weekend

Aug. 25 (UPI) — British authorities said a dozen people have been arrested in an investigation following a weekend crash that killed seven people, including two police officers.

Police in Cleveland, which serves the Teesside area of northeast England, announced the arrests Monday, identifying those detained as nine men and three women between the ages of 19 and 61.

They were detained on a range of offenses, including allegations of participating in organized crime, possession of an offensive weapon and drug-related crimes.

The suspects were detained over the weekend in a wide-scale investigation following a collision early Saturday involving a Volkswagen Passat and a police vehicle on the A66, resulting in the deaths of the five occupants of the Passat and two officers in the police vehicle.

Authorities were initially alerted early Saturday to reports of two vehicles being driven dangerously in Middlesbrough. A Volvo XC60 was reportedly seen ramming properties, while a Volkswagen Passat was believed to be associated with the Volvo. Police said both vehicles were operating with cloned license plates.

Police later spotted the Passat and pursued it for nearly seven minutes before the Passat entered the A66 at South Bank, traveling against traffic, prompting the pursuing police vehicle to end its case.

However, seconds later, at 3:39 a.m. local time, the Passat collided with a second police car, which was traveling in the correct direction, authorities said.

The deceased officers have been identified as Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38. The deceased occupants of the Passat were named as Cole Robert Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Jakub Matusiak and Michael Robert Cahill.

“The events of that tragic night will have a lasting and profound impact on the Cleveland area and the communities we seek to protect,” Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox said Monday in a statement.

Fox said they have a duty to investigate the “serious criminal activity” that led to the fatal crash and bring those responsible to justice, though it was not clear how those detained were involved.

“Our robust response will continue in the weeks and months to come, as we continue to tackle those that seek to cause harm to our communities and tackle serious and organized crime,” Fox said.

THE final £9.50 holidays for 2026 are being released this weekend – meaning it’s your last chance to book an amazing autumn break.

Popular parks like Trecco Bay, Vauxhall and Unity Beach are but a few that you will be able to book from this Sunday, with plenty of October and November breaks opening up.

Sign up to Sun Club to get the first pick of £9.50 Hols this Sunday

We’ve rounded up the £9.50 holiday parks that are perfect to book for an autumn break – with Monster Ball Halloween parties, coastal castles, ghost walks and plenty of indoor action for the wet weather.

When it comes to booking, you can completely skip the hassle of collecting daily newspaper codes by joining Sun Club. Plus you can book your holiday from midnight while those collecting codes have to wait until the morning.

For £1.99 a month or £12 a year, Sun Club members unlock instant access to the £9.50 Hols booking from midnight this Sunday, August 23. That means you can bag the most popular parks before dates sell out.

Whether you’re treating the kids to an action-packed Halloween break, or craving a cosy couples’ escape surrounded by crunching orange leaves, here are our top £9.50 Holiday parks for an autumn getaway.

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Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands, Sussex

Parkdean Resorts Camber Sands boasts not one but four indoor heated swimming pools as well as waterslides, meaning pool time doesn’t have to end when the weather cools down.

There’s loads for adventurous kids here, like the Bear Grylls Survival Academy, an outdoor high-ropes course, a virtual reality gaming suite and laser tag arenas.

Venture outdoors for a brisk coastal walk along the five mile-long beach – it will make heading back for a warming hot chocolate all the more rewarding.

This park is also a 10-minute drive from the medieval hilltop town of Rye, where ghost tours take place along its lantern-lit cobblestone streets and a chilling castle museum overlooks the marshes.

Vauxhall, Great Yarmouth

Parkdean Resorts Vauxhall in Great Yarmouth is built for indoor family fun, perfect for unpredictable British weather.

Kids can spend hours in the Tropical Waterworld – complete with slides and a splash zone – or burn off energy tackling the indoor soft play.

During October half-term, the park hosts Halloween events such as ghost walks, fancy dress contests, arts and crafts sessions and even the Monster Ball party – which takes place across all Parkdean resorts.

Out in Great Yarmouth you can stop by Fairground Frights at Pleasure Beach for a spooky theme park takeover, or even sit down to the Halloween Spooktacular at the Hippodrome Circus.

Sign up to Sun Club to get the first pick of £9.50 Hols this Sunday

Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay, Scarborough

Parkdean Resorts Cayton Bay sits on the North Yorkshire coast, just a 30-minute drive from Whitby, the home of Dracula.

Here families can tour the withered ruins of Whitby Abbey, or join Dracula-themed ghost walks.

Whitby is also home to the best fish and chip shop in the UK, so you can sit down to an award-winning chippy tea with pretty harbour views after a full day’s exploring.

If you’re not into the spooky stuff, this action-packed park has a heated indoor pool with water flumes, an indoor high-ropes course, and an on-site arcade.

Park Holidays UK Bowland Fell, Yorkshire

This park sits at the edge of 130 acres of Bowland forest, giving you direct access to endless woodland trails – which burst with beautiful orange leaves in autumn.

The park even sits within an officially designated dark sky reserve, meaning stargazing here is particularly spectacular, making for the perfect October or November break.

As for accommodation, you can pick between classic caravans, modern apartments, spacious lodges and even the cosy Bowland Fell Cottage.

On-site, you can eat at the 17th-century Crowtrees Inn, a refurbished traditional stone pub with open log fires and local pints.

Bowland Fell offers a relaxed break centred around local nature and fantastic walking trails, perfect for couples and outdoors-y families.

Parkdean Resorts Trecco Bay, Porthcawl

As one of Europe’s largest holiday parks, Trecco Bay is certianly equipped with enough activities to handle rainy days.

The resort houses a massive indoor Splashland, a full-sized bowling alley, an arcade, and a soft play area to name but a few things to do here.

Throughout October half term, the entertainment team runs daily Halloween craft sessions, spooky game shows, and pumpkin carving workshops.

There’s over 2,000 caravans and lodges here, ranging from affordable, comfy caravans to luxurious lodges with hot tubs.

Sign up to Sun Club to get the first pick of £9.50 Hols this Sunday

It would be great if “The Hangover” screenwriters-turned-directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore would leave moms well enough alone. After the one-two punch of 2016’s “Bad Moms” and 2017’s “A Bad Moms Christmas” (both bad comedies), they’ve returned with “Spa Weekend,” which isn’t about bad moms but good moms who could stand to be a little bad.

If you’re not sure how much misbehavior a few friends can get up to at a luxury resort spa, you haven’t met Isla Fisher’s Mel. Yes, “Spa Weekend” is a plate of reheated “Wedding Crashers” nachos, because no one stirs up cheerful chaos like the spirited Fisher. Her Mel brings a delightfully vulgar joie de vivre into the over-scheduled lives of her lifelong friends: workaholic lawyer Jane (Leslie Mann), bitter divorceé Coco (Michelle Buteau) and people-pleasing pushover Sophie (Anna Faris).

