AUTUMN is officially here and everyone is starting to hunker down.
Summer duvets are being swapped with thicker sets to snuggle under.
And one savvy shopper bagged a bargain when she visited her local B&M store.
Taking to the Facebook group, Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group, Mary Butterton posted a couple of images of what she bought.
The first being a Teddy Fleece Duvet Set with two pillowcase in cream.
She accompanied the photo with a caption that read: “Double teddy fleece bedding reduced to £10 B&M, ready for winter!”
The duvet set is from B&M’s Cosy Collection and features a thermal fleecing to keep your warm durin the cold nights.
Some colourways are available online for £20 – so Mary got a bargain at half price!
Whilst in store, Mary also spotted some Christmas pyjamas.
The PJ set was for kids aged 5-6 years but were originally priced at £6 down to 10p!
They featured a longsleeve grey t-shirt with a reindeer and Merry Christmas written across the front.
The bottoms were long leggings, in matching grey adorned with reindeers.
One B&M shopper commented on Marys’s post: “They’re last years stock. Not all stores will even have them, as most reduce them to get rid of them right after Xmas.
There is all new styles this year.”
Another added: “They are only down to 10p as they are last years so not all stores will have them, they are really comfy though and a bargain!”
Someone else remarked: “We don’t mind last year’s stock!”
As for what else has been reduced, B&M are flogging kid’s Hooded Sherpa Blankets for half price.
The grey and cream were originally £10 and now £5, whereas the pink and blue were £5 and now £2.50.
Approximately 96 x 125cm in size, they are perfect for keeping kids warm on the sofa.
If you’re looking for savvy ways to keep your house warm this winter, a property expert has shared his tips.
A WOMAN “living in hell” claimed she hears “drug users scream” all night outside her flat – but no one will help.
Sabina Redlarska is desperate to leave her Hyson Green apartment, on Noel Street, in Nottingham, as she lives “scared for her life”.
The 39-year-old, who has been there for six years, originally chose the property because it was close to her workplace.
But now, her former sanctuary and “safe space” has descended into mayhem.
The front door of the building is broken which means drug dealing yobs and threatening characters are able to roam freely in communal hallways.
Sabina told Nottinghamshire Live: “The night fights, the terror of people being high on drugs screaming because they are having a bad trip – what is supposed to be my safe space is more like living in hell.
“I’m dealing with depression and these situations are adding to it.
“On many occasions, when I leave my flat, I have to hide back in quickly because there’s a group of addicts hanging out in the staircase.”
While the traumatised resident admitted no one has caused her physical harm, she constantly feels “uncomfortable”.
A disgusted Sabina also claimed they leave a trail of rubbish and human waste behind them, from sick to blood-stained tissues.
But, the 39-year-old claimed AAAF Properties – the company that owns and runs the complex – leave her feeling “disregarded” when she complains.
She is desperate to leave the “very unsafe space” and is now “scared for her life”.
Sabina eventually suffered a “breakdown” that left her in hospital and saw her signed off work for nearly four months.
She also resorted to installing her own CCTV cameras for protection.
Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Liz Gaskin said: “Our officers take all reports of drug supply incredibly seriously, as we know how much of an impact this offending can have on communities, and that it can often be a precursor to other associated crimes like violence, robbery, burglary and antisocial behaviour.
“We are aware of the issues that residents have reported around suspected drug dealing in the building and are actively dealing with these concerns as we know communities don’t want this activity on their doorsteps.
“As part of this, our neighbourhood policing team organises regular days of action in the area alongside our partner agencies. We also conduct plain clothes operations and we have also executed warrants in the area in recent months too.
“This included a warrant executed on Thursday (12 September) in Noel Street, which was negative. Our officers spoke to Ms Redlarska and provided her with reassurance and advice on how to report incidents to us.
“The team also posted letters to neighbours reassuring them about the work we are doing to combat this behaviour. A lot of this work is helped by intelligence provided by members of the public who report these incidents to us when they see or hear about them.
“We are extremely grateful to those who report these concerns around drug dealing to us and would always urge others to do so as well by contacting the police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
The Sun attempted to contact AAAF Properties but no details could be found.
A STARBUCKS superfan has discovered a dupe on one of their coffees and it’s much cheaper.
Leah Choudhry was so pleased with her find that she even planned to have one “everyday for the foreseeable.”
The social media executive was so excited about her discovery that she took to her TikTok page to share her findings with others.
