Blogs

FORMER Premier League star Peter Odemwingie is attempting to qualify for The Open.

And ex-Fulham and Wigan ace Jimmy Bullard is also giving it a shot.

Getty

Peter Odemwingie has taken to golf since hanging up his boots[/caption]

Odemwingie, 43, scored 37 Prem goals across spells at West Brom, Stoke and Cardiff.

His spell in English football is also fondly remembered for his attempt to join QPR during the January transfer window in 2013.

The Nigeria forward infamously turned up at the West London club’s Loftus Road home… even though no deal had been agreed.

Odemwingie has already enjoyed significant success since trading his football boots for golf clubs.

Having only taken up the sport in his 30s, the former footballer has qualified as a teaching professional and is hoping to compete on the Champions Tour after he turns 50.

For now, Odemwingie is one of nearly 2,000 players entering regional qualifying for The Open this week.

The former striker is taking part at the Enville Golf Club in the West Midlands.

Odemwingie told the PGA website last year: “I started playing just at the end of my West Brom days because a few of the boys played, and I could see the excitement they had for it.

BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK

“They would go and play on a Tuesday after training, and they’d have their golf gear and be talking about it, but I couldn’t understand it because the golf vocabulary is so different to anything else.

“Then on one of the pre-season training trips with West Brom, Roy Hodgson took us to a golf resort and people were doing putting and playing full rounds on days off, so I was just passing by the range, and I thought I’d try and hit some balls.

“I was wearing slippers, but I hit a few, and I loved the sound and watching the ball fly.

“It was downhill so it carried further. I thought, ‘OK, there’s something in this’.”

Bullard, meanwhile, is also a keen golfer.

The 47-year-old has been recording his bid to reach The Open on his Golf Life YouTube channel.

Bullard also tried last year, but was unfortunately ruled out of qualifying with an injury.

He will take to the Rochester and Cobham Park course in Kent.

The final round of qualifying will begin on July 1, with only around 100 players set to reach that stage.

PA

Jimmy Bullard is a keen golfer[/caption]

IRISH holidaymakers are being warned about a little-known rule in Spain which could get you into trouble for using your phone.

In a bit to crack down public phone use, some Spanish and French towns have introduced fines for using phones while driving or even idling at traffic lights.

Getty Images - Getty

Spain has fines of up to €1,000 for using phone while driving[/caption]

Getty Images - Getty

AFP or licensors

And this action can lead to on-the-spot fines of up to €1,000.

Lake Como region in northern Italy have also rolled out stricter phone use aimed at limiting any distraction while walking.

And the new measure has been introduces as a safety measure as the use of mobile phone when walking and not using a pedestrian crossing when there is one can led to serious incidents.

And it can land you fines up to €500. 

Travel expert at Dublin-based eSim provider Holafly, Brenda Beltrán, said what’s perfectly normal in Ireland, like checking Google Maps or sending a quick voice note, can be frowned upon or banned entirely in other parts of the world. 

She said: “People think using their phone abroad is harmless, but in some places, it’s considered rude, disruptive, or even illegal.

“Travellers can be fined simply for using their phones while walking near roads or for taking selfies in prohibited areas.

“The rules are changing quickly, and people need to stay informed.” 

And talking on your phone on public transport is socially unacceptable in Japan and many trains ask passengers to switch their phones to do-not-disturb mode and avoid calls entirely. 

Filming strangers, especially locals, without consent, can lead to arrest under privacy laws in United Arab Emirates.

Phone use, even for photos, is also often banned or considered disrespectful in temples and sacred sites across Asia.

Brenda added: “You wouldn’t light up a cigarette in a church, so don’t assume it’s fine to film or FaceTime in a sacred temple.

“Checking a text might seem harmless, but in some cultures, it’s seen as disrespectful or distracting.

“At worst, it could lead to a fine or being removed from a site entirely.”

Getty Images - Getty

DORSET’S only open-air pool is open after renovations with some unique swimming session in the heated lido.

Shaftesbury Lido has reopened after three months of upgrades worth £120,000, they celebrated with a nighttime swim and have more to come.

Shaftesbury Town Council

Shaftesbury Lido welcomes swimmers for evening Full Moon events[/caption]

Getty

After closing on March 13, the heated lido reopened on June 7.

One of the more unusual sessions is their Full Moon swims celebrating the Strawberry Moon, with swimmers enjoying a late evening dip.

While there are no more evening events in the calendar, the town council website tells swimmers to “keep an eye out for our popular Full Moon Swims” – so there are more to come.

The renovations of the lido were to improve the pool for users and bring it up to modern standards.

The origins of the Lido go back 170 years to the mid-19th century, so it’s no surprise it needed a little maintenance.

In fact, Shaftesbury Lido is one of the oldest pools still operational in the country.