“Spa Weekend” is built around the same fearsome foursome ethos as shows like “Sex and the City” and “Girls,” with several different character types and lots of available friction between them. More recently, golden-years comedies like “Book Club,” “80 for Brady” and way too many movies starring the late Diane Keaton have sent friend groups on journeys that have them reevaluating relationships and life goals. Romantic, criminal and naughty hijinks ensue and bonds are tested — and ultimately reinforced. Roll the blooper reel.

Mel might be a disaster with her loud mouth and impolite antics, but her over-the-top meddling does her buddies some good. She helps uptight Jane hook up with a hunky yoga instructor (Adam Demos), gets Sophie fired from her toxic job and lures Coco’s ex-husband Roger (Dominic Ona-Ariki) to the resort for a little reconciliation. Her friends are furious, but while they might not get what they want (relaxation), they get what they need (liberation). All it took was some coke and strippers (Lucas and Moore have a bizarre fixation on moms and male strippers).

You know what? Fine. It’s true that working moms often put themselves last and “Spa Weekend” is an argument for them to come first. It’s a film about embracing the craziest friends because they bring excitement to an otherwise boring and overscheduled life. All of these things are true. They’re just executed here with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. In case we didn’t get it, these themes and lessons are spoken out loud by Jane in big declarative speeches.

One of the most distracting things about “Spa Weekend” is its uncanny geography. It’s set in Los Angeles but the cafés and shops are obviously not local and the worst, most dated stock L.A. traffic footage can’t cover that up.

They drive what seems to be about 45 minutes to the resort, through wooded forests on windy roads, and arrive in a tropical location overlooking miles of white sandy beach. At one point, Jane claims they’re 100 miles away from home. Ain’t no way this is Encinitas. Nothing about it makes sense until the credits roll and you learn the film was shot entirely in Queensland, Australia. But if one’s thinking about the geography that much, it means the story isn’t all that compelling.

Call it nitpicking but it’s indicative of how much care and craft — or how little — goes into a movie like this, aimed at female audiences. Much like the “Bad Moms” movies, “Spa Weekend” isn’t insightful, isn’t interesting and isn’t funny. It’s condescending and hacky and the humor always aims for the lowest common denominator. Please don’t expect me to laugh at the goats from goat yoga rampaging through a hotel lobby or a high-speed golf cart chase. Guess what? Mel has brought a suitcase full of dildos.

Worse than tired gags, we don’t get a sense of who these women really are in relationship to themselves or other women. We only know them through the prism of men: Jane lusts after Yoga Dude, Coco rages at Roger, Sophie is bullied by her boss. We know nothing about them outside of their superficial signifiers.

That’s why Fisher’s Mel feels so radical. She might be a grifter and a liar (a vastly underexplored subplot) but she has fully decentered men — so hard that no rule of polite society can hold her. If that’s a disaster, sign me up. But please don’t let Lucas and Moore make more comedies for women. They can stick to the frat houses and bachelor parties they’re used to.

THIS weekend will be the last chance for Sun readers to book a £9.50 holiday this year.

There are still plenty of bargains to be booked with The Sun’s £9.50 holidays – and you’ll get first pick if you’re a Sun Club member.

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

Traditionally, Sun readers collect codes in the newspaper to enter onto the Hols from £9.50 website to unlock access to booking.

But if you’re a Sun Club member, there’s no need to collect any codes – you’ll get automatic access earlier than those collecting codes

Sun Club Members can skip collecting codes in the paper and go straight to the booking page to bag a last-minute break at their choice of park.

Members can access the hols from midnight on Sunday, August 23, whereas those collecting codes in the paper will have to wait until the morning to purchase a paper to collect their final codeword.

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Here’s how to book a £9.50 holiday with Sun Club:

1. Sign up to Sun Club by clicking here.
2. Once you’re signed up, head to the Sun Club offers hub- or click here.
3. Gain automatic access to the booking your hols from midnight on Sunday, August 23.

Booking opens on Sunday, August 23 and closes on September 21.

However, you’ll want to be logged on and ready as soon as it opens, so that you can bag the holiday park you want before it sells out.

The Sun’s £9.50 Holiday Agony Aunt Tracy Kennedy recommends using the ‘Midnight Service’ trick to bag your holiday.

This means being logged on and ready with the parks and dates you want in mind from around 11:55pm on Saturday night, so that once it hits midnight you can go straight to booking.

Some popular UK parks with new dates available include Parkdean Resorts’ Kessingland Beach, Trecco Bay, Camber Sands and Vauxhall in Great Yarmouth.

You can also book a Park Holidays resort like Sand le Mere or Lossiemouth, as well as Lyons resorts like Sunnysands or stay at Hendra and Unity Beach.

There are even European breaks available at resorts in Spain, France, Italy and Portugal.

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

These parks still have availability to book a break this autumn, so whether you’re looking to jet off abroad for some last-minute sun, or book a cosy UK Halloween break, the choice is yours.

You can even book ahead and secure a holiday for next year, which is a nifty trick to avoid the January £9.50 holiday rush.

Signing up to Sun Club costs £1.99 per month or £12 per year.

Not only does it make booking your £9.50 holiday a lot easier, but there are plenty more benefits and freebies exclusive to Sun Club members.

Savvy Sun Club member (and Queen of the £9.50 holiday) Tracy Kennedy saved nearly £1,000 in one year on family hols and days out by being a Sun Club member.

This is because being a member gets you discounts on attractions, holidays, and there are even some freebie goodies thrown in there, too.

Sun Club members can currently bag 2-for-1 Diggerland tickets, four free tickets to the races per year and free goodies like skincare kits and audio books.

Once you’re a member, check out the Offers Hub to see the full list of goodies you can claim.

Sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 per month or £12 per year

AN abandoned UK village will open to the public for a limited time at the end of the month.

The town, which has been frozen in time since World War II, remains cut off from the world for most of the year.

For just 12 days out of the year, history fans and nature lovers travel to the village of Imber in Wiltshire, which has not been occupied since 1943.

During the second World War, the town’s 150 residents were given 47 days to evacuate their homes so the village could be turned into a military training area for American troops preparing for D-Day.

While they were promised they would be able to return after the war, the village is still occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to this day.

Once every few months, the public is invited to visit the town for free, with roads opening through Imber until 6pm during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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Public access has been granted to the village as well as the Grade I-listed St Giles Church, which will be open from 11am to 4pm daily.

The original surviving building is free to visit during open days with any donations going towards the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) for maintenance and restoration.

Along with an old pub, the church is one of the few remaining original structures in the village.

Most of the larger stone buildings were damaged during military training, and were subsequently demolished.

Meanwhile, houses in the village are either hollowed-out shells or have been converted into windowless buildings to simulate urban environments for military training.

Those who once lived in the village have the right to be buried on the church grounds, with undisturbed wildlife now the only living residents.

Imber also holds open days during the Christmas and New Year period as well as at Easter, with all visitors required to adhere to the public rights of way and designated areas, and comply with signposting.

WHEN I told my husband I was whisking him away for a romantic weekend, he was expecting a quaint B&B with chocolates on the pillows, not a static caravan.

