Latest news with #uncle
Daily Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
David Elliott: The 9 wedding guests you'll find at every reception
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News. Weddings. No surer way of draining the family fortune than putting on a feed for 200 people and opening a bar tab for the mob. I admit that I love a good wedding, and we are in a time of our life when there seems to be a flurry of invites coming our way. And aren't they a great lesson in anthropology? Next time you go to a wedding, sit back and see if you can identify any of these various characters who, inevitably, turn up to every single ceremony. The girl in a red dress Oh yes, there's always a girl wearing a red dress hoping that someone notices her. Nothing catches attention like a dazzling red dress. This is a file image, there is no suggestion the woman pictured has mistreated any rabbits. She's normally a workmate of the bride and attends every wedding ceremony in the hope that she will not only catch the bouquet but her screaming red frock will attract the attention of some poor unsuspecting bachelor who, after a second date, will start seriously considering a career in the French Foreign Legion to rid himself of her overzealous attention. Wanted by the RSPCA in two states for boiling bunnies. Nanna God bless her. She just wants to see everyone happy but is starting to have trouble remembering who's married to whom. Takes more time than the bride getting ready for the big day and spends most of the reception counting how many drinks her son-in-law is consuming. The weird uncle This being a family column, we can't go into too much detail, but this 40-year-old bloke has never married and likes to holiday on the Gold Coast each year during Schoolies week. He lives with mum and dad in Kiama in a caravan out the back that is secured by three padlocks. Your cousin the cop keeps an eye on him all night. Aussie nuptials have a guest list to rival classic movie Muriel's Wedding. Picture: Supplied The spinster. This classy lady is immaculately groomed, well educated and has never raised her voice in her life. Unlike the rest of the guests, she doesn't mind whose table she is on and dances like she's auditioning for a West End musical. As a solicitor, she closely monitors which relatives are arguing with their spouse and who's starting to fade with age because she has found divorce and wills to be a nice little earner. Only person to leave the wedding completely happy. The brother-in-law. Jack the lad loves a wedding and accepts his obligations to make sure he gets value for whoever paid for the drinks package. He put off his Contiki tour to make sure he paid his respects to the bride and, though single, is so scared of commitment that he does not have the gumption to ask any of the bridesmaids to dance lest he accidentally finds himself at the altar next year. Not everyone loves a wedding. Or children. Picture: iStock The miserable git. Every family has one. For months beforehand, this invitee sends mixed messages about whether they are free to attend, mainly because they are so tight they don't want to have to buy anything from the gift register, let alone pay to have their one and only cocktail dress taken out. You really have to wonder why you invited this guest, given they are only happy when they are making everyone else miserable. Asks for the 'alternate' serve and still complains about the food. The ex-girlfriend. It's complicated. The ex gets an invite because the bride wants everyone to think that the groom has moved on to the extent that his former mistress is no longer a threat to the relationship. The bride also wants to make sure the ex remains under close supervision. The ex-girlfriend is easily identified because she is the only guest wearing a black shimmering mini skirt. She lets slip that she and the groom once went to the same resort that the couple are planning to honeymoon at. The rowdy child. The screaming started during the wedding ceremony and some halfwit thought it would be a good idea to give the kid red frogs in the hope he would keep his mouth shut. No one has any idea where the child's parents are and nanna is about to have the infant locked in the car. Nearly knocks over the wedding cake twice. The two-faced critic. They just can't help themselves. Normally a jealous cousin or a former workmate who was reluctantly invited because you couldn't stand the thought of them bitching about being left off the guest list for the next quarter of a century. All smiles at the start, but by the end of the night has given the reception lounge a scathing review on TripAdvisor before rolling her eyes during the father-of-the-bride's speech with allegations it was written by ChatGPT. Take this list to the next wedding and call 'bingo' when you've ticked off all the characters.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
Carolyn Hax: Trying to relax, a retiree ends up ‘paralyzed by options' instead
Adapted from an online discussion. Hello, Carolyn: Early 60s, retired from my job two months ago. Was glad to do so. Though I did enjoy the teamwork, I have never been really career driven as some of my friends are. Work to live, not the reverse. Paid off my mortgage, don't feel depressed as such — but seem to be paralyzed by options, and frightened. With the recent death of a much-loved uncle, I am very aware of how quickly time can pass. I want to enjoy leisure and down time but not vegetate. Today I had booked a swimming session, but I did not feel like going out, so I ended up staying in bed for hours. Now I feel stupid and guilty.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘This isn't living': Afghan girls beaten in Taliban hijab crackdown
