4 days agoBlogsComments Off on Brighten up your ugly wall or fence with Home Bargains stunning £8 metal wall art & it doubles up as a light
SPRUCE up your garden with Home Bargains’ stunning metal wall art, which doubles up as a light, perfect for summer evenings.
Brighten up your home for just £8
With Home Bargains’ new product, shoppers can bag themselves a floral solar light to brighten up their garden wall for just £7.99.
Home BargainsHome Bargains are helping you brighten up your garden this summer[/caption]
Home BargainsThe £8 wall light comes in two different styles[/caption]
Available in multiple different prints, the retailer has described the product as a “stunning” and “eco-friendly” piece.
The product description reads: “Illuminate your space with the charm of blooming flowers or vibrant leaves and the efficiency of solar power.
“Our light is a captivating addition to any space, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere while showcasing your love for nature and art.”
It added: “Upgrade your decor with this beautiful fusion of form and function today.”
The stunning light comes in both a floral and leaf design.
Perfect for summer evenings
The feature automatically turns on at dusk to make it the perfect addition to your garden for long summer evenings outside.
Designed by Firefly Solar Light Co, the light offers a warm white LED glow.
Home Bargains also offer this product in a smaller size which retails for just £4.99.
Solar lights that will make your garden glow
It isn’t the only store offering bargain lighting to brighten up your outdoor area this summer.
Aldi launched £3.99 solar light bulbs last month, as part of a wider push to offer more low-cost garden essentials this season.
The bulbs, which come in two different shapes and have 20 firefly LED lights inside, have been billed as an essential for summer evenings.
Shoppers have also been racing to snap up a set of string lights from The Original Factory Shop, which were released last month.
The LED lights, adorned with warm white bulbs and artificial pink roses retail for £10.
The product description reads: “It’s a great no-fuss addition to any garden, terrace or gazebo, providing light in those darker corners and colour all year long.”
Garden features that add the most value to a house
A well kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property
Sellhousefast.uk carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK.
And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed.
4 days agoBlogsComments Off on I was shocked when quoted £10K for a garden reno so did it myself for £1K as a single mum with ChatGPT and B&Q bargains
A SAVVY single mum-of-two who was quoted £10,000 for a garden renovation has done it herself for just £1,000 with the help of budget stores and ChatGPT.
Thrifty Holly Metcalfe said the “shocking” price tag offered by professionals felt unjustifiable, especially as England doesn’t get good weather all year round.
Katie Dollard was quoted £10,000 for a garden renovationJam press
The single mum took on the project saving herself £9,000Jam press
And while she knew it would be a mammoth DIY project, she wanted to show her kids it could be done.
The 37-year-old mum, who has a son, 16, and daughter, 14, turned to B&Q, Amazon and ChatGPT for ideas and gardening advice, and then rolled up her sleeves.
“After getting shocking quotes for the work I wanted to be done, I decided I would give it a go myself to save money”, said Holly.
“I’ve always been quite headstrong when I get an idea, and I knew I could see it through.
“I also wanted to show my two children that you can be capable of achieving anything, even if it means getting your hands dirty.
“I just thought this is a lot of money to spend on a space that we only get to use for a few months of the year when the weather is good.
“It was challenging at times and I had to dip in and out of it between being a mum and working, but I really enjoyed the process and felt really empowered when I stood back and looked at it finished.”
Holly spent every free moment doing the DIY and admits it was “back-breaking” work.
Holly, who works in housing, added that the project was “exhausting” but that she had “never felt stronger”.
She said: “I feel so empowered as a single mum achieving this on my own around all of my other commitments.
“This project has pushed me out of my comfort zone in more ways than one.
“It was a physical and mental challenge – pushing through with the heavy lifting or digging in the rain – but also it has brought me so much confidence.
“The garden looked a lot worse before it started to look better.
“I spent many pockets of time on it; evenings, lunch breaks on days working from home, weekends.
“I gave up any relaxing time really, I ate while I was working at my desk so that I had my hour lunch break to get out in the garden.
“I normally love sitting down to watch EastEnders in the evening, but I gave that up to focus on the project.
“I made sure I still got up at 6 am to head to my fitness classes, though.”
Holly had to start the project with hardcore manual labour by digging up decorative stones.
