second nature by the time I hit my 40s, so I decided to share what I'd learned. It seems timely. When discussing the book with non-introverts, I realised that social overwhelm has massively broadened in recent years. Whether you blame lockdowns, news-cycle malaise or digital-era disconnect, we're less likely to commit to an outing. But I've learned it's possible to engineer low-key hangs that charge an introvert's social battery – or at least don't drain it as quickly. The three-second rule doesn't just apply to dropped food. As reported by the British Psychological Society, a 2016 study of nearly 500 participants found the vast majority felt most comfortable with eye contact that lasted just over three seconds. Business blogs from Throughline Group to Inc will tell you that's the optimal eye gaze time because you're showing engagement without becoming unnerving. That's why shoulder-to-shoulder activities are such a relief. These are activities we do alongside each other rather than face to face, such as going to a gallery, playing pool, a games night, joining your local chapter of the Silent Book Club or taking a simple walk – cheapest hangout ever. Men tend to naturally go shoulder to shoulder more than women; in fact, the Australian Men's Shed Association slogan is 'Men don't talk face to face, but shoulder to shoulder'. I prefer to know in advance how many people are coming. A newish friend once suggested we go on holiday overseas. I agreed, we made an itinerary, then she announced that another woman, who I didn't know, would be joining us. 'The more the merrier!' said the friend. Worst holiday ever. The maths is simple: the more bodies there are in a social pile-up, the more overwhelming it becomes. A single person is possible to read. A scenario with two people requires split concentration to accommodate them both. More than two people means second-guessing what everyone is thinking, so knowing what is most appropriate to say is absolutely impossible. It can help to know who's coming in order to take a moment beforehand to recall the last time you met each person and what was going on for them. Having a one to one side-conversation with someone about something that interests them is infinitely better than aimless group small talk. You could even make notes in your phone contacts whenever you've had an interesting chat. It's not stalking, it's anthropology – you're studying your community. What if you don't know the people? I like to gamify a situation I'm not looking forward to. In this scenario the game could be: figure out who in this group could potentially be your new BFF. Find common ground. Many introverts take the scraping of chair legs across a cafe floor extremely personally. We're sensitive to loud, unscheduled noises (at kids' parties, balloons were a nightmare for me), so venues with the acoustics of a concrete cube are best avoided lest we fritz our synapses. For anyone with sensory processing issues or simply of an irritable nature, a table of six people talking at once sounds like a beer hall during Oktoberfest. Worse, there's probably going to be cross-talk, where more than one conversation is competing for our brain's attention. In these social gatherings I often fall silent. People must think I have the consumptive constitution of a 19th-century muse. If it's just you and a friend, you could likely get away with suggesting a venue change because you're dying to hang on to their every word but can't hear them. If it's a larger group you could try wearable tech – the fancy term for earplugs. Brands such as Happy Ears, Earjobs or Loop earplugs reduce background noise while still allowing conversation to cut through. Every year I fly back to the UK for a week-long family holiday by the seaside, but despite wanting to see my family, I find being fully present during this intensive period a real struggle. After each trip my cousin Adam posts a big album of photos to Facebook. Without fail I'm only in about two photographs, because all week I've been 'just going back to the house', 'just off to get something' or giving them a head start to the beach hut and promising to catch up. Eventually. One year, I decided I would consciously opt to skip certain activities and fully participate in others. Of course, I chose to commit to shoulder-to-shoulder activities. For instance, I opted out of sitting and chatting in the beach hut, but committed to a board game in the evening. Think of the next lengthy get-together you've got coming up and consider what elements you'll sit out and what you'll commit to. Then make sure you're in the photos. Now you've committed to a hangout, give yourself time to self-regulate, since your mood has an effect on others. That means no sighing on arrival or being distant. Introverts can find it harder than most to communicate what's going on for us, but developmentally, managing our spillage is something we ought to be on top of by the time we leave school. If we're still killing everyone's buzz as adults, then it's something we've given ourselves permission to do, hoping people will just make allowances. If your modus operandi has always been Wallow Now, Apologise Later, a good way to behaviour-check yourself is to ask: am I likely to send an apologetic text to this person later? If the answer is yes, try to tackle your behaviour in the moment instead. You might acknowledge your mood and say you're going to reset. You could even half-jokingly ask the other person to help you out by giving you an update on their news while you're 'rebooting'. Better still, take a few minutes before a meet-up to focus on your positive relationship with the person and what might be going on in their life. Ultimately, the best way to get out of your own head is to consider another person's needs. Jenny Valentish is the author of The Introvert's Guide to Leaving the House (Simon & Schuster, A$36.99)
Washington Post
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Asking Eric: Ill-mannered member's daughter ruins social group
Dear Eric: I'm part of a group that meets up on a regular basis to engage in a hobby. These gatherings have been a great refuge for me. We have enjoyable, interesting conversations and a great rapport. One friend, 'Rose,' has started including her daughter 'Tracy' in some of these gatherings, which has changed the group dynamic and frankly, made things not fun anymore.
