A working mother of two, Maria Schenkel was used to rushing from one thing to the next and initially assumed she was simply getting hot and sweaty
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The four-bedroom detached home is located in the sought after area of Marine Drive, Barry, and has views of the Bristol Channel, as well as Flat Holm and Steep Holm.
The estate agents say the house is ideal for families, with areas like Porthkerry Country Park and The Knap just a short distance away.
The front of the house has a block paved driveway with space for multiple cars and access to the garage.
The front door leads into the entrance hallway with original parquet flooring and access to the living room, dining room, and kitchen.
The living room has a fireplace and a door to the sunroom which has views of the channel.
The kitchen has integrated appliances, including a four-ring gas hob, oven, fridge freezer and dishwasher.
The dining room leads to the conservatory which has access to the garden.
There is also a utility room, boot room, and cloakroom on the ground floor.
Upstairs are the four bedrooms, a shower room, and a separate toilet.
The main bedroom has built in wardrobes and views of the channel.
The first floor landing leads to a balcony with galvanised railings and more channel views.
The rear garden is landscaped with a patio area and lawn, surrounded by established shrubbery.
There is also a separate area covered in chippings and a side gate that leads to a Zen garden with slate chippings.
The estate agent said: “This stunning detached family home offers an exceptional living experience with breath-taking, uninterrupted far reaching views across the channel and of Flat Holm and Steep Holm.
“This beautiful home truly encapsulates the essence of family living in one of Barry’s most sought-after locations.”
They include some of America’s most familiar over-the-counter remedies – but there is mounting evidence that these medications may harm the brain.
It is important to separate the marketing push to add protein to everything from what is really necessary for good health.
Postcode Lottery players living in 18 Welsh streets are £1,000 richer this month. The latest batch of results from August 9 to August 28 shows wins for people living in Pontardawe, Ebbw Vale, Ceredigion, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Bridgend, Flintshire, and Merthyr Tydfil.
Also banking a four-figure budget boost are people living in Cwmbran, Swansea, Neath, Llanelli, Briton Ferry, Abertillery, Narberth, and Abergavenny. Full details here.
There is a murder trial currently gripping the US. At its centre is a 36-year-old mother who strangled her three young children.
The UKHSA declared a national outbreak of salmonella food poisoning (Image: Getty)
Salmonella is the group of bacteria behind one of the most common types of food poisoning in the UK, and while for most people it means a few unpleasant days at home, for others it can lead to serious illness. There is currently a national outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK. One person has died and hundreds have fallen ill as result of the outbreak. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) told the BBC that under fives, over 65s, women who are pregnant and those with health conditions should avoid eating under-cooked or runny eggs when they are eating out along with freshly-made products that might contain uncooked eggs, such as mayonnaise, souffle and hollandaise sauce due to the outbreak.
Symptoms typically include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. These usually appear between 12 and 72 hours after infection, and illness typically lasts 4 to 7 days. For most people, Salmonella causes a bout of gastroenteritis that clears up on its own. However, some people are at greater risk of more severe illness, including bloodstream infections, sepsis and, in rare cases, multi-organ failure.
While many associate Salmonella primarily with poultry and eggs, it can actually contaminate a far wider range of foods. Here are 6 unexpected items to watch out for.
While it may be tempting to try some unbaked cookie dough, pizza dough, pastry, or cake batter, you shouldn’t eat it unless the label states that it is ready-to-eat. Raw flour is an untreated agricultural product that can harbour harmful bacteria because the grains are harvested from fields and milled without a kill-step to eliminate germs.
Some fresh produce may be exposed to water contaminated with Salmonella during irrigation or processing. Contamination can also occur in the kitchen when juices from raw meat or poultry come into contact with uncooked foods, such as salads.
Salmonella contamination in chocolate is uncommon but can pose a serious food safety risk. Chocolate’s high fat and low moisture content can help Salmonella survive for extended periods and may increase its resistance to stomach acid. Contamination can occur through contaminated raw ingredients, cocoa beans, processing environments, or handling during manufacturing.
4. Peanut butter and other nut butters
Peanut butter and other nut butters such as almond butter can harbour Salmonella bacteria because the high-fat and low-moisture environment allows the germ to survive for several months.
Dried spices and herbs can harbor Salmonella because the bacteria have high desiccation tolerance, allowing them to survive in low-moisture environments for months or years.
Some types of pet food, including pet chews or treats, are made of raw meat and other unprocessed animal products. Raw meat can be contaminated with harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and E. coli.
The FSA published a survey on microbiological contamination of raw pet food sold in the UK earlier this year. The survey detected pathogenic bacteria in 35% of the raw pet food samples. Between March 2023 and February 2024, raw pet food samples were obtained from retail stores and online purchases: 277 raw dog food samples and 103 raw cat food samples. Salmonella was detected in 21% of the samples, Campylobacter in 14% and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in 12%.
