News

About nine years ago, I decided not to travel by plane again unless I absolutely had to, and I haven’t taken a flight since. I was motivated by climate consciousness, but I also love travelling by train, so when my sister invited our family to spend Christmas in Sicily, where she lives with her husband and son, I started thinking about a no-fly route to the Italian island.

I knew about the Strait of Messina crossing, where a train drives onto a ferry, and I spotted a discount on Interrail tickets, so I bought a £200 pass which allowed five days of travel within 30 days. Not all rail networks are part of the Interrail system and some journeys require pre-booked seats, so I spent another £200 on additional tickets and reservations, but the Interrail Rail Planner app made route planning relatively easy.

I set off from Leicester at about 7am on a Saturday morning in late December, taking a train to London before jumping on the 11am Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. I took the metro over to Gare du Lyon and started the first of my Interrail travel days with the train to Turin.

Shorts – Quick stories

Are you ready for a change?

One career expert shares the surefire signs you’re ready for the next step in your career, and how to turn fear into excitement for new opportunities.

The research

Our research shows almost half of all workers (45 per cent) are ready for a complete career transition, but 49 per cent feel stuck on what to pursue next. The rapid shifts brought about by AI can be intimidating, but it will also create opportunities…

CHARLOTTE DAVIES, LINKEDIN UK CAREER EXPERT

Signs you’ve outgrown your role

It’s an energy drain

If you’re clocking in and out with zero energy, that could be a sign of burnout by boredom.

You’re not learning

If you can handle all tasks on autopilot, you are not challenging yourself. Instead you’re operating purely on muscle memory.

You don’t feel valued

It can be extremely demotivating, and if it occurs consistently, it’s a strong signal that it might be time to consider moving on.

Your brain has started a side project

When you are seeking out professional development and learning opportunities elsewhere that should be happening at work, it’s a huge signal that you need a job that keeps up with your ambition.

LIFESTYLE

7 min read

You don’t see a path to promotion

If you go into a meeting asking for a growth plan or a promotion roadmap and all you get are vague promises and non-committal language, that’s actually your answer: they aren’t planning for your potential. 

A manager who truly values you should be able to list specific training, projects or goals to get you to the next level. 

What to do next

You don’t need to make drastic moves.

• The very first step is to diagnose the root cause if things feel unsettled, and don’t just assume it’s the job itself.
• Find someone trustworthy to talk to. This isn’t a complaint session, it’s about getting perspective. 
• Refresh your LinkedIn profile and start reviving your in-person network.  
• Thinking of a new field? Check out a short course or certification to ‘test the waters’ before jumping. 

music

Careless Whisper voted nation’s favourite

George Michael’s beloved 1984 hit has been ranked the number one track for the eighth year running.

His 1986 hit A Different Corner came in at number two.

I’m never gonna dance again

Careless Whisper came top of Smooth Radio’s All Time Top 500 list.

Michael’s first breakaway single from Wham!, he penned the lyrics when he was just 17-years-old.

Smooth Radio presenter Kate Garraway said: “It’s a fitting tribute to one of the greatest artists of all time.”

MUSIC

7 min read

Top of the pops

• 1Careless Whisper – George Michael
• 2A Different Corner – George Michael
• 3Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
• 4Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
• 5Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel

19-year-old suspect appears in court over alleged bomb hoax

The Birmingham man was
accused of false communications which led a Peter Kay arena
show to be evacuated.

Everything you need to know

• Omar Majed, 19, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today.
• He had been arrested over an alleged bomb hoax at the Utilita Arena.
• He did not give a plea to his only charge of communicating false information to police.
• The case was sent to crown court, where Majed will appear on 1 June.

NEWS

2 min read

Go deeper on this topic

Comedian Peter Kay was ushered off stage mid-performance at the arena on Friday after a “suspicious bag” was reported. The show was cancelled and police later said “nothing suspicious was found” during searches.

The show was part of Kay’s ‘Better Late Than Never’ national tour, which will see all proceeds donated to 12 cancer charities.

Majed was disruptive throughout the hearing, eventually taken down to the cells after he shouted that proposed bail conditions were “not acceptable”.

Ditch Strictly and
slash licence fee – radical plan for BBC cuts

The plans would see the BBC forced to ditch popular shows
like The Traitors and Strictly Come Dancing.

What you need to know

• GB News has submitted a plan for overhauling the national broadcaster.
• The proposal would force the BBC to limit itself to areas commercial competitors are struggling to fund such as educational programming.
• The £180-a-year TV licence would be drastically cut and only paid by households which use the BBC.
• Criminal sanctions for non-payment would be abolished.