Nafiseh's only mistake was showing her wrist. The 17-year-old was shopping for clothes with her friends in Kabul when Taliban officers grabbed her, pulling her hair as they threw her into the back of a waiting van. The men with long beards and American rifles slung across their shoulders beat her all the way to the police station west of Afghanistan's capital, her uncle said. By the time they reached the police station, Nafiseh's complete black hijab – the covering that should have protected her according to the Taliban's laws – was stained with her own blood. 'She did nothing wrong,' her uncle said, his voice carrying the weight of a generation's helplessness. 'She was wearing a complete black hijab from the Arabs. They arrested her anyway.' When Nafiseh's father arrived at the police station, the Taliban officers turned their rage toward him, their fists finding a new target in his desperate flesh. 'As soon as he arrived, they started beating and insulting him,' the uncle explained. 'They told him why first he let his daughter go out without a man, then why her wrist was visible.' To secure Nafiseh's release, her father was forced to sign a pledge – a document promising to restrict her movements even further than before. Dozens of women and girls, aged 16 to 27, were arrested across at least six neighbourhoods this week alone, with the Taliban claiming they were not wearing the hijab properly. But witnesses told The Telegraph that girls were being arrested even when they did follow the strict dress code – like Nafiseh. The systematic round-up of women in Kabul represents an escalation in the Taliban's crackdown, with the victims' families threatened into silence. It's also a far cry from the image Taliban officials are trying to present to the West when encouraging tourists to visit the nation. In the labyrinthine alleys of Kabul, terror now wears the uniform of virtue police – an equivalent of the notorious morality police across the border in Iran. Witnesses describe scenes of armed jihadists chasing girls through narrow streets, with their victims running terrified and crying, seeking refuge in doorways that offer no protection. 'It was Saturday, and a group of women were walking,' one witness told The Telegraph. 'Of course, their male guardians were not always around to accompany them, but they needed to go and buy groceries. 'Then I saw girls running through the alleys, terrified and in tears, with Taliban fighters chasing after them. 'I asked what was happening, and people said the Taliban were arresting any girl they found on the street. 'The girls were scrambling in all directions. I watched as the Taliban beat them and forced them into a van. It was heartbreaking. 'One of my relatives was even wearing a mask, but they arrested her too. Because Afghanistan is such a traditional society, my uncle's family refuses to talk about her detention. She was held for two days. Now she's deeply depressed.' Some of the girls were also arrested simply for being outside after dark. In western Kabul, authorities have begun issuing public warnings via loudspeakers, instructing residents to comply with hijab regulations. At checkpoints near busy commercial areas, officials from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have been seen monitoring women's clothing and detaining those they deem non-compliant. The Orwellian body has employed women to monitor Instagram pages and report instances where other women dare show their faces online. 'They are needed to handle other women,' an official from the ministry said. Girls wearing hijabs with decorations, bright colours – banned by the Taliban – or with strands of their hair showing are frequently targeted Vehicles with tinted windows have been stationed near alleyways and shops and restaurants, ready to bundle women and girls away to be questioned. Many are taken to the Intelligence Directorate, where they can be held for up to three months – regardless of whether any formal charges are brought. One woman, beaten and detained for hours, returned home to a family too scared to speak of her arrest. 'She doesn't speak and stays in bed all the time. We're really worried about her,' her brother said. 'We're afraid she might harm herself – there's so much pressure on women here.' He added: 'They arrested her just for wearing a small plastic flower on her headscarf. The Taliban called us in. She wanted to become a doctor, then they closed universities and when she hung out with her friend, they arrested her. 'They humiliated me and my father, filmed us, and forced us to say on camera that we wouldn't let my sister go out alone again.' In Afghanistan's traditional society, a woman's violation becomes the family's 'dishonour', creating a conspiracy of quiet that serves the Taliban's purposes. 'We are like caged birds' A former university student described life for women in Afghanistan as being 'like a caged bird, just waiting for men to decide when to feed us'. She said one of her friends took her own life a few months ago but her family refused to call it suicide as they saw it as a humiliation. 'This isn't living – we're just breathing inside our homes, with no access to anything. 'The Taliban want us all dead. Their problem is with our gender. The entire government is focused on controlling women – so men don't go to hell by looking at us.' Women have been ordered not to speak loudly inside their homes, lest their voices escape and 'tempt' men outside. Zahra Haqparast, a dentist and women's rights activist who was imprisoned by the Taliban in 2022 and now speaks from exile in Germany, said: 'No woman goes out in Afghanistan without a hijab. 'The Taliban's problem is women themselves. As a woman, you do not need to commit a crime. In the Taliban's view, you're a criminal by being a woman.' The temperature in Kabul can reach 45C in summer. But the Taliban requires women to wear long black coverings in this heat, turning the simple act of existing outdoors into physical torture.
