Cool News

A few of our favourite news stories from the last few weeks, guaranteed to boost your mood!

Stunning Selma

Last week Selma Blair made her very first red carpet appearance since her MS diagnosis last October, at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty. Blair radiated elegance wearing a breathtaking gown by Ralph & Russo & walking confidently with a customized cane. She bravely explained to reporters, ‘It took a lot to come out here’.  Following her diagnosis Blair shared the news via Instagram explaining she had experienced many symptoms of the degenerative illness, which damages the brain and spinal cord and affects the nervous system, for over 15 years, “I am in the thick of it, but I hope to give some hope to others.  And even to myself... But if you see me, dropping crap all over the street, feel free to help me pick it up.”  (Huffington Post)

Irish millions

On Tuesday 19th Feb, a family syndicate in Naul, North Dublin won a whopping 175,000,000 euros in Tuesday’s Euromillions Draw. The prize is the biggest jackpot ever to be claimed in Ireland, topping the €115m win collected by Dolores McNamara in 2005. The winning family member put the winning ticket in an Argos catalogue and put it under her mattress for safe keeping. “I didn’t sleep a wink all night!” (Daily Mail)

Snake care!

A snake was discovered in a Scottish holidaymaker’s luggage last week after travelling over 9000 miles in a shoe. Moria Boxall was unpacking her bag at home in Glasgow following a trip to Queensland, Australia, when she discovered the spotted python. Boxall initially believed the snake was a toy place in her shoe as a prank – before realising it was very much alive. The stowaway was picked up by the RSPCA and is now in quarantine in Scotland (The Daily Brief).

Comical clear out

Sir Janice Turner’s visit to her sons’ rented digs brings to mind my visit to the rented house of one of our sons, who was then a final year undergraduate, the clear the place before the summer holidays. At the end of a gruelling couple of hours wading through the mess, resulting in several overflowing binbags, a shout came down the stairs from his bedroom: “Hey guys, I’ve found the ironing board” (Julia Stevens as featured in Letters to The Times).