The money for the upgrades was raised by the community, council, local businesses, along with a grant from Sport England.

Part of the fundraising came from the Shaftesbury Lido Ice Championship Extravaganza (called SLICE).

Lido manager Harriet Green told the Bournemouth Echo: “It’s just been amazing, it’s so lovely to have the community get behind us and for the council to believe in the pool.”

Shaftesbury Lido is now fully open for the summer season and along with the classic lane swim, the it also offers other sessions like aqua wellness, parent and toddler, adult lessons, and even naked swimming.

Shaftesbury Town Council

The lido recently opened after three months of closure[/caption]

Alamy

The lido is in the beautiful town of Shaftesbury[/caption]

It’s suggested to book as the pool has capacity for just 20 swimmers.

During the summer, the temperature of the pool remains at 29C.

It then gets turned off during autumn and eventually cools down for winter.

In 2023, the lido held its very first trial of cold water swim sessions where the water temperature falls below 15 degrees.

During this time, the website suggests that cold water swimming beginners wear a wetsuit to avoid cold water shock.

Plus, the beachfront lido that’s free to use is to close ahead of major renovation.

And the UK’s best outdoor water parks and lidos to enjoy this summer.

Bookwhen

Aerial photo from a drone of Shaftesbury Lido in the county of Dorset, UK.[/caption]

GAS workers have discovered a 1,000-year-old mummy just a metre below the surface of the Earth during a routine pipe installation in Peru.

The remains, believed to be a boy aged between 10 and 15-years-old, has been uncovered in surprisingly good condition, with some of his brown hair still intact.

AP

Archaeologist Jose Aliaga excavates an ancient mummy[/caption]

AFP

The remains are from the pre-Inca Chancay culture[/caption]

AP

The body was wrapped in a shroud, which contained calabash gourds[/caption]

The burial was formal, with the trunk of a native huarango tree found next to the bound remains serving “as a tomb marker in the past,” according to archaeologist Jesus Bahamonde, a scientific coordinator of Calidda gas company.

The ancient boy’s remains were discovered “in a sitting position, with the arms and legs bent,” according to Bahamonde.

“The burial and the objects correspond to a style that developed between 1000 and 1200 [AD],” he added.

The body was found just 1.2metres beneath the Earth in Lima, Peru’s capital, while the wooden tomb marker was found just a depth of 50cm (20 inches).

They were wrapped in a shroud, which contained calabash gourds – a vegetable that was not only eaten but etched with intricate art in ancient Peru.

Calabash gourds are used for medicinal purposes in Peru, and throughout Bolivia and Ecuador today.

Though it’s unclear what the significance of the vegetable was at the time.

Ceramic objects, including plates, bottles and jugs decorated with geometric figures and figures of fishermen, were also found next to the mummy.

The mummy, found last week, belonged to a society of fishermen of the Chancay culture, which flourished between 1,000 and 1,470 AD, according to Jesús Bahamonde, director of the archaeological monitoring plan of metropolitan Lima at Cálidda.

Despite not being covered by much ground, the mummy had gone unnoticed for a millennia – even with all of the urban development in the area.

Lima, a city home to 10million people, housed human civilisations for thousands of years before the Spanish arrived in Peru in 1535.

As a result, there are more than 500 archaeological sites sprawled across the coastal city, including dozens of ancient cemeteries.

In Peru, utility companies must hire archaeologists when drilling because of the possibility of stumbling upon ancient treasures and heritage sites.

“It is very common to find archaeological remains on the Peruvian coast, including Lima, mainly funerary elements: tombs, burials, and, among these, mummified individuals,” Pieter Van Dalen, dean of the College of Archaeologists of Peru, told the Associated Press.

The desert heat dehydrates the bodies, naturally mummifying the bodies and leaving them fairly well preserved, according to Van Dalen, who was not involved in the discovery.

AFP

The body was found just 1.2metres beneath the Earth in Lima, Peru’s capital, while the wooden tomb marker was found just a depth of 50cm (20 inches)[/caption]

AFP

Ceramic objects, including plates, bottles and jugs decorated with geometric figures and figures of fishermen, were also found next to the mummy[/caption]

AFP

There are more than 500 archaeological sites sprawled across the coastal city, including dozens of ancient cemeteries[/caption]

A MAFS GROOM couldn’t keep his hands off a sexy influencer as the pair were spotted enjoying an ‘x-rated kiss’.

Ryan Donnelly, 37, who shot to fame on Married AT First Sight Australia earlier this year, proved that he has moved on from his show bride Jacqui Burfoot, 29, with a very steamy display.