But our three-night trip to Green Hill Farm Holiday Village turned out to be rather luxurious, not to mention quite steamy . . .  ahem, due to our private hot tub.

The Lovat Holiday Parks site sits just minutes away from the New Forest and it’s so much more than a budget family getaway destination.

We stayed in a modern two-bed luxury lodge, which overlooked a pond filled with ducks.

Alongside a comfy double bed, the lodge featured a cosy living room, a large kitchen and a decking area complete with a hot tub that glitters with LED lights at night.

The complimentary slippers and dressing gowns elevated the experience above your bog standard holiday park stay.

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If the kids come along, there’s an endless list of activities as well as a play area with a splash pad, and a board game library.

Plus there’s a forest ranger programme, unique to this holiday park, offering special segway-riding trails through the woodland, and archery and trampolining.

Meanwhile, parents can relax by the enormous lake, where they can try fishing, or get their workout fix at the small outdoor gym.

The highlight for us as a couple was the stunning location.

Perched at the edge of the New Forest, with direct access to the National Park, it’s a haven for nature enthusiasts.

We went for a romantic ramble on the moors, where we spotted wild ponies and donkeys, many of which were tame enough to pet.

You don’t need to be a top-tier hiker, there’s a variety of routes to suit all abilities on your doorstep.

After working up an appetite, we treated ourselves to pizza from the Ember Restaurant back on site.

The margherita was £13.50, or you can opt for the Inferno, which comes with pepperoni, chilli and peppers smothered in hot habanero sauce.

There’s also the delicious Greek, which comes with olives, feta, red onion and oregano.

For burger-lovers The Smashed Buns van is sure to hit the spot.

Standard burgers will set you back £8.50 and fries are an extra £3.50.

There’s also a takeaway spot for coffee and fresh pastries in the morning and a mini on-site shop selling groceries, beer and wine.

The nearby Rockingham Arms has a cracking beer garden and does an excellent Sunday roast.

The barmaid entertained us with ghost stories about the local area.

Architecture fans will love ornate Salisbury Cathedral, while the high street offers a great mix of quaint independent stores and giants like Primark and Marks and Spencer.

For lunch, head to The Tabletop Tavern, a medieval-themed bar with a wooden chandelier and candle-like bulbs.

The menu is all hearty stews and Elderwine sausages.

Even the board games have a Medieval theme — Dungeons & Dragons, anyone?

Our favourite pub, however, was The Bishops Mill, which hosts regular live music sessions and quiz nights, and does excellent sharing dishes like the crispy duck nachos.

We could have spent hours kicking back with a pint, listening to the singer belt out ballads, but the romantic setting left us in the mood to get steamy back at the lodge.

And we know what that means — hot tub time!

Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas is a Cumbrian experience with a difference and if you’re visiting the Lake District, take a trip away from the tourists for this not to be missed day out

There’s no denying the Lake District is one of the most popular holiday destinations here in the UK.

From the majestic and ever popular Windermere to the atmospheric Derwent Water, year after year millions of tourists flock to Cumbria to take in the splendour and beauty of the landscape and chocolate box villages.

But with the stunning scenery and quaint villages comes another problem – especially in the school summer holidays – overcrowding from the sheer volume of tourists.

What you think will be an idyllic trip to, arguably, the most beautiful part of Britain can quickly turn into a race to find the last table at the cafe or the last spot to pop your picnic blanket down on the shore of a lake.

However, the Lake District isn’t all Cumbria has to offer – full disclaimer I was born and bred in this county – and if you step outside the National Park, a world of wonder could be waiting for you.

I spent the weekend in Cumbria and found one of these hidden gems, the Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas, nestled close to the picture perfect village of Bardsea in the Furness area of Cumbria.

Run by local couple, Ste and Laura, this is home to one of the largest herds of alpacas and llamas in Cumbria (and this year, also home to 13 baby alpacas, known as crias). It’s clear from the get go this is a real labour of love and passion project for the dedicated couple.

Once a day, the farm is open for pre-booked visits – either a walking experience, or a feed and meet – and after taking part I can honestly say this tops anything I’ve done in this wonderful county.

Since acquiring their first alpacas in 2019, Ste and Laura now have an impressive herd of 53 and you can tell these animals are absolutely adored. The farm is only open to the public on a booked experience, held just once a day to make sure everyone gets plenty of time with these lovely creatures and – most importantly – the animals themselves are happy.

I was given the walking experience as a Christmas present – this one will be hard to beat – and before we set off we were carefully matched with the alpaca or llama best suited to each person.

I was lucky enough to be paired with Rocky, a five-year-old fawn alpaca, described as “cheeky” but was the goodest boy you could ever meet.

Both alpacas and llamas are incredibly calm and placid animals who love nothing more than a gentle guided stroll through through the lush farmland, with many stops so you can give them treats – all included in the price of the experience. It’s fair to say Rocky loved his snacks (and I loved feeding them to him).

The sun was shining and it was an utterly idyllic experience. If you think the end of the walk would be the end of the experience, you would be wrong. Next you have some time interacting and feeding the boys of the herd – they’re kept separate from the ladies for obvious reasons – and it was unbelievably joyful.

Then, off we went to meet the ladies of the herd for another wonderful time feeding and watching them as they strolled around their huge home. We could also get up close to the babies (crias) although there’s a strict no touch policy until they’re old enough to be comfortable around humans. Animal welfare is paramount for Ste and Laura, who hold a 5-star animal welfare licence.

The couple explained the alpacas and llamas really enjoy their once a day visits from humans – they love the gentle walk and, in my experience, they clearly love the treats.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Cumbria this summer – or indeed at any time, other than the few months the farm is closed completely to visitors in the depths of winter – this needs to be top of your list. Quiet, off the beaten track, something completely different and absolutely enchanting.

For more information about booking an experience at Bardsea Alpacas and Llamas, please visit the website.

DISRUPTION is continuing to cause problems in Italy, after days of flight cancellations.

Flights at Catania Airport in Sicily were expected to restart yesterday, but there are further delays as ash caused by the eruption of Mount Etna continue to drift into the airspace.

Arrivals at Catania Airport were initially suspended until 5pm yesterday – but this has been extended until 7pm (6pm UK time) today.

A few departures are permitted to take-off at the airport, but only from runway 08.

On FlightRadar24, most departures remain cancelled with more scheduled to take-off after midday.

One easyJet flight to London Gatwick scheduled for 10.35am has been cancelled.

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And a flight to London Gatwick with British Airways this evening at 7.55pm has also been cancelled.

However, a Ryanair flight to London Stansted is scheduled for departure at 11.10am.

There has been disruption since Saturday at Catania Airport after an eruption on the volcano.

One Brit travelling home from Sicily over the weekend wrote on X: “Had a superb holiday in Sicily.

“Getting home was interesting.. Catania flight cancelled due to Etna → 3hr taxi to Palermo → flight cancelled → slept at airport → Rome → taxi to Naples → Gatwick → taxi to Luton. Only a day late but very happy to be back at the nest.”

Palermo Airport, Sicily’s other major airport on the northwest coast, remains unaffected, with flights operating as scheduled.