To prevent getting ill, you should wash your hands with soap and hot water immediately after handling and preparing any raw pet food or treats. According to the UKHSA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, pet food and treats should also be stored and defrosted away from where human food is stored and prepared. Make sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces that the raw pet food touched, such as microwaves, work surfaces, storage containers and utensils like knives, forks and bowls.
Many foods can also become contaminated when they are prepared by people who don’t wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing a diaper or after handling contaminated food.
Good hygiene is vital, the UK Health Security Agency said.
It advised: “Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before preparing or handling food, wash utensils and chopping boards with hot water and cook food thoroughly.
“If you have symptoms yourself, avoid preparing food for others where you can.”
Parents and Politicians joined together on the steps of the Senedd today calling for better paternity leave and support for new parents.
In a campaign organised by Anna Whitehouse (Mother Pukka) and The Dad Shift, similar strikes took place in 13 locations across the UK including in Edinburgh, London, and Belfast on Thursday, August 27.
Protesters came together to call for flexible working by default, and a minimum of six weeks’ paternity leave at 90 per cent pay, including for the self-employed.
In a post shared on social media, The Dad Shift said the aim was to make it “the biggest parents’ protest in British history”.
In Cardiff Bay, parents and children gathered alongside Senedd Members on the steps of the Welsh Parliament holding placards with slogans such as “More time, more pay, more dad” and “Q: What’s the worst Dad joke? A: UK paternity leave”.
The Cardiff protest was supported by the Women’s Equality Network Wales, which described the UK as “failing” parents in a social media post promoting the campaign.
Plaid Cymru MS Sara Rees began campaigning for better parental leave and flexible working when she was made redundant on maternity leave more than a decade ago.
The Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg MS said: “My daughter is now 12, coming up to 13, and I didn’t think that we would be fighting this long, that a decade on I would be passing that baton to the next round of parents.
“What’s fantastic is that we’ve got dads involved, we’ve got dads leading this event because we know that parenting isn’t a mother’s job.
“But also we need to look to the UK Government and to tackle some of those things, which is why we’ve all come here today – along with people across the UK – because it’s really important that we see right from day one that dads and non-birthing parents are involved in parenting and they’re seen as part of that.”
Ms Rees was joined by fellow Plaid Cymru MSs including Kiera Marshall, whose own daughter is less than a year old.
Traffic management company boss was left amazed by what many drivers believe about temporary traffic lights
Some drivers believe that temporary traffic light rules are in fact ‘advisory’(Image: Getty)
A manager at a traffic management company has shed light on a ‘dangerous myth’ believed by numerous motorists regarding traffic lights, which could land them with a £100 fine and 3 penalty points. Motoring experts revealed that some drivers wrongly assume that red lights at roadworks – typically installed by construction firms – are merely ‘advisory’ and are not subject to the same legislation as permanent traffic signals.
In a blog post, a manager at JandG Traffic Management Services outlined several misconceptions surrounding temporary traffic lights, including the notion that flashing headlights can alter the signal. He said: “When I explained I ran a traffic management company they immediately asked the question so many people believe, “Can you change a temporary traffic light from red to green by flashing your headlights as you approach them?
“Unfortunately, I had to shatter all their illusions and explain that this was not the case, and if they have done this and the lights had changed it was down to pure luck. What a lot of drivers fail to realise is that temporary traffic lights have the same regulations as static traffic lights, so jumping them can result in a £100 fine and 3 penalty points on their licence.”
He further noted that many motorists genuinely believe that a clear road gives them the green light to run a red, as the rules are supposedly ‘advisory’. The transport manager said: “There are other people who believe that red temporary lights used in Streetworks locations are advisory, thinking that they can proceed with caution provided the road is clear with many admitting to chancing it at night saying that they thought the lights were faulty.”
“According to the Road Traffic Act and the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions Legislation, temporary traffic control schemes carry the same validity as permanent signs and traffic lights and as so, must be adhered to in the same way. Running a red light whether static or temporary sees you risking a fine and your licence endorsed.
“I dare say the majority of us have found ourselves approaching temporary signals and as we can see no traffic, we therefore assume the lights are stuck on red, so sneak through before they turn green.
“If there is a stop sign or red light, stop and wait for it to go green. Even if you think the red light is broken, think of what the implications could be if it is just slow to change as part of a multi-junction area.
“Jumping any red light puts you and other road users in harms way and you can be prosecuted. The Highway Code states, ‘You must obey all traffic lights including temporary ones.’ Remember flashing at temporary lights will not make any difference they will change when they do and sorry for busting this myth open. Do yourself and all road workers a favour and take the time when the light is red to relax, getting aerated will get you nowhere!”.
The Highway Code makes clear that traffic light signals are obligatory for all road users. It states: “You MUST obey all traffic light signals and traffic signs giving orders, including temporary signals and signs.”
The social media influencer has shed nearly a stone in six weeks, dropping from 15 and a half stone to a slimmer 14st 7lbs.