She then measured sizing for her shed and searched through home improvement websites for the best but cheapest paint, turf and furniture.
Holly said: “I kept myself going with the project by giving myself timescales to adhere to.
“I ordered the shed before laying the base, then I knew I had to get the base down before it arrived.
“Painting my fences and building the shed was probably one of the most rewarding things I did in the garden.
“Getting the turf sorted was a really hard job as the earth needed turning over, and it was really dry and hard.
“My back was aching from carrying the grass, which is surprisingly heavy.
“The paving was equally back-breaking, and it felt like I was never going to get it done – this was the part where I felt like giving up, but I pushed through.
“I felt like the garden was getting bigger and bigger with every bit of digging.
“I also had to re-lift the paving I had laid because it wasn’t perfectly level.
“Give me a shed to build any day over doing that.”
The mum repurposed the slabs by first cleaning them with a pressure washer and then painting them with masonry paint.
She said: “I did it, the whole thing, myself.
“My dad helped me carry some things in from the car, and my teenage son has helped with some heavy lifting as well.
“But the rest was all me.
“I strongly believe working on things like this is essential for your mental health.
“The sense of achievement I have gained from doing this has left me feeling so empowered.
“I also learned new skills with recording and editing the footage, and putting myself out there by sharing it online.
“The kids have been full of compliments and are really proud of what I’ve done. I’ve found we’re spending time outside more as a family now.
“My family and friends have been totally amazed by what I’ve done when showing them progress and videos, they say they’re shocked by what I have managed to do on my own and that it has turned out beautifully.
“My friends tell me I’m superwoman, and they can’t believe I’ve done this myself.
“I have received so much lovely support on social media, too.”
The mum is adding the finishing touches to her garden with more lights and plants – and is already considering what to DIY next.
4 days agoBlogsComments Off on Dozing motorcyclist survives after slamming into truck on motorway
A Thai motorcyclist miraculously survived after dozing off while riding on a motorway in the central province of Ayutthaya and slamming directly into the back of a truck. A Thai woman witnessed the incident while travelling with her family and recorded a video, which she later shared on her Facebook account, Supattra Srithara, on Sunday, …
4 days agoBlogsComments Off on Sharp Aquos wish5 Full Specs, Features, Price In Philippines
Here’s The Complete List of Specifications, Features, & Price of the Sharp Aquos wish5 The Sharp Aquos wish5 was officially announced in the second quarter of 2025. The 5G-ready smartphone is fueled with a Li-Po 5000 mAh battery + 27W wired charging. It is available in colors like Misora, Dianthus, Wakaba, Yuki, and Sumi. Body ... Read more
AlamyA major online car dealer has been saved after major job cuts[/caption]
HeycarHeycar has been thrown a lifeline[/caption]
GettyVolkswagen Financial Services will be incorporating the used car dealer[/caption]
Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) initially planned to axe failing firm Heycar, after it made huge losses over several years.
The used car advertising platform first launched in 2019 but lost over £30 million in 2022.
Just a year later, the online advertiser lost £22.4 million as its revenue continued to dwindle.
Its parent company Mobility Trader went into liquidation as a result, but Heycar has been thrown a lifeline by its majority shareholder VWFS.
The German brand has confirmed its plans to integrate the advertiser into its own company, after acquiring “ certain businesses and assets” belonging to Heycar.
Heycar’s remaining staff – who were not axed in cost-cutting missions – will be incorporated into Volkswagen’s own teams.
A spokesperson for VWFS said: “While Heycar UK’s parent company, Mobility Trader, has entered liquidation, the Heycar platform itself remains fully operational.
“VWFS UK has acquired certain business and assets of the Heycar UK business, ensuring the platform’s continuity for users.
“This acquisition underscores VWFS UK’s commitment to revolutionise the way customers purchase used vehicles online.
“Following the now completed acquisition, VWFS UK is continuing the process of onboarding the Heycar UK employees.”
VWFS owns a huge portion of the company, with a staggering 78 per cent stake in the business.
The German-car manufacturer Volkswagen owns 13 per cent, with Renault having the next largest share at nine per cent.
Heycar made headlines after its launch in 2019, when it went on a spending spree which saw it snapping up fellow online firms.