MORE eruptions from a volcano in Europe has resulted in sudden flight cancellations in Sicily today.

An ash cloud drifting into airspace means that flights cannot land or take off at Catania Airport on the Italian island.

Following an eruption over the weekend and change in wind direction, an ash cloud from Mount Etna has affected airspace in Sicily.

Due to safety reasons, flights departing and arriving into Catania Airport have been cancelled or delayed until 5pm local time.

Impacted airlines include Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air.

Operator SAC said: “Due to Etna’s eruptive activity and the associated release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, the airspace corresponding to the ash cloud southwest of the volcano (Sector C1) has been closed. Arrivals are suspended until 5:00 PM.

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“As the situation is significantly affecting operations, passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport.

“The situation is being constantly monitored, and further updates will be provided depending on the evolution of volcanic activity and weather conditions.”

One Brit travelling home from Sicily over the weekend also faced disruption, he wrote on X: “Had a superb holiday in Sicily

“Getting home was interesting.. Catania flight cancelled due to Etna → 3hr taxi to Palermo → flight cancelled → slept at airport → Rome → taxi to Naples → Gatwick → taxi to Luton. Only a day late but very happy to be back at the nest.”

Palermo Airport, Sicily’s other major aviation hub located on the northwest coast, remains unaffected, with flights operating as scheduled.

It’s not the first time this year that there has been disruption at the airport following eruptions on Mount Etna.

Last month, the volcano erupted for 10 days leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in Sicily.

Holidaymakers had to seek hotel allocation, while others travelled elsewhere to get home.

A ‘GHOST’ village will open to visitors next weekend and it’s one of the rare chances to see it.

After being suddenly abandoned during World War Two, the village has been left empty for over 80 years.

Imber in Wiltshire is only open a few days out of the year after its residents were suddenly evacuated during World War Two.

The 150 people living in Imber were given just 47 days to pack up and leave their homes, which at the time was then turned into a military site for American soldiers.

The homeowners were told they could return to their homes after the war, but they never did as it’s remained in use by the Ministry of Defence.

The village is closed for most of the year, but there are rare days where it opens to the public.

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The next open day is actually in just a few days’ time.

On August 15, curious Brits can see the village for themselves and the only way to get there is onboard a vintage bus.

Called Imberbus, around 30 vintage red buses take to the roads ferrying visitors to and from the village.

Admittedly, there isn’t much to do in the village as it has been abandoned, but it is worth a wander about.

The church and the village pub are the only two original structures that are still standing.

Imber Church will be open to visitors and will have light food and drink from 10am to 6pm.

Visitors must stick to the path though – the road through Imber is open to the public.

But all other buildings, fields and land are strictly out of bounds due to dangers like unexploded miltary debris.

The village has no Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal either.

Buses will start from Warminster Rail Station and run to Imber every 10-15 minutes between 9.30am and 5.45pm.

Tickets cost £10 for adults £2 for children and visitors don’t need to book in advance, just turn up on the day.

Here’s what one man made when he visited Imber…

Daniel Puddicombe, who visited the English village two yearsagogd revealed what he made of the rarely open village…

“AT first glance, Imber could be any village in the Wiltshire countryside.

“It has a pretty and well-kept church, and when I visited on Saturday afternoon, the sun was shining and people were sat on a patch of grass tucking into picnic nibbles while listening to a brass band.

“But I then spot the barbed wire surrounding the church gardens and nearby are numerous signs reading “Danger. No public access”.

“Things get even stranger as I stroll down a path leading to the main road where I can see a few houses. They all look normal at first but then I realise they do not have any windows or doors.

“Oh, and there’s another warning sign: “Danger: unexploded military debris. Do not leave the carriageway”. It turns out I won’t be able to contact the outside world if danger does arise. My mobile phone signal is non-existent.

“Signs show where farms and houses once stood, now replaced by mock-up buildings that are normally used by the military to train soldiers.

“All in all, the church — which dates from the 12th century — is the only original building that remains fully intact and does not contain any “danger” signs.

“Imber Court also remains intact — albeit behind a large, closed gate and clearly a shadow of its former self, ditto the Bell Inn.

“Even if you are not a bus fan, the journey to Imber is fascinating.

“You pass burnt-out husks of tanks and military bases through landscape that has been untouched by modern farmers — though it might have been smashed to smithereens by a tank or shell.”

OK, Wouter Vrancken.

You take over at a club who were denied a historic league title in the final 10 minutes of last season. They then lose their captain and talismanic striker, plus their best midfielder, and have a huge turnover of players.

Your first competitive action is a Champions League qualifier against seasoned European campaigners Sturm Graz, losing 6-0 on aggregate, before conceding twice after the 90th minute up at Aberdeen to lose your first league match.

So, what’s next? Benfica in Europa League qualifying. A doddle.

The Portuguese giants await on Thursday (20:00 BST) amid a savage introduction for Hearts’ new Belgian head coach. Chances of progression feel slim.

There have been aspects of each of the three matches under Vrancken that have been encouraging, and a win at Pittodrie on Saturday would have been a huge morale boost.

However, the nature of the team’s late collapse has intensified fear among the support that their season could unravel before it has even properly started.

A trip to Lisbon to face Marco Silva’s Benfica presents a glamour tie but also the prospect of another chastening defeat on the continent as Vrancken tries to piece together his best XI.

The 38-time Portuguese champions beat Napoli and Real Madrid at home in the Champions League last term on their way to the knockout stage, where they were put out by Real, who have since taken head coach Jose Mourinho.

Benfica’s domestic action is yet to return after they finished third in the league last season, but they defeated Swiss side St Gallen over two legs to reach this stage of Europa League qualifying.

A 2-1 defeat in Switzerland was wiped out with a thumping 5-0 win in the second leg last Thursday, with four of the five goals coming from Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis.

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” swung into the top spot at the box office and scored one of the highest-grossing opening weekends with an estimated haul of $355 million in the U.S. and Canada, far surpassing studio and analyst expectations.

The Sony Pictures film also brought in $572 million internationally for a worldwide total of $927 million, according to studio estimates.

The movie’s haul now ranks as the second-biggest domestic and global opening ever, surpassed only by Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019.

The film, which stars Tom Holland and Zendaya, is produced by Sony-owned Columbia Pictures, Marvel Studios and Pascal Pictures. Its production budget was about $225 million.

Marvel Studios President and “Spider-Man” producer Kevin Feige called the debut “truly phenomenal.”

“We are grateful to audiences everywhere for coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen,” he said in a statement Sunday. “This debut reflects the enduring power of Marvel’s characters, and the connection they continue to have with fans around the world — and, as audiences saw, it sets up exciting things to come.”

Anticipation for the movie was building for months, as robust pre-sales indicated high interest in Spidey’s return to the big screen.

The previous film in the franchise, 2021’s “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” had one of the biggest domestic debuts on record with $260 million.

