This Comedian Is Inspiring The Next Generation Of Kids With A Hometown Comedy Course

Comedian James Acaster has completed a five week stand-up course for pupils. It involved weekly training session with the comic and five students at Kettering Science Academy. Course culminated in a performance in front of fellow stand-ups Katharine Ryan, Tom Allen, Romesh Ranganathan and Desiree Burch.

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Reading Retreats Are the New Wellness Getaway—and Women Are Booking in Droves

A good book, a quiet corner, and uninterrupted time to relax—once a luxury, now a travel trend. Reading retreats, where holidaymakers head to tranquil locations to unplug and read, are emerging as one of 2025’s biggest wellness travel movements. And for many women juggling families, careers, and the mental load of daily life, it’s proving to be the perfect escape. Far from a silent solo affair, these book-centric getaways combine self-care with community. Guests gather in beautiful locations, spend hours immersed in novels, and come together to share food, drinks, and literary conversations—no pressure, no deadlines, no distractions. “There is nothing better than a group of excited readers making recommendations together,” says Emma Donaldson, who runs Boutique Book Breaks in the UK. She created the retreats after noticing a gap in the market for trips where guests could read uninterrupted—no chores, no guilt. Her formula? Enough quiet downtime to get lost in a book, balanced with optional activities like author chats or bibliotherapy sessions. The idea is to make reading feel indulgent and restorative, not something squeezed into the end of a busy day. Donaldson says her retreats are especially popular with women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—many of whom are mothers, partners, and professionals who rarely get time just for themselves. “The common factor is women who are looking to carve out a bit of time for themselves and their mental health,” she says. “To enjoy a hobby, guilt-free, and be around others who are equally excited about good stories.” Megan Christopher, founder of Ladies Who Lit, agrees. Her online book club now runs retreats where women can completely unwind—no meal planning, no laundry, no decision fatigue. “Women revel in the opportunity to not make any decisions and just have it all done for them,” she says. “It’s not often as a woman you get that opportunity.” The retreats have a social aspect, but no one is required to perform. In fact, Christopher says the change in environment often brings out a different side of her guests. She recalls a retreat in France where the group’s discussion of Everything’s Fine by Cecilia Rabess led to a passionate and respectful debate on race and politics. “It was wonderful to see everyone so engaged and fostering a judgement-free space,” she says. That sense of safety and openness is a theme echoed by Guinevere de la Mare, co-founder of the Silent Book Club. Her retreats include a daily hour of silent group reading—books in hand, no one talking, just a shared sense of presence. And while the trips are open to all, so far, every guest has been a woman. “There’s a unique level of openness that women bring to a group with the psychological safety that comes from stepping outside of the patriarchy,” she says. Reading, at its core, is solitary. But these retreats reframe it as an experience that’s shared, even celebrated. And they’ve gone global—from rainy afternoons in English manors to breezy mornings on Mediterranean sailboats. In Costa Rica, de la Mare’s group rode horses to waterfalls and soaked in volcanic hot springs between reading sessions. In Hawaii, they cruised at sunset and made leis. In England’s New Forest, Donaldson’s upcoming 2026 retreat at Burley Manor will include author interviews and “book bedazzling” sessions. Christopher’s next trips will take guests to Seville for poolside reading under olive trees, and sailing around Greek islands with books in hand. The success of these retreats comes down to simplicity. A peaceful place, a good story, and no pressure to be anything other than yourself. For a generation of women used to doing it all, a few days of doing nothing—except reading—is proving to be exactly what they need.

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Virtual Reality is Opening Doors For Seniors To Build Closer Connections In Real Life

