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In a shocking turn of events that’s left fans reeling, pop icon Taylor Swift is reportedly considering leaving the United States permanently. The singer, known for her record-breaking albums and sold-out tours, is said to be seriously contemplating packing her bags and bidding farewell to the country that made her a global superstar. Her reason? …
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A FAMILY has decided to settle down on a tiny island that you can only access twice a day.
Holy island, also known as Lindisfarne, receives up to 800,000 visitors a year despite only being home to 200 residents.
The Mundys moved to the island in late 2022 to be closer to their cafe, situated just off the coast of Northumberland.
Andrew Mundy, 40 and his wife, Victoria, 36, were keen to cut the commute to their business and made the jump to Holy Island-life, where the tides prevent full-time access.
Andrew said: “We wanted to have and liked the idea of bringing children up on an island – specifically on Holy Island.
“I’ve been around the island since I was born really and I know what it’s like when the tide shuts.
“I’m not really a city dweller and I don’t see anywhere better to live.
“I’ve appreciated it for my entire life.”
The family have owned Pilgrims Coffee House & Roastery on the island for 18 years and moved to Holy Island from Belford.
What was once a 15 minute commute is now a 5 metre one and they don’t have to time their journey with the tides.
The pair are thrilled to be bringing their three children up in a rural landscape with Aida, 10, attending school off the island and Heidi, seven, and Thea, four, attending the local primary.
This school has only five pupils in it – students are taught locally for the first few hours before the small class catches a ride off the island.
The mini school bus travels along the singular road to the larger off-island school, Lowick, when the sea level permits, which is only twice a day.
With the tide moving forward and backwards daily there are two points per day in which the road is not completely submerged.
Similarly, Mount Pleasant Primary School in the Falklands, has only 26 kids on its register, and has been branded “the UK’s loneliest school.”
The journey to Mount Pleasant is a tad further to get to the mainland than on Holy Island, requiring a 8000-mile commute to the Falklands.
Andrew added: “We’ve always not had amazing success in enrolling the kids into clubs because of the tides but otherwise we just spend our time going wild on the island!
“They quite regularly bring all the kids from Lowick over to the island as well.
“They all get along and know each other – they muck in together.”
“Ultimately, my business is here and I see the benefit for the children of living here.”
One of the most isolated places in the world has an eerie history
Pitcairn Island, situated amongst a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean, is home to only 38 people
It’s a volcanic island that stretches two miles long and one mile wide
The island was left uninhabited after archeologists presume the community that once lived there went extinct due to depletion of natural resources
In 1789 British mutineers discovered it while looking for a place to hide after a rebellion broke out on their ship
Despite being left to die in a boat Captain Bligh and his loyal men ended up on the island and settled there with six Polynesian men and twelve women from Tahiti
Within just four years, only four mutineers and ten women and their children remained, with the rest massacred in acts of violence
The population then began to grow again but in 2004 seven men were put behind bars for a string of sex offences – this made up almost half of the island’s male population
The island has been surviving on government aid since 2004 and now we are trying to become self-sufficient again
Andrews family has been involved with the island for 40 years with his parents purchasing the cafe but the remote area has gone through some changes.
There is a currently a campaign on Holy Island to tackle the shrinking population and aging demographic – the Mundys moved as part of the campaign along with another family.
It’s also undergoing an improvement project called ‘Holy Island 2050’ to address sustainability issues brought about by extreme levels of tourism.
The luscious landscape has attracted a fair amount of media attention and the area is labelled one of the seven “wonders of the north.”
Lindisfarne was also supposedly the first place the vikings raided and was depicted in the first season of the popular TV show Vikings.
Andrew said: “Since we’ve been living here, tourism hasn’t changed as much.
“They’ve put a lot of effort in to attract more tourists and I think now it’s more about tourist management, rather than bringing in more.
“Environmentally, it’s a small community and making it a little beacon for sustainability is something I’m fully behind.”
NEWCASTLE are reportedly monitoring 18-year-old Norwegian forward Sindre Walle Egeli.
The Magpies are currently low in the striker department, with Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson among the only first team stars available.
Both players have struggled with various injury problems over the last few years, giving Eddie Howe some selection headaches.
But club officials are now looking to recruit another forward to add to their ranks.
The Daily Mail claims Newcastle are tracking FC Nordsjaelland striker Egeli.
Nordsjaelland are expected to demand around £21million for the teenager.
Egeli recorded an impressive goals tally at youth level with 32 in 35 games.
He is now being likened to Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland.
West Ham, Brentford, Brighton and Crystal Palace are also understood to be interested.
Not only can Egeli play as a striker, but he is also able to operate on both wings.