But it came during the depths of a COVID-19 surge and against very little competition at the box office. That film also reunited all three Spider-Men — Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield — in one time-bending, multiverse storyline, a move “Spider-Man” producer Amy Pascal described as 20 years in the making.

This time around, “Spider-Man” was up against the juggernaut holdover Universal Pictures’ Christopher Nolan film, “The Odyssey,” which came in second at the domestic box office with $51 million on its way to a global total of $911.4 million.

The strong performance of “The Odyssey,” as well as the billion-dollar-grossing “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” and “Michael” earlier this year, helped push Universal over the $4-billion global box office mark this weekend, the first studio to do so this year.

Walt Disney Co. and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” came in third with $6.3 million to add to its worldwide total of more than $1.06 billion. Universal and Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters” ($5.8 million) and Disney’s live-action “Moana” ($5.3 million) rounded out the top five this weekend, according to data from Rentrak.

“‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ is fundamentally a movie about friendship, about the balm of connection in all our lives,” Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman said in a statement Sunday. He added that this theme resonates with “audiences of all ages and all around the world.”

Champions Northampton will host Newcastle Red Bulls on the opening day of the 2026-27 Prem rugby season.

Saints beat Exeter to lift the trophy for the second time in three seasons in June and start the new campaign at home on Friday, 25 September.

The Chiefs are also at home for their first game, with Gloucester set to visit Sandy Park on the Saturday.

Elsewhere across the opening weekend, Harlequins are at home to Bath on Friday, Sale host Bristol on Saturday evening and Leicester play Saracens in the only match on Sunday.

The 2026-27 Prem final will be held on Saturday, 19 June 2027 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with the season to take a series of breaks around international fixtures.

After five rounds in six weeks through September and October, there will be a four-week Prem break through November for the autumn matches of the Nations Championship.

With European competition beginning in December there are four Prem rounds across six weeks until January, before a 10-week league pause again in February and March for the Six Nations.

The new season also begins with promotion and relegation officially scrapped from the division.

While no club has been relegated from the Prem or promoted up from the Champ since Saracens in 2020 and 2021, this has now been formalised as part of a series of changes to English rugby voted through in February, as the league moves towards a franchise-style model.

Universal Studios has issued a stern warning after an unauthorized copy of its hit film “The Odyssey” was leaked over the weekend.

“We became aware of the unauthorized posting of the film and immediately initiated takedown protocols,” the studio said in a statement. “We take copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all appropriate remedies to protect our content and intellectual property rights.”

The studio was responding to a post on X that shared a high-quality copy of the Christopher Nolan film. The post was viewed more than 2.1 million times before a takedown notice replaced the copy of the film.

The post was shared Saturday on X at 2:25 p.m. Pacific, and the account was suspended within three hours, according to Variety.

“The Odyssey” continues to be a top attraction for filmgoers, drawing huge crowds on its second weekend. Demand for advance tickets caused AMC’s app to crash in June. At the time, users on social media said wait times had reached an hour.

The film in its second weekend pulled in $87 million, acccording to Rentrak, a data analytics company that tracks box office sales.

OUR Spotlight On column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in your favourite holiday hotspots.

This week we are focusing on Budapest, with the city set to host the F1 Grand Prix this weekend.

Hungary‘s vibrant capital straddles the Danube and packs a punch when it comes to value, culture and nightlife.

From thermal baths (leading to its nickname the City of Spas) to ruin bars, this city break has something for everyone – and often for less than you’d pay elsewhere in Europe, so here are our top tips.

MUST SEE / DO

Soak in the thermal waters at Szechenyi Baths, one of Europe’s largest spa complexes, with 18 pools.

Make sure to book in advance, and pick early morning or late evening slots for the quietest times.

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The outdoor pools are heated year-round and the bright yellow neo-Baroque buildings make a perfect selfie spot.

HIDDEN GEM

Head to the lesser-known Kobanya underground cellar system – once a beer-brewing hub, now used for everything from mushroom-growing to film shoots.

Tours explore its eerie, kilometre-long tunnels beneath Budapest’s 10th district.

BEST VIEW

Catch the sunset from the top of the dome at St Stephen’s Basilica, below.

It’s 96 metres high and offers panoramic views across both Buda and Pest – a great place to spot Parliament and Castle Hill from above.

RATED RESTAURANT

For a taste of modern Hungarian cuisine with a Michelinstar twist, head to Stand.

Led by chef duo Szulló and Széll, this sleek yet unpretentious restaurant blends local ingredients with inventive techniques.

Expect elevated versions of traditional favourites such as goulash or cabbage rolls, served with exceptional Hungarian wines in a refined riverside setting.

BEST BAR

No trip is complete without a drink at Szimpla Kert – the original ruin bar that kickstarted a nightlife trend.

Expect mismatched furniture, quirky art installations and a vibe that’s hard to beat.

Beers, including local brew Dreher, are around five euros.

As the original and best-known of the city’s ruin bars – with crumbling plaster and graffiti-covered walls – it can get very busy at night.

Head there on a weekday afternoon for a less crowded experience.

HOTEL PICK

Try the Hotel Rum Budapest – a boutique stay, with cool interiors, great service and a rooftop bar that’s ideal for cocktails at sunset.

It’s central, affordable and perfect for a long weekend in the city.

Rooms from £90 a night. See hotelrumbudapest.com.

Three nights at Hotel Rum Budapest, including flights from Stansted on June 30, is from £189pp. See loveholidays.com.

It was a very warm homecoming at the box office this weekend for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” as the star-studded epic grossed $124.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, a welcome and massive jolt for theaters after a series of slower weeks.

The Universal Pictures film’s haul outperformed studio expectations of a $117 million domestic opening and set a record for the highest-grossing opening weekend for a live-action or R-rated film so far this year.

“The Odyssey” now ranks as the third-highest domestic debut of 2026, trailing only Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5” ($159.7 million) and Universal, Illumination and Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” ($131.7 million).

The film, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, brought in a total of $264.1 million worldwide, according to studio estimates. That marks the biggest global opening ever for a Nolan film.

“The Odyssey” was produced by Nolan and his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas for their company, Syncopy, and had a production budget of about $200 million to $250 million.

“It delivers on every sort of promise,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic distribution. “It is totally immersive. It is great emotional storytelling. It is something that truly has to be experienced on the big screen.”

The nearly three-hour epic is the first feature to be shot entirely on Imax cameras, a feat that required extensive cooperation between Nolan and the Canadian entertainment tech company, which operates out of Playa Vista.

Nolan first told Imax Chief Executive Rich Gelfond in early 2024 that he was considering making an entire film with Imax cameras and laid out what he’d need for that to happen, including a quieter and lighter camera, a way to make film reloads easier and getting enough trained projectionists.

“It took a fair amount of time and investment” to figure out those challenges, Gelfond said. But by August 2024, the Imax team put together a series of tests to show cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. Two months later, Nolan saw the tests and was impressed.

“As filmmakers and studios integrate Imax, we become an increasingly important part of the ecosystem,” Gelfond said. “When a film is released in Imax or shot in Imax, I think it’s a signal to audiences that it’s somewhat special, and the filmmaker is really leaning in in a unique way.”