Put a headset on an 85-year-old in assisted living, and in minutes they can be floating over mountains in a hang glider, drifting in a hot-air balloon, or swimming alongside dolphins. That is the pitch, and the promise, behind a growing push to bring virtual reality into senior living communities, where residents often have fewer chances to travel, and where loneliness can be a daily problem. At The Terraces, a retirement community in Los Gatos in California’s Silicon Valley, staff regularly line up residents in their 80s and 90s for group VR sessions. The headsets take them to Europe, down into ocean depths, or into other immersive scenes, all while they sit together in the same room. Earlier this year, residents at The Terraces paddled their arms from their chairs while watching a 3D program that put them underwater with dolphins. “We got to go underwater and didn't even have to hold our breath!” said Ginny Baird, 81, after the session. Other experiences can feel intense. During a virtual hot-air balloon ride, one resident gasped, “Oh my God!” Another shuddered, “It's hard to watch!” The sessions at The Terraces use programming curated by Rendever, a privately owned company based in Somerville, Massachusetts. Rendever says it has placed its platform in 800 retirement communities across the United States and Canada, turning a technology often associated with solo entertainment into a group activity meant to spark conversation. The company also sells VR as a way to help residents reconnect with the places that shaped them. It can “virtually take older adults back to the places where they grew up as children,” the report said, which for some can mean seeing a hometown for the first time in decades. Sue Livingstone, 84, said a virtual trip back to her childhood neighbourhood in the Queens borough of New York City convinced her that the headsets can do more than offer a quick thrill. Livingstone can still get out more often than many residents, but she said the value lies in what the images stir up. “It isn't just about being able to see it again, it's about all the memories that it brings back,” she said. Livingstone also sees VR as a way to nudge more reserved residents into trying something new. “There are a few people living here who never really leave their comfort zones. But if you could entice them to come down to try out a headset, they might find that they really enjoy it,” she said. Staff say the social part matters as much as the scenery. Adrian Marshall, The Terraces’ community life director, said curiosity spreads quickly once residents start talking about what they saw. “It turns into a conversation starter for them. It really does connect people,” Marshall said of Rendever’s VR programming. “It helps create a human bridge that makes them realize they share certain similarities and interests. It turns the artificial world into reality.” Rendever now wants to take its approach beyond senior living facilities. The company recently received a National Institutes of Health grant worth nearly $4.5m to study ways to reduce social isolation among seniors living at home and among their caregivers. Researchers have been studying VR and older adults for years, and the evidence so far points to potential benefits when programs are used thoughtfully. Some studies have found VR shown in a limited, guided format can help older adults maintain and improve cognitive function, strengthen memory, and support social connection with family members and peers in care facilities. Experts also stress that VR should sit alongside other activities, not replace them. “There is always a risk of too much screen time," said Katherine “Kate” Dupuis, a neuropsychologist and professor who studies aging issues at Sheridan College in Canada. “But if you use it cautiously, with meaning and purpose, it can be very helpful. It can be an opportunity for the elderly to engage with someone and share a sense of wonder.” One reason VR may work better than other consumer tech, researchers say, is that it can feel simpler than a smartphone. Pallabi Bhowmick, a researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who studies VR use with older adults, said headsets can remove the friction of small screens and complex menus. “The stereotypes that older adults aren’t willing to try new technology needs to change because they are willing and want to adapt to technologies that are meaningful to them,” Bhowmick said. "Besides helping them to relieve stress, be entertained and connect with other people, there is an intergenerational aspect that might help them build their relationships with younger people who find out they use VR and say, ‘Grandpa is cool!’" For Rendever CEO Kyle Rand, the idea started at home. He said his interest grew out of watching his grandmother face the emotional and mental strain that can come with aging. That interest eventually led him to cofound Rendever in 2016, after he studied neuroengineering at Duke University. “What really fascinates me about humans is just how much our brain depends on social connection and how much we learn from others,” Rand said. He described how shared sessions can turn into real relationships: “A group of elderly residents who don't really know each other that well can come together, spend 30 minutes in a VR experience together and then find themselves sitting down to have lunch together while continuing a conversation about the experience.” The market is growing enough that Rendever has competition. Another specialist, Dallas-based Mynd Immersive, also sells VR services tailored to senior living communities. Both companies are also tied to another hope attached to VR in elder care, its possible use in dementia support. Some facilities have begun using immersive programs as one tool among many to stimulate memories and engagement for residents with cognitive decline. At another Silicon Valley retirement community called the Forum, staff sometimes use VR for that reason. One resident, Bob Rogallo, has dementia that has left him speechless. During a session that coincided with his 83rd birthday, he took a virtual hike through Glacier National Park in Montana. The report described him nodding and smiling as he watched, seated beside his wife of 61 years. Sallie Rogallo said the headset brought back memories of the couple’s visits to the same park during decades spent travelling across the US in a recreational vehicle. “It made me wish I was 30 years younger so I could do it again,” she said. “This lets you get out of the same environment and either go to a new place or visit places where you have been.” In another Forum session, Almut Schultz, 93, watched a virtual classical music performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, then appeared to reach out toward a playful puppy on screen. “That was quite a session we had there,” Schultz said, smiling after she removed the headset. For staff and residents, those reactions are the point. Even when the body stays in the same chair, the conversation shifts. And in places where isolation can creep in quietly, a shared virtual trip can give people something immediate to talk about, and someone to talk with.

