Corrin Leeming stormed back from injury to win the opening round of Western AC’s Dave Phillips road running series at Peel on Friday evening. His time for two laps of the near two-mile promenade/headlands course was an impressive 20 minutes 55 seconds, crossing the finish line opposite the former Creg Malin Hotel more than four minutes clear of Steven Kelly, with club stalwart Geoff Rice third in front of leading female Becky Watterson. The single-lapper saw a 1-2-3 for junior competitors Bernat Munoz-Fite, Finbar McSevney and Xenia Munoz-Fite, with Emma Sturgess in fourth. The short, single-lap of Marine Parade went to Lucas Poggio by a three-second margin from Loxley Cannell, with Enid Stubbs third. The two-lapper was won by Jack Davison by a clear 10s from Alfie Jacobs and Emira Bowden. Under-nines: 1, Lucas Poggio 3min 46sec; 2, Loxley Cannell 3.49; 3 Enid Stubbs 3.50; 4, Oscar Broadbent 4.03; 5, Harper Quayle 4.05; 6, Elsie Bowden 4.07; 7, Rosie Jacobs 4.08; 8, Chloe Creedon 4.09; 9, Jacob Mylchreest 4.20; 10, Norm Skelly-Martin 4.21; 11, Anna Nesbitt 4.35; 12, Halle Varley 4.45. Under-11s: 1, Jack Davison 6m 47s; 2, Alfie Jacobs 6.57; 3, Emira Bowden 7.09; 4, Fola Lewis 7.26; 5, Abban Cowley 7.54; 6, Devon Creedon 7.58; 7, Evelyn Stubbs 7.59; 8, Louis Baxter 7.59; 9, Max Kelly 8.00. - Round two is on Friday, May 16 with further events on June 20 and July 11, all 7pm start. Tel: 01624 695695[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Construction of new cricket nets is well underway at John Connell Reserve in Leeming as the 2024/25 cricket season gets underway The new nets will feature end-to-end netting on the roof for enhanced safety complying with updated Australian standards for cricket nets and will permanently replace the decades-old nets in the far eastern corner of the ground the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club was joined by local officials including Local Member for Riverton Dr Jags Krishnan and Labor Candidate for Jandakot Stephen Pratt MLC to view the progress of the construction of new cricket nets Dr Jags said he was glad to see the new cricket nets finally taking shape and hopes they will inspire the next wave of local cricketers “The existing nets had become extremely dilapidated after many years of use and I am sure these new nets will add fantastic value for the next generation of cricketers in our local area,” he said “It is fantastic to see the redeveloped John Connell Reserve coming to fruition and the new cricket nets are a huge part of the Leeming Spartan Cricket Club’s endeavours to revitalise this well-used location in our community.” funded by the State Government through the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund at a cost of $48,718 began following the City of Melville’s approval Stephen Pratt MLC believes this project will have a positive impact on the community “The Leeming Spartan Cricket Club have a proud history of over 100 years and it is heartwarming to see the Club giving back to the community by using their funds to upgrade a community asset that is well-used by not only the Club but many families in the Leeming area,” he said “These new state-of-the-art cricket nets will make a huge difference to the many members of our community who play or want to take up cricket – particularly ahead of a massive summer.” The new nets are being installed following a $625,000 redevelopment of John Connell Reserve funded by the State Government the nets will be available for both club and public use with work expected to be finished by the end of the month and open for use before Christmas this year Get your Local Examiner Digital Edition straight to your InboxName*Email* Are You a Human Have you ever thought about what things you couldn't live without what would be the first things that spring to mind In the latest ‘Top Six Essentials’ we asked Kruise Leeming of champions Wigan Warriors, ahead of his side’s match against Salford Red Devils on Sunday which will be streamed live on BBC Sport He’s been an ever-present essential for the Warriors in 2025 but what are the Top Six Essentials in Leeming’s life I always used to think that time was our biggest commodity but you get to a point where energy is a must what would be the point in spending an hour with someone and being down and miserable about it If you don't put any effort or energy into it then you haven’t really spent an hour with them and both parties are just going to come away worse off than they were before!" It’s all about the time you spend doing certain things "We’re not on this earth for a long time so time is one of my most valued essentials." But my own health is up there and on par with family because sometimes we probably put other people's health first over our own then I can’t help my family in certain aspects so that’s why I’ve placed those two together." It’s given me everything that I have in my life today and taught me all of the lessons that I have We don't think we could live without rugby league either It’s given me a lot of my outlooks on life and what I believe is right and wrong what you believe is right and wrong and where you put your energy and time gets you to where you’ve got to in present day And I’m really happy about where I’ve got to so far!" every type of relationship – whether it’s somebody I’ve known through a call or for five minutes or for years – I really try and give everything to that relationship "If I’ve known somebody for a minute or five years or a lifetime I want them to feel in a better place following the start of that relationship "Hopefully they feel uplifted or think that that was a nice conversation or encounter or time period that they had." What do you make of Leeming’s Top Six Essentials Don't forget to watch Wigan Warriors in action against Salford Red Devils on Sunday afternoon is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 3238540 The VAT Registration Number of Super League (Europe) Ltd is 698 6526 64 Copyright © 2022 - Super League Europe Ltd site by fluidcm.co.uk New motor show to take place at Croft Circuit and website in this browser for the next time I comment Sign up for the latest headlines in your inbox every morning and special offers from our local advertisers You can unsubscribe anytime. For more details, review our Privacy Policy. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. 2024Photographed by Mary FixSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links A lot has been said about the importance of our gut and its microbiome for our wider health if you’re not familiar with how integral its role is within the body’s intricate web of organs and systems here’s a crash course: what was once seen as the place where food gets digested has now been far more thoroughly explored From immunity to skin to hormones to energy to mental health where trillions of bacteria and microorganisms act as the body’s personal pharmacy “Instead of talking about health in terms of warding off diseases it’s time we recognize that health is also about how we feel day to day and mood which are the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that make up our entire life.” Nurturing our gut—and understanding how it works—are essential to our well-being Here are some of the things you may not know “The gut basically has its own nervous system which is made up of 500 million nerve cells or neurons as we call them,” explains Dr Leeming “These nerve cells can be found all over the body but they’re very densely populated in the brain They are finely tuned to control the entirety of the digestive system sending chemical signals that tell your muscles when to relax and contract in order to move food down and instructing digestive juices when to be released they also sense some of the nutrients that are in the gut and communicate that back to the brain.” which is a key part of the enteric nervous system that extends from the esophagus down to the anus—explains why the gut is also known as the “second brain.” Not only is our gut able to function more independently than any other organ in the body but there is also a direct anatomical link that connects it to the brain: “The vagus nerve is a direct highway between the two,” explains Dr Leeming Anything we put into the body that reaches the gut (from food to medicine) can have a direct impact on the brain and vice versa—if we’re thinking negatively or are feeling anxious So much so that one interesting study—in which scientists transplanted part of the microbiome of people suffering from clinical depression into healthy rats found that they too showed symptoms of depression thereafter “It shows there’s a more causal effect happening from the microbiome rather than it just being a symptom or consequence of what’s already going on,” says Dr Leeming While the majority of us are seeking ways to increase our protein intake scientists agree that it’s fiber we should be focusing on which Dr Leeming says is the “closest thing we have to a superfood.” Good fiber intake reduces our risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes namely because it feeds our gut bacteria “so that they’re able to make short-chain fatty acids care for the gut lining and protect the brain from harmful molecules,” she adds Make it your mission to incorporate fiber-rich foods into your everyday diet “It’s worth understanding what foods are higher in fiber than others,” says Dr Leeming lettuce only has 1.8 grams of fiber per 100g chickpeas have 9 grams of fiber per 100 grams and chia seeds have 30 grams of fiber per 100 grams.” Did you know that there are more microbes in a teaspoon of soil than there are humans on this planet One key study found that those who dipped their hands in buckets of soil three times a day rinsed (rather than washed) their hands afterward had improved gut diversity in a matter of weeks every single surface carries them,” confirms Dr Leeming “The fact that humans spend so much time inside sitting down is impacting our microbial