[Ammi]

A Dutch nursing home has found a brilliant, mutually beneficial model: free housing for college students in exchange for companionship with elderly residents.

At Humanitas in Deventer, students live rent-free-with one condition: spend at least 30 hours a month connecting with residents through conversation, shared meals, and simply showing up.

This intergenerational living setup doesn’t just tackle loneliness-it boosts mental well-being, breaks down age-related stereotypes, and gives everyone involved a greater sense of purpose.

I will always promote the importance of having a life full of loving relationships of all kinds; platonic relationships feed our souls too

[bots]

Two bears who sparked the evacuation of a wildlife park involving trained firearms staff and police had headed straight for the honey store, the park has said.

Wildwood Devon, a conservation charity near Exeter, said European brown bears Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - and then consumed a "week's worth of honey".

The park was evacuated after the alarm was raised at about 15:00 BST on Monday - 16 people including children were locked into a play barn for their safety.

Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, said emergency procedures were deployed and the public was "not in harm's way".

The trust has now launched an investigation into how the pair of "young bears", weighing about 180kg (397lb) each, escaped as there were no signs of enclosure damage, it said.

Mr Habben said: "Both bears are extremely happy. The team were very, very calm, as were the bears at all points.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrxn4x7yx2o

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by bots

Two bears who sparked the evacuation of a wildlife park involving trained firearms staff and police had headed straight for the honey store, the park has said.

Wildwood Devon, a conservation charity near Exeter, said European brown bears Mish and Lucy made their way to the food store after breaking free - and then consumed a "week's worth of honey".

The park was evacuated after the alarm was raised at about 15:00 BST on Monday - 16 people including children were locked into a play barn for their safety.

Mark Habben, director of zoological operations at Wildwood Trust, said emergency procedures were deployed and the public was "not in harm's way".

The trust has now launched an investigation into how the pair of "young bears", weighing about 180kg (397lb) each, escaped as there were no signs of enclosure damage, it said.

Mr Habben said: "Both bears are extremely happy. The team were very, very calm, as were the bears at all points.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrxn4x7yx2o

….ahhhhh, I read this story yesterday……all’s well that ends well and when honey is in the local area, they should always be pre-beared and ready for the breakout…I’m glad all are safe, though…these stories/events can sometimes end tragically….

[AnnieK]

Please stop discussing other members. Keep it to actual good news

[bots]

I don't think Mish and Lucy are members here yet

[Ammi]

Man left paralysed by shooting takes on marathon…


A Londoner left paralysed from the waist down after being shot in the back and told by doctors he would never walk again is preparing to take on the London Marathon.
Darren Awol was targeted in an unprovoked attack in Anerley, south-east London in 2011. His attacker has never been found.
The former Post Office cashier from Bromley, south-east London, said he had contemplated suicide during long periods of feeling "dark and gloomy" before he "had a conversation with myself" and "built my self confidence".
He said: "Your limitations are as far as you allow them to be: it's not about the medal but being able to do something I never thought I'd be able to."
'Gym is therapy'
He added: "My whole thing is just whatever you're going through, believe in yourself and rely on yourself because ultimately you've only got yourself."
During Sunday's race, the 42-year-old will be supported by his brother and a physiotherapist he met during his first three months of treatment.
He uses elbow crutches and has splints on each leg to remain balanced but can't feel as much on the left side of his body.

The south-east Londoner plans to walk at the start and end of the race and along the Embankment and Tower Bridge. He will use a wheelchair for the rest of the route.
"It's been daunting because I haven't been in wheelchair for 10 or 11 years so going back to learn how to use a wheelchair has been hard," he said.
"I'll be so happy to cross that line – it's about raising awareness for the next person.
"I want people to think: a guy who defied all the odds did it and they can do it and turn up for themselves."

He revealed his son, who was aged just two at the time he was shot, was his "biggest motivation" to recover.
He said: "It gave me the momentum to see me walking again.
"Going to the gym is therapy for me: movement is a wonderful medicine.
"If we can uplift each other and change someone's life, it's free. No matter what I go through mentally and physically, I show up for life."
The money he raises will go towards opening a unit for people to train with spinal injuries, multiple sclerosis, strokes and cerebral palsy.

Spoiler:

[Ammi]

Tortoise found 2.8 miles from home after 16 days on the run…


A runaway tortoise was found nearly three miles from home, 16 days after escaping from its pen in Devon.

Shelly the leopard tortoise vanished from Shillingford Abbot, near Exeter on July 9.

The 40lb reptile was then discovered near The Orange Elephant ice cream parlour, close to the A379 near Kennford, some 2.8 miles away as the crow flies.

Nick Phillips, Shelly’s owner, said: “She was spotted by the farmer, who thought she was a big rock. Luckily, he realised rocks don’t usually move and gave us a call.”

The family had looked for the tortoise in verges, undergrowth and local woods, and used thermal imaging to try and spot her.

Mr Phillips said Shelley’s appetite had diminished after returning home, adding: “We tried runner beans, cabbage, cucumber, the full monty. She wasn’t interested. I’ve no idea what she’s been eating, but clearly it wasn’t salad.”

Mr Phillips’s daughter Becky said: “She’s quite big and can travel nearly a mile a day. It seems people don’t know what to do when they see a tortoise on the loose, because she was just left there.

“We think she escaped by clawing under the chicken wire of her pen.”

Spoiler:

[Mystic Mock]

At least she's safe now.
@Ammi

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

At least she's safe now.
@Ammi

……yes, her days on the run are over for now…which is the story in a shell, Mock…

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Ammi

……yes, her days on the run are over for now…which is the story in a shell, Mock…

I like the pun.