STRICTLY DR PUNAM KRISHAN RETURNS AFTER CANCER

Pic dr Punam Krishan insta 

Strictly star Dr Punam Krishan has returned to work at her GP surgery do the first time since having breast cancer and says her diagnosis has forced her to stop and unlearn over twenty years of conditioning. 
As she revealed she had new insight, Dr Punam said: “Today’s a big day. Today I’m back in my GP for the first time since finishing my breast cancer treatment. And being here has really made me think about something that I hear a lot. I hear it from my friends, I hear it from patients, I hear it from my colleagues, so many people that just say, I can't take time off or I feel so guilty for resting or I should really just be pushing through.
And the thing is, that that guilt just doesn't help healing them. In fact, it often makes illness harder, and it makes recovery longer. And it's because we live in a society that essentially teaches us to push on, even when we're not well.
And that's especially true, I think, if you are a parent, if you are a carer or a professional, or the one who usually holds everything together, that guilt can really feel real. And I realise how deeply that message runs, even in me, honestly. It has taken a cancer diagnosis to force me to stop and unlearn over 20 years of that kind of conditioning.”
Practising doctor Dr Punam went on to say that she has learned  ‘healing actually requires unapologetic, proper rest.’
She added: “It requires proper time.And it requires a serious sense of duty of care to yourself first, and that's not something that I was ever really taught at medical school, especially as medics or healthcare workers, we are taught of duty of care to others to show up, to cope, to keep going no matter what. But the truth is, when you're not well, you just can't get 100%, and as as a doctor, that matters because my patients, they deserve me well, they deserve me present and able to care properly, not exhausted, not running on empty, even though lots of us can be guilty of doing just that.”
Smiling as she retained to  her office after being diagnosed six months ago, she added: “So I am easing myself back now slowly, intentionally, and without guilt.
And I wanted to share this for anyone else who's off work just now, anyone who is recovering from illness, anyone resting and feeling bad about it, please don't.
Like, you're not weak, you are not letting anybody down. You're doing exactly what your body needs to do right now.
It needs to heal. So slow down, tune inward. Your health matters, you matter.
And when you're truly well, you'll be able to give back in the way that you want to again.”
So today, I am back where I belong back to what I love in my GP clinic, and I feel so incredibly grateful to back on this side of the consultation table again. It's been a really, really tough six months, but I know that I've come back stronger with new insight as well, and I hope that that helps me take even better care of my patients.
So let's go.”

RUBY WAX BUYS FINDHORN HOME

Pic Ruby Wax insta 

Beverley Lyons 

Ruby Wax has always had a love of Scots eco village Findhorn and its surrounding area and now she’s confirmed she has bought a home there because it reminds her of her childhood. 

The Illinois born comedian and TV star,  who has talked openly about her battle with depression throughout her life, has always been drawn to the community in Findhorn, explaining before that it has given her an inner peace. 

She has admired the ‘eco houses, sumptuous gardens and the free spirited nature’ of the 600 people that live in the little community and she’s often sought comfort in it when things have become too hectic. 

Mum of three Ruby even wrote her 2021 book A Mindfulness Guide For Survival, while living apart from her TV producer director husband Ed Bye in a “nano house” in Hertfordshire while he remained at their family home in London.

 And she stayed at Findhorn, when she completed her latest book ‘I'm Not as Well as I Thought Was’ as well as through lockdown, being interviewed by Louis Theroux at ‘Rainbow Lodge in the Field of Dreams’ 

Such is her draw to her Scottish ‘Mecca’, Ruby has now revealed that she has purchased a house there before even seeing it. It comes just as her son Max is also moving to Washington. 

Ruby, who was spotted there in recent days enjoying a sauna in nearby Hopeman East Beach, Elgin twenty minutes away, told her followers in the Travel Secrets podcast this month: “Well, I have a little house in Findhorn, which you'd never expect because I like five star. So I bought a little house where I'm going to tomorrow. This is so bizarre because I have another side of my personality that's quite bohemian, well hippie and kind of grungy, because it's my childhood.So I bought a place, tiny, and I'm going to see if I lost my mind in two days. It's got something.”

Ruby then went on to explain the appeal of Findhorn. 

She said: “The story is so bizarre that I wrote it in one of my books. 60 years ago Eileen Caddy heard a voice from God. He said, go to Finthorn, right? So she leaves her six kids and she meets the brigadier and he's got a voice from God, too.So they get a caravan that's about five feet long and it’s tiny and they live there and God talks to her. He says, meet me in the outdoor loo. So she goes to the outdoor loo and at two in the morning, God talks to her and he tells her how to plant these cabbages.She's not a gardener, right? But she takes the seeds and she plants them along where the water is and they become gigantic and people come from around the world, especially hippies and scientists, and they don't understand how it happened. So for the next 60 years, they develop it. The vegetables are gigantic.” “And there's 600 people living there, but 2,000 in the outside community. It’s the first big kind of hippie community. It’s called an intentional community. You can go and stay there in one of those caravans. There's not many places to stay, but there's pagan rituals on Saturday. There's yoga during the week. It’s like Sun City, except it's hippie.”

Ruby said of her new abode: “I bought it.It was being built. It's teeny. So I have extremes.”

“But I go in the North Sea, because that's my thing.I’m a cold water swimmer in December in the North Sea. There's a high you get. There's no question. You come out of there and you're hot.