diversity.” Get outdoors nurture your plants and get your hands dirty in the garden all of these things will help foster a healthier microbiome While some brands would have us believe that the only thing we need to rectify an imbalanced gut is a daily probiotic Referencing some research that found that only 30% of probiotics on the market had the actual bacterial strain in the correct dose as described on the product she notes that the world of supplements is unregulated So you’re not always buying what you think you’re buying “If you’re looking for a specific health effect, there is interesting evidence around certain probiotic strains to help with stress, cognition, and sleep, for example,” says Dr Leeming. “It’s just difficult for a consumer to find the right strain at the right dose on the market—it’s confusing.” If you’re in need of some extra help, speak to an expert for in-depth advice. The book offers myriad easy ways you can nurture your gut microbiome and wider health – bear them in mind when you make your meals each day. Here are three tips to implement now: Nobody in New Zealand knows tech like Noel Leeming, and it's the brand’s supreme NOELedge of all things technology that is brought to life through an amusing series by TBWA\NZ.From a cat lover in need of more pet photo storage to an outer space alien looking to transfer the data on its device, TBWA\NZ has created for Noel Leeming a memorable and sticky campaign that shows how the brand's expertise and service saves the day. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Kruise Leeming and Matty Ashton were in Las Vegas promoting the historic Rugby League event featuring their sides Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors which will take place on March 1 at the Allegiant Stadium The event will be a quadruple header with the Betfred Super League clash an international contest between Australia Jillaroos and England Women as well as two NRL matches - Raiders v Warriors and Panthers v Sharks “It was my first time visiting Vegas – I was in America on holiday anyway and then got the phone call while I was over there to go and do some truly life-changing experiences and promote the game a little bit,” Leeming explained I added Vegas to my trip and travelled over there – I went to the NFL game and you could sort of say it was like a once in a lifetime trip – I feel very lucky and grateful for the opportunity.” Being a part of a packed Allegiant Stadium for the NFL clash between the Raiders and Broncos Leeming was truly mesmerised by what he witnessed: It was brilliant and I was watching it from a different lens I’m either watching Rugby League on Sky Sports or just as big sporting events but I’ve never had the chance of envisaging myself playing at that venue [Allegiant Stadium] although I was watching the NFL game as a spectator and a fan I also had one eye on us [Wigan] being there in March “I was looking at how wide the pitch looked where we’d come out of the tunnel and dugout to train where the scoreboard and big screen would be – all those different things “I wasn’t just watching the NFL; I was also watching it to get an insight to see what it would be like when we’d get there.” The inaugural NRL double-header at Allegiant Stadium drew 40,000 fans last March and another bumper crowd is predicted next year And Leeming has expressed his excitement at this prospect have agreed to switch their home league fixture against Warrington Wolves – a rematch of last season’s Challenge Cup Final at Wembley – to be able to participate in the hotly anticipated Las Vegas event this game marks the first Super League game to be held in the United States and Leeming recognises that it is a huge opportunity for the sport: “It’s one of those opportunities where the whole of Rugby League and Super League in general is winning It’s one of them where even if I wasn’t part of this fixture or if Wigan weren’t a part of it you’d still sit back as a fan and realise that Super League and all the teams - even though week in and week out you’re all against each other - would be so proud to see our game being represented out there “With the NRL there as well and an international Women’s game too the whole of Rugby League is winning on that day “It’s very good for the game and shows those steps forward we’re making add in actually being a part of the spectacle and the team that takes to the field – it’s another icing on the cake for me I’d have been so proud to watch anyway but for Wigan to be doing it is very humbling and something that I know is going to be a massive spectacle for Super League.” Leeming is also hopeful of a positive reception from all of the fans in what is set to be a spectacular occasion: “Hopefully we get some NFL and American fans behind us,” said Leeming who has also previously played for NRL's Gold Coast Titans in 2023 there were definitely some NRL fans that followed parts of my career and Super League “Anytime we get chance to showcase what a great brand and sport we are – we’ve never disappointed before “Just look at Magic Weekend - all fans are under the same roof with different teams and it’s always been great and exciting - and that’s what I imagined happened last time out with the NRL in Las Vegas we’ve always embraced that coming together and it’s such a proud thing as players to see that fans can do that in our sport because it’s something you can’t do in many others “I just think what a testament to our sport that we can put all those fans under one roof where it’s a fantastic and enjoyable experience – that’s what sport is all about – the entertainment putting smiles on people’s faces and about the younger generation looking up to us players and being inspired.” And in a message to any travelling Super League fans Leeming ensures they will not be disappointed by what a luxurious Las Vegas has to offer: “It’s a great city and there’s so much to do If you’ve never been to Vegas before “For people who haven’t been before you’re going to be pleasantly surprised – there’s so much to do on the strip you’ll be just as excited and I think people make a habit of going back there because there’s so much to do “The way they do things over there is so entertaining and on such a magnitude where you could never I think they’re going to have such a fantastic time.” where Wigan and Warrington will go head-to-head in the event’s opening match Leeming is thrilled to be playing one of their biggest rivals: “I’m glad we’re playing a rival team like Warrington because every game we’ve played them this year has been a great spectacle for fans and good games to watch I’m glad it’s a team we know who’s going to be a great opposition “As players we obviously want to come away with the two points but it’s such a massive stage for us to put our sport in the shop window and we want nothing but a tight and they beat us in easy fashion at home which not a lot of teams got to do “It’s a bit of a grudge match between us and Warrington but I’m just happy it’s turned out that way for fans “From a player’s point of view we know how tough it’s going to be but it’ll great spectacle and the travelling fans of Wigan and Warrington deserve that – they’re coming over and spending their hard-earned money to come and watch us “We’ll be going as hard as we can to get the win for them and we know Warrington will be doing the exact same Fans want to see the best teams fighting each other to take home the prize of the two points and I think that’ll bring the best out in both teams.” Rugby League Las Vegas Festival 2025 – Saturday March 1 All four matches will be shown live on Sky Sports – with the Wigan-Warrington match kicking off the action at 9.30pm UK time Information on tickets and travel packages can be found on Wigan and Warrington's official club websites Glow Up For Mother's Day: 15 Beauty Gifts She Will Adore Best Mother’s Day Flower Delivery Services Help Control Symptoms With These Air Purifiers We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from Of course Black Friday comes to New Zealand Black Friday might have started off as an exclusively American observance – falling on the fourth friday of November (the day after Thanksgiving) – but it is now very much a Global event with most of New Zealand's biggest retailers like Noel Leeming taking part Black Friday 2024 will officially start on Friday the date of Black Friday changes every year though – and that's that it falls on the day after Thanksgiving which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States while it officially starts then – and ends with Cyber Monday on December 2 – we expect to see retailers like Noel Leeming start to drop Black Friday bargains about a week earlier than that official date many early Black Friday deals will match what we see on the big day and they can start to drip out from the very start of November We’ll likely see official Black Friday sales appearing online about a week before the actual start date which would mean NZ retailers will start their Black Friday sales from about November 22 these early Black Friday deals aren’t always as good as what you'll find available on the official dates but we have seen plenty of instances where early Black Friday prices don’t fall any further once Black Friday hits The majority of discounts from Black Friday 2024 will officially wrap up at the end of Cyber Monday on December 2 Whether you're in it for the deals or the videos of crazed shoppers Black Friday is well known as one of the biggest sales events in the world – if not the biggest with even the mayhem lessening thanks to online shopping It's likely you've heard that Black Friday is called as such because businesses operate 'in the red' until the huge influx of sales from Black Friday puts them 'in the black' While that might be closer to the truth these days its actual likely origin is a touch more grim but research shows that 'Black Friday' originates in 1960s Philadelphia Tourists would migrate from the surrounding