Analysis

4 min read

Why is this significant?

This comes as the Government consults on a new BBC Charter, which will set out the funding and governance of the corporation for the next decade.

Some of the proposals are markedly similar to those advocated by its star presenter, Nigel Farage. Any similarities between the GB News plan and Reform’s policies are entirely coincidental, the channel said.

Analysis

4 min read

A ‘blueprint’ for Reform

It’s a 30-page blueprint for a reduced BBC. Reform could use it as an off-the-shelf prescription if it won power. But the Tories could too if they were really being radical.”

an anonymous gb news insider

Can you learn to love pigeons? A much-unloved animal in the UK

Features writer Kasia Delgado went on a safari to see if she
could look past their rat-like nature

The tour guide

People think pigeons are stupid but lots of studies have shown them to have amazing memories, that they can identify people by their facial features, and they have an extraordinary sense of direction.

Florence Wilkinson, author of Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, took Kasia on a tour.

Positives of pigeons

War heroes

During the Second World War, carrier pigeons were routinely used to send messages, and they saved thousands of lives.

Homing ability

Scientists have put them in blacked-out vans and put miniature goggles on them to blur their vision and still the pigeons manage to return home.

The Dove family

We think of them as all grey, but they vary in shades, and some of them are quite amazingly coloured, says Florence.

Kasia’s feeding test

As I gingerly chuck some seed, wincing slightly, 15 or so flap their wings at me. I wouldn’t say I feel content or relaxed but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would.
I can see they’re not going to do me harm and after all, they’re just enjoying some free food.

A common myth? 

Disease carriers

Research has found that between 1941 and 2004, there were only 207 reports worldwide of pathogens transmitted from pigeons to humans.

Not all walks are
created equal

Read on to find out how to supercharge yours into an unbeatable health-builder

How to supercharge your walk

Get a bit breathless

All walking paces are linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but there are additional gains made by those who walk at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

Walk uphill

Try to find varying inclines to increase energy and muscle burn.

Add weights

The extra resistance challenges your heart to work harder, increasing cardiovascular fitness.

How to supercharge your walk

Uneven ground

Mountainous and uneven terrain work your stabilising muscles harder, increasing the difficulty and output from your walk.

Go Nordic

Using poles engages the arms as well as the legs and core, turning walking into a full-body workout.

A walk is beneficial at any time of day, but after eating could be best. Research has found that 10- to 30-minute walks taken 10 to 30 minutes after a meal can reduce the peak blood-sugar measurements reached.

Slower and lower blood sugar throughout the day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

How to supercharge your walk

Go green

Walking in nature has more psychological benefits than concrete. It’s shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.

Improve your posture

Staying tall through the spine, open your chest and keep your eyes forward (not leaning over on your phone..). 

Meet outside

Walking is a good time to have conversations, whether with your boss or a friend.

Mistakes to avoid

• 1Focusing on step count – most research suggests that benefits plateau at 7,000 steps a day.
• 2Using ankle weights – they can tug at the hip flexors and the knees.
• 3 Doing one-and-done – just hiking for three hours on the weekend, and nothing throughout the week, means you’re missing out on benefits.
• 4Thinking it’s not a workout – walking packs in cardio and brain-boosting effects without the recovery time of intense exercise.

Eight million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease

And while chest pain is a well-known symptom, there are more subtle signs you should be aware of too.

Overlooked signs of heart disease

Dizziness and fainting

An abnormal heart rhythm can cause a dizzy feeling. While much dizziness is not serious, it can be associated with life-threatening complications. 

Increased breathlessness

This breathlessness could be due to blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries.

Swollen ankles

Unusual swelling can indicate a problem with the body’s circulatory system and kidneys.

Worsening fatigue

Ongoing and worsening fatigue can indicate an underlying health issue, and it could be a sign that your heart isn’t working as effectively as it should be. If persistent fatigue is impacting you day-to-day, the best thing to do is speak with your doctor.

Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation

Overlooked signs of heart disease

Indigestion-type symptoms
Discomfort in the stomach, chest and ribs, or a burning sensation in the chest area, could all be symptoms of heart disease.

Erectile dysfunction
If it’s an ongoing issue, there could be an underlying health problem, including atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), diabetes or high blood pressure.

Emotional detachment is a key life skill

Read on to find out how to embrace it, from GP Dr Radha

Healthy detachment

[Detachment] is not selfish – we can still care and empathise. We don’t avoid, we just balance and respond rather than react because we are not too invested in the outcome. This is very different from emotional numbing, which often happens after trauma.

dr Radha Modgil

When we need detachment

Toxic friendships

When you feel that an interaction brings out the worst in you, or that you are having to watch everything you say or do.