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Tony Hawk Skateboards Across Stage In ‘nutcracker’ Production

Tony Hawk just dropped in — on The Nutcracker. In a one-night-only surprise performance, the skateboarding icon traded halfpipes for pirouettes, making a cameo in the Golden State Ballet’s production of the holiday classic in San Diego. Hawk rolled onto the stage during the opening scene outside Clara’s home, dressed in costume and casually pulling off a manual (a skateboard wheelie), all while being chased by a mock police officer. The stunt earned immediate laughs and applause from the audience. “Sometimes you just have to say yes to things WAY outside your comfort zone, especially when your daughter thinks [it] is funny,” Hawk posted on social media after the show, crediting his daughter Kady — who filmed the performance from the audience — as the inspiration behind the idea. This wasn’t just a cameo, it was a mashup. Later in the show, Hawk returned with pro park skater Katelyn West, and the two performed tricks on a quarterpipe right onstage. Skateboarding and classical ballet, side by side. The show had teased the collaboration ahead of time, but the full reveal brought the house down. A crowd known for quiet appreciation of pirouettes and pas de deux erupted with cheers. It’s hard to say what Tchaikovsky would’ve made of it, but for the San Diego audience, it was clear: the fusion of ballet and skateboarding was a holiday hit.

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A Romantic Proposal Took Center Stage at Liverpool's Oldest Cinema House on Christmas Eve

Liverpool’s oldest surviving cinema turned into the perfect backdrop for a love story this Christmas — complete with cue cards, a classic film, and a surprise proposal. On Christmas Eve, Jacob Molloy and his girlfriend Lucy Agate went to see It’s a Wonderful Life at the Woolton Picture House, a cinema that holds a special place in their relationship. It’s where they went on their first date, ten years ago. But as the credits rolled, Lucy realized this wasn’t just a festive night out. Jacob had arranged to appear on screen himself, holding up a series of handwritten cue cards — a nod to the iconic scene from Love Actually — ending with a message that simply read: “I have a question.” Moments later, Jacob, 26, got down on one knee in the aisle of the sold-out cinema. Lucy said yes. “It was just ideal,” Jacob said. “The Woolton Cinema said they were reopening for the 12 Days of Christmas and I kind of had an idea of what I was going to do. It all just came together.” The proposal had been three weeks in the making, though Jacob had been looking at engagement rings since September. He worked closely with the cinema’s staff to plan the surprise. Originally, he’d considered taking Lucy to the projection room for a more private setting — but that idea was scrapped after staff pointed out it was charming but “very dusty.” “They were already doing some filming for an appeal that would go before the film, so it worked out perfectly,” he said. At first, Jacob considered recording a video message to play before the movie. “But then it dawned on me, the realisation of hearing my squeaky voice on the big screen. So I thought, ‘oh, maybe not. Could we just do text?’” Even that came with risks. “If there’s another Lucy in the cinema, then that might cause an argument between them and their partner,” he joked. That’s when he landed on the cue card idea, keeping it silent, sweet, and unmistakable. “It just felt perfect, and it was another Christmas film in keeping with the theme.” Despite nerves, Jacob said he was “pretty confident” Lucy would say yes. “She was over the moon.” The couple, both from Liverpool, are now planning to travel next year and are thinking about getting married at the end of 2026. Woolton Picture House first opened in 1927 and had been closed since 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit. A campaign to save the 100-year-old venue brought it back to life for a limited Christmas run — 12 days of festive screenings before the cinema shutters once again for a major refurbishment in the new year. For Jacob and Lucy, the brief reopening gave them a once-in-a-lifetime moment at the place where it all began.