“Then you get hypothermia a little later, but it's worth the high. I mean, they've taken everything, cigarettes, alcohol. So my last high is cold water. At Findhorn, I will be doing it.”

SIR JACKIE STEWART SHARES RARE PICTURE OF WIFE HELEN

SIR Jackie Stewart posted up a rare photograph of himself with wife Lady Helen as he thanked her for helping to bring up their two sons. 
Lady Helen who turned 82 in January and now receives 24 hour care at home is in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with dementia in 2014. 
Three time F1 world champ Sir Jackie has often paid tribute  to his wife, recently saying that she is still ‘a fantastically attractive lady‘ and has an always been a ‘great looker’. 
However his high school sweetheart Lady Helen who he married in 1962, has rarely been seen public over the last few years with few pictures appearing of her as she battles with her illness.
For Mothers Day, Sir Jackie paid tribute to her and shared a private moment of the two cosied up on their sofa alongside their little dog. 
Sir Jackie looked half asleep as he lay back on the couch and a smiling Lady Helen leaned over to look at him and grabbed his arm. 
The racing legend, who also shared a black and white throwback picture of his family behind the scenes at the track, wrote: “Happy Mother's Day to the woman who was Team Principal to our two boys.”
The couple have two sons Mark and Paul and one of their nine grandchildren Dylan Stewart added: “She's a rockstar grandma.”
Others were amused to see Sir Jackie without a cap on with one commenting: “ (My best David Attenborough impression)
it's one the incredible things I've seen in my life, Jackie Stewart without his hat on. This has hardly been captured on camera!”

SHIRLEY MANSON LEFT UNABLE TO WALK AFTER GARBAGE HIP

Pic : Shirley Manson Instagram 

SHIRLEY Manson was left unable to walk after her hip gave out following an on tour injury - and now she says she is grateful to be alive following a life changing hip replacement last month. 
The 56 year old Garbage singer and actress  from Edinburgh had been struggling with her movement on and off over the last seven years after she fell off the rotating stage at a gig in LA whilst singing her band’s song Special. 
And after touring with Alanis Morrisette two years ago the Stupid Girl singer realised things were becoming worrying.
Reliving the moment she fell at KROQ Weenie Fest in the US Shirley told Curious Creatures podcast: “I knew what was happening as it was happening.
”I went into slow motion and I was like, I'm gonna f***ing fall off the front of this f***ing stage. 
“I f***ing can't believe it. Oh my god. Here I go yep, tumbling forward and then all of a sudden I've landed on my feet. Thank God. Unbeknownst to me at the time I really jacked my right hip on the barrier. I landed on the barrier. And then for six years, I've had some problems. 
“And then the last I was on tour with Atlantis Morissette two years ago and I couldn't walk on days off. I said: ‘What the hell's going on?’”
Following a medical consultation Shirley's doctor told her she needed a hip replacement which she had in March - and she claims it has been a humbling experience.  
She explained: “My doctor was like, ‘Yeah, you need a hip replacement’. So I had that a month ago and it was so humbling.
Like I've never had any physical problems my whole life, like nothing. I've never broken a leg or a finger or anything. And then all of a sudden, I find myself using a bedpan p***ing in a bedpan, you know, and having some nurse come and clean me up, I was like, This cannot be happening to me. This cannot be happening. It was happening to me.”
Shirley recalled having to use a zimmer to walk around LA and says it was a great ego check. 
She added: “And then I couldn't walk for two whole weeks. 
“And then I was with a walker, like shuffling around Beverly Hills, outside my doctor's office because I do not live in Beverly Hills, I hasten to add, and it was just such a great ego check of like, yeah, you are just you and you are going to die and you better enjoy your life that you've got left.”
Shirley who is working on Garbage’s eighth studio album is currently touring North America with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.  
And, as she joked that she was looking forward to bleeping at every security check, she said: “Now, you know, just really seize the day. It was really both a cool experience and an awful one. But here I am, with my amazing bionic hip, which looks so beautiful on the X ray, and I'm grateful to be alive. So there you go. It's a triumphant story in the end.“

LOVE ISLAND PAIGE TURLEY EMERGENCY OP AFTER HEALTH SCARE

PAIGE Turley has revealed she had to have a mole removed after concerning results came back after a routine health check. 
The Love Island winner who rose to victory in 2020 with her partner and now longterm boyfriend Finley Tapp, had initially taken a routine health test in January.
Both she and former footballer Finn were promoting Pall Mall Medical services online and visited their premises to get a health check carried out as part of their Insta stories. 
However, a few weeks ago, Manchester based Paige, 25, received a message saying she’d have to undergo some further tests - and now she has revealed to her viewers online that medical staff found something that needed further exploration following a CT scan. 

Paige showed herself sitting with a doctor as they went through her results and also shared images of herself on a medical bed as she lifted the top on her left side ahead of the procedure. 
She revealed: “Thanks so much for the messages send wishes after my CT scan guys. After another followup appt getting a mole removed results have come with little to worry about.”
She added: ”If you're concerned about your moles or skin lesions, you can book an appointment at @pallmallmedical with one of their specialist Dermatologists. 
The assessment will take up to 30 minutes to perform a full visual examination on up to 3 moles or skin lesions with dermoscopy to look deeper if needed!”

