Latest news with #neighbor
Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
A chicken salad tartine with fruit and care on the side
This column comes from the Eat Voraciously newsletter. Sign up here to get one weeknight dinner recipe, tips for substitutions, techniques and more in your inbox Monday through Thursday. In the summer of 2024, I was struggling to make sense of my life as a new mother. Every day was filled with uneasy wonder: How did I get here? What was I doing, and why did this new facet of my life, this ancient human experience, seem impossible? One day, I remember putting my son in his crib for a nap and feeling so grateful that I could now, finally, lie down in bed and stare at the ceiling. I cried with relief, then guilt, then sadness. Eventually, I wiped away the tears, and, because I knew it might make me feel better, I opened a food delivery app and started to order lunch. Moments later, there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, I found a blue-and-white paper plate holding an open-faced chicken salad sandwich with mango on the side. Get the recipe: Chicken Salad Tartines My dear neighbor, a mother of three, had made me lunch. The mango seemed to glow in the dim hallway light, its fragrance mingling with the smell of the pungent, herb-flecked dressing on the chicken. I brought the food back to bed and ate it in blissful silence. Then, I cried again. This time it was out of deep gratitude and love. I rummaged around for my phone to send my neighbor a thank-you note. She had texted: 'Chicken salad with lots of red onion — because I like it that way, and because when you eat a lot of raw onion people leave you the hell alone!!! ❤️ Love you!' Just as no two people are the same, no two pregnancies or birthing experiences are the same. Without sufficient support, any mother's individual experience can be extremely isolating. It was only when I started to notice the care other mothers offered to me and each other that I started to feel like maybe, just maybe, I could do this. For a lot of reasons, I never thought I would become a parent. But here I was, and here, too, I eventually discovered, was a club I now belonged to, one full of generosity and reciprocity, of unspoken care and deep love: motherhood. Inspired by my neighbor's chicken salad sandwich, here's a recipe for Chicken Salad Tartines. There's red onion and cucumber for crunch and flavor, plus tarragon and lots of lemon. Yogurt and mayonnaise keep it light and creamy. I highly recommend fresh, juicy fruit on the side for a burst of sweetness. Get the recipe: Chicken Salad Tartines
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why Michelle Phillips is OK with neighbor who rummages through her trash and takes her mail
It looked like every homeowner's worst nightmare: a man rummaging through trash cans and swiping a packet of papers. And for Mamas and Papas legend Michelle Phillips, 81, that was briefly the reality when the man swooped in shortly after she wheeled her garbage to the curb outside her Los Angeles home. But can reveal the seemingly sinister situation was actually nothing of the sort with Phillips saying the man is a neighbor on the hunt for discarded copies of the New York Times. 'He's perfectly harmless,' the singer told a Daily Mail reporter who showed her a photo of the man outside her home. 'It's nothing to worry about and I've known him since he was a teenager. He's very nice, and he was going through my trash to find my newspapers because he wants to read the New York Times. Thank you for checking – that's what neighbors are for,' Michelle added. But there may be more to the man's trash run than Michelle knows. He was clearly seen stuffing letters from her garbage into his back pockets before walking away. Shortly after her neighbor took off, Phillips clad in black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses, was seen heading out to run errands. The incident marked Phillips's first public sighting since the death of Beach Boys icon Brian Wilson - a longtime acquaintance. Her daughter Chynna, 57, formed the successful 90s pop trio Wilson Phillips with Brian's daughters, Carnie and Wendy. Phillips gave birth to Chynna during her tumultuous marriage to The Mamas & The Papas' founder and chief songwriter, John Phillips. Their union – riddled with infidelity, substance abuse and the crushing weight of fame – lasted past the band's three-year career before ending in divorce in 1969. She is also the stepmother to actress Mackenzie Phillips, 66, and model Bijou Phillips, 45, through her late ex-husband's other relationships. When he was done looking through the last surviving member of The Mamas & The Papas's trash, he tucked a few envelopes in his back pocket before walking off Phillips wore black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses John, who died in 2001 at age 65, notoriously had an affair with Cass Elliot, the group's other female vocalist, fueling deep tensions within the band. Phillips, meanwhile, had her own controversial affairs - including with bandmate Denny Doherty and director Roman Polanski, the latter while his partner Sharon Tate was pregnant with his child. But although their relationship was marred with controversy, she still defended her late ex-husband's character in 2009 when allegations emerged of incest made by her stepdaughter Mackenzie. At the time, her other stepdaughter Bijou said she knew her half-sister Mackenzie had a consensual sexual relationship with their father. Bijou, who was married to convicted rapist Danny Masterton till she filed for divorce in 2023, claimed she was 13 years old when Mackenzie told her about the relationship, calling the news 'confusing and scary'. Bijou added that it was 'heartbreaking' to think her family knew about the incest and still left her alone with her father. The band, which shot to stardom with hits 'California Dreamin',' 'Monday, Monday,' and 'Dedicated to the One I Love,' split in 1968 just three years after achieving mainstream success and winning a Grammy in 1967 for Best Contemporary (R&R) Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. Phillips still found success after the band split through acting where she starred alongside celebrities such as Martin Sheen, Audrey Hepburn and Sharon Stone. The singer-turned-actress was later cast in a biographical gangster film Dillinger in 1973 - which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. She also took on roles in films including Valentino (1977), The Covenant (1985) and Scissors (1991). Phillips additionally branched out to the world of television and starred in the series titled Knots Landing (1987-1993). Later in her career, she had guest roles in beloved shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Love Boat. At the height of her fame, Phillips had a whirlwind marriage to actor Dennis Hopper that lasted just eight days, as well as high-profile romances with Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. She divorced her third husband, radio producer John Burch, in 1979 after one year.