Dysfunctional families

Healthy detachment is helpful when we become overly invested in trying to control or fix someone.

Work issues

It’s helpful in situations you are not in control of and helps you leave work behind at 5pm. 

How to start it

Examine your beliefs

You may have been conditioned to think that it is your responsibility to fix everything. Is this a fact or based on old patterns?

Look at the impact

Consider what negative impact your “fixing” has; it can keep situations stuck, or infantilise others from growing up.

Which problems are in your control?

Understanding what problems are ours to hold and which aren’t can help avoid emotional burnout.

How to maintain it

Firm boundaries

This means understanding your sense of self, what is yours and what is not and sticking to it.

Self-care

Recognise and look after your own energy levels, mental health and your need to live your own life.

Be objective

Try to have a factual, calm, rational attitude in moments of conflict. This includes trying to release the need to control.

I arrived at Porta Susa station about five and a half hours later and walked through a lovely upscale area of the city to Porta Nuova, from which my next train departed. I had a 90-minute layover and the walk was only 20 minutes, so had time to grab a delicious pizza for dinner on the way.

At 10pm, I boarded the 11-hour Intercity Notte sleeper train going south. The cabin was simple but clean with four berths, and each passenger was given bedding and a bottle of water. I’m six foot six, but I slept surprisingly well and was comfortable enough on my top bunk.

The next morning the views were incredible, with fields of fig and orange trees on one side and beaches and pastel-hued seaside towns on the other. When I arrived in Salerno, a coastal city about halfway down the ‘boot’ of Italy, the sun was shining, with not a cloud in the sky. I strolled among the bobbing fishing boats in the marina framed by the Alburni mountains in the distance.

From Salerno, the five-hour train took me all the way to Sicily, including the Strait of Messina crossing – the only place in Europe where passenger trains still board a ferry. The service started in 1899, a time when train-on-ferry routes were popular across Europe; other crossings included Dover to Dunkirk and Germany to Sweden across the Baltic Sea. But from the 1970s onwards, most were replaced by bridges or tunnels. And it’s possible the Strait of Messina ferry will suffer the same fate, as construction is due to begin this year on a suspension bridge that will carry cars and trains across the strait.

At Villa San Giovanni docks, the train was split in two so the carriages could – with the help of a fleet of operatives – roll onto tracks on the ferry’s lower deck. The other passengers and I disembarked the train and went up to sit in the lounge, where I took a lunch of arancino (a deep-fried risotto ball) and macchiato from the onboard café to a seat by the window. I looked out towards the mountains of Sicily stretching into the distance as we made the calm, half-hour crossing.

On land, the carriages were reconnected and within a few minutes we were at Messina station, the final stop on this route. From here, I hopped on a train to Siracusa, where I was picked up by my sister, who drove me to her home near Pozzallo, in southern Sicily. I arrived roughly 36 hours after setting off.

I spent a wonderful two weeks with my family, taking windswept beach walks and sunny bike rides along the coast. We visited Ispica for the Presepe Vivente, or living nativity. Set in the city’s historic caves, this Christmas tradition features residents in traditional clothing demonstrating local crafts and cooking, and we had the chance to try some warm, freshly made ricotta and red wine.

While the outbound journey went without a hitch, the same can’t be said for the return. This time, I took a different route, starting with the Strait of Messina crossing but then going all the way to Rome on a sleeper train. I was supposed to arrive in the Italian capital at 7am, but for reasons I never got to the bottom of, we didn’t get there until 11am, resulting in a mad dash to find a train to Milan for my onward connection to Basel, Switzerland.

In Milan, the Swiss train company staff were very kind and spoke perfect English. They told me there weren’t any seats available but that I could sit on the floor. Even from my less than luxurious vantage point, the views of the Swiss Alps and the crystal blue lakes as we wound through the valleys were stunning.

I realised I wasn’t going to make my scheduled Eurostar that evening, so on the train from Basel to Strasbourg, I booked a £26 bed in a hostel close to Paris Gare du Nord. I managed to rebook onto the first Eurostar the next morning for £15, so I was back in Leicester by 10.30am, only four hours later than intended.

Despite the delays and stress on the way back, I would happily go to Sicily by train again. In fact, I’m planning on making this trip an annual tradition, but varying my route each year to include more culinary pit stops. Next time, I’d love to spend a day in Rome sniffing out the best cacio e pepe or carbonara.

As told to Katie Wright.