Paige spent some time in hospital in May 2022 and at the time also posted an image of herself on her hospital bed following minor surgery. 

DEPRESSION SIGNS AND WAYS TO HELP 24/7

July is The Samaritan’s Talk To Us Month and 24th July is Samaritans Awareness Day…to remind everyone that their Volunteers are there to take your calls 24/7.

Depression is a serious issue and some people who are suffering from depression aren’t even aware that is what they are suffering from. 

Did you know you could be suffering from depression without feeling sad?

 Depression can take hold gradually, and  increasingly dominate your perspective - and your life.

Symptoms of depression can take a variety of forms and not all are immediately obvious to the people suffering from them or to their loved ones. 

Here are five signs of depression to look out for and seven ways you can try to deal with them. 

1. Persistent depressed (low) mood. 

It's natural to feel down from time to time and everyone feels low or down at times or upset by many different situations in life that might occur. However when your low mood starts to affect things you might once have enjoyed or persists for a longer time than usual it can be a sign of depression. 

Maybe you have begun to lose interest in things you once enjoyed and maybe you’ve started to be withdrawn and are missing workouts or catch ups with friends because of your low mood. 

2. Feelings of worthlessness. ...

You may be experiencing a feeling of desperation and hopelessness. When your self esteeem is low you may feel useless, worthless and insignificant, and believe you have nothing valuable to offer the world

When you feel like this you can feel worthless and start thinking and talking about yourself negatively. 

3. Feeling anxious constantly 

Many people with symptoms of depression have feelings of anxiety. Of course it’s natural to have moments of excitement or have bouts of nervous energy. However, are you feeling overly anxious about things? Think about how long your anxiety lasts and how often you feel anxious as well as why you might be feeling anxious. Extra stress at work or in a relationship can cause anxiety but if it is ongoing and you have general anxiety without knowing the root, sometimes it is a sign of depression. 

4.  Constant fatigue 

Are you Feeling constantly tired? 

Feeling fatigued and too tired physically, mentally and emotionally can be a common sign of depression. 

Your energy levels may feel low and sometimes you can feel overwhelmed by activity and the prospect of keeping focused. A type of brain fog can hit you and you can feel drained by normal activities. Your sleep might also be affected by a general unease caused by depression. 

5. Always smiling, but not feeling it

Masking your feelings and pretending to have a great life can also be a sign of depression. Sometimes the bigger the smile, the bigger the depression it hides.  An overly positive attitude, or a perfect life on social media and always being the one to make light of things can sometimes be masking your real feelings as to what is going on. We often dismiss our own sadness or change the subject when we are in denial about how we feel.. People who say, “Yeah, I’ve been really down lately … but I’m fine. Honestly. How are you?” sometimes need a helping hand. 

Depression is a complex disorder and can affect your sleep, your interaction with people and your enthusiasm at work or school. It can impact on your energy levels, your appetite and your general health, making you feel like you are always ill, have digestive problems  or are in chronic pain. It can take the shine off of life and remove your lust for things you normally love. 

Depression in all its forms can be treated with medication and psychotherapy, and it’s best to contact your doctor or a medical expert to seek advice about the next steps you can take. 

However you can also try to make some simple lifestyle modifications to try and help you and your loved ones on their journeys. 

Here’s seven other things you can do to help.  

1. Talking

 Talking with a friend or family member you think is depressed and spending time  with them can make all the difference can help and the Samaritans are available to speak to you whenever you need a friendly voice to help you through your most difficult times. Call them for free on 116 223 any time, any day.

2 Exercise

Exercise can be a helpful way to relieve some symptoms of depression because it increases brain chemicals called endorphins. Just a few minutes of mild exercise can boost your mood and it will help your heart health, and general well-being. Even a short walk every day, or ten minutes of Joe Wicks , or dancing is a great start to get things moving.

3. Turn Negative Thoughts around

It’s easy to get caught up in negative thinking and think, "I'm a failure," or  "No one likes me," or "Nothings ever going to change,"

These thoughts can  reinforce depressive feelings but you can try to turn them around with positive thinking.

Instead of thinking ‘I’m a Failure’ start asking, "How do I know that?"  Or think about your past successes, even moments when you do remember smiling. 

Sometimes we need to fake it before we make it and by thinking of good times and not believing the negative thoughts in your head we can begin to work our way out of a depression. 

4. Change up your diet

Processed junk foods that are sugary, salty, and high-fat might make you feel good at first but can cause spikes in blood sugar, weight gain, and make you bad tempered.

More wholesome options like fresh fruit, salads, lean meats, oily fish, and whole-grain bread can all help you feel better inside and raise your mood. 

Alcohol can also lower your mood so try swapping unhealthy drinks with healthier options. 

Drinking lots of Water is also essential for your body to function well.

5. Herbs and Spices and special teas 

There are natural vitamins, minerals, herbs, and spices that can help to improve your mood and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. You can buy these as supplements or can purchase a tea like VAHDAM® India tea which is now stocked in Holland and Barrett and contains herbs  like Ashwagandha, Turmeric and Ginger that can help to cleanse your body and boost your mood. Ashwagandha is an amazing  herb long been used in Ayurvedic medicine for treating various health conditions including depression. It contains adaptogenic compounds that are known for relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety and can help fight degenerative brain conditions like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s. 