New York Times
4 days ago
- New York Times
They Said She Was Home-Schooled. She Said She Was Locked in a Dog Crate.
It was dark out when the barefoot teenage girl barreled through the door of Susan Lacey's cottage in Blackwood, N.J., and released a torrent of words. She said she had been locked in a dog crate for a year and handcuffed to a toilet and not allowed to eat and didn't go to school but she did get to take the dogs outside and her stepfather sometimes touched her but she got to listen to music and ate from a bucket but her little sister didn't have to and she was really, truly Freddie Mercury, from Queen. She giggled. Ms. Lacey sat her down on the couch and told her to breathe. It took a moment for Ms. Lacey to recognize her: It was her neighbor's daughter, and though the girl lived just feet away, she was rarely seen outdoors, and had been home-schooled for the past seven years. She was 18 years old, her hair was shaved close and uneven, and she smelled foul. Ms. Lacey heated up a corn dog for her as the words kept coming. The girl's jumbled mix of horrors and non sequiturs about pop music made Ms. Lacey and her adult son, who was visiting, wonder if what she was saying was true. Then the teenager raised her hand toward her mouth to take a bite of the corn dog. There were marks on her wrists. Had she tried to harm herself? Ms. Lacey asked. No, the girl replied. For the year she spent locked in the crate, she said, she had often had her hands cuffed behind her back. The cuffs had left scars. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Auto Blog
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
I Bought a 30-Year-Old Land Rover. Worth The Headache?
The reliability of a Land Rover that's lived through three whole decades is questionable at best, but can its graceful charm and unmatched sense of style make up for its many imperfections? The start of a questionable journey 2025.05.29. Vancouver Island, British Columbia. A few months ago, I decided to purchase a 30-year-old Land Rover entirely on a whim. Previously owned by a neighbor, who was the second owner, and then by another one of our neighbors, who originally purchased it in Scottsdale, Arizona, I had caught glimpses of this beautiful truck over many years. Suddenly, on a sunny day in March, as I was walking my dogs down the street, I noticed it parked tidily on the street side with an old-school 'for sale' sign in the window. Shocked that the truck I had lustfully ogled and unhealthily fantasized about for years was available for sale–and that I just barely possessed the necessary funds to have it for myself–I called up the listed number, introduced myself as his neighbour, and politely requested a meeting, trying my best to mask my irrational excitement over the phone. I took a look at the truck the very next day and finalized its purchase the day after that. After what I now remember as a two-day mental blackout, where I was blinded by the carnal urge to own this big green box that had somehow pierced through my sense of reason, right through to my feeble heart, I actually had this barely running old Land Rover sitting in my driveway. As I sat, watching it leak oil all over the pavement, furiously stroking my beard, I anxiously pondered what in the world I was even going to do with it. Source: Cole Attisha Admittedly, I probably should have done a bit more research before I shook hands with the kind, retired gentleman down the street and accepted the keys to his Coniston Green 1995 Land Rover Discovery as if I had nobly taken on a quest he had failed to accomplish. When I had 'test-driven' the truck the day prior, I wasn't even allowed to drive it myself, and after just two minutes of driving, the throttle decided to stop working properly, and we had to gently limp it home. As far as I was concerned, the most important boxes of my car-buying criteria had been ticked: it had been optioned without sunroofs, meaning no mysterious drips on my forehead during rainstorms, the interior's condition looked as if it were brand new, it had a clear history report, and in the trunk sat an intricately filed stack of laminated maintenance records. I had owned Jaguars, Mercedes-Benzes, Audis, and even BMWs of a similar vintage in the past and always found that, despite what people might tell you online, the British ones are usually the most well-maintained and are therefore far more reliable than their German counterparts. Thus, a seemingly minor problem with the throttle and some cosmetic