suburbs to the Philadelphian city to get their holiday shopping done early and – more often than not – attend Saturday's Army VS Navy Football game The chaos caused by this mass migration – shoplifting traffic and accidents – caused police to work longer Later on the city actually tried to remove themselves from the negative 'Black Friday' with 'Big Friday' offered up instead – but it didn't stick that retailers create massive discounts to put their sales into the black Black Friday and Cyber Monday generally offer the same deals and discounts so it's difficult to say one sale is better than the other the two shopping dates were much more distinct from each other in the past with Black Friday being a physical sale and Cyber Monday being for online-only deals the two sales are basically one big four day event and we doubt shoppers will notice any difference in 2024 Neither New Zealand or Australia celebrate Thanksgiving but people from both countries love to shop during a sale Paul Zahra – CEO of Australia's Retailers Association – states that the reason is simply that “Australians are shopping earlier for Christmas than they ever have\" and assumedly the same can be said about New Zealanders While there are usually some hefty deals in the lead up to the holiday season with the entirety of December basically being one big sale getting in early is usually the smartest option – and Black Friday is a great way to do so It's safe to say that Black Friday is the biggest sale day in New Zealand but there are quite a few that give it a run for its money that you should keep an eye out for towards the end of 2024 and through 2025 capped off by New Year sales and Boxing Day sit at the top of the list next to Black Friday and Cyber Monday but there's a handful of others that you might not think about when it comes to snagging the best deals Then there's holidays like Valentine's Day Father's Day and Easter Weekend that offer varying degrees of sales you're also likely to see some sales for Waitangi Day Waitangi Day is the national day that marks the day the Treaty of Waitangi signed Today regarded as a founding document of the nation this was a treaty between the British and indigenous Māori chiefs Another holiday sale to remember is Single's Day single digits) Single's Day is an unofficial Chinese holiday and shopping sale that celebrates people who are not in a relationship Basically everything goes on sale come Black Friday You can expect significant deals on domestic and international flights and – especially if you're flexible about your destination or schedule – you can snag awesome deals on less popular locations or seasons If you're looking to snag some discounts on your holiday shopping then shopping during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend is definitely the way to go While there are discounts in New Zealand across the entire month of December leading up to Christmas it's unlikely you'll see anything cheaper than Black Friday until Boxing Day – and that's not usually when Christmas gifts are handed out As for waiting for Cyber Monday over Black Friday the two sales are basically the same thing these days with the entire weekend from Friday to Monday acting as a sales event If there's something you want to snag a deal on there's no need to wait til Monday hoping it comes down further After weeks of anticipation and a whole heap of preparation Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone You're not out of luck if you're yet to seriously shop though – Noel Leeming is still offering a whole heap of tasty discounts - set to end on December 3 it should be your first port of call for Cyber Monday in New Zealand There are still a bunch of Cyber Monday deals to be had on Noel Leeming right now so get in quick before they go up in smoke Nobody wants to wait until the mania of Christmas Eve to get a great deal and for less than NZ$1,500 you get an incredible display the same Galaxy AI features as the Ultra and perhaps the markets best battery life the Galaxy S24 is a compact and powerful smartphone and we loved its sharp it comes with seven years of security patches and OS updates if you're looking for a long-term handset but the slight downgrades are worth the savings and you still get a full suite of Galaxy AI features a beautiful display and incredible battery life We haven't used this super-affordable smartphone but if you're looking for a cheap-as-chips handset from a trusted manufacturer 50MP camera and a 5,000mAh battery that will last all day If you've been waiting for an affordable gaming monitor for work and play then you'll be happy to see this discounted 165Hz HP Omen monitor and while it won't reach 4K resolution heights its 1920 x 1080 resolution is more than satisfactory if you prioritise frame rate when gaming If you're looking for great performance at an affordable price then this discount on the 15.6-inch AMD Ryzen-7-5700U-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1 is hard to beat Its slim design makes it super easy to carry and work on-the-go and its powerful processor makes multitasking and work a breeze Paul Zahra – CEO of Australia's Retailers Association – states that the reason is simply that “Australians are shopping earlier for Christmas than they ever have" Max DelaneyStaff WriterA Digital Content Writer for the Australian TechRadar team Max covers all things tech and lifestyle and is keen on using tech to make life easier entertainment and business for brands like Zero Digital Media and Valnet.Inc but found his love for tech in his time at GadgetUser At home when covering everything from the latest deal and coupon code to the most recent streaming service output experience and writing ability give you more time to use your tech This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A gut-health scientist and dietitian shared the two breakfasts she often eats to help boost her gut microbiome Gut health is a key cornerstone to overall health because it's thought to influence things as varied as the immune system a gut-microbiome researcher at King's College London who used to be a private chef Experts consider a gut that contains a diverse community of microbes healthy Leeming sees her first meal of the day as a key time to boost fiber by adding some veggies or fruits if she's preparing something sweet She also tries to get around 20 to 30 grams of protein in each meal "It's those simple small changes that we make on a regular basis that actually have the most impact," Leeming said She combines all those elements while making her meals taste great Leeming is a big fan of pumpernickel rye bread as it's high in fiber She loves to pair it with roasted vegetables and eggs She places them all in a small oven dish and roasts them for 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit I've been doing zucchini and baby tomatoes," she said adding that she mixes in harissa and crumbles feta cheese on top At the end, she sprinkles some mixed seeds on top for added fiber and protein "What's really surprising to many people is that whole grains or seeds actually tend to contain much more fiber than fruits and vegetables although of course we still need to get fruits and vegetables," she said Overnight oats prepared in batches are another breakfast favorite for Leeming Leeming's oats contain lots of gut-loving ingredients Chia seeds have about 30 grams of fiber per 100 grams and berries tend to be higher in fiber than other fruits because they contain seeds instead of yogurt because it tends to contain more probiotics Archaeologists discovered a whole host of rare finds along the A1 in Yorkshire These gave a unique insight into what life was like over a period of around 4500 years The discoveries were a result of the construction of our £400 million A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade which created 12 miles of new motorway-standard road During the four-year construction period extensive excavations were carried out These uncovered an extraordinary level of prehistoric and historic finds To find out more about these, and other discoveries along the A1, check out the Archaeology Data Service’s Living Between the Monuments publication and The Evolution of Dere Street Staff from Northern Archaeological Associates spent more than three years investigating remains exposed by the construction They found out a great deal about already known Roman sites But they also found new sites which were not known about The roadside settlement at Scurragh House is one of these and was identified 3.5km north of Cataractonium A total of over 62,000 items were recovered from Cataractonium Archaeologists also found 2.8 tonnes of animal bone and 2.5 tonnes of pottery The archaeological works undertaken at Cataractonium represent some of the most significant excavations undertaken of a Roman town They have hugely increased archaeologists’ understanding of the development of the site The remains tell the story of the people who lived in and around the town that developed alongside the Roman fort The work has also added to our understanding of the Roman road known as Dere Street There’s evidence of Roman improvements to the road network and we’re still carrying-on with road improvements today The excavations reveal that Cataractonium started up in the AD 70s The Romans were moving northwards through the north of England and into Scotland The north of England had a network of forts The Romans built their fort on a high point of land overlooking the River Swale It appears to have been constructed in around AD 80 to guard the crossing of Dere Street over the River Swale There is evidence to suggest that legionaries and cavalry had been here at various times The vicus is the civilian settlement associated with the fort Archaeologists believe this settlement was extensive on the ridge of ground above the river next to the fort all areas of the vicus had developed into a more formal settlement Archaeologist found evidence of several