He didn’t just shout me a drink, he made me feel understood and seen. I’ve never forgotten his gesture

I had picked up a box of books at work when my back just went – I have never experienced pain like that in my life. I was off work for weeks, consumed by the agony of it and barely able to move. In desperation, I tried every treatment I could – massage, physiotherapy, herbal compresses. You name it, I’d given it a go.

On one such Hail Mary mission I went to a back pain clinic, where my lower back was injected with anaesthetic. The treatment was so painful, I left the clinic in tears. I remember walking out in such a state and thinking, “How am I even going to get myself home?” As I stumbled along, it occurred to me that I needed something to calm myself down. Spotting a chocolate shop, I stepped inside.

Continue reading...

PM’s attendance at European Political Community meeting in Yerevan seen as part of effort to build new ties after US rupture

Canada is to become the first non-European country to attend a meeting of the European Political Community when the prime minister, Mark Carney, joins Monday’s summit of the 48-plus nation grouping in Yerevan, Armenia.

Carney has said he is determined to build a new network of trade and diplomatic alliances after the loss of US markets under Donald Trump. His presence will also represent a show of western support for Armenia in its efforts to distance itself from Russia at a time when Washington’s approach to Moscow’s opponents, such as Ukraine, is at best ambiguous. Canadian diplomats have rejected suggestions Ottawa might seek EU membership.

Continue reading...

Billionaire’s role as honorary chair and main source of funding has led to boycotts and criticism event has lost its cachet

The Met Gala in New York is the grandest and ritziest event in the fashion calendar, and an indicator of the growing ties between designers, celebrity and power. But with tech billionaires now joining the cohort, this year’s party may be its most controversial yet.

All eyes are on the guest list – and their outfits – to launch the fashion exhibition Costume Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. Beyoncé, Venus Williams and Nicole Kidman are chairing the event with Vogue’s Anna Wintour, and tickets cost about $100,000 (£73,500). But in a plot twist worthy of the new Devil Wears Prada film, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, the Met Gala’s new honorary chairs, will be joining the 450 guests on the museum steps on Monday.

Continue reading...

LEYSIN (ANP) - Tadej Pogacar heeft de Ronde van Romandië op zijn naam geschreven. De wereldkampioen van UAE Team Emirates won de slotrit van Lucens naar Leysin en boekte zo zijn vierde etappezege in de Zwitserse rittenkoers.

Voor Pogacar was het de eerste rittenkoers dit jaar. Hij won vier etappes en het eindklassement. De Sloveen had eerder de zege gepakt in de eendagskoersen Strade Bianche, Milaan-Sanremo, Ronde van Vlaanderen en Luik-Bastenaken-Luik.

De slotrit in Zwitserland eindigde met de 14 kilometer lange beklimming naar Leysin. Met nog 6 kilometer te gaan werd de Nieuw-Zeelander Finn Fisher-Black als laatste van de vluchters teruggepakt. Op 3 kilometer van de streep plaatste Lipowitz zijn aanval. Alleen Pogacar volgde en nam over. In de sprint was hij veel sneller dan de Duitser, die voor de derde keer als tweede eindigde.

In het algemeen klassement eindigde Pogacar met 42 seconden voorsprong op Lipowitz. Lenny Martinez uit Frankrijk werd derde op 2.44 minuten.

In een regenachtig Sittard heeft Feyenoord zichzelf een goede dienst bewezen. De formatie van hoofdtrainer Robin van Persie leek averij op te lopen tegen Fortuna Sittard, maar sleepte de punten toch uit het vuur door een late treffer van Givairo Read. Het gat met NEC bedraagt door de 1-2 zege nu vijf punten.

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

handwritten on negative envelope, “Camp -- 1932, Marine Reserve"