The spice Turmeric and its active ingredient cucumin  has been used for centuries in India and China to treat conditions like skin diseases, infections, and stress and some research has found that the bright yellow spice might also help ease symptoms of depression. 

Ginger is also meant to help reduce anxiety by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels.

6. Sleep

When you are depressed and anxious it’s hard to sleep  so you need to try and switch up your routine to get a more restful sleep throughout the night.

Switching off your phone and stopping scrolling an hour or so before you go to bed to rest your brain can help. 

Getting into a routine of going to bed at the same time every evening can also get you settled.

 A dark and quiet bedroom will help you to calm your brain and a room that is cool Weill help you to fall asleep quicker. Avoid caffeine and stimulants  for at least two hours before going to bed. Sleep can make a huge difference to your brain and body and help it to regenerate, repair, and renew. Try it for a few nights in a row and feel the difference.  

7. Laughter and charity

Laughter, they have always said, is the best medicine and  will increase dopamine levels in your brain.

Treat yourself to fun things like a night of comedy shows or movies. Watch fun thing online and have a giggle about funny things with friends or colleagues to try and boost your dopamine levels. Even just smiling releases positive chemicals to your brain.  

It will also make you feel better and distract you from yourself if you begin helping someone else.

When we are depressed  we become introverted and self absorbed so helping someone else with their lives can take us out of ourselves.  Looking after someone else’s pet, or helping an elderly neighbour or attending a local charity drive to help others can help to elevate our mood. 

LOVE ISLAND SCOT LAURA ANDERSON SPLITS FROM FITNESS TRAINER AFTER MOVING HOME

LOVE Island’s Laura Anderson has split up from her fitness coach boyfriend Tom Brazier after moving back to Scotland.  
Despite initially intending for hunky Tom to join her in Scotland six months into her move it seems their romance is off. 
Stirling born Laura told fans on an Instagram story: “Thankyou for all the DMs asking about Tom and I since I moved up north. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked out between us. In respect of Tom’s privacy I won’t be discussing this further. All my love to him and you all for continued support.”
Laura had originally enthused about her new life in Scotland with Tom who she got together with during lockdown after meeting him in January whilst walking her dog. 
The two even went on holiday to Dubai together and hit the headlines when they were mugged in Barcelona, before Laura also introduced Tom to her family in Scotland. 
She’d enthused about him saying: “ We live in the same complex and we used to stop to say hi when we took our dogs to the park. I needed a new PT so I approached him. Then one night, six weeks into my training, one thing led to another. He had no clue I had been on Love Island.”
Laura who moved to the swish Park Circus area of Glasgow last week said she had fully hoped Tom would join her in her new home. 
She had gushed about Tom being strong and caring saying she’d never met anyone like him before adding: “ I'm still going to move to Scotland and Tom is looking to follow me up in the next six months. He's the cherry on top of the cake."


Now that the romance is off, Laura who previously dated Wes Nelson and Jack Fowler on Love Island as well as Max Morley and Paul Knopps appears to be looking for a new fitness coach. 
She asked fellow Scot and Love Island Star Anton Danyluk if he would train her now she’s back, telling him: “I’m still waiting for you to train me now I’m back FYI. Where’s a good gym?”
Anton said he’d DM her. 

DREAMMAKER CHARITY BOSS LES HOEY MBE SAYS I DO ON FEBRUARY 29

Exclusive 
Beverley Lyons 
DREAMMAKER charity boss Les Hoey MBE couldn’t believe it when his girlfriend of 38 years asked to marry him. 
Scots charity head Les, 58, who has helped to make thousands of dreams of critically ill children come true admits he was so shocked he burst out laughing when his girlfriend Mandy Cunningham proposed to him yesterday. 
Les, who was heartbroken when his son Darren Hoey was found dead in Edinburgh last year, admits he realised life was too short following the tragedy. 
He said: “It’s been thirty eight years Mandy and I have been going out and it’s just been one of those things we’ve left.”
Mandy, 57, a nurse, had returned home from night shift yesterday morning and decided to take advantage of the date - February 29 - a leap year when it is tradition for women to propose to their partners. 
Wishaw based Les said: “Mandy went to work last night and came in from the night shift with a What’s On Tv magazine which has the words ‘Marry Me’ on the front cover. It was in relation to a shock proposal from Coronation Street. Mandy waved the magazine in my face and said ‘Marry Me’ and I burst out laughing. O didn’t know what she was on about snd then it clicked. We’ve always thought about it with Darren dying because life is too short. I said yes and then Mandy went to bed because she’d been working all night. I’m really happy and can’t wait to celebrate with friends and family.”

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Daily Record. 