large timber structures The town may have been supplied from a storage depot This took the form of two timber granaries The well contained the remains of a wicker basket and the earliest recorded pistachio nut found in the UK (The oldest pistachio nut ever found in the UK) The second century was a period of great growth and expansion for the settlement The vicus became a more formalised settlement or town The structures were orientated to the east with the settlement fronting onto Dere Street This area also contained some important buildings in the town These buildings included a mansio with a bath wing A mansio was a high-status accommodation block for officials travelling on the Roman road network The example at Cataractonium was probably built in about AD 160 with the stone building probably replacing an earlier timber building Although the mansio was probably only in use for around 40 years the bath wing continued in use for much longer as a bathhouse A substantial stone-lined drain found close to the river during recent excavations probably served the bath-house (A Roman drain serving the bathhouse at the mansion) The town continued to develop and be occupied by the Romans long into the 4th century The settlement gained a regionally high status as one of the most significant Roman towns north of York The fact that it was next to Dere Street meant it was well linked into the transport network The wealth of the archaeology discovered in the latest investigations show that Cataractonium was much more than a stopping point with construction of high-status buildings continuing well into the 4th century To the north of the River Swale was a northern suburb to the town of Cataractonium The earliest evidence was industrial in nature and included gravel quarries for the construction of Dere Street at Brompton East In Brompton West evidence of workshops was found which suggests that iron smithing was taking place here The ironworking here was probably to serve the military for the construction and supply of the fort running for at least 200m northwards along Dere Street The height of Dere Street suggested that it had originally crossed the river on a bridge Side roads were constructed that ran west from Dere Street Settlement further north at Brompton East contained fewer structural remains although this may have been due to its distance from the roadside Several ovens were situated throughout this area perhaps to serve travellers on Dere Street and a smithy may also have sought custom from traffic upon the main road continued to develop with new construction taking place In the 3rd century the northern suburb continued to be occupied although the importance of this area seems to have decreased with many of the building plots on the street front vacant This suggests that this area was seen as being outside the main settlement in this period The findings tell us a lot about the industry in the area during Roman times The earliest evidence was of metal working and quarrying in the northern suburb It’s likely that the blacksmiths were making ironwork and nails for the construction of the fort and the settlement The quarried material was likely used for the construction of Dere Street was an important activity in Cataractonium Five hearths were found by archaeologists at Brompton East (Archaeologists discovering a hearth at Brompton North) Archaeologists found evidence of small-scale leather tanning industry at Fort Bridge In a ditch and the well at Fort Bridge a shoe and stitched leather from tents were found This suggest that the military were in this area The latest stages of the Roman occupation of Cataractonium most likely occurred during the But that’s not the end of the story for this area Archaeologists also found strong evidence that the Anglo-Saxons also lived at Cataractonium This includes a dog buried at Agricola Bridge The dog may have worn a collar as the corner of a bone weaving tablet with a drilled hole was found next to its neck Cataractonium seems to have been abandoned by The finds from the excavations are now held by the Yorkshire Museum in York They’ll be safely stored and may be displayed to the public They’ll also be made available for future research and learning marks the 100th birth anniversary of a man unique in American letters Who and what James Baldwin was and what is his letter legacy can't really be listed but it can and perhaps should be found in his work This podcast tries to get close to the idea of getting to know Jimmy Baldwin through his work We've called it Notes on a Native Son after one of Baldwin's most famous autobiographical essays That essay clarifies with considerable power what he is and what America is on his terms we invite a well known figure to choose a special or significant James Baldwin passage The conversation that ensues often tells us as much about Baldwin's story as it does about the person who loves as he was known to all who loved him Our guest on this episode of Notes on a Native Son is the American writer you may not immediately regard James Baldwin as a 20th century version of Samuel Johnson that towering essayist and writer from the 18th century but it is interesting that Baldwin would tease Leeming and sometimes introduce him to people as his Boswell That's James Boswell who wrote the Life of Samuel Johnson a book which became seen as a landmark in the development of the modern genre of biography tells us that almost from the moment he met him he recognized that he was in the presence of a highly complex and driven individual who was more intensely serious than anyone he had ever met David Leeming got his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and went on to become the head of English at the Robert College in Istanbul Baldwin gave him permission to take care of his papers and he was Jimmy's companion during some of the liveliest years of his life Leeming eventually became professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Connecticut He has written several books on comparative literature and mythology who Baldwin regarded as his spiritual father David leeming is now 87 years old and we met at his home in Stonington The quote from James Baldwin that I've chosen is from Nobody Knows My Name and specifically from the essay In Search of a Majority "Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does What do you think he meant when he was talking about love in that way David Leeming: I think he meant that love can't be thought of as simply having feelings for someone that the kind of love he's talking about can be reflected in a personal relationship but it extends into a much larger question of the relationship between people So love for him means the opposite of safety You can't be safe and have the kind of love he's talking about because the love he's talking about has to do with the breaking down of barriers which means it has to do with vulnerability These are the words of somebody who grew up in his teens as an apprentice preacher in a Pentecostal church where he might well have heard the phrase God is love it didn't seem to have much effect on his community Therefore he expanded that idea of love as a part of what you could call his own gospel after he left the church that good news that he hopes to be able to bring to race relations as well as personal relations Razia Iqbal: I think we're going to come back to this theme of love time and again in this conversation what a joy and a privilege it is for us that we're speaking with you How old were you when you first met James Baldwin I guess I maybe had read-- I'd read almost nothing by Baldwin maybe Giovanni's Room or Notes of a Native Son There was a young man there named Engin Cezzar whom I knew quite well because he had been a Robert College student I went there immediately after graduating from Princeton Engin had become a good friend of Baldwin's but that's because everybody called him Jimmy all the time It seems artificial to me to call him Baldwin Razia Iqbal: We will continue to call him Jimmy Engin's sister had a party for Jimmy in a little house along the Bosphorus I was invited to the party along with some other Robert College people because he wants to see what Americans in Turkey are like A little bit nervous after that introduction Razia Iqbal: He was an American in Turkey himself but I think he meant the other kind of American I went into the kitchen and he was sitting on a kitchen stool at a counter I looked over his shoulder and he scribbled at the end David Leeming: His brother's name was David The main character in Giovanni's Room was David The main character in The Amen Corner was David I probably never would have become Baldwin's biographer David Leeming: If he had disliked the name- Razia Iqbal: He was writing on a yellow pad David Leeming: He was just finishing the novel I watched him write the last words of Another Country Then he said he'd like to go out to have a drink and so I took him to this little bar that I knew down in Istanbul Razia Iqbal: Let's back up a bit before we talk about where you took him and how that evening went and how you became friends What you're describing is somebody who occupies a room in a very particular way Razia Iqbal: You hadn't read very much by him Razia Iqbal: Didn't know about his reputation I think I read Giovanni's Room and found it a bit terrifying Because the person who is loved does not return that love even though the person who loves him has opened himself to the possibility of a real non-Hallmark-card relationship Is that also part of the fear in that novel Is that because it was radical in some ways Modern himself told me that he didn't think of that novel as a homosexual novel so much as it was a novel about the cost of refusing love which had to do with the whole question of social love It was interesting also that he told me that in many ways David represented his own ambivalence at the time The fact that he was wrestling with his sexuality was the time that he spent