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A Veteran’s 100th Birthday Sparked an Outpouring of Kindness from Across Canada

When Irv Radatzke turned 100 last month, a close friend had one wish: to lift his spirits with a few Christmas cards. She got more than she ever expected. Radatzke, a Second World War veteran from New Westminster, B.C., spent both his birthday and Remembrance Day in hospital recovering from a fall. That’s when his friend Moe Boyle stepped in with an idea she called Operation Irv — a call for the community to send him 100 Christmas cards to mark his 100th year. The response has been overwhelming. So far, Radatzke has received more than 700 cards from across the country. “He’s never asked for anything in return. This man is so humble,” said Boyle. “He really is the sweetest man on the Earth.” Many of the cards came from children, often decorated with pictures of dogs — a nod to Radatzke’s well-known love for animals. One of the handwritten messages came from a Grade 5 student: “Thank you for your service. You saved our country from evil taking over our country. I hope you get a lot of presents in the hospital. Have an eventful Christmas.” Some letters arrived from as far away as the North Pole. According to Boyle, they even sent a card to Santa, who wrote back to inform Radatzke that he had made it onto the nice list. “I read all the cards and he would go, ‘Oh, isn't that nice?’” Boyle said. “That’s what he would say. And I’d say, ‘Look at this one from a five-year-old,’ and I would read what the five-year-old said and [he’d say], ‘Oh, that was nice.’” Boyle said the flood of support has helped ease Radatzke’s time in hospital and will hopefully make his transition to a care facility a little brighter. The pair first met more than 20 years ago when Boyle was working as a crossing guard. Radatzke would walk his dogs past her post, and one day mentioned his age. Boyle was skeptical, so the next day, he brought his driver’s licence to prove it. That was the beginning of a lasting friendship. “Whether it’s to build a fence or plant flowers, he’s always been the one you could rely on,” she said. “And he’s done it for nothing. That’s just who he is.” To honour his milestone, the City of New Westminster officially declared November 13 “Irv Radatzke Day.” The veteran also received birthday greetings from King Charles, Governor General Mary Simon, and British Columbia Premier David Eby. But Boyle says the Christmas card campaign has been the most touching of all. “People just wanted to do this, they wanted the joy just to send the card,” she said. “People that don’t know him, people that do know him, people who want to meet him, people who respect him — and they were all willing to do this.” One card, sent by a student from a local school, stood out to Boyle in particular: “Your presence in the neighbourhood is one of the things that has always made the neighbourhood so wonderful. Your smile and laughter and generosity have affected all of us. We all smiled more because of you.” That, she said, sums it up perfectly.

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Three Cheetahs Join Werribee Open Range Zoo, Thrilling Visitors For Australian Holidays

Werribee Open Range Zoo in Victoria is buzzing with excitement as it welcomes three new cheetahs just in time for the summer holidays. Seven-year-old sisters Mara and Mapenzi, along with 11-year-old Sansa, have settled into their new home after traveling from Monarto Safari Park and Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Mara is vocal and confident while Mapenzi is more reserved. Meanwhile, Sansa enjoys watching her neighbors like oryx and camels. This marks the first time in nearly two decades that the zoo hosts three cheetahs simultaneously!

Utah Family Showcases Design Skills In Fierce Gingerbread House Contest

A family's annual gingerbread-house competition has captured the internet’s imagination — and raised the bar for holiday crafting. Mallory Millett shared video of the December 17 showdown, which featured a series of over-the-top, jaw-dropping designs that had commenters wondering if the entire family moonlights as architects. It turns out, at least one of them is heading in that direction. The winning house, revealed in the final clip, was designed by one of Millett’s sisters, who is currently studying interior design. The intricate build earned praise both online and within the family, who, according to Millett, take the contest “very seriously” each year. This was the fifth year the family staged the gingerbread competition, and based on the reactions, the creativity only gets bigger with time. “I can’t even put the walls together,” one user joked, sharing their own gingerbread fail. Another simply asked, “Are y’all a family of architects???” Millett says the holiday tradition started as a fun family activity but has since evolved into a full-on display of craftsmanship and competitive spirit. With the designs now going viral, fans are already asking what next year’s builds will look like. No pressure.

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How This Pennsylvania Teacher is Inspiring Kindness With Annual $20 Challenge