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com 

RICHARD MADDEN RAVES ABOUT PAISLEY NIGHTSPOT VIENNAS

HOT Scot Richard Madden admitted he and his family were fans of Paisley’s Vienna’s nightclub on a night out in the States.
Bodyguard star Richard has been seen at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globes in the last week where he picked up an award for Best Actor.
The Elderslie born talent met up with Scots club owner Tony Cochrane ahead of the event and even introduced Tony to his mum and dad to reminisce about Paisley.
Tony told me: “I met Richard along with his mum and dad who were both wearing a wee bit of tartan at Critics Choice Awards. We got chatting and I told him I had clubs in Paisley and around Scotland. When he found out I owned Vienna’s he called his mum and dad over and they talked about how well they knew it. Richard was so excited to talk about Scotland and his roots. ”
You can take the boy out of Elderslie but... you know the rest.
Xxx
David Tennant is so tickled pink by his brand new gadget at home, he thinks it’s better than a sonic screwdriver.
The Broadchurch and  Doctor Who star who is soon to star in Good Omens on the Beeb told fans at a US convention that he has just acquired a special hot water tap.
The tap allows David to make a cup of tea without boiling the kettle.
He said: “It is the best thing that has ever happened to us. That is a thing of great joy. You don’t have to boil a kettle ever again. The boiling water just comes out of the tap”
Simple things.
Xxx

I don’t now what I’ve let myself in for but I popped along to Fitness Frontier at Glasgow’s Clydeside for my first ever session with a personal trainer.
Chris Johnston has trained everyone from The Weakest Links Anne Robinson to River City’s Tom Urie and the Miss Scotland girls. Now he’s training me. He told me to take along a banana and bottle of water to the first session and I ended up needing them both. I thought I was semi fit but after one minute of skipping (which turned out to be twenty seconds of getting puffed out) I’ve realised I’m not exactly Rocky. Watch this space.

Sent from my iPhone

CRETE IS SMASHING IF YOU WANT PLENTY ON YOUR PLATE

THE Greeks no longer smash plates during a good night out - instead, since the 1970s legislation which now makes it forbidden, they are more likely to toss some flowers or napkins at one another in celebration.
And did you know olive oil forms the basis of the triangular Cretan diet (meat and fish at the top) and, as well as its other health benefits, is a recognised aphrodisiac?
These two facts are just some of those I learned on my Cretan holiday.
You see, as the good professor once told me, Crete is like a bikini.
You might think you can see it all, but the best bits are always hidden away from those but the most curious of eyes.
A week in Crete, the largest of the Greek islands, is just not enough to delight in the many thrills it has to offer.
From the myths and legends of the Minotaur and its associated labyrinth, and Gods like Zeuss and Poseidon, to the history of the Minoan civilisation and its place as the important 'first link in the European chain' to it's current status as a front runner in eco-tourism and ambassador for the healthy Mediterranean diet, its DD cup runneth over.


Located by the Agean sea - so named after the myth of the King who drowned there- it also offers more pleasant aquatic opportunities by way of cruising, scuba diving, snorkelling, and wind surfing as well as beaches like Elafonissi.
And for those with a fish phobia, like me, who prefer a piece of glass between them and the creatures of the deep, the Thalassocosmos-Aquarium, a former American base at Gournes will prove an exhilirating experience in less intimidating surroundings.
Here you can stare eyeball to eyeball at over hundreds of species and thousands of living organisms from the humble Octopus to winged fish, sharks and seahorses.
The largest city in Crete is Heraklion and direct flights from Glasgow or via London will bring you straight into its central airport.
Catering for families and couples, as well as those who just want a retreat from our ever bustling cities, it is mountainous and picturesque, with little fishing villages and harbours to break up the landscape.
You are more or less guaranteed 13 hours of sunshine a day during August, and the temperature still hits the mid-20s in October.
My particular experience was of the five stars on the island - of which there are many, but those with a more limited budget will find plenty including some lodges at places like the eco-friendly Millia Village priced at around £75 a night.


A stay at The Aldemar Royal Mare Thallasso was a real treat - a refined yet sumptuous five star with an olde world attitude towards service and quality and an adjoining spa. The nearby oppulent Minos Palace hotel offered real style and sophistication and some rooms even come with a private pool.
Tourists love a good night out and The Cretan Village in Karouzanos is up a windy cobbled footpath where food, drink and dancing awaits - not to mention the odd donkey. Romance is very much alive and as the raki - grappa wine- goes down, you may find yourself getting amorous with... anyone!
Near the main city of Heraklion lies the world famous Knossos, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, restored, by archaeologist Arthur Evans who had an educated if not imaginative mind. With its frescoes and restored interiors it undoubtedly brings alive some of the late Minoan relics.
A visit to the Archaelogical Museum of adjoining Chania showcases some of the artifacts removed during the excavation work.


Chania also boasts a pleasant harbour by which to walk at night and an imposing lighthouse, and nearby is the serene Cavo Spada hotel - a modern retreat with a pool so large the lifeguard needs a boat to get from one end to the other.
For budding historians, a trip to the Melidoni Cave with its rudimentary prayer altars proves haunting. A monument to those burned alive in 1821 forms the centrepiece of these caves and somewhat eerily the pictures I took here depicted facelike forms etched in the walls, soi much so that I had to seek comfort in some of the local food - of which pastries are a speciality.
Crete has so much to offer so who needs plates? You'll find a holiday in Crete smashing in so many other ways.

Theshowbizlion.com was a guest of the Greek National Tourism Organization.

- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

TRNSMT MUSIC FAN WHO WENT VIRAL CLIMBING FLAGPOLE ISNT DANCING NOW

THE TRNSMT reveller who climbed up a flag pole before it dropped dramatically to the ground has been left on crutches - and remorsefully joked they are the only poles he'll be going near for a while.
Alloa lad Connor McNeill was approached by the police before being taken away in a wheelchair by paramedics and left on crutches following his attempt at scaling the flagpole on Glasgow Green.
The festival crowd had screamed and then cheered as they watched him hang one-handed from the 20 ft high pole.
A crowd video showed the moment Connor barely clung to the giant flag as it descended suddenly to the ground at Glasgow Green.
 Connor who dropped rapidly to the ground with it was surrounded by police and paramedics following his stunt.
As he sat on the ground and winced in pain he asked his pals: "Has my face went white?"
He told paramedics: "I was holding onto the pole and landed on my ankle and the pole hit my head."
He tired to joke about getting 'a big shoe' as he tucked into some chips.
He also said: "See compared to everyone else, I was rapid."
As he was led away to first aid by wheelchair he joked: "VIP here I come."
He showed remorse afterwards when he put up a picture on his social media of his crutches and his big foot saying: "The only poles I'll be going anywhere near for a while
Excerpts of this article have since appeared in The Daily Record
From Scotland with Love - the Showbizlion.com
Sent from my iPhone

SCOTS BGT WINNER JAI MCDOWALL NEEDS NOSE JOB

SCOTS BGT winner Jai McDowall says he is having to undergo nose surgery to help his singing career.
Jai who won the TV talent show in 2011 claims his performances have been affected by a deviated septum which has caused him nasal blockages resulting in pre show nerves.
He also says he's fed up with photographers photoshopping his nose.
Jai said: "I've been singing for twenty one years and broke my nose as a teenager before someone broke my nose again in a pub fight seven years ago. I went to the doctor at the time and he was going to break it again to reset it but it never happened. I thought everything was fine but in the last six months my nose has been getting blocked up all the time and
I've been waking up with a sore throat.


It's been making it hard to sing and I've suffered from anxiety about not being able to sing before performances."
He added:'"I've also had photo shoots, where the photographer has changed the appearance of my nose which has been a bit insulting."
Jai, who has been on a keep fit drive and is trying to get his career back on track, recently had an audition for Les Miserables in London's West end but was suffering from severe congestion beforehand.
He said: "I've recently been recording in LA and have a few big work things coming up so I have to get my nose seen to now."
The Ayrshire born singer who has just turned thirty admitted he contemplated getting surgery done abroad before friends talked him out of it.
He said: "I've missed several appointments in Ayrshire with an Ear nose and throat specialist through my doctor as a result of work commitments and can't afford too leave it any longer. I thought about going abroad to get it done privately but friends told me some horror stories and there is not necessarily proper after care
I've now been consulting with Mr Ray from Glasgows's Elanic Clinic. Mr Ray is one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in the UK with a specialist interest in Rhinoplasty and used to work at the world renowned Canniesburn Unit of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He talked me through everything and also showed me how my nose would look from all angles on a specialist 3D Vectra simulation system.
I'm set to have surgery in the first week of April and will go to hospital to have it done. I am a bit nervous because my nose is a big part of me but I know it's the right thing to do. I'm hoping my nose will be all ready by the time the new series of BGT is aired next month."
















- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

SARDINIA OOZES CLASS AND LUXURY

WHEN I told people I was heading to Sardinia, I was greeted with some odd requests to bring back tins of sardines.
And although the name of the fish may well be taken from the waters where they used to congregate, sardines are surprisingly not actually a main attraction in Sardinia.


You won't see loads of them taking prime position on supermarket shelves around the island, in the same way as you don't see Scotland awash with haggis.
Instead, there's pasta, pork, shellfish and flat bread (pane carasau) among the local specialities, as well as the offer of sunshine and a glistening blue seascape that would rival those of the Caribbean.


The seductive beaches of this Mediterranean island are a welcome sanctuary for people seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of mainland Italy.
Sardinia remains unspoiled by tacky tourism and the hotels of family-run chain Delphina that I visited oozed a class and an uncomplicated feel that fits in with its elegant, understated beauty.


I travelled to Sardinia with easyJet, who run frequent flights from Gatwick to Olbia airport, and from there headed to the five-star Resort Valle dell'Erica Thalasso & Spa in Santa Teresa di Gallura on the north coast of the island.
What you save on the flights, you can spend on accommodation and my arrival at the resort, in a charming town where you can catch the ferry to Corsica, was most welcoming. There was a selection of cold meats or antipasti, pizza, and light cocktails - just an indication of the freshly prepared food that was on offer throughout my stay.
Lounging on the hotel's outdoor sun terrace made me feel like I was in a movie.


Funnily enough, actor Michael Douglas had been spotted on his boat near Porto Cervo, the heart of millionaire's paradise Costa Smeralda, just a day earlier. But despite bringing binoculars to peer into some of the Liberace-style cruisers, I unfortunately was never able to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood royal.
When I did make a quick trip to Costa Smeralda, all the yachts on show - including some evil-looking black ones - resembled something from a James Bond movie.