in Paris as a young man During that time he had relationships with both men and women Razia Iqbal: Tell me a little bit about yourself and why you went to Istanbul that decision led to things that changed your life in all kinds of different ways My life was changed in many ways through my relationship with Baldwin and with other people Razia Iqbal: Delaney was the painter who really introduced Jimmy to downtown New York and actually changed his way of seeing the world He was having trouble in school and also was bothered by lots of things that were happening in his family life He knocked on what he called the unusual door He knocked on the unusual door and was greeted by Beauford Delaney That was the beginning of a lifelong friendship which was probably the most important relationship One could argue it was the most important relationship that Baldwin had with anyone You were absolutely at the center of that relationship Baldwin entrusted you to bring Beauford Delaney to Istanbul David Leeming: Along with meeting Baldwin on that night in 1961 the other event which changed my life was taking Baldwin's instructions that I should bring Beauford from Paris to Istanbul and then went back to Istanbul with Baldwin Baldwin asked me to go to pick up the car in Paris I didn't really know who Beauford Delany was this says something about Baldwin's idea of love Because he loved Beauford and he wanted me to love Beauford but he wanted me to love Beauford in the kind of love that he's talking about in the quote I just gave a kind of love which is hard work and involves vulnerability He didn't tell me that Beauford was clinically schizophrenic and paranoid David Leeming: He heard voices who called him a Black faggot Razia Iqbal: He did also give you an instruction I found my way to Beauford's studio apartment and knocked on the door He opened the door and everything was draped in white He was all dressed in white and a white dashiki All I could see was sun coming through the window after he opened the door on this round Black face That was my introduction to Beauford Delaney He pointed to these two cots which were head to head on one wall I got down on the cot and he got down on the other cot and we stayed in that position except to get up to use the latrine outside in the hallway We stayed on those cots for three days while we got to know each other even though I didn't know it was very useful I was a 20-something lying on a bed by this crazy guy who was saying I had to lie down for three days and three nights that said you really should get out of here while you can Razia Iqbal: It interests me that you trusted the part of yourself that didn't make you flee I was learning that if I really wanted to have an interesting life Love coming in meant being vulnerable and open to all sorts of possibilities As if Jimmy were across town in Versailles or something He didn't realize what this was going to involve Driving through the Iron Curtain to Istanbul at that time was not easy he tried to get out of the car while it was moving at 60 miles an hour Because he said the people in the car coming in the other direction at 60 miles an hour were talking about him That's when I realized Jimmy had asked me to do something that was bigger than I had understood it to be We stopped one night at one of the transit hotels that existed in Yugoslavia at the time for people who were driving through You were expected to go through in a certain amount of time and be out of the country Our cots were next to each other in a men's dormitory I got out of bed and went out into the village to look for him There he was talking to villagers who I guess had somehow become personifications of the voices that spoke to him Then it suddenly dawned on me that I had to go to sleep he would do the same thing again and I would lose him again I had to do something which was out of the ordinary for the kind of life I had lived up to that time I got into bed with him and put my arms around him because that was the only way I could go to sleep and he would have to stay there and three or four nights after that when we got to Istanbul when he said he couldn't sleep unless I stayed with him in his arms I realized much later when I did the biography of Baldwin by sending me to Paris to get Beauford Delaney and bringing-- he knew that it would be complicated He somehow knew that I needed to learn something that I could only learn in an unusual way had to go through the unusual door to find out something about myself and something about what love was I realized the love I had for both of these men was much more than a Hallmark card kind of love It was a kind of love that demanded everything Razia Iqbal: Everything that you're saying suggests that you are imbuing James Baldwin with a kind of wisdom I think he as a natural teacher was trying to teach me something about what love really was and what it meant and what it required in terms of a life experience Meeting Beauford Delaney and hearing his voice has changed the way I looked at life and it therefore changed me radically David Leeming: Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does Razia Iqbal: You're listening to Notes on a Native Son with Razia Iqbal It's so interesting to me that he regarded you as-- in fact immediately casting himself in the role as a writer of the stature of Samuel Johnson David Leeming: I thought of it as being funny I had no intention of writing a biography at that time when he was beginning to use those terms I was often with him in New York when I was working at his office in New York I went with him to meet Malcolm X or I went with him to meet Sidney Poitier who's this white kid that keeps following me around It wasn't until years after that that I took that seriously in any sense and my jaw is dropping internally in my mind and in my heart How aware were you that you were in the middle of these people who have made such an enormous impression on American culture in the 20th century David Leeming: I was aware that these were famous people I was a graduate student in English at New York University at this time Even my thesis advisor was impressed that I was meeting all these people David Leeming: I was very much aware that these were famous people I would have taken notes which would have been useful as his Boswell I didn't take very seriously the idea of being his Boswell or doing a biography Razia Iqbal: Was he a compelling companion David Leeming: Because he was a prophet in the Old Testament sense of that although he does that a little bit in The Fire Next Time more than any other human being I've ever met Whenever the opportunity arose or whenever the necessity arose he turned into a different kind of being that he had been two minutes before That could be terrifying because you'd be having a very nice dinner-- He was very delicate with his knife and fork my sister in the Bahamas says that the racial situation is much better there than it used to be and he became Ezekiel or Jeremiah performing a jeremiad haranguing this person for having said that things were better in the Bahamas and straightening him out in terms of race relations in our world Razia Iqbal: Both James Baldwin and Beauford Delaney are such huge figures in your life I wonder how you reflect on Jimmy's demise him becoming ill and then it seeming inevitable that he would pass This was several years after I'd stopped working for him and had my own academic life and family life Razia Iqbal: This was going to be an authorized biography He wrote a letter authorizing the biographies When I had a phone call from David Baldwin you'd better come and see him now because he wants you to come and see him I went right away and was shocked to see him I got on the bed next to him and said hello I asked him what he would like me to bring from New York Razia Iqbal: I imagine that that whole period was very as difficult as things could be in various aspects of life with Jimmy there was always something beautiful and always something to be learned I remember that during one night when I was sitting up with him because his brother and I took turns sitting with him during the night Suddenly out of the darkness came this voice I'm reading a book I found on your bookshelf it's when Elizabeth is being proposed to by Mr It was the writer responding to another writer and respecting her also of the breadth and the depth of his own reading I had a set of Dickens in our house in Istanbul that my father had given me Jimmy would pick up a volume each day and read it I think he must have read all of Dickens that year in Istanbul given how well you knew him and how much you lived with him How would you describe the place he occupies in American culture That voice kept us aware of some of the realities that we as a white culture have tended to prefer to ignore He was demanding that we break down those barriers and accept the fact of his role as a writer to be a carrier of love Razia Iqbal: Do you think that in his lifetime people understood the emphasis that he placed on the centrality of love in art as well as society David Leeming: I think that it comes out in his work Razia Iqbal: Does it surprise you that he is still taken up by a new generation That there are young people who turn to Baldwin even if they're taken out of context as they often are David Leeming: It's very interesting that for several years after he died I don't know how many people are reading his novels One could learn a lot about who one is and who one could be by reading just Giovanni's Room and Another Country Razia Iqbal: When James Baldwin died in 1987 My mother was banging on the door and saying Razia Iqbal: I wondered how you felt when you found out You were there with him right up until just a couple of days before he died David Leeming: I left one day before he died because we didn't think he would die that day I had to take some things to New York and then I was going to come back Razia Iqbal: This has been Notes on a Native Son we'll hear from the award winning Irish writer Colm Tóibín in conversation with me This podcast is brought to you by WNYC Studios and sponsored by the School of Public and International Affairs It is a Sea Salt & Mango production produced by Tony Phillips The executive producer for WNYC Studios is Lindsay Foster Thomas The sound designer and engineer is Axel Kacoutié Our special thanks to Dean Amaney Jamal of Princeton University Copyright © 2024 New York Public Radio. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use at www.wnyc.org for further information. New York Public Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline, often by contractors. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of New York Public Radio’s programming is the audio record. RAF Boulmer have booked their place in the 2025 RAF Cup final with a 3-0 win over RAF Leeming at Craik Park in Morpeth Corporal Sam Dawson was the hero for Boulmer as he scored twice to help his team to victory with both goals coming in injury team at the end of each half while their second goal came in the 61st minute with Sergeant Kevin Lindsay scoring who won the cup for the first time in 23 years in 2023 will now be looking to reclaim their trophy in the final in Oxford with their opponents are yet to be decided as RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Cosford will face off in the second semi-final on Tuesday Cosford are six-time winners of the RAF Cup while Lossiemouth have never won the competition in their history After a very tense start and a game of few chances it looked as though both sides were heading in at half time level but a Dawson free-kick just before the whistle had Boulmer going in ahead at the break.  RAF Leeming were awarded a penalty but it was fired over the bar and from there Lindsay's goal was well-taken with his weaker foot after being set up from the left by Phil Bright but at the other end Leeming caused some issues through Joe Spalding Ben Binns made a fantastic save showing great reflexes and tipping a deflected shot onto the cross bar and in injury time Dawson's second of the game sealed the win Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: Kruise Leeming enjoyed every minute of his time at the Titans returning to the Super League in 2024 to join the Wigan Warriors ‘It’s been about learning’: Kini shares growth from debut season Gold Coast full of excitement for new Titans jersey 'I feel blessed and lucky': Fotuaika celebrates 150 NRL games Judiciary update: Fotuaika cleared for milestone match Key three: Injury makes Magic Round tough tussle against ladder leaders RAF Leeming have won the Clayton Cup for the second successive year at RAF Cranwell The Inter Station rugby league 9s tournament saw Leeming take on RAF Cosford in a repeat of last year's final The winning team was the same as Leeming ran in six tries to win by 30 points to 16 Winning skipper Sergeant Tom White said: "A really good "It could have been either side's game at half time carried strongly down the middle and really defended well as a unit "I'm buzzing with the victory as it is my last game as a player and coach for Leeming and to pick up man of the match was the icing on the cake." RAF Marham won the plate final by beating an Oxfordshire team in a 24-18 thriller Marham ran up a hefty lead at half-time but were pushed to the wire by a good comeback in the second half Some of the players on show will be lining up for the RAF when they take on the Navy and Army in Inter Services action in September The course features tech leaders and entrepreneurs as weekly guest speakers and students are sharing their insights on the ventures and the experience This post was written by the team of Joshua Bell ’26 See more photos and a PDF version of this blog post below Bryanne Leeming MBA’16, the CEO and founder of Unruly Studios has always been passionate about making technology accessible and engaging for everyone With a background in cognitive science from McGill University and an MBA from Babson College Bryanne has combined her knowledge of how children learn with her enthusiasm for play-based education to create innovative learning experiences she worked in various roles that spanned product development which gave her a unique perspective on the barriers that exist in STEM fields particularly for young learners and underrepresented groups Her dedication to breaking down these barriers led her to create a platform where coding and play intersect making technology fun and approachable for kids of all backgrounds Bryanne Leeming identified a significant issue in education: technology Many schools were not offering CS programs despite the growing demand for these skills in the modern world Students and educators alike found it challenging to integrate technology into traditional classroom environments often due to limited resources or a lack of understanding.  Leeming and her team at Unruly Studios created a solution to bridge this gap They introduced Computer Science during non-traditional times and other subjects outside of a dedicated CS period This creative approach helped break down the barriers associated with learning tech skills Unruly Studios managed to impact over 40,000 students by selling to entire school districts More than 1,000 teachers received training About 90% of the schools Unruly serves are public schools.  The journey to creating their product involved 24 iterations and multiple prototypes ranging from paper models to fully developed tech One key insight was that the product was too small to accommodate many children at once the product went through significant changes and battery preferences to better meet teachers’ needs.  Leeming and her team invested time in customer development through cold calls This direct interaction with potential customers shaped product development based on feedback leading to key product enhancements like “iPad coloring” and stepping-friendly screen designs.  Unruly Studios is powered by a small but experienced team with backgrounds in business ensuring each team member knows their role every day with some members leaving and others filling gaps Leeming emphasizes the importance of adaptability and the ability to handle rejection critical traits for any startup member.  Leeming learned when to say “no,” even to lucrative deals that weren’t aligned with the company’s goals but it became evident that schools were a better fit Feedback from schools revealed a saturated market where many robots sat unused in closets leading Unruly to focus on creating an engaging product that was simple for teachers to use and enjoyable for students The “third-grade inspiration moment” became a key concept for Leeming ensuring Unruly Studios inspires children to see technology in a new and exciting light.  we experienced firsthand her unique approach to STEM education Unlike traditional methods that often isolate students in front of screens Bryanne emphasized the importance of integrating active play with learning She demonstrated this with “Splats,” interactive tools that encourage kids to jump and engage physically while learning to code This experience was eye-opening because it challenged the conventional perception of coding as a sedentary It also highlighted the importance of making learning fun and inclusive catering to different learning styles and breaking down stereotypes associated with technology and coding.  Bryanne’s cheerful personality and dynamic presentation style showed how an educator’s approach could significantly impact students’ interest in a subject Her ability to make a room full of people excited about coding through active play was inspiring demonstrating how passion and creativity could make complex subjects like computer science accessible to everyone especially those who might have felt excluded or intimidated by it before.  Posted in New Tech Ventures Blog Tagged Alumni, Entrepreneurship Education, Tech Entrepreneurship, Undergraduate, New Tech Ventures Blog More from New Tech Ventures Blog » Editor December 10, 2024TVCs, News Make a Comment Today: Noel Leeming leads New Zealand’s tech scene showcasing their expert NOELedge through a playful series by TBWA\NZ TBWA\NZ has crafted a series of memorable ads for Noel Leeming ranging from cat lovers needing more photo storage to aliens looking to transfer data Each spot showcases the brand’s ability to solve tech issues with both humour and expertise witty exchanges with Noel Leeming’s excellent service turning tech support into something both fun and engaging These ads are more than just informative—they’re genuinely entertaining “When it comes to service and tech knowledge in fact you could say they have Supreme NOELedge about their stuff In a category that’s pretty boring and shouting about prices and little else we wanted to let people know that no matter what they need Noel’s has the NOELedge to help.” They’ve introduced 10 clever ads to date The series features everything from supervillains seeking the most potent tech to race car drivers needing speed—all resolved by Noel Leeming’s capable team “In this highly competitive trading environment we want to stand out but also want to remind Kiwis that we have great products This campaign delivers all of this with humour,” says Fiona Taimana Head of Marketing and Ecommerce at Noel Leeming “We love the way this shows how our team member’s knowledge is able to solve a variety of customer problems reinforcing Noel Leeming as tech and appliance experts For more than 50 years we’ve been helping Kiwis and in that time our team have seen it all – as this campaign shows!” Stay tuned for more unique characters in the campaign’s next rollout and across digital and social platforms by the end of the year Brought to you by TheM+AD TEAM Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Police have charged a 37-year-old man over a shooting at a home in Perth’s southern suburbs early on Monday morning Officers were called out to the property on