Anticipation for the film has been building for at least a year, when the first Imax 70mm tickets went on sale. Pre-sales for “The Odyssey” shattered the previous Imax record by nearly double, the company said.

Enhanced formats made up 53% of the domestic weekend’s total, with both film and digital Imax revenue comprising 23.8%. Imax 70mm comprised about 4% of that total, with Imax digital making up the rest. Non-Imax 70mm film screening revenue totaled 3%, while 35mm showings made up 0.3%.

Adding to the film’s mystique is Nolan’s reliance on old-school Hollywood practical effects, such as his use of puppetry, animatronics and robotics in scenes with the Cyclops, as well as a real Viking boat that the actors learned to sail.

The massive reception for the film is a relief for theater owners, who weathered their own rough waters in the last few weeks, as Walt Disney Co.’s live-action “Moana” underperformed in its opening at the box office and Universal and Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters” had a softer debut.

“Moana” came in second at the box office this weekend with a domestic haul of $19 million. “Minions & Monsters” ($14.8 million), “Toy Story 5” ($14.8 million) and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Evil Dead Burn” ($5 million) rounded out the top five, according to data from Rentrak.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly city break this summer, a study has shown some of the cheapest options across Europe, and one country dominates the top ten with a huge selection of inexpensive cities

Summer is a great time to enjoy a city break. While some people prefer to head to the beach, the sunny weather can be a nice time to see a new city, as you can explore outside and enjoy a more relaxed vibe.

But city breaks can be expensive. If you’re looking for budget options, there’s one country in particular that should be top of your list. It has six out of the ten cheapest city breaks in Europe, and makes up the entirety of the top five named in the study.

The research, carried out by virtual card provider Getsby, looked at data from travel cost site Budget Your Trip and worked out the average cost for two people for a mid-range city break in 100 different European cities. It crunched the numbers on the daily cost for two people for two days, including mid-priced meals, a hotel stay, and using local transport.

Coming in with a daily average cost of £35 per person was Wroclaw in Poland, making it the cheapest option out of all the cities studied. Wroclaw, set in the southwest of the country, was built on 12 islands across the Odra River and its neighbourhoods are connected by over 100 bridges. It’s sometimes called the Venice of Poland thanks to its sprawling network of canals that offer you the chance to go sightseeing by boat.

Ostrów Tumski, or Cathedral Island, is the oldest part of the city, made up of cobblestone streets that are illuminated by 102 gas lamps, each one lit by hand every evening by a man in a cape. Just across the water is Rynek, one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, where you’ll find a towering Gothic old town hall and traditional tenement houses painted in soft pastel tones.

Centennial Hall is another of the city’s architectural masterpieces. Built in the 1910s, this vast concrete building was used as a filming location for Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, its distinctive high dome making it perfect for the Capitol Arena.

Eating out is inexpensive in Wroclaw, and you can find plenty of hearty, cheap eats. Fill up on kluski sląskie, soft potato dumplings, or zurek, a tangy soup often served in a bread bowl. The city is also a popular place to visit during the winter months, where the icy weather gives it serious cosy vibes.

Rynek becomes the site of the city’s Christmas market from late-November until early-January, and opens late in to the night. You can try traditional Polish food and enjoy hot mulled wine served in ceramic, boot-shaped mugs that have become a collector’s item.

But Wroclaw isn’t Poland’s only inexpensive destination. The top five cheapest breaks are all in the country: Poznań, Katowice, Gdańsk, and Kraków, making up the list. Warsaw, the country’s capital, also comes in at number ten.

Outside of Poland, four other cities complete the top ten. These are Sofia in Bulgaria, Zagreb in Croatia, Malmö in Sweden, and Budapest in Hungary, putting the majority of cheap destinations in Eastern Europe.

The 10 cheapest European cities for a weekend getaway

1. Wroclaw, Poland
2. Poznań, Poland
3. Katowice, Poland
4. Gdańsk, Poland
5. Krakow, Poland
6. Sofia, Bulgaria
7. Zagreb, Croatia
8. Malmö, Sweden
9. Budapest, Hungary
10. Warsaw, Poland

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

A BRAND new aquapark is coming to a UK town just in time for the summer holidays.

The attraction spans 150 acres and will be open until the autumn.

The massive new attraction features everything from slides and climbing walls to balance beams and splash zones.

Opening from today (Saturday, July 18), the inflatable waterpark will be running until autumn.

It is located at Hinchingbrooke Country Park in Cambridgeshire and is set to open daily for the rest of the summer.

Visitors aged six and over can pre-book online, with tickets costing £19 per person.

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This price includes entry, as well as a buoyancy aid, helmet, and wetsuit hire.

Helmets and wetsuits are optional, however, participants must wear a buoyancy aid regardless of swimming ability.

Ticket-holders can visit the park anytime 10am to 5pm, with each session lasting an hour.

The new inflatable is part of a larger ongoing investment into Hinchingbrooke Country Park, improving its leisure activities and encouraging more visitors to the park’s large natural surroundings.

Executive member for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene, Cllr Julie Kerr, said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing this exciting new attraction to Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

“It’s a fantastic addition for residents and visitors alike, and part of our ongoing commitment to improving and evolving the park to enhance leisure and outdoor opportunities for users now and in the future.”

Only two games remain at the FIFA World Cup, with France and England battling for third place before Sunday’s final.

France and England meet in the third-place playoff, while attention is also turning to Argentina against Spain, where Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set for a generational showdown.

Here is what to know:

What’s the schedule for the third-place game?

What are the predictions?

France and England have met three times at the FIFA World Cup. England won the first two encounters, beating France 2-0 in the 1966 group stage and 3-1 in the 1982 first group phase. France claimed the most recent meeting, defeating England 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

According to the Opta supercomputer, France are favourites to win the third-place playoff. After running 25,000 pre-match simulations, the model gave Les Bleus a 50.7 percent chance of winning in 90 minutes. England were assigned a 25.6 percent chance of victory, while 23.7 percent of the simulations ended in a draw after regulation.

What do we know about the final?

Spain and Argentina will face off in the final on Sunday, July 19, at New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 GMT.

Spain are chasing a second World Cup crown, while defending champions Argentina are looking to secure a fourth title. Their most recent meeting came in a 2018 international friendly in Madrid, where Spain recorded a 6-1 victory.

US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the final and present the World Cup trophy to the winners.

The winners will also receive something new alongside the trophy and gold medals. For the first time, FIFA will award championship rings, a tradition borrowed from North American sports. Thirty customised rings will be produced for the winning squad, while another 1,996 collector’s editions will be sold to fans.

The rings will then be customised to reflect the identity of the winning team and individually fitted before being presented at a later date. One side will feature the World Cup trophy, while the other will carry details specific to the champions.

Organisers are also monitoring air quality after smoke from Canadian wildfires triggered health advisories across parts of the New York metropolitan area. So far, there is no indication Sunday’s final will be affected.

What other things are happening?