She says: “Why is no one talking about this?”
Leah goes on to explain how she is “usually a Starbucks girl through and through” and orders the Iced Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso, which costs £5.90.
This drink is made with Starbucks Blonde Espresso roast, ice, brown sugar flavour syrup, and oat drink.
However, she has found a dupe and it only cost her £1 and it can be found in Caffe Nero.
She discovered that the Iced Velvet Americano is very similar to the Starbucks one
Upon discovering it on the menu, she asked staff at her local Caffe Nero what it was like and they said: “It’s gorgeous.”
Leah says: “I was like, I’m sold. Can I have one of them please?”
She then shows the camera an iced drink which has froth on the top of it.
Leah continues: “I’m sold. I’ve got honey with it, so it’s sweet as well. To me it tastes like brown sugar oat milk espresso.”
A Vanilla Iced Velvet Americano from Caffè Nero costs £4.20 in the UK and contains 61 calories.
It’s a blended black iced coffee with a creamy texture.
Caffè Nero also offers a Honey Iced Velvet Americano for the same price, which contains 67 calories.
However, if you are with the phone network Three, customers can get the drink for £1 by downloading their app – and that is what Leah did.
She added in the comments section of her video: “My NEW order is Iced Velvet Americano with honey and a splash of oat milk!”
Her video gained a lot of attraction with many rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “Yeah this drink slaps.”
Another added: “Caffe Nero coffee is 100 per cent better than Starbucks.”
A third said that “if you have an Octopus electricity account, you can get one free drink every week.”
A Caffe Nero customer also suggested another drink to try.
They wrote: “You neeeeeed to try Nero’s pistachio iced latte! 10/10”
Leah replied by asking: “Is it nicer though?”
And they said: “100000%! Nero drinks in general are so much better than Starbucks and way cheaper.”
The name was inspired by a book
Co-founders Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin, and Zev Siegl opened the first Starbucks in Seattle on March 30, 1971. The name was inspired by author Herman Melville’s famous novel, Moby-Dick – Starbuck was the name of the first mate on the ship, the Pequod.
It has its own coffee farm
Purchased in 2013, Hacienda Alsacia is a 240-hectare coffee farm located in Costa Rica. Customers can’t visit, but they can take a virtual tour.
Different apron colours
Did you ever notice some of the Starbucks staff wearing different colour aprons? Green, Black, Red and there’s also a few special editions.
Before there were Sharpie pens
Starbucks is known for writing your name on your drink cup, but before this idea came to fruition, the position of a cup on the bar would tell the barista how to make the beverage. Upside down for decaf!
Millions of fans, millions of drinks
US Starbucks stores will sell around 5 million drinks daily in 2024, and the top-selling of which is currently Caramel Macchiato.
OLI Leyland is glad to be making life ‘awkward’ for those in power.
The London star is likely to get another season in the top flight, whether it is with the Broncos or not, as Warrington are keen.
Even though the half back, who has showed the talents that have placed him on Sam Burgess’ shopping list, is adamant he has not made it yet, the Broncos can still avoid bottom spot.
If rugby league’s strategic partner IMG’s gradings are anything to go by, there is no chance London will be in Super League next year.
But Mike Eccles’ men still have a chance of throwing a huge cat among the pigeons by overhauling Hull FC – whose grade A status guarantees them a place.
And 23-year-old Kent boy Leyland believes it is testament to a side made up of local lads, plus who can be termed ‘waifs and strays’ that ‘awkward conversations’ are happening.
He said as they head to France to face Catalans: “We’re working hard to get where we need to be.
“We were unlucky in the first half of the year – if you watched us, you’d say, ‘They’re playing well for 60 minutes.’ In the other 20, though, we’ve fallen off a cliff.
“Last year, there was a battle between Castleford and Wakefield. If it was set up the right way this time, there would be a great battle and a great finish to the year.
“We’ve been written off a lot, as individuals and as a team. Hear some and they say it’s a guaranteed two points. For us, proving them wrong would be massive.
“If we were bottom of the league with zero points, none of these questions would be asked. That’s a credit to us as a group and a club that we’re actually making it pretty awkward.”
Leyland is the latest London product to show they can thrive in Super League.
Just the latest man to prove thn Capital is a fertile ground for talent that cannot be ignored.
However, one swallow does not make a summer. Wherever he is, he feels he will have to do it again and again to truly be called a Super League player.