Some of the princely resort's architecture featured in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me.
I did a spot of window-shopping, too, at some of the jewellers and designer boutiques nearby.
My five-star base had its own Thalasso therapy pools, sauna, hammam, and cardio-fitness room, as well as other open-air swimming pools and an enchanting private beach where you can dine in the evening by arrangement.
For those on a fitness and health drive, the hotel offers the low-carb Dukan diet and other protein-rich foods. I'd have happily relaxed there for most of my stay but the waters proved too tempting and a boat excursion to the archipelago of La Maddalena, between Sardinia and Corsica, proved equally refreshing.
I had a quick paddle in the water before my ichthyophobia, or fear of fish, got the better of me and I decided instead to soak in the fabulous views.
Around the bay are various rock formations which resemble figures like a hunchback friar or a big bear. We delighted in creating names for some of the more unusual rocks.
We took a quick trip past Porto Pollo Beach, the laid-back, boho resort popular with surfers and kite boarders, taking in the panorama from a high point at Palau, about 18 miles from Olbia. The sights in west Sardinia are equally stunning. We visited the local ethnographic museum in the ancient, granite village of Aggius, where among other things we learned about tapestry and bread-making traditions, as well as the methods used in cork production. It was truly like stepping back in time.
We also visited the Resort & Spa Le Dune at Badesi. The four-star resort between sand dunes and juniper trees is ideal for families, being blessed with a white sandy beach overlooking the azure waters of the Golfo dell'Asinara.
For couples and everyone else who want something even quieter, the four-star Isola Rossa Hotel Relax Torreruja Thalasso & Spa offers a stunning haven of relaxation.
The place exudes peace and old-fashioned elegance.

Facts..

I stayed in Sardinia courtesy of Delphina Hotels and Resorts.
Flights to Olbia in north-east Sardinia from London Gatwick with easyJet (www.easyjet.com) start from £29.99 per person.
Rooms at Resort Valle dell'Erica Thalasso and Spa start per person per night on a half-board basis from £108 (the resort is open from May 24-Sept 20) and at Hotel Capo D'Orso from £117 a night (the hotel is open from May 24-Sept 27).
A stay at Hotel Relax Torreruja Thalasso & SPA 4* (open from May 17-September 27) starts at £67 a night, while the Resort & SPA Le Dune 4* (open May 24 to September 20) costs from £65 a night. Discount of 10 per cent on all room rates if you book before April 30, 2014.
More information about Delphina Hotels and Resorts: www.delphina.it Late deals
Flying from Glasgow on May 4, seven nights in Turkey staying at the 4T Couples Sousse resort on an all-inclusive basis, from £455 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing.
Flying from Glasgow on Friday, seven nights in Italy, staying at the 4T Grand Hotel Nastro Azzurro Thomson Couples resort on an all-inclusive basis, from £804 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing.
Flying from Glasgow on Friday, seven nights in Italy staying at the 5T Hotel Bristol Platinum resort on a half-board basis, from £772 per person. Price is based on two adults sharing.
For these and other deals, visit your local Thomson travel shop, thomson.co.uk or call 0871 230 2555.


- Posted with love from Scotland by theShowbizLion.com

X FILES STAR DAVID DUCHOVNY GOES WALKABOUT IN GLASGOW

Exclusive
Beverley Lyons
DAVID Duchovny got juiced up before his gig at Glasgow's O2 ABC tonight - with a trip to a local health food restaurant.
The X Files and Twin Peaks star only has a couple of dates in the UK and was keen to enjoy some of the delights of the city ahead of his concert.
And proving he's nothing like his alcoholic Californication character Hank Moody, he headed to the KCal Kitchen in West Regent Street for an energising green smoothie as he strolled around town.
David, whose mum is from Whitehills near Aberdeen says he loves coming back to Scotland.
He said: "Whenever I'm in Glasgow I'll jump at the chance to wear a kilt whenever I can. My mother is Scottish and I've not been here for twelve or thirteen years."
David who is a fan of the Average White Bend also revealed he's still figuring out his sound as a singer.
He added: "I started playing my guitar five or six years ago to amuse myself. I'm figuring out my sound as a singer. I have a good friend who is a virtuoso guitarist who says maybe one day he'll get back to playing like he was sixteen. I want to get back to that initial passion and curiosity you have as a beginner. As an actor I've done some sure things that turn out to be terrible failures and some terrible things turned into huge successes."


- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

RANGERS MIGHT HAVE HAD A LUCKY CHARM FOR LEAGUE WIN

Exclusive
Is this wee boy one of the reasons Rangers won the league?
Cancer patient Lee Welsh turned twelve yesterday (Tuesday) and Rangers invited him to meet them as a special present before their league winning match.
He was also a very special guest at their press conference last month.
James Tavernier who scored gave him a signed print and Martyn Waghorn gave him a signed jersey.


Lee from Larbert, who won boxing championships before being diagnosed with Non Hodgkin Lymphoma at the start of the year, said: "It was a really good birthday meeting the players and then watching them winning the league. I wished them luck before the game."
He added: "I love football but want to be a boxer because it is so disciplined and keeps you fit. I'm not doing any boxing just now because I have to use my energy to fight this."
Dad Richard added: "Mark Warburton has been brilliant and said any time you want to come up, just phone.
Since the change in management Warburton is like a breath of fresh air and very welcoming.
Lee has chemo so he has got to fit his visits in between that. He's had three bouts and is due a fourth. Now that Rangers have won the league hopefully he is seen as a lucky mascot."



- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

ANDY MURRAY FINALLY SMILES

THIS is the victorious moment when tennis champ Andy Murray is made to laugh by Little Ant and Dec.
The cute pair try to cheer up the sporting Scot on the Saturday Night Takeaway finale and they manage to get him smiling in their own inimitable way.
Mini Dec says: "My dad says you are sad all the time and you need to cheer up a bit."
A down in the mouth Andy responds: "I'm not grumpy all the time."