blemishes didn't scare me off so easily. Source: Cole Attisha It helps to know the right people when you own a classic car Having eventually completed a deep dive online and joined various Land Rover ownership groups on Facebook, I was both extremely nervous about the potential headaches the truck might bring and excited by just how passionate Land Rover owners are about their rigs. The general consensus seemed to be that I had certainly signed myself up for a few traumatizing migraines, but with the caveat that, so long as I deal with mechanical problems preventively or head-on rather than neglecting them and allowing them to worsen, the ownership experience would be indescribably rewarding. Source: Cole Attisha Firstly, though, my Discovery would have to be drivable. Untrusting of my own mechanical competence, I decided it best to have a professional deal with the elephant in the room: the throttle problem. I had previously concocted my own baseless theories for why it could be acting up, such as a filthy throttle position sensor or a faulty fuel system, and considered repairing these elements myself, only to later be relieved by the knowledge that none of these things were at the root of the issue, and that I was right to contact a mechanic that was familiar with these sorts of vehicles. Being picky about whom I let work on my cars, I had sent the Discovery to a local Euro specialist shop that had done work on my girlfriend's 2010 Mazda6 and a 2001 Mercedes-Benz ML430 I once owned. More importantly, the shop's facade parking spots boasted a dark green early-90s Acura NSX, a bright red Ferrari 348 TS, a green long-wheelbase BMW E38 7-Series, and a Dakar-like Porsche 944 with a lift kit, roof racks, and a Rothmans livery. I knew these had to be the right guys for the job, and I was right. Source: Cole Attisha Just $1,200 (CAD) later, the drive belt, its tensioner, and a roller had been replaced, along with a rotten valve cover gasket, which had caused the puddle of oil on my driveway. For what seemed like a lot less money than I was expecting to have to cough up, the Series I Land Rover Discovery was running brilliantly, with no warning lights, misfires, or scary noises to dampen the richly ambient experience of piloting such a passionately crafted machine. After a two-day trip over to the mainland to visit a longtime buddy who had opened his very own automotive detailing shop and a tip that reflected my immense gratitude, the feeling of sitting behind the wheel began to send fizzy chills all over my body. Even with under 200 horsepower and the aerodynamic streamline of a wooden wardrobe, the Discovery is just as entertaining as a Mazda MX-5 Those fizzy chills. That's when I got it. That's when I finally understood why Land Rover guys don't get offended when Toyota guys spew their rhetoric about how poorly built and unreliable the Land Cruiser's British counterparts tend to be. In that moment, I was reminded of the thrill of hitting a twisty coastal backroad in my ND2 Mazda MX-5, the exhilaration of slamming an upshift in the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, and the overly-confident aura of cruising by the beaches of Vancouver in my old 2001 Jaguar XJ8. It wasn't because of the speed, the acceleration, and certainly not because of its razor-sharp handling. Instead, the Land Rover won me over because my enjoyment stemmed directly from the culmination of factors that it took to get to that point. Even though the headlights don't shut off when the rest of the car does, and this problem is somehow solved by unplugging only the passenger side bulb, and even though the rear suspension is suspiciously clunky, and even though it chugs its way through fuel almost as rapidly as the six-speed manual, 5.0-liter V10-powered BMW E60 M5 I drove the other week, the Discovery steals my heart every time I take it for a drive or, even more so, on an adventure. After everything had been said and done, and the car was finally in solid running order, I embarked on a Mother's Day road trip on a nearby island by the name of Saltspring, where we ate good food, hiked steep mountains, and tasted crisp wine and fine cider. More importantly, I got to open up the taps on the Discovery on some remote and curvy roads, where I quickly learned that its 182 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque are more than ample figures to have some good old-fashioned backroad fun, and that despite its body-on-frame chassis, its full-time four-wheel drive