Shutterstock Editorial

MAFS star Ryan Donnelly was spotted getting VERY cosy with influencer Suzan Mutesi[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

The pair couldn’t keep their hands off each other with an onlooker saying they put on an ‘x-rated display’[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

The pair posed for the cameras as they enjoyed Suzan’s birthday[/caption]

Nine

Ryan shot to fame on MAFS when he was married to Jacqui Burfoot[/caption]

It’s fair to say that Ryan’s marriage to Jacqui did not work out, with her now in a relationship with fellow groom Clint Rice, 44.

Keen to show he has also moved on from his reality romance, Ryan was spotted getting VERY cosy with Suzan Mutesi.

The pair were all over each other the influencer’s Studio 54-themed party over the weekend.

Suzan, who shot to fame as the “fake influencer” after it was alleged that she inflated her follower count, went all out for her 39th birthday bash.

But the highlight of the night was when she packed on the PDA with Ryan.

An onlooker spotted them kissing in a booth at the party, which was held at Pelicano in Sydney’s Potts Point.

They said that fellow party goers were left stunned as they passionately kissed in front of them.

A source told the Daily Mail Australia that things between them were “nothing short of X-rated”.

A guest at Suzan’s party told the outlet: “He was all over her.

“Everyone was whispering and watching – it was impossible to ignore.”

Suzan made sure all eyes were on her as she enjoyed a steamy kiss.

The social media star was dressed in a tiny silver sequin mini-dress with sheer cut-outs.

While her kissing partner Ryan dressed casually in a white t-shirt and jeans.

Shutterstock Editorial

An onlooker said they spent the evening snogging[/caption]

Shutterstock Editorial

The pair only had eyes for each other[/caption]

A NEW theme park pass will let you visit one of four of the UK’s top attractions as much as you want this summer.

For £59, Merlin Entertainments has launched a new limited time only, three-month pass that allows visitors to visit one of four theme parks as much as they want in that time period.

Alamy

For £59, Merlin Entertainments has launched a new limited time only, three-month pass[/caption]

Alamy

Visitors will be able to choose from Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland Windsor Resort, Alton Towers Resort or Thorpe Park[/caption]

Visitors will be able to choose from Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland Windsor Resort, Alton Towers Resort or Thorpe Park.

So if you were to go every day for the three-month period, it means you would be paying less than £1 a day.

There are some exclusion dates which apply to all of the theme parks in the offer.

They include August 24 and 25 and October 18, 25, 26 and 31.

Jordan Middleton, head of Merlin Annual Pass, commented: “A Merlin Annual Pass is the perfect way to access a summer of adventure for families and thrill-seekers alike for a great price.

“With unlimited access to a whole host of exhilarating attractions, a Merlin Annual Pass offers unforgettable memories right on your doorstep.

With the Thorpe Park Thrill Pass, for example, visitors can enjoy three months of access to the attraction – which is home to over 25 rides, including its ‘Big 6’ coasters.

One of these rollercoasters boasts the title of the UK’s tallest, fastest and most weightless rollercoaster – Hyperia.

There are also water rides to enjoy on the hotter days.

At Alton Towers Resort – the UK’s largest theme park – there are over 40 rides and attractions for all ages.

There are 10 main rollercoasters, each of which have record-breaking elements too.

For younger children, there are 20 attractions including the only place in the UK where visitors can meet some of CBeebies best-loved characters.

Meanwhile, at Chessington World of Adventures there is a theme park, zoo and Sea Life centre.

The destination boasts over 40 rides and attractions and over 1,000 animals.

And finally, at Legoland Windsor Resort there are over 55 rides and attractions based on Lego and Duplo brands and designed for three to 12-year-olds.

There are approximately 47million Lego bricks throughout the park, with around 20million in Miniland alone.

Alamy

And the pass allows them to visit as many times as they want over three months this summer[/caption]

Alamy

Alternatively, they can still purchase an annual pass[/caption]

Alternatively, annual passes are still available, with multiple different options that also have free parking and discounts on food and hotel stays.

In addition, Legoland is even getting a grand new look.

Earlier in June, new images revealed that the entrance gates to the park will undergo an upgrade.

The plans show that two new structures will be built on either side of the Legoland sign – which look like giant Lego bricks.

They will also include Lego characters such as knights and ninjas.

Lego characters such as knights and ninjas are also on the towers.

Other upgrades at the park include a new Brick Street Cafe, improved bag search and ticket areas and crossing.

Plus, The Sun’s Veronica Lorraine recently tested all the rollercoasters at Thorpe Park.