Tuchel’s tactics trigger backlash

England’s World Cup semifinal defeat to Argentina has triggered fierce criticism of Thomas Tuchel, with many accusing the German coach of repeating the mistakes that have haunted England for decades.

After England squandered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1, British media questioned Tuchel’s tactical decisions, particularly his defensive substitutions. Headlines described it as the “same old story”, while critics argued the coach “just shrank” in the biggest moment.

Former England captain Gary Lineker also questioned whether Tuchel is the right man to lead the team, saying he was hired specifically to deliver a major trophy after years of near misses under Gareth Southgate. Like his predecessor, Tuchel has been accused of becoming too cautious after taking the lead, with many arguing his changes invited pressure and ultimately cost England a place in the World Cup final.

From bathtub to World Cup final

Nearly two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort thought little of a charity photo shoot showing a 20-year-old Lionel Messi bathing a baby in a plastic tub. Years later, that baby was revealed to be Lamine Yamal, creating one of football’s most remarkable coincidences.

The images, taken in 2007 for a charity calendar produced by Sport newspaper and UNICEF, have resurfaced ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, where Messi’s Argentina will face Yamal’s Spain. In the photos, Messi gently washes the infant, whose family had been randomly selected through a raffle in the Catalan city of Mataro.

Monfort, who captured the pictures while working on assignment, said the coincidence still amazes him. “I never believed things were destined to happen, but I’m starting to have my doubts,” he told The Associated Press.

The story has become even more extraordinary given what followed. Messi went on to establish himself as one of the greatest players in football history before leaving Barcelona in 2021, while Yamal emerged as the club’s next superstar just two years later. Now, the pair meet on opposite sides in the World Cup final, completing a journey that began with a chance photo shoot nearly 20 years ago.

Wildfire smoke disrupts World Cup final preparations

Spain’s preparations for the World Cup final have been affected by hazardous air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires, with players training outdoors in northern New Jersey on Thursday under hazy skies.

Media were only allowed to watch the opening 15 minutes of the hour-long session, making it unclear how intense the workout was. Meanwhile, Argentina remained at its training base near Atlanta after Wednesday’s semifinal win over England, avoiding the worst of the smoke because of its more southerly location.

The smoke, driven south from wildfires in northern Ontario, has prompted air quality warnings across parts of the US Midwest and Northeast. Health officials urged people to stay indoors or wear masks outdoors as pollution levels reached unhealthy to hazardous levels.

Medical experts questioned the decision to hold outdoor training in such conditions. Dr Courtney Howard, an emergency physician and Global Climate and Health Alliance official, said elite athletes should avoid exercising outside when wildfire smoke reaches hazardous levels, recommending indoor, air-conditioned facilities instead.

Mary Steenburgen moved to California to work with Jack Nicholson.

It was 1977, and Steenburgen — an Arkansas native — had been waiting tables in New York at night while studying acting with Sandy Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse during the day. She’d been pounding the pavement for about seven years, she says, when her “overnight moment came” and she was called in to read for a film Nicholson was both directing and starring in called “Goin’ South.”

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Getting the role, Steenburgen says, changed her life in every way. “I flew out [to film] and had an amazing introduction to the town,” she explains. “I lived at the Chateau Marmont and went to Paramount Studios every day, where [Nicholson] would screen movies for me and then come in at the end to give me a little film-slash-acting lecture about each one. It really helped me get ready to dive into the big leagues.”

Though she spent some years in an old Ojai farmhouse in the 1980s raising her kids with former husband Malcolm McDowell, she’s always had a base of operations here in L.A. She shares her L.A. abode now with husband Ted Danson, whom she married in 1995 and with whom she’s starred in numerous projects, including the Netflix series “A Man on the Inside.” L.A. is also where she filmed her latest movie, “The Dink,” an Apple TV comedy centered on one of her favorite pastimes: pickleball.

Here’s how Steenburgen would spend her perfect, pickleball-filled Sunday in Los Angeles.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

5:30 a.m.: Early morning meditation and mental exercise

We always wake up early. After so many years of going to work at 5 in the morning, we always wake up between 5 and 6 now.

We’re morning meditators, or we try to be since our dog [Blue] just sits on our laps and stares at us until he’s been fed. Then we have to do all the New York Times games, and then I’ll try and find a pickleball game. We love Spelling Bee. We have to get to Genius, at least. Occasionally we’ll get to Queen Bee, but if we don’t get to at least Genius, then my day is ruined.

If my husband and I are working that week, whoever’s not working will have to run lines with the one who is. So we’ll generally spend a few hours doing that in the morning, too.

8:30 a.m.: Light gardening

I love my garden. A lot of it was hand-planted by me. Not the big trees — someone else planted those — but everything else, like the ground cover and smaller plants, I did. So I’ll spend a little time out there, too.

I like to go to Armstrong Garden Centers. They hire very knowledgeable people there. When I first started planting my garden — I live on a hill and it was all dirt back there and not everything grows well that way so I was looking for ground cover that would grow quickly but also didn’t mind a hillside. The people at Armstrong knew the answer, and they were great.

10 a.m.: Pickleball-palooza

I try to play pickleball for at least two hours a day, if I can. I try to find a game with friends, or I’ll go and play in different parks.

This morning, I played at a friend’s house. She has a beautiful tennis court and they put tape down on it so we can use it for pickleball, too. I played with her daughter and her friend.

I also have a pickleball coach and sometimes we’ll go play at this place called Pickle Pop that’s on the Third Street Promenade. Other times, I’ll play at the Santa Monica Pickleball Center.

My son just brought eight members over from [one of] London’s biggest pickleball club[s], Lemon Pickleball, and they all stayed with me. We played all over the place and we had so much fun. They loved Southern California, and seeing it through their eyes made me love it even more.

On their last night here, I called a wonderful family I know that cooks fantastic Mexican food, because I knew [the Brits] hadn’t ever really experienced great Mexican food. I met them because they’re set up every weekend in the parking lot at Rustic Coffee [in Santa Monica]. They’re lovely folks. So they came over and cooked, and we had a wonderful night for the Brits, putting up all kinds of lights and decorations too.

12:30 p.m.: Magical brunch with the grandkids

We go to Kreation a lot for lunch, just because it’s nice and it’s very healthy. I was just there yesterday with my granddaughters, after we all played Pickleball.

Actually, this weekend we all went to the Magic Castle together, too. I hadn’t been for decades and two of my five grandkids were here, and they’d never been either. Mostly it’s no kids at the Magic Castle but on weekends they do a brunch where kids can come so we went to that. The last magician in the show even called my granddaughter up on stage to be a sort of assistant, and it was very cute.

3 p.m.: Hiking with the dog

Because we work a lot and our days often belong to someone else from early in the morning until pretty late at night, weekends are more laid back.

We like to go on hikes and walks around Santa Monica. We have this big Australian Shepherd and we take him for long, slow walks. They’re slow because he has to say hello to every dog and person along the way — especially babies, who are his absolute favorite.