system, and weighing over 4,300 lbs., it could handle the hairpins surprisingly well with gentle steering input and enough foresight to accurately anticipate the sharpness of each impending corner. The Series I Discovery truly does a solid job of balancing sport and utility, even when it's 30 years old, so long as it's been taken care of properly. Old British cars reward you for looking after them properly Alright, sure, you can pretty much neglect a Toyota Land Cruiser entirely and it'll probably still start up and drive across entire continents without putting up a fuss, but if you can accept the fact that you'll have to put in either a good bit of hard work or a solid chunk of hard-earned cash every once in a while to keep everything in proper order, the Land Rover is a more enjoyable truck to spend your time in. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes a Land Rover so much more satisfying to operate. Perhaps it, too, is a rewarding experience based entirely on the culmination of so many things coming together, like the distinct aroma of its finely aged leather upholstery, the original factory cassette player that still works and which has prompted me to start collecting old tapes instead of just putting my Spotify on shuffle, the surprisingly raucous rumble of its fuel-injected 3.9-liter Rover V8, or the way you can't stop staring at it even after you've parked at home and everyone else has already gone inside. Source: Cole Attisha Whatever it may be, the inimitability of a Land Rover's charismatic grace, elegant sense of style, unmatched road presence, and its ability to drive you absolutely madly insane over the most obscure electrical problems that randomly seem to mend themselves if you just pretend you didn't notice at first, all come together to provide not just a driving experience, but an ownership experience that isn't just rewarding–it sticks with you forever. And, well, isn't that what life's all about? A Toyota Land Cruiser might get you where you need to go every time, but a genuine Land Rover–the true O.G. that Toyota aspires to replicate in all aspects including nomenclature–will make sure that the whole journey towards your destination is deeply imprinted into your memory, whether through the lens of elegant bliss or traumatic mechanical nightmare, but nonetheless unforgettable. When I speak to Toyota off-roader owners, their passion for their trucks lies in their dependability and consistent functionality. On the contrary, Land Rover owners speak of their breakdowns and disasters with words of endearment, claiming that with each problem that arises, a solution prevails which brings man ever closer to machine, and the bond formed between a Land Rover and its owner, over time, thus becomes increasingly unbreakable. Source: Cole Attisha Final thoughts So, I could have spent three times as much money and had a Toyota Land Cruiser of the same year in similar condition, but would it really offer me three times as much car? Truly, I don't believe so. Not only has my Series I Land Rover Discovery's iconic fusion of reliability, drivability, and functionality stolen my heart, but it has also forced me to ask why Toyota Land Cruisers seem to command such a massive premium over more overlooked alternatives from Land Rover and Jeep of similar vintage. How much of that inflated value is simply a result of pedantic internet comments and misinformed anecdotes? Who knows, but regardless, my 30-year-old Land Rover has undoubtedly brightened up my life in the somewhat short time that I've owned it. For not a whole lot of money, it's taught me the true value of experiencing memorable journeys in life, and it's allowed me to better understand the importance of disciplined maintenance–a tenet that I take with me into all aspects of my life, from health and fitness to work and study. If you're someone who wants your life to be more than just a walk in the park, don't be afraid to buy that old off-roader on Facebook Marketplace that caught your eye and you can't seem to stop thinking about. Like a well-aged Islay Scotch whisky, my 1995 Land Rover Discovery might be overwhelmingly smoky and difficult to stomach, but once you've developed a palate for peatiness, there's nothing else out there that satisfies your tastebuds quite as effectively. About the Author Cole Attisha View Profile
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
My husband is locked up in prison and my head has been turned by a new lad – is it really cheating?