Every year, ninth-grade English teacher Kristina Ulmer hands each of her students a $20 bill. There's only one condition: they must use it to do something kind. The tradition began nearly a decade ago after Ulmer’s younger sister Katie died in a car crash at the age of 29. In her wallet, Katie had left behind a $100 tip she’d earned while waitressing. Ulmer saw an opportunity to turn her grief into something meaningful. “I wanted them to notice that, you know, people around them could possibly be struggling,” Ulmer told CBC News. “I want them to make connections to the people around them.” So she matched the tip with her own money and handed out $20 bills to her students, asking them to spend it on an act of kindness. What began as a personal project has now become an annual tradition — and is funded by Horsham High School, where Ulmer teaches. Over the years, her students have used the money in creative and generous ways: baking cookies for first responders, donating to food banks, buying toys for children, or crocheting tiny hats for premature babies in the hospital. Ulmer says the project has repeatedly challenged stereotypes about teens. “A lot of people stereotype that age, and they say they're self-centered… and I just don't see that,” she said. Former students agree. Sydney Cassel, who was once in Ulmer’s class, told the Washington Post she still takes part in the “$20 Kindness Challenge” every year, long after graduating. “You don’t have to have millions,” Cassel said. “Anyone can make a difference.” And that’s exactly the point. What started with a single act of generosity from Katie Ulmer has rippled outward — from a waitress’s wallet to hundreds of students and the communities they touch. “I think my sister would be proud,” Ulmer said.

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Christmas Meal Serves 300 Homeless at a New Street Station in England

In the heart of the city’s busiest train station, a platform was transformed into a place of warmth, music, and compassion as 300 of Birmingham’s most vulnerable residents were treated to a Christmas celebration they won’t forget. On Wednesday, the Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS), in partnership with Network Rail, hosted its eighth annual Christmas meal at Birmingham New Street station, welcoming hundreds of homeless and vulnerable people for a hot, three-course vegetarian dinner. “This event exists to remind people that they matter,” said MLSS chief executive Randhir Singh. “For one afternoon, they are not forgotten — they are our honoured guests.” The festive afternoon included more than just food. Non-alcoholic drinks were served alongside carol singing, a live DJ, and holiday gifts. The celebration ran from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the station’s concourse, where volunteers from MLSS and Network Rail came together to make it happen. “A welcoming meal in the heart of the city can make a real difference for those who need extra support at Christmas,” said New Street station manager Elizabeth Graham. “It’s a chance for people to relax, enjoy themselves, and feel part of a caring community.” The event began in 2018 and has grown each year. It’s grounded in the Sikh principle of dasvand — giving 10% of one’s time and income to serve others. For Singh and the MLSS team, the event is about more than meals. “We know that suicide rates rise at this time of year, and for those with no family, no home, and no-one checking in on them, Christmas can feel unbearable,” Singh said. “We are there to serve them, to listen, to show care and compassion, and to make them feel truly special.” The annual gathering is now a staple of Birmingham’s holiday season — a reminder that dignity, empathy, and kindness can shine brightest in the darkest moments. “In our eighth year working with Network Rail,” Singh said, “this meal represents everything we stand for at MLSS: Dignity, equality, and the belief that no-one should feel alone.”

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This Ohio Server Just Received a $27,000 Surprise from Customers After Husband’s Passing

For 30 years, Tammy Hammonds has served up plates of chili and kindness at Skyline Chili in Clifton. But on Dec. 21, the kindness came back to her — in a way she never saw coming. A group of regular customers surprised Tammy with $27,000 after learning her husband, Randy Hammonds, had died from kidney cancer. “This has been the darkest time of my life,” she said. “They’ve brought the light with them today.” The effort was organized by Kyle Zimmerman and Sam Bruchell, who started eating at the Clifton Skyline back in their college days — sometimes visiting four times a week. Now living in New York and Chicago, the two never forgot Tammy’s warmth and hospitality. After hearing about her loss, Zimmerman started a fundraiser on Dec. 15. Within hours, thousands of dollars poured in. Zimmerman explained that Tammy’s late husband was a wounded war veteran who had also worked handling hazardous waste for the U.S. government. He wanted to ease the financial burden so Tammy could focus on healing. “Anyone who knows Tammy knows her kindness, warmth, and the way she takes care of everyone who walks through the door,” Zimmerman wrote on the GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $14,000 to date. Tammy said she had no idea the customers she watched grow up cared for her so deeply. “I knew the impact it was having on me by being a part of their lives and watching them grow,” she said. “I would’ve never thought they would love me this much.” The moment left her overwhelmed — not just by the donation, but by the gesture itself. “Just to show the love they have for me is enough. But to do what they’ve done with me is incredible.” She added, “I always thought Kyle was my little angel. This time, he brought a whole army of angels with him.” Tammy hopes the outpouring of support inspires others to show appreciation in small ways — every day. “Show love each and every day, be happy with what you’re doing,” she said. “Sometimes it may not seem important. I can see how important it was.”

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