Free Malaysia Today
24-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Uncle arrested for negligence over toddler's death in dog attack
Sungai Buloh police said the parents had left the child under the care of the uncle, aged 19, while they were at work. PETALING JAYA : Police have arrested the uncle of a 19-month-old boy who was found dead after a dog attack near his home at Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Buloh earlier this week. Sungai Buloh police chief Hafiz Nor said the 19-year-old suspect was detained at 11.50am yesterday for suspected negligence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001. 'A post-mortem by a doctor at the forensic department of Sungai Buloh Hospital confirmed the cause of death was 'neck injury due to canine mauling', indicating a violent attack and bites by dogs,' he said in a statement today. Police began investigating the case following a report lodged by a medical officer from Sungai Buloh Hospital. An initial investigation found the toddler had been left in the care of his uncle while his parents were at work. When they returned, they found the gate open and the child missing. The boy's body was discovered about 20m from the house, surrounded by several dogs.
Malay Mail
22-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Why Kajang diners keep returning to Chong Kee for its dry chicken curry ‘mee' and old-school ABC
KAJANG, July 22 — Spend enough time in Kajang and chances are someone will mention Chong Kee, an unassuming eatery where regular patrons always order the ABC and Dry Chicken Curry Mee. The nondescript shop is easy to miss. Located behind the Kajang market, its façade is modest and seating limited to just a few plastic tables. Similarly, the atmosphere is unpretentious and fuss-free: the uncle handles the cooking of noodles, while the auntie manages the flow of orders. There is little flash or signage. Inside, things have changed little over the years — evidenced by the well-worn ice-shaving machine still in use today. The nondescript shop is located behind the Kajang market. — Picture by CK Lim By most modern standards, Chong Kee is rough around the edges. Air conditioning is absent, and the ceiling fans do little to counter the tropical heat. Therein lies Chong Kee's charm, honestly. You might balk at how parking nearby is in short supply, and newcomers often struggle to find it. Still, many regulars consider these inconveniences easily overlooked. They come for the food — and they are not alone. A must-order at Chong Kee is their Dry Chicken Curry Mee. — Picture by CK Lim A must-order at Chong Kee is their aforementioned Dry Chicken Curry Mee, of course. The noodles are served in a warm, concentrated curry — neither overly greasy nor too diluted. Fish balls, slices of fish cake, fried tofu skin, and small cuts of chicken top the dish. Remember to tell the uncle what noodles you prefer: yellow mee, rice vermicelli or hor fun. The appeal of the Dry Chicken Curry Mee lies not in complexity, but in consistency. This is a dish that tastes the same no matter how many times you have had it. These days, that is a rare quality indeed. Remember to tell the uncle what noodles you prefer. — Picture by CK Lim The ABC (or air batu campur in Malay) offers a contrasting experience. On hot afternoons, customers often arrive solely for this shaved ice dessert. The ice is ground to a fine, fluffy texture, then layered with syrup, sweetcorn, peanuts and occasionally sour plum for those who like that hit of acid. Some diners with more sophisticated palates might wish for richer flavours — more santan (coconut milk) or gula Melaka syrup, perhaps — but I'd argue the light touch is precisely what makes it memorable. Shaving ice. — Picture by CK Lim This isn't a filled-to-the-brim sort of ABC; this is the sort of ABC our grandparents might have tasted in their youth. Watching the auntie prepare each bowl — from carefully shaving the large block of ice to adding various syrups — remains part of the experience. The whole scene feels like a loop in time: finely ground flakes of ice tumbling into bowls beneath the ice-ageing shaving machine, the faded walls holding the weight of thirty-odd years of business without chasing after accolades. Adding various syrups. — Picture by CK Lim When she brings a bowl of Chong Kee's signature ABC to your table, you can't help but admire it in all its minimalist splendour. For longtime customers, the routine is familiar by now: first, the requisite Dry Chicken Curry Mee, followed by a bowl of ABC. The menu is short, and expectations are well defined. There is little experimentation here. The shop continues to serve the same handful of dishes it always has. Chong Kee's signature ABC in all its minimalist splendour. — Picture by CK Lim In an age of fast-changing food trends, Chong Kee's enduring appeal lies in its refusal to change. The shop is not curated for the digital age, nor has it sought to expand or modernise. Indeed I couldn't find much online about it prior to visiting; this was entirely based on a local friend's recommendation. Instead, it remains a constant presence in Kajang — an old-fashioned eatery quietly carrying on, where the food continues to taste the way people remember it. Kedai ABC & Air Batu Chong Kee A19 & A20, Medan Selera, Jalan Bukit, Kajang, Selangor. Open daily 8am-3pm * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.