Honest John was bought out of administration in 2020 by Heycar, along with several other sites.
It also took over RAC Cars in a bid to relaunch the car advertising platform.
The Chinese-owned car maker is reportedly planning to close the factory, amid Donald Trump’s global tariff war.
Labour’s Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was set to hold a meeting focused on saving the plant, but Lotus has denied claims that it is planning to close down the plant.
A spokesperson added: “We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market.
“The UK is the heart of the Lotus brand — home to our sports car manufacturing, global design centre, motorsport operations, and Lotus Engineering. It is also our largest commercial market in Europe.
“We have invested significantly in R&D and operations in the UK, over the past six years.
“Lotus remains committed to the UK, and its customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, as well as its proud British heritage.”
East2WestUkraine ‘used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles’ to strike military targets in Russian-occupied Donetsk overnight[/caption]
East2WestPreliminary reports indicate that a fire broke out at an oil depot following an overnight Ukrainian strike on Russian-occupied Luhansk[/caption]
ReutersA firefighter works to put out a fire at the market hit by recent shelling, which local Russian-installed authorities called a Ukrainian military strike[/caption]
Red-faced Russian authorities admitted only that a woman had died and three people were wounded, including a teenager.
A building collapsed in the combined missile and drone strikes, with fire spreading to nearby shops, according to Russian reports.
And both Russian and Ukrainian sources revealed Britain’s state-of-the-art Storm Shadow missiles were involved in the major strike.
Ukrainian sources said the strike was on the Donetsk Research Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals – a military target used by Russian occupiers.
Ukrainian channel Supernova+ said the strike was on “the headquarters of the 8th combined arms army of the Russian Armed Forces”.
The report revealed: “The building is penetrated to the basement. [The dead] are being taken out in batches.”
And journalist Ivan Yakovina said: “Clear results of the recent Nato summit – cruise missiles supplied by the UK and France today destroyed the headquarters of the 8th Combined Arms Army in Donetsk and a massive depot with an oil terminal in Luhansk.
“There were massive casualties among Russian officers at the HQ.
“They were confident that Ukraine no longer had the means to strike at such depth, so they didn’t even bother to go down to the shelter during the alert.”
He added that the result of this was “dozens killed and wounded – an entire army has been crippled”.
Other reports say the site hit was a key place for works on UAVs and electronic warfare in the latest devastating loss for Putin.
Russian head of occupied Donetsk region Denis Pushilin said 26 missiles, drones and 155-mm artillery were unleashed by Ukraine, causing significant damage to various infrastructure.
Until today, there have been no confirmed reports of Storm Shadows being deployed since November last year.
Britain’s bunker-busting Storm Shadow rockets are a nightmare for enemies as they are capable of dodging air defences.
The £800,000 missiles – already being fired within Ukraine – use GPS to precisely hit targets, and can travel at 600mph.
France’s equivalent is known as SCALP‑EG.
In November last year, the US authorised Ukraine to use American long-range missiles called ATACMS against targets inside Russia.
Britain gave the green light for Storm Shadows to be used inside Russia in November 2024East2WestBombshell footage showed the damage in Donetsk[/caption]
East2WestAn industrial facility and several residential buildings were damaged in a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia[/caption]
France has supplied its Scalp missiles to Ukraine, and reiterated in November that strikes on military targets inside Russia were an option.
Major fires were also seen in neighbouring Luhansk, also Russian occupied, with reports that an oil terminal was hit.
This followed an unconfirmed Russian claim that the entire territory of the Luhansk region was now in Putin’s hands – a longtime aim for the mad dictator.
But there was no independent verification of the claim by puppet leader Leonid Pasechnik.
Meanwhile, Ukraine targeted Russian region Rostov, and the Crimean Bridge linking the Black Sea peninsula to Russia’s mainland was closed.
Explosions and sirens could be heard in Saratov and Engels – a key base for Russian strategic bomber aircraft.
Russia staged attacks on the Zaporizhzhia region with an enterprise and private houses hit – unleashing fiery chaos.
Ukraine also targeted the Izhevsk electromechanical plant Dome in a drone strike, which makes air defence systems and drones.
The strikes came as Donald Trump’s special representative Keith Kellogg hit back at Putin over delays in the pace process – targeting the dictator’s mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov.