He added: “To be a Super League player, you have to do it for a sustained number of years. I don’t think I’m a Super League player.
“I’ve made improvements throughout the year, which on a personal level I’m happy with. I didn’t necessarily think I’d get the opportunities I’ve had this year but I’ve just tried to grasp them and run with them.
“But I definitely wouldn’t say that I feel like I’m a Super League player. There are still lots of adjustments I want to make before I can do that.”
THE FAMILY of an Israeli hostage murdered by Hamas have released a video of him in Gaza which sheds light on the horrors of his year in captivity.
Alex Lobanov, 32, was the head barman at the Nova Music Festival ravaged by Hamas on October 7 2023.
He was found dead in a tunnel inside the Gaza Strip alongside five other hostages by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on August 31.
After they were found, Hamas released a series of taunting videos showing the hostages in captivity.
Addressing their loved ones at home and Prime Minister Netanyahu, they criticised Israel’s handling of the war and lack of a hostage-ceasefire deal.
Several freed hostages have said Hamas coerces them into making such videos and Israeli media usually only releases them if the family requests they do.
Alex’s family authorised parts of the video to be published online via The Hostages Families Forum, who said it reveals “Hamas’ cruelty”.
In the footage Alex says they are being held in “very difficult circumstances”.
“There are no basic supplies, like water, food, electricity and hygiene,” he says.
“There are bombings all the time, we are afraid and have difficulty sleeping.”
Speaking directly to Netanyahu and his government, Lobanov says they have failed “in all efforts to release us alive”.
He said: “You are just trying to kill us for not making a deal.
“I would just like to remind you that in [the 2011 deal to release IDF soldier Gilad Shalit], over 1,000 terrorists were released.”
Addressing his fellow citizens he said: “Go out to the streets, protest, do everything so that we will come out of here alive.”
“To my family, Michal, Tom, Mom, Dad — Remain strong and united, I am doing well, miss you and love you.”
Alex’s wife Michal gave birth to their second child while he was in captivity.
The Hostages Families Forum, who have been organising country-wide protests against the government’s handling of the war, said the video emphasises the urgent need to bring home the remaining hostages.
A statement from the group read: “This horrific video further demonstrates Hamas’s cruelty.
“Alex and five other hostages managed to survive in nightmarish conditions for over 10 months before being brutally executed.
“Recently released footage from their underground prison offered only a glimpse of the unimaginable horrors they endured in captivity.
“Time is running out for the remaining 101 hostages. A deal must be struck immediately to save them.”
Hamas has previously released footage of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi and Carmel Gat in captivity.
The IDF this week revealed footage from inside the tunnel where the six hostages were kept.
Footage shows Daniel Hagari entering the sprawling tunnel where the group was held captive for almost a year in horrific conditions.
The hostages were found dead in Rafah on August 31.
An autopsy carried out by the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute found they had been shot multiple times from close range.
They were murdered only some 48 to 72 hours before the examination, meaning they were killed between Thursday and Friday morning before the army reached them on Saturday afternoon.
Some 101 hostages remain in Gaza and Israeli officials estimate a third of them are already dead.
The discovery of the six hostages has sparked a renewed wave of fury across Israel with hundreds of thousands protesting for a hostage release deal and ceasefire.
A total of 251 hostages were abducted to Gaza on October 7 after Hamas launched a bloody assault on Israel which killed around 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians.
Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since during the war in Gaza, the Strip’s Hamas-linked health ministry claims.
BY Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
THE SIX hostages were aged between 23 and 40 and were kept in Gaza for almost a year after their kidnap on October 7 2023.
They were: Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danino.
Ori, 25; Eden, 24; Almog, 27; and Alexander, 33, were all taken from the tragic Supernova music festival.
The sixth, Carmel, 40, was abducted from the nearby farming community of Be’eri.
Following news of the deaths, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog apologised to the families of the victims for “failing to bring them home safely”.
The family of Ms Yerushalmi said: “We share with great sorrow that our beloved Eden was murdered in Hamas captivity.”
Israel’s army said the bodies were recovered from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, around a kilometre from where another hostage, Qaid Farhan Alkadi, 52, was rescued alive a week before.
US-citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, became one of the most well-known captives held by Hamas as his parents met with world leaders and pressed for his release.
They spoke out about the horrors of the ongoing war at the Democratic National Convention in August.
The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the attack.
US President Joe Biden said he was “devastated and outraged” by the news of their deaths.