Barra Close home in Leeming on reports of a disturbance and a weapon being fired about 1.20am Monday A police spokesman said it would be alleged a man wearing a balaclava went down the side yard of the home and fired a shotgun through a glass sliding door into a bedroom however the man was allegedly known to the occupants of the home and the shooting was not being treated as a random attack Fremantle Detectives Sergeant Jason Hutchinson said it was believed to an “isolated incident” Hutchinson said forensic officers at the scene were working out just how many shots were fired from the shotgun into the home Police at the scene of the shooting in Leeming on Monday morning.Credit: Nine News Perth Police caught up with the alleged gunman just before 8.30am when his car was stopped in Forrestdale A search of the vehicle allegedly found a shotgun and balaclava A 37-year-old Kingsley man has been charged with home burglary or in a manner to cause fear to the public and driving with a blood alcohol content exceeding .08 per cent He was refused bail and was due to front Fremantle Magistrates Court on Monday Police have charged a 37-year-old man over a shooting at a home in Perth\\u2019s southern suburbs early on Monday morning Fremantle Detectives Sergeant Jason Hutchinson said it was believed to an \\u201Cisolated incident\\u201D Genius Gut: 10 New Gut-Brain Hacks to Revolutionise Your Energy Nurturing our gut – and understanding how it works – are essential to our wellbeing which is made up of 500 million nerve cells – or neurons as we call them,” explains Dr Leeming plus they also sense some of the nutrients which are in the gut and communicate that back to the brain.” Anything we put into the body that reaches the gut (from food to medicine) can have a direct impact on the brain and vice versa – if we’re thinking negatively or are feeling anxious So much so that one interesting study – in which scientists transplanted part of the microbiome of people suffering from clinical depression into healthy rats – found that they too showed symptoms of depression thereafter Make it your mission to incorporate fibre-rich foods into your everyday diet, and aim for 30g a day. “It’s worth understanding what foods are higher in fibre than others,” says Dr Leeming. “For example, lettuce only has 1.8g of fibre per 100g, chickpeas have 9g of fibre per 100g and chia seeds have 30g of fibre per 100g.” But good gut health extends beyond our dietDid you know that there are more microbes in a teaspoon of soil than there are humans on this planet? It’s an excellent fact. One key study found that those who dipped their hands in buckets of soil three times a day, rinsed (rather than washed) their hands afterwards, and then ate, had improved gut diversity in a matter of weeks. Our environment – and how we interact with Mother Nature – has a huge impact on our health. “Microbes are all around us – every single surface carries them,” confirms Dr Leeming. “The fact that humans spend so much time inside sitting down is impacting our microbial diversity.” Get outdoors, spend time in nature, swim in the sea, nurture your plants and get your hands dirty in the garden – all of these things will help foster a healthier microbiome. Not all probiotics workWhile some brands would have us believe that the only thing we need to rectify an imbalanced gut is a daily probiotic Referencing some research which found that only 30 per cent of probiotics on the market had the actual bacterial strain in the correct dose as described on the product “It’s all about finding the biggest bang for your buck and doing that. If you’re generally well and healthy, you’d be better off buying a fruit and vegetable box – something that’s going to help make your life much easier – because they will naturally introduce lots of microbes into the gut anyway.” As we’ve previously detailed here on Vogue, an apple has 100 million microbes in itself. Everything starts with a good diet. “If you’re looking for a specific health effect, there is interesting evidence around certain probiotic strains to help with stress, cognition and sleep, for example,” says Dr Leeming. “It’s just difficult for a consumer to find the right strain at the right dose on the market – it’s confusing.” If you’re in need of some extra help, speak to an expert for in-depth advice. Noel Leeming will open a new store in the Blenheim suburb of Westwood on February 5 The new store comes as Noel Leeming moves out of Blenheim CBD where its current store is set to close on February 3 “Everything in the new location is super modern and designed to give our customers more choice and a great experience,” said Bell Last November, The Warehouse Group reported Noel Leeming’s retail sales went down 2.1 per cent to $229.1 million in the fiscal first quarter By continuing, you agree to Octomedia Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy there is one factor that may help predict how key parts of their brain will have grown and how well they think things through And it has nothing to do with the school that they go to it’s linked to the make up of their microbiome — the community of bacteria and other microbes that live in the gut It is now being recognised that these microbes are not simply bit players in your digestive system: they are involved in every aspect of your health from your immune defences to your likelihood of putting on weight early-stage research suggests that your gut microbiome is more intricately tied to your brain health — even the way you think your memory and reasoning — than was previously thought possible new science hints that having certain gut bacteria is linked to how much happiness Microbes in the gut are involved in every aspect of your health Early-stage research suggests that your gut microbiome is more intricately tied to your brain health than was previously thought The flip side is that an imbalanced gut microbiome (by which I mean one that may contain a poor or limited mix of microbes) could damage your emotional stability and there are early suggestions that it may even play a part in the development of both dementia and Parkinson’s disease It seems that disruptions in the gut can manifest as symptoms in the brain; and vice versa up to 80 per cent of people with Parkinson’s also have constipation a symptom that can appear as much as 20 years earlier than other key signs of the neurodegenerative condition And a third of those with irritable bowel syndrome also have depression and anxiety The good news is that by changing what you eat you can change your gut microbiome — and so boost how you feel right now with accumulating evidence that your gut bacteria can influence how your brain performs and feeding your gut bugs the plant-rich diet they love is linked to a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s But before I tell you about what changes you need to make let me explain how the brain and gut communicate — and just what those gut microbes actually do There are more microbes living just in your gut than there are stars in the Milky Way: 100 trillion or thereabouts The more varieties of gut bacteria you have (and there can be between 200 and 1,000 different types) Your gut microbiome is constantly evolving and At birth it is influenced by your mother’s microbiome as she shares some of her vaginal and gut microbiome with her baby during birth one of the greatest influences on your gut bacteria is what you eat While some good bacteria are bona fide do-gooders most tend to be a bit situational in whether they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Experts can predict your mood based on how much fruit and veg you’ve eaten as revealed in a fascinating new book by Dr Emily Leeming which tends to be plentiful in people with great health Under certain circumstances it is thought to protect against inflammation; but if it is starved of fibre it may worsen an allergic response to a food allergy (according to a study in mice) ‘Good’ gut bacteria are those that produce beneficial metabolites (molecules made by breaking down food) that traverse your body like explorers — and research is pointing increasingly to their vital roles in your mood emotional stability and how well you think and problem solve Certain metabolites can influence your brain directly by crossing your blood-brain barrier and also indirectly through signals to your immune system and via the extensive network of nerve cells in your gut known collectively as your enteric nervous system levels of brain chemicals such as serotonin — known as the brain’s feelgood chemical There’s growing interest in targeting the gut microbiome potentially to prevent or even treat Alzheimer’s disease There is a familiar gut-brain pattern where some gut disorders are more likely to happen together with Alzheimer’s You’re six times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s if you have inflammatory bowel disease and twice as likely to develop it if you have gastritis a condition where your stomach lining becomes inflamed Those with Alzheimer’s tend to have a more disrupted gut microbiome with lower diversity of bacteria — the perfect environment for opportunistic harmful bacteria to thrive These changes have been linked to toxic compounds in the body that encourage inflammation and fewer of the compounds that can dampen inflammation When scientific researchers transplanted the microbiome of people with Alzheimer’s disease into healthy rats they performed worse in memory tests and had fewer neurons growing in their hippocampus short-chain fatty acids are particularly important as these are powerful anti-inflammatory molecules that help fight excess inflammation in the brain Levels of short-chain fatty acids can be increased by eating fibre-rich food as it is this which gut bacteria prefer to feed on Lower levels have been found in those with conditions such as depression and Parkinson’s (and in mice studies of those with Alzheimer’s and chronic stress) The brain and the gut are