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The Norwegian joined Nordsjaelland from Sandefjord last summer and has since made 12 first team appearances.
He made his senior international debut for Norway in the Nations League against Kazakhstan earlier this month.
KEEPING the kids entertained on holiday is always a must.
Luckily, more and more hotels in Turkey now offer waterpark access. Here we’ve rounded up Tripadvisor’s best-rated waterpark hotels and the best deals to get you there.
All the resorts included in the list are five-star hotels, and the deals are based on all-inclusive stays.
The best part of the deals is that you’ll get unlimited access to the waterpark, on-site or nearby.
At the waterparks, you’ll find plenty of waterslides, attractions, lagoons, lazy rivers and pools that can be enjoyed by younger kids, teenagers and even adults.
The prices are based on a family of four travelling together and sleeping in shared accommodation.
Here are the top ten waterpark hotels in Turkey that you should visit this summer:
Located in Alanya, the resort is a stone’s throw from a private beach and includes a variety of outdoor pools and eight aquapark slides.
The hotel also has a kids’ club to entertain the little ones with a range of activities every day, while adults can relax at the spa, including Turkish baths, steam rooms and saunas.
The all-inclusive resort boasts six restaurants and six bars, ranging from Italian to Asian cuisine and drinks by the pool.
The hotel is located in a hidden forest paradise, still within walking distance of Tekirova town, which boasts many restaurants and shops and a lively nightlife.
The waterpark features fifteen water slides, pools, splash areas, a mini activity pool for babies, and entertainment and kids’ clubs.
The resort features a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars, including a sushi restaurant, burger station, steak house and beer garden.
The Miracle Resort Hotel features three swimming pools, two shallow pools for kids, and seven water slides, including two kids’ slides.
The hotel is 200m from Lara Beach, where guests can relax by the beach and snorkel.
The hotel also has kids’ and teens’ clubs, a playroom, playgrounds and a games room. A nightclub and live entertainment are also on every night, including live music and shows.
Located west of Antalya, the Litore Resort boasts over 260 rooms spread over six floors and recently opened in 2015.
All rooms have air conditioning, a minibar, wifi and toiletries.
The hotel features a 150m private beach, outdoor pools and water slides, and some activities, including mini golf, beach volleyball and aerobics.
The Seven Seas Hotel has five pools, including two children’s pools, sunbathing areas with sunbeds and parasols and a water park.
The aqua park features water slides, a lazy river and inflatable ring slides.
The resort also has ten bars, including a beach and pool bar, and eight restaurants serving a range of Italian, Turkish and international cuisine.
Often referred to as the ‘Turkish Disneyland‘ by fans, the Land of Legends Kingdom has everything you can wish for on-site.
The resort is the largest leisure park in Turkey, and it features two waterparks, one theme park and an arcade.
The waterparks boast more than 70 waterslides, and you’ll also find heated pools, lazy floats and lagoons for smaller children.
The park is open to everyone, but the Kingdom Hotel has some extra attractions for those staying on-site, including a shopping centre, a spa and the ‘world’s biggest children’s bar’ and playground.
The waterpark at Sherwood Exclusive Kemer is the main attraction, and it features ten water slides, including four for kids only.
The main pool is right by the beach, and cushioned loungers and parasols surround it. A separate pool with mini-slides, tipping buckets and mushroom fountains is also available for smaller children.
The resort boasts five a la carte restaurants, two buffet places, and an ice cream shop open all day.
Blue Dreams Resort has its own private beach and four outdoor pools, including an infinity pool and an aqua park with slides for the kids.
The hotel has a number of activities available throughout the day, such as water skiing, windsurfing and table tennis. During the evening, guests can enjoy shows and entertainment.
Adults can also relax in the Hamman, sauna, steam rooms, or Turkish bath.
Located on Lara Beach, the Sherwood Exclusive Lara is an award-winning resort with six restaurants, four outdoor pools, one indoor pool, and waterslides.
The waterslide pools include a separate adult and kids’ section, and the Beach Club features sunbeds, parasols and pool-side bars.
The resort boasts a number of activities, including a tennis court, water sports and a gym. A nightclub with a DJ and evening entertainment is also available nightly.
The Vogue Hotel Supreme Bodrum has a mini-theme park, water park and infinity pool on site.
This Bodrum resort features 33 water slides, four restaurants, eleven bars and two private beaches.
Guests can participate in several activities, including yoga, basketball, archery, water sports and bowling.
You could also swap Turkey’s much-loved resort, Antalya, for a less-crowded spot that’s just as nice.
Or head to the underrated Spanish beach destination that is still hot in winter and has cheap holidays under £250pp.
We’ve also revealed how families can save up to £240 on all Jet2holidays breaks.