There’s something magical about my dog, I think. People will say, “Oh, my dog hates all dogs” and then my dog pulls me over and the dog that hates all dogs just melts. It’s like he calms other dogs. He even calms people that think they don’t like dogs. I know I’m very prejudiced, but I’m also very proud.

6 p.m.: Breakfast (or Goop) for dinner

We’re big on breakfast for dinner, so maybe we’d have some poached eggs on toast or poached eggs on creamed spinach.

If we order in, we might get food from Goop Kitchen. They have so many healthy, fantastic choices. Even their pizzas are pretty healthy.

8:30 p.m.: TV in bed

Sometimes I read a book at night, but we also have a show we absolutely love to go to sleep to, even if you’re not supposed to do that. It’s this British game show called “Would I Lie to You?” and unfailingly it makes me laugh. I’ve seen every single episode — some of them twice — and I like to go to sleep laughing.

I also just said to Ted that I think we’re going to have to start “Cheers” again soon. We just lost our friend Jimmy Burrows, who was a magnificent human and so important to Ted’s whole career, and one of the great things about watching “Cheers” is, if you know Jimmy’s laugh, you can actually pick it out multiple times during each episode.

It’s been a long time since we’ve watched “Cheers,” and it honestly never gets old. I first watched it in Ojai when I was married and had young children. We would watch it with our best friends on Thursday nights, like everybody would go down to their house in their pajamas and we’d watch “Cheers” and then I’d come home to put the kids to bed. Then, when I was going through my divorce I would watch it at 10 o’clock at night because I was very lonely and it was the thing that cheered me up at the end of the day during a hard time in my life. Little did I know that one day I’d be sleeping with Sam Malone.

WITH the summer holidays here, you might be regretting not booking a holiday yet.

Well, luckily for you, there are a whole host of places you can travel to for cheap under £210 per person.

And what’s even better is that you don’t have to use any of your annual leave as all the following weekend breaks are for between July 24 and 26.

They even take off in the afternoon or evening so you can go after work on Friday.

Turiquintas, The Algarve in Portugal

You could head to Turiquintas Hotel in The Algarve in Portugal for a weekend – the hotel has breakfast in the morning, and lunch anddinners are included.

There are 80 apartments in total across the site, as well as a pool, children’s pool, games room, supermarket, cafe and a bar.

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Even better, the beach is just 800 metres away.

You would fly from East Midlands Airport on the Friday at 7:10pm to Faro, and return on the Sunday at 7:10am.

A two night stay costs £165 per person.

a&o Prague Rhea, Czech Republic

If you fancy being in the middle of a bustling and vibrant city, you could head to a&o Prague Rhea for two nights.

All the rooms have their own bathrooms as well as free Wi-Fi.

Downstairs in the lobby, you’ll also find a 24-hour bar.

And in the morning you can head to the breakfast buffet.

To get to the town centre, it is just 20 minutes on public transport where you can explore fairytale-like architecture including Prague Castle.

You would fly from Bristol Airport on the Friday at 9:55pm to Prague, and return on the Sunday at 3:45pm.

A two night stay costs £168 per person.

PortAventura Hotel El Paso & Theme Park, Spain

Want a theme park and a hotel for the price of one? You can head over to PortAventura Hotel El Paso with Woody Woodpecker-themed rooms and unlimited access to PortAventura Park just down the road.

And the beach is also only seven minutes away.

As for the hotel itself, there are two pools including one with a pirate ship, day and evening entertainment, a hot tub as well as a selection of bars and restaurants.

You would fly from Liverpool Airport on the Friday at 9:45pm to Reus, and return on the Sunday to Manchester at 12pm.

A two night stay costs £185 per person.

Granada Palace Affiliated by Melia, Spain

If you want to feel like a king or queen, then head to Granada Palace Affiliated by Melia, in Spain.

The hotel has rooms and suites, as well as a spa with sauna and steam rooms and an indoor heated pool and an outdoor freshwater pool.

It is great for those who just want a relaxing weekend away, where you can explore Monachil, which is a great spot for hiking including a 63-metre-long bridge across a gorge.

You’ll also be an 18 minute drive from Granada city centre.

The hotel has a restaurant, cafe and bar if you want to grab a bite to eat. And of course, there is a huge buffet breakfast.

You would fly from Manchester Airport on the Friday at 9:30pm to Malaga, and return on the Sunday at 6:40am.

A two night stay costs £175 per person.

ITC Colón by Soho Boutique, Andalucia in Spain

In Córdoba, you’ll find Hotel ITC Colón with 40 rooms, each with a private bathroom. There’s also an onsite restaurant, breakfast room and a bar.

When it comes to things to do around the hotel, just a 10-minute drive away is the Mosque-Cathedral – which features 850 columns and towering arches.

Though for something closer you could head to Palacio de la Merced convent, which are both within a five-minute walk.

You would fly from Manchester Airport on the Friday at 9:30pm to Malaga, and return on the Sunday at 6:40am.

A two night stay costs £169 per person.

Studio 17 by Atlantic Hotels, Algarve in Portugal

The Studio 17 by Atlantic Hotels sits in Portimao resort in Algarve, Portugal, just a short drive from the coast. The accommodation features Mediterranean-style apartments with kitchenettes and either a balcony or a terrace.

There’s an outdoor swimming pool for adults as well, including a sun terrace with sun loungers and parasols ideal for soaking up the sunshine.

The coast is just a six-minute drive away and the town centre is less than a 20-minute walk from the hotel.

You would fly from Leeds Bradford Airport on the Friday at 6:30pm to Faro, and return on the Sunday at 6:10am.

A two night stay costs £179 per person.

A MASSIVE inflatable obstacle course is set to open at a popular UK shopping centre this weekend.

Dubbed The Monster, the attraction has been described as “one of the world’s biggest inflatable obstacle courses”, with tickets previously selling out across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi.

Now, the popular course is set to take up residence at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Greenhithe, Kent for the rest of the summer.

The exciting attraction boasts 1,000 feet of fun, with 40 obstacles, including the 18-metre “Mega Slide”, the mind-blowing “Exterminator” and the terrifying “House of Hell”.

It is set to launch on Saturday (July 18) and will be open daily from 10am to 9pm, with guests able to complete as many laps as they’d like during a 60-minute time slot.

The Monster will be at Bluewater Shopping Centre until Monday, August 31.

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During this time, there will be daily quiet sessions for people of all-ages, as well as adults-only slots.

There will also be foam parties with DJs and karaoke on select Saturdays during this time.

The area surrounding the obstacle course will also offer street food and drink vendors, as well as giant games such as Jenga and Connect 4, and Monster Ping-Pong.

Centre Director at Bluewater James Waugh described The Monster as “an incredible attraction”.

“We can’t wait to welcome guests throughout the summer to experience everything it has to offer — from the 300‑metre inflatable obstacle course to the full line‑up of entertainment in the event arena,” he said.

“Tickets are already selling fast, so we are urging people to book their visits sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.”

Admission costs £18 each, while spectator tickets will set you back just £3, with more information available here.

Participants must be at least five years old and one metre tall, while children under four can watch for free.