in constant communication — and a lot of this is done via the vagus nerve It’s your gut that’s the chatty one: 90 per cent of the conversation going up and down the vagus nerve is your gut communicating to your brain The vagus nerve reaches down from the brain branching into tendril-like nerves that weave out to your heart lungs and gut — and specifically to the lining of your intestines It helps your brain to know precisely what’s happening in your gut This is partly how your brain can influence the make up of your gut microbiome It can then help control the secretion of digestive juices the absorption of food and other factors which influence which bacteria thrive or die But what you might not know is that 90 per cent of the body’s supply is made in the gut serotonin has a role in helping with digestion but it can’t cross the protective blood-brain barrier to reach your brain to influence your mood ‘happy’ serotonin needs to be made inside your brain And the gut microbes appear to help with this by supplying your brain with the building blocks of serotonin Gut bacteria also oversee how tryptophan is used elsewhere in the body and imbalances in tryptophan have been seen in depression irritable bowel syndrome and neurological diseases Certain gut bacteria have been linked with positive feelings and being better able to self-regulate emotion Your gut bacteria appear to act like tiny grounding hooks for strong feelings — helping you to return to baseline more easily A 2023 study by Harvard University linked certain gut bacteria with having more positive feelings and to being better able to self-regulate emotions while those who suppressed how they felt had a lower diversity of gut bacteria which is sensitive to changes in your gut microbiome Another study by Oxford University in 2014 published in the journal Psychopharmacology that gut bacteria like to feed on (in this case taken as a supplement) can also help to shift your focus away from the negative and towards the positive Your gut bacteria and their metabolites can neutralise stress-related harmful molecules such as cytokines that promote inflammation acting a little like that calming rational friend playing mediator in an argument But if your microbiome is disrupted — that is it has more ’bad’ bacteria than ‘good’ — then it’s not able to do this well studies in mice can give us a window into how stress rapidly affects the gut microbiome Mice that are more resilient to stress have different gut microbiomes from mice that don’t cope well with stress When you’re stressed often and for long periods the ‘good’ bacteria can struggle to thrive and the ‘bad’ bacteria can start to take over Long-term stress weakens the immune system and creates an environment in the gut where it’s easier for bad bacteria to thrive A healthy microbiome can recover after a stressful situation but when it becomes disrupted it slowly loses the ability to bounce back it isn’t able to help you cope with it as well Prolonged high levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been linked to mood disorders and a shrinking hippocampus — the area of the brain that looks after memory and learning Long-term stress weakens the immune system and creates an environment in the gut where it is easier for bad bacteria to thrive Repeated stress can also manipulate chemicals in the brain changing your mood and how well you’re able to think helps your body to handle stress as it can influence levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood can tip the scales the other way and make the effects of stress worse two weeks of stress was enough to significantly change their gut microbiome and make them more anxious There’s a strong connection between anxiety and the gut — so if you have gut issues you’re more susceptible to feeling low and anxious (and vice versa) A 2019 review in the journal General Psychiatry showed that changing your gut microbiome (in this case with probiotics — supplements containing live bacteria) can help with anxiety While anxiety can be due to many different factors oxytocin — the cuddle hormone — can influence how strongly you experience it Oxytocin helps to make the amygdala react less to triggers of anxiety and fear Your gut bacteria can communicate with your brain through your vagus nerve to influence how much oxytocin is produced and released by the brain Differences in the make up of your gut bacteria have also been linked to personality traits — for example A number of studies have linked the gut microbiome to cognitive performance — learning and memory those who had higher levels of certain ‘good’ gut bacteria found it easier to learn new information and problem solve than those with lower levels The first insights into how your gut bacteria may influence your brainpower were from mice bred without a gut microbiome — they had memory problems and lower levels of nerve cells in their hippocampus Other mice infected with ‘bad’ bacteria struggled with their memory under stress but this was reversed when they were given probiotics There have been mixed results from probiotic studies on brain performance in humans This highlights that there is plenty we still don’t know about how to harness these bacteria in supplement form the best way to look after your gut bacteria is through your diet Eat more fibre: If there were just one change you make that has the biggest impact on the health of your gut and gut microbiome Fibre is essential for a healthy gut and a thriving gut microbiome and certain types of fibre have been shown to support your mood and how well you think Every 5g of fibre you eat is related to a 5 per cent lower likelihood of depression according to a review published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience in 2023 People who eat more fibre tend to perform far better in cognitive tests on memory and problem-solving We need at least 30g of fibre a day for health yet most of us are barely scratching the surface At best we’re reaching just over half of what we need and 18g in the UK — which is less than the recommended amount for a five-year-old The key is to regularly eat high-fibre foods such as beans which contain up to five times more fibre than lettuce Other high-fibre foods include wholegrains (think rye bread and wholegrain pasta) Make half your plate fruit and veg: Fruit and vegetables contain the double-whammy of fibre and polyphenols — a group of antioxidants that act as rocket fuel for your gut bacteria They’re nutrient powerhouses packed with vitamins minerals and plant biochemicals that are vital for your gut and your brain but the bacteria naturally present on fruits and vegetables make their way to your gut and contribute to your diversity of gut bacteria Did you know that an apple alone contains 100 million microbes and certain types have been shown to support your mood and how well you think A 2022 study of people who upped their intake of fruit and veg were happier than the group who didn’t change what they ate — and also happier than they’d been before the study began Psychologists have been able to predict how happy someone is purely based on how much fruit and veg they’d eaten the day before Having two or more servings of veggies a day is linked to having the cognitive age of someone five years younger as you get older with leafy green veg shown to offer the strongest protection Those who eat veggies daily are 56 per cent less likely to have cognitive problems later in life than those who rarely or never eat them Potatoes tend to be excluded from many ‘eat more veggies’ guidelines because they aren’t nutrient dense Yet they can still make a significant contribution to our fibre intake which doubles the amount of fibre they provide Have a regular bedtime: Going to bed and waking up at regular times helps both your sleep and your gut bacteria Varying the time you go to bed or wake up by 90 minutes is linked to more ‘bad’ gut bacteria and poorer health compared with those who have a regular sleep schedule Your gut bacteria also seem to be early birds: going to sleep earlier is related to a more diverse gut microbiome Get your hands dirty: A teaspoon of soil contains more microbes than there are humans on Earth For a small 2018 study published in Future Microbiology a group of adults rubbed their hands in a bucketful of soil for 20 seconds three times a day — and this simple action increased their diversity of gut bacteria in only two weeks It seems changing their skin microbiome had a beneficial effect on their gut Turns out all those mud pies children make are very likely great for their gut bacteria And spending more time in the garden is great for yours Those who drink a lot of coffee tend to have a more diverse gut microbiome Have a coffee or two: I co-authored a scientific paper a few years ago where we found that of all the food and drinks we looked at coffee was the most strongly related to the gut microbiome And those who drank the most tended to have a more diverse gut microbiome Coffee is particularly high in polyphenols and contains some fibre One 240ml cup can contain up to 1.8g of fibre — that’s more fibre than orange juice stick to one or two cups and have them before noon to avoid disturbing your sleep Exercise regularly: Exercise increases the blood flow to your gut and your brain giving their home — your gut — freshly painted walls arranging the furniture nicely and puffing the cushions maintaining the health of the gut barrier lining — and enabling your gut bacteria to thrive The extra blood flow to your brain also helps you immediately feel sharper — and can last for at least two hours afterwards Every time you move your body in a way that raises your heartbeat feelgood chemicals such as serotonin get released into your brain Exercise increases the blood flow to your gut and your brain To order a copy for £17.09 (offer valid to July 21 2024; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937 The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group