He slammed: “Peskov’s recent comments on the state of negotiations are Orwellian.
“Russian claims that it is the US and Ukraine stalling peace talks are unfounded – President Trump has been consistent and adamant about making progress to end the war.
“We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war. Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine.”
Putin will 'die like Hitler'
SECURITY expert David H. Carstens believes Putin has four key vulnerability and ‘will die like Hitler’.
The ex-commander told The Sun: “2025 could be the costliest year of the war for Russia in terms of casualties, look, troops are not a limitless resource. So that’s, shall we say, risk number one for Putin.
“Number two is despite Russia’s ability to suffer, the fact that the economy is very fragile.
“If there is some sort of an economic shock, like a massive drop in fuel prices or the loss of a strategic trade partner, I think the system could destabilize.
“Risk or threat to Putin number three is that Putin depends on this very small inner circle.
“His security services, the FSB, his oligarchs, some loyalist military commanders.
“If there are continued war failures, if there is, you know, continued use of soldiers, you know, en masse, rushing Ukrainian defenses, creating these high casualty events, lack of confidence will rise, and this could fracture the inner circle.”
Carstens warned Putin could face the same fall from power as Hitler and end up dead like the Nazi dictator.
“I’ve got to reach into history for the threat to Putin number four. I just don’t think Putin has read his history when it comes to overreach,” he added.
“So Russia is incredibly overextended in Ukraine.
“And it is this exact same type of overreach that ultimately defeated Hitler in his conquest of Europe.
“So I think Putin has fallen into the same demise, is getting mired down in a conflict he cannot sustain, and that as well is part of his Achilles’ heel.”
East2WestRussia staged attacks on the Zaporizhzhia region[/caption]
East2WestMajor fires were also seen in neighbouring Luhansk[/caption]
ReutersFirefighters work to put out a fire at the market hit by recent shelling[/caption]
4 days agoBlogsComments Off on ‘Hero’ Brit drone fighter, 33, killed defending Ukraine as grieving comrades hug flag-draped coffin in emotional funeral
A “HERO” Brit drone fighter was killed defending Ukraine against the Russian occupation.
Tributes are pouring in for Benjamin Leo Burgess, 33, who served on the frontline for three years and was “killed in combat”.
East2WestBurgess, 33, (right) from Portsmouth was killed in the war where he had fought for three years as a volunteer[/caption]
East2WestUkraine has paid an emotional tribute to the hero fighter[/caption]
Burgess, from Portsmouth, first served in Zaporizhzhia with Ukraine’s artillery regiment before becoming an FPV drone pilot.
He had formerly served in the British army.
A funeral attended by 40 people, including family and friends, was held at Kyiv’s main crematorium for the Brit volunteer fighter.
Russian sources had earlier claimed the Burgess, whose call sign was Budgie, had been “eliminated”.
He is understood to have been killed in Andreevka, in Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Fellow soldiers said Burgess was a hero and was among the “best pilots we had.”
Another Brit soldier – identified only by his call sign Azrael – said: “A lot of people come to Ukraine for different reasons, but Budgie definitely came for the belief that Ukraine deserves to be free.
“And he was willing to fight for that. And he did.
“He fought well, fought bravely, and ultimately was killed doing that.”
Azrael, from Ukraine’s 78th airborne assault regiment, said Burgess’ death was his biggest loss.
He added: “We were the last two foreign fighters in our regiment.
“He was my family here. I’ve lost many friends in this war – he’s my biggest loss.”
The “hero” fighter was given a funeral at the heart of Kyiv city.
Emotional pictures show Burgess’ coffin draped with the British and Ukrainian flag.
Family and friends, as well as fellow soldiers, were seen standing together as flowers and roses were laid gently on top of his casket.
Ukrainian locals left emotional messages for Burgess at Kyiv’s Maidan Square.
One of the messages read: “Thank you for protecting.”
4 days agoBlogsComments Off on Senator files 3-year college education bill
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a bill seeking to trim college education from four to three years. Gatchalian filed his measure on Tuesday, adding that this was among his priority bills for the 20th Congress. Dubbed the Three-Year College Education Act, the senator said his measure seeks explicitly to empower the Commission