DEAR DEIDRE: AM I really cheating on my husband if all I'm looking for is a little fun while he's locked up in prison? I'm a woman of 42 and I have four children, all in their teens. I've been with my husband since I was 16 and he was 18. He's 45 now, but he's in jail after getting dragged into working with a gang, who shifted high-value stolen goods. He's still got another year to serve. My husband was the only man I'd ever been with, but now my head has been turned by the lad, who lives next door. My neighbour is 24 and he used to babysit the kids when my husband and I had a night out. He knows what's been going on in my life and he's been a great support, cutting my lawn for me and taking me to the supermarket because I don't drive. Three weeks ago, he knocked on my back door and walked in like he always does. At the time, I was feeling low and lonely. He's a young guy, who gives the best hugs and, while he was holding me, he pulled my chin up and kissed me. It set the sparks flying — I've not been kissed like that for a long time. It was so dangerous, but we ended up going through to the lounge. He kissed my neck and all the way down my body, making me feel alive. The sex was off the scale. We've been seeing one another when the kids are at school and college. I know he's much younger than me and it isn't right. But I miss sex so much. Is it technically cheating while my husband is away for a long time? Dear Deidre: Spotting the signs your partner is cheating DEIDRE SAYS: I think you know the answer to this question already, but are hopeful someone will give you a more convenient response. Yes, it's still cheating. It's not your fault that your husband got involved in crime but, if you're prepared to wait for him and keep your marriage intact, then you should remain faithful. You may miss the sex, but your children have had enough to contend with without you muddying the waters by jumping into bed with their young babysitter. You're at very different life stages, so this relationship is unlikely to last. Be the adult and tell him this was a mistake and it was never going to be anything serious while you're married. Contact Prisoners' Families ( 0808 808 2003), who can offer emotional support while your husband is away. I'M TERRIFIED OF LOVING MY NEW MAN AFTER OP DEAR DEIDRE: I AM scared to have sex with my new partner because my doctor says I might not physically be able to do it. I'm a divorcee of 56 and I've had lots of 'women's problems' and had four operations. My specialist asked whether I was in a relationship at my last check-up. When I said no, he said, 'Good. You must be careful if you have intercourse because you could tear the scar.' I met a new guy through a friend two months ago and he's lovely. He's 49 and I know he's longing to have sex. I've done sexual things for him but I'm so worried about what the specialist said that I can't relax enough to let him touch me sexually. I don't know what to do but if I don't do anything, he may leave me. DEIDRE SAYS: You do need time to heal after any operation but if your new partner is careful and you both take things slowly, you can try to get into a sexual relationship little by little. Go back to your doctor and ask how long you should wait before having sex again. Ask if your scarring is healing well. It will help you feel less anxious if you explain to your new partner why you are worried. There are other sorts of things he can do to enable you to feel aroused apart from penetrative sex. My support pack Self-Help For Painful Sex will give you both some guidance on how to make things comfortable for you. STEPSON KICKED ME OUT OF HOUSE DEAR DEIDRE: WHEN his mother was in hospital, my partner's son threw me out of our home. Now I'm sleeping in my car. My partner was having heart surgery and I visited her every day and was preparing for her to come home. We are both 72 and living on our state pensions. I received a letter from a solicitor instructing me to leave our home and telling me my partner would be living with my stepson and his wife and kids when she comes out of hospital. The letter came on the instruction from my stepson. He's never liked me, but I wasn't expecting that. My stepson then called round and collected my partner's clothes and advised me to leave. I can't afford the rent on my own. I don't know what to do about getting the house back and I'm devastated I can't see my partner. DEIDRE SAYS: I'm so sorry. You need some urgent advice about your housing rights at the very least. Make an appointment then take any documents about the tenancy to your local Citizens Advice Bureau ( If you're struggling financially, you can find support through Turn2us ( 0808 802 2000) which helps those in need to access money available to them. Once you know where you stand, you can try to contact your partner to see whether she has made this decision or whether it is all down to her son. Good luck. WIFE ADMIRES MEN AT WORK DEAR DEIDRE: MY wife rarely initiates sex because she's too tired, but she has lots of energy to chat to her attractive male colleagues when she's on a business trip. We've been married for ten years. I work from home as an accountant with my own business. The work is pretty dull. My wife works for a big corporation and she organises events for them across the world. She is the breadwinner and she loves her job. She talks about her colleagues – both women and men, but mainly the men. She mentions how tall or athletic they are, how attractive they are and how she could talk to them for hours when she's away. She never calls me or the kids when she's travelling. Meanwhile, I stay at home minding the children and feeling like a doormat. I've asked her whether she's ever cheated on me and she says no, but when she comes home and I go to cuddle her, she pushes me away. She takes me for granted and I'm fed up with it. DEIDRE SAYS: I'm sure you are. If your job limits you to only talking to clients, it may feel a little humdrum while she's off seeing the world. Rather than letting this fester, find a quiet moment to tell her that you're feeling neglected. She's unlikely to give up her job, and nor should she have to. It's important to remember you don't have any evidence of her cheating. But ask that when she's home, she commits to set time aside for you and the children. When she's with you, arrange some date nights. She may feel jet-lagged but if you pitch this right, she may be appreciative of being back home. If she is unwilling to make an effort, talk about what is going on for her. My support pack Looking After Your Relationship will help you to see how you can reconnect.
