39 h. ago The kindness of strangers: I was ready to leave the theatre in disgrace when a gentle usher made me an offer

A fight with a friend during the opera’s intermission had left me really hurt, so being cared for in that moment is something I’ll never forgetRead more in the kindness of strangers seriesI knew straight away that something was wrong. I had arranged to go to an opera with a friend. She’s normally a very chatty person, but when I got to our seats, she wasn’t saying anything. I asked her a few questions but she was quite monosyllabic in response.During the intermission, we went out to the balcony. Again, I was trying to talk to her but she just wasn’t looking at me. I asked if she was OK – had I offended her in any way? That’s when she let go on a tirade. She didn’t like a comment I had made at a dinner party a few weeks earlier and told me she’d never invite me to her home again – or come to mine. I was so shocked because she was very angry and said some things that I thought were quite cruel. I had never been spoken to like that by anyone, let alone a friend. To make matters worse p...

Politics

39 h. ago Beyond Paradise's Sally Bretton 'wasn't ready to leave' as she talks her unexpected departure BBC show

Sally Bretton starred as Martha Lloyd in the BBC One detective drama Beyond Paradise, opposite Kris Marshall as her on-screen fiance Humphrey Goodman

Politics

64 h. ago BBC Death in Paradise star 'wasn't ready' as she opens up on exit with Kris Marshall

Sally Bretton, who plays Martha in the Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise, has admitted that she wasn't ready to leave.

Events

8 d. ago Kindness of strangers: a woman laid down on the road beside me, holding my hand until the ambulance came

After I was hit by a car, Sophia seemed to understand that I needed the safety of someone being right there at eye levelRead more in the kindness of strangers seriesI could see the car and knew I was going to hit it. People ask: did your life flash before your eyes? It didn’t. The only thing I remember thinking was: “oh well”. In an instant all those things I’d been worrying about until that point didn’t matter, because I was about to die. Oh well!There was nothing I could do. I was on my motorbike on a dark and rainy night in rush hour traffic when a car pulled across into my lane without looking. I couldn’t avoid hitting it, I couldn’t break, I was going to hit the car and I was going to die. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Kindness of strangers: a woman lay on the road beside me, holding my hand until the ambulance came

After I was hit by a car, Sophia seemed to understand that I needed the safety of someone being right there at eye levelRead more in the kindness of strangers seriesI could see the car and knew I was going to hit it. People ask: did your life flash before your eyes? It didn’t. The only thing I remember thinking was: “Oh well”. In an instant all those things I’d been worrying about until that point didn’t matter, because I was about to die. Oh well!There was nothing I could do. I was on my motorbike on a dark and rainy night in rush hour traffic when a car pulled across into my lane without looking. I couldn’t avoid hitting it, I couldn’t brake, I was going to hit the car and I was going to die. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Kind strangers pay for wedding for Glasgow mum, 26, diagnosed with aggressive brain tumour while pregnant

Bethany Wright, 26, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour when she was 34-weeks pregnant - on hearing her story a stranger reached out with an incredible act of kindness.

Politics

2 w. ago I don't think my elderly mum would've survived, if it wasn't for the Peebles delivery driver

She was saved by the kindness of a stranger

Events

2 w. ago Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash expand their family as she jokes he's 'ready to leave me'

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash are about to give fans a glimpse into their hectic family life as they have signed up for their own reality series for the first time since getting married

Politics

2 w. ago Stacey Solomon says 'Joe's ready to leave me' as she unveils latest Pickle Cottage arrivals

She joked that her husband Joe Swash is 'ready to leave' her as she revealed plans for their next additions to their family

Politics

3 w. ago Kindness of strangers: I was crying at the airport carousel, then a couple offered a simple solution

I stood there with my baby on my chest as I watched the suitcase go round and round. An older woman saw me, walked over and said ‘What’s the matter?’Read more in the kindness of strangers seriesI remember the exact date it happened – 28 October 1994. My husband and I were living in Perth with our newborn baby, James, when my husband had to go back to the UK for work. The plan was for the baby and me to follow him six weeks later.I’d decided to make the journey as leisurely as possible, so I booked a stopover in Hong Kong. I was very proud of myself setting out because I’d made a homemade baby sling to carry James on my chest during the flight. Continue reading...

Transport

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Trump ‘wants Zaporizhzhia power plant for US’

White House has ‘moved beyond’ minerals deal; Zelenskyy expects ceasefire deal to cover civilian as well as energy infrastructure. What we know on day 1,121Europe live: latest news updatesDonald Trump told Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday that the US could own and run Ukrainian nuclear power plants as part of a ceasefire. The Ukrainian president said following their call that “we talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation”, referring to Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power station. The White House said it had “moved beyond” the idea of taking possession of Ukraine’s mineral wealth as part of negotiations. “We are now focused on a long-term peace agreement,” said White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.Kyiv was “ready” to pause attacks on Russia’s energy network and infrastructure, Zelenskyy said, write Shaun Walker and Pjotr Sauer. Zelenskyy indicated he did not yet consider a ceasefire to be in place, instead saying it could be established quickl...

Politics

4 w. ago I hadn't had sex with my partner for months and was ready to leave. Then I asked the questions all middle

Having known me for almost 20 years, my friend was stunned to learn my partner and I had had sex only once that entire year. To be honest, as a sex therapist, so was I. What was going on with me?

Politics

4 w. ago The kindness of strangers: I thought I’d lost my flute for ever, then a chance to play Greensleeves returned it to me

I had no ID to show the station guards. Desperate and scrambling, I said: ‘What if I play you a tune?’Read more in the kindness of strangers seriesI was 21, living in Sydney, working as a glassie at a local pub and feeling a bit lost. I didn’t know what to do in life – the one thing I had going for me was playing the flute.I’d saved for two years to buy my flute when I was 16 and earning $2.35 an hour at the supermarket. Every day I would come home and play it. It would help me process my emotions. Continue reading...

Politics