Mini Ant then suggests: "I know what will make you happy. Playing football with your mates."
And Mini Dec chirps: "Why don't we tell you a joke?"
Ice cream is also proferred but it's only when the lads tell a rude joke about a bottom that Andy cracks a smile.
Beaming, he concedes: "Never heard that one before."


It's on tonight on STV/ITV at 7pm

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

KATIE PRICE VAMPS IT UP AND SELLS BOOBS

KATIE Price put her breast implants up for sale for £1 million last night before watching The Vamps in concert.
Katie aka Jordan - put her assets up for sale on Twitter, asking for "serious bids only".
As she got ready with her kids to go see The Vamps perform before their trip to Scotland next week she tweeted: "My Breast implants 4 sale £1,000,000.00 email kpimplants@hotmail.com 2 buy collect , make an offer or for more info!
She also offered a meet and greet into the bargain and said: "Serious bids only everything else will not be read and deleted. "


And after returning from the gig, where her wee ones posed with the band she insisted it was no April Fool joke, adding: "It's gone midnight and not a April fools joke selling my implants so if your interested make a decent offer email kpimplants@hotmail.com"
Katie has had seven breast ops increasing her breast size from a 32B to a 32FF. The last procedure saw her reducing her boobs substantially back to her natural size.
A few years ago she talked of raising money for beast cancer charities by putting her implants up for sale but this time round no mention of that powers to have been made.
One fan suggested: "Have you thought of donating them to a pet shop? They'd make ideal trampolines for some playful hamsters."
Another added: "Do they come from a smoke free home?"

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

ASHTON KUTCHER AND MILA KUNIS SWAPPED EASTER EGGS FOR RAISINS

ASHTON Kutcher and Mila Kunis gave their daughter raisins and breakfast cereal instead of chocolate eggs for Easter.
The Hollywood actor who is married to Mila Kunis didn't want his 18-month-old daughter to have too much sugar.
He said: "We didn't want to put candy in because she's one and a half and she's not quite ready. We're not quite ready for her to be ready for candy, so we did Cheerios and raisins. She loved the raisins. She was going ape for the raisins."
Ashton and Mila got their knickers in a twist over how to explain the Easter Bunny to their baby.
He explained to Jimmy Kimmel: "We actually were debating whether or not we were going to explain that a bunny was laying eggs. So, we had a legitimate conversation as to whether or not we're going to go down that path. Like, we think we're going Santa Claus, but we don't know about the bunny. It's tough because it's like, 'Why is a bunny laying eggs? Mommy, does a bunny lay eggs?' ... 'No, but the Easter Bunny does.' And then it becomes a whole thing. And what does that have to do with Jesus coming back from the dead?"

- From Scotland with love from theshowbizlion.com

JUSTIN BIEBER CANCELS PURPOSE VIP EXPERIENCE

JUSTIN Bieber won't be having private meetings with his fans when he comes to Scotland.
The Baby and What Do You Mean? star who comes to Glasgow's SSE Hydro on October 27 has decided to cut his intimate backstage experience from The Purpose Tour.
Justin claims the experience which cost some fans £1300 was making him 'drained and unhappy.'
On his Instagram account he wrote: "I'm going to be canceling my meet and greets. I enjoy meeting such incredible people but I end up feeling so drained and filled with so much of other people's spiritual energy that I end up so drained and unhappy..
"Want to make people smile and happy but not at my expense and I always leave feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted to the point of depression ..
"The pressure of meeting people's expectations of what I'm supposed to be is so much for me to handle and a lot on my shoulders. Never want to disappoint but I feel I would rather give you guys the show and my albums as promised.
"Can't tell you how sorry I am, and wish it wasn't so hard on me.. And I want to stay in the healthy mindset I'm in to give you the best show you have ever seen."
Justin reportedly had a security scare at his gig at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday (21.03.16) when a fan got within 10 feet of him.
A source told TMZ: "This was the last straw in an increasing problem Justin's team has had in managing the number of people who wanted special access to the singer before and after the concert. Up to now, around 20 people purchased one-on-one packages, and up to 200 others paid to meet Justin in groups. He's had his hair pulled, clothes ripped and one fan even gave him the flu. Justin never complained, but Monday night's scare was a wake up call for security."


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

LORRAINE KELLY TALKS EXERCISE AND HER HOPES FOR DUNDEE UNITED

LORRAINE Kelly reckons there is no point to exercise unless you love it - though she's not sure if football is ticking all her boxes right now.
The morning telly queen has slimmed down and toned up recently thanks to zumba classes and she believes everyone should keep fit in a way they enjoy.
 Lorraine who was a host at the recent Sunday Post Broons awards in Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel said: "I have lost weight and toned up doing zumba and found an amazing instructor Maxine Jones who helps me. I go to two classes a week and love it . You have to find exercise you love otherwise there is no point and you will not do it."
 Lorraine might be based in London every week but she admits she comes back to Scotland most weekends now - sometimes to watch her beloved Scots footie team play.
She said: "I'm just doing the show and enjoying myself and just love it. I always come home at the weekends, almost every weekend, usually to see Dundee United which at the moment is not doing great but will get better. The only way is up when you're at the bottom".