Alamy

Annual passes also have additional perks and discounts[/caption]

In the bustling, vibrant streets of Bangkok, a delightful whirlwind of adventure and culture is brewing! From June 21 to June 28, 2025, the city plays host to a fascinating cultural exchange as the Ulaanbaatar delegation embarks on an unforgettable journey of discovery. This remarkable visit is all part of the “Building a Multicultural Society with Sister Cities” initiative, and it’s brimming with opportunities for rich cultural immersion. Buckle up, because the itinerary is packed with wonders! The delegation is set to explore the sacred grounds of the Wat Phra Kaew temple, renowned for its mesmerizing architecture and deep spiritual significance. Here, they’ll marvel at the intricate designs and immerse themselves in the serene beauty of Thailand’s sacred traditions. As the days unfold, the cultural tapestry continues to unravel with traditional puppet shows at Wat Khlong Bang Chak, brought to life by the talented Wayubut Youth. It’s an enchanting spectacle…

In a bold move to transform urban commuting in the bustling capital, an initiative has taken root to entice residents towards public transportation. This initiative is not just about convenience, but also a mission to untangle the daily traffic snarl and to let the city breathe a bit easier, with cleaner air surrounding its iconic skyline. On a sunny Monday morning, Ekvaranyu Amrapala, the articulate spokesperson for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), unveiled plans for a substantial leap in the BMA Feeder project. Prior to this announcement, the project had been modestly plying just two routes but is now gearing up for a grand expansion, promising to weave its presence into the city’s intricate transport tapestry. Thus far, these existing services charted paths from Wat Purawas to the majestic Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge on weekdays, as well as from the vibrant Thonburi Market to MRT Lak Song daily, both operating…

A WATER ornament that lasts all-year round is on sale for the bargain price of just £9.99.

Home Bargains shoppers will be able to attract birds and other wildlife to their garden with this handy item.

The Jardin Garden Bird Bath is available from Home Bargains for just £9.99.

“Turn your garden into a birdwatcher’s dream with the Jardin Garden Bird Bath! Made from lightweight, weather-proof plastic with a sleek metallic finish, it’s a stylish spot for birds to drink and bathe,” the product description reads.

“The Jardin Garden Bird Bath is the perfect addition to your outdoor space, designed to attract wild birds while adding a touch of style.

“Its lightweight yet durable, weather-proof plastic construction ensures it lasts through all seasons, while the elegant metallic effect finish enhances your garden’s charm.”

The Jardin Garden Bird Bath is also lightweight and durable.

It has a metallic effect finish and its plastic construction means it is weather proof.

Meanwhile, its dimensions are approximately 52 x 39 x 79cm.

The description adds that it is “easy to assemble and move” and is as “practical as it is beautiful”.

It is also said to provide “the perfect spot for birds to drink and bathe, bringing your garden to life”.

Other Home Bargains items include a budget buy to instantly brighten up your garden this summer.

With this affordable item, your summer get-together can seamlessly go from day to night.

So whether you’re hosting a summer barbecue or simply enjoying the warm weather, this buy can also transform your outdoor space.

The Firefly Solar Colour Lantern is available for just £1.99 from Home Bargains.

“This eco-friendly, sun-powered lantern brings a colourful glow to outdoor spaces, ideal for summer or any event,” the product description reads.

THE return of iconic ITV comedy Benidorm has hit the rocks following a huge falling out between creator Derren Litten and the show’s biggest star Jake Canuso who plays randy barman Matteo.

The pair had quietly been a real life couple, and had been happily married for years, choosing to keep their relationship out of the spotlight. 

Getty

Jake and Derren went through a tough divorce last year[/caption]

David Revenga

The former couple’s split is said to have put a spanner in the works of a potential Benidorm reboot[/caption]

Living together in Benidorm, Derren even opened a bar called “Matteo’s” in the holiday hotspot which saw Jake often turn up for special guest appearances. 

But the couple called time on their relationship at the end of 2022 – leading to one of the messiest divorces in TV history. 

They were finally granted a divorce in August 2024. 

Derren took to Twitter and said: “I don’t really talk about my personal life here but the reason I’ve been a bit scarce on the socials is for the last 18 months I’ve been going through a pretty miserable divorce.   

“So I’m obviously poor now.  And you thought we couldn’t have more in common then we already do?!”

A source said: “Matteo is Benidorm, he’s the character that everyone wants to see. 

“He’s been part of the Solana since the beginning so for him not to feature in any future reboot, well it just would not be the same without him. 

“Jake created one of the show’s most loved characters in Matteo but with everything that’s happened between him and Derren, it’s not looking good.”

Benidorm has had a huge resurgence after Netflix bought the episodes from ITV. 

Another source said: “Conversations have been had. 

“The only way Jake will return is if ITV make him a huge offer, one that he could not possibly turn down. 

“But obviously Derren is making negotiations difficult. He is the writer and creator and believes that he should make all the decisions. 

“The fans would want to see Matteo, which ITV get. It’s all become one big headache.”

A spokesperson for Jake insisted they were unaware of any planned return for Benidorm.