I awoke from an 11-hour surgery at University of California San Francisco Medical Center to find that my otolaryngologist had removed not only half of my nose but also half of my upper lip, muscle and bone from my right cheek, the shelf of my right eye, six teeth, and part of my hard palate.
As I tried to shift my body in the bed, I noticed a tug pulling at me from my chest. I looked down to see that a long tube of tissue was suspended from my cheek and attached to my chest. I gasped!
“Help!” I cried out to whoever was still in the ominously dark recovery room. A nurse appeared and calmly explained what had transpired during surgery. I learned that I had a full-thickness skin graft that would be needed to fill in the tissue that had been removed from my cheek, nose and upper lip.
Seeing my face in a mirror at that moment would have been too much to handle. I took a deep breath as my mind raced with questions and waited until my doctor arrived to provide a full post-surgery report.
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Just a few months before the surgery, life had been smooth sailing. I was a junior at the University of California at Berkeley. I was considered by many to be handsome, and a few years earlier, while in high school, I was even voted the homecoming prince. You could say I was living on “easy street”.
The author before surgery (1984).
At some point, my right nostril had started to flare out, and my friends pointed it out to me. I guess I wasn’t that vain then. Eventually, I had to have a maxillary biopsy to figure out what the strange new growth on my face was.
Five weeks later, after my tumour was sent to multiple labs to determine its type, I was diagnosed with a malignant maxillary tumour – a rare fibrosarcoma. My prognosis was good. I had clear margins. I was only 21. I was invincible, right?
But six months later, tingling sensations indicated something nefarious was going on. My doctor warned me that I might lose part of my nose but they were going to try to save my life. I underwent surgery with a lot of unknowns.
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After the disfiguring procedure, my doctor promised to make me “street able” before I left the hospital. Fourteen days after the surgery, the “live tube of tissue” attached to my face was snipped off. It took that long for the full-thickness skin graft to develop its own blood supply so that it could become part of the puzzle pieces that were now fitting my face back together.
My right eye was drooping. My upper lip was pulling toward my right cheek. My nose was normal on the right side and smashed in with no nostril on the other. The rest of the “tube” tissue was reattached to my chest, and skin grafts from my legs were used to cover the area where the tissue was used on my face.
I now had a web of staples parallel across my chest, and what I called a “waffle” of single thickness skin graft tissue from my leg covering my shoulder and part of my chest. But that graft was only one layer instead of the normal three, so the support wasn’t the same, and a backpack over my right shoulder would forever prove uncomfortable. However, that was the least of my concerns.
As I was stitched back together, the concept of “street able” was still mysterious to me. What I didn’t realise then was that this was my surgeon’s way of nicely preparing me for a life of disfigurement. When I left the hospital after my three-week stay, I felt I looked like a monster, and it seemed others saw the same thing.
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The author after surgery (1985).
As I reentered the world, I noticed many stares, double-takes, and even an occasional group of young kids giggling at me – from a safe distance, of course.
Once, I sat on a two-way bench in a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) car on my way from the East Bay to San Francisco, across from two preteen girls. It was an especially painful experience, but I pretended on the outside that their giggles didn’t bother me, and instead moved a few seats away to try to soften the emotional pain that was eating my insides out. I guess I was trying to prove to myself how tough I was. Yeah, right!
Suddenly, easy street was littered with detours. Radiation therapy eventually wreaked havoc by shrinking much of the reconstructed tissue holding my face together. New reconstruction to my deformity didn’t solve my problem, as continued radiation magnified my issue as time passed. My self-esteem sank increasingly lower, and I became someone who constantly sought reassurance from others. Not many people want to hang around with someone with that level of insecurity.
Five years and 20 reconstructive surgeries later, I had retreated from much of my life, just working – and working out – in an effort to rebuild my confidence.
I found that weightlifting was something I could control, and at least I could feel better about my body. Hopefully people will look at my body instead of looking at my face, I tried to convince myself. But that’s not really how the world works. Our face is our identity.
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Still, I had control over my body, so I stuck to it, and feeling good about my body helped me gain a little more confidence each day as I looked at myself in the gym mirror.
During my last procedure, I met a woman named Dina who was receiving treatment for cervical cancer in the same hospital where I was having yet another surgery to make my nose symmetrical (which failed, of course). We began dating, but after I asked for the umpteenth time how she really felt about the way I looked, she lost her patience and laid into me.
The bulk of my problem, she informed me, was not my physical appearance, but my emotional insecurity. Boom! I was suddenly more aware than ever that I had two problems now: my physical appearance and my insecurity.
I took time to reflect on Dina’s words. Over time, I found that her honesty helped me realise that my internal scars were far more disfiguring than the ones on the outside ever were.
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I spent time reflecting, focusing first and foremost on what I was thankful for. I came to realise I was grateful for Dina’s honest words. I began to understand how lucky I was that she had highlighted my greatest weakness.
With a fresh perspective, I saw that my surgeries and their outcomes weren’t something I could control. What I could control was focusing on rebuilding what was inside.
I began examining my life and used prayer and support from loved ones to boost my spirit and self-esteem. I found the courage to share my vulnerabilities in group therapy and finally realised that it’s all about how you feel on the inside that matters. It’s really not our physical appearance that makes us feel good about ourselves.
I finally felt liberated because I knew how to tackle my challenges. I could focus on my most pressing challenge – my insecurity – one day at a time.
I developed a survival kit that not only helped me rebuild that confidence, but also allowed me to cope, keep hope, and ultimately thrive. I have been cancer-free since 1985, and I decided reconstructive surgery was no longer my priority in 1991. My survival kit consists of seven things that I still use to this day:
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My religious faith gives me strength and courage to weather every day, but most importantly it gives me hope.
I surround myself with positive people that I trust.
I focus on my most pressing challenge and set goals I know I can achieve. That helps me build confidence.
I focus on mindful positivity. When you start with gratitude, everything in life is better. Remember, we choose our attitude, so try to choose a positive one.
I looked for balance and outlets to get my mind off the day-to-day stressors of surgery, treatment, and the fear of a recurrence and continue to do the same.
Group therapy was instrumental in my healing. I found the courage to share my vulnerabilities, and that was freeing.
Practicing positive imaging every day allows me to visualise a better future and calm me and put me at ease when I’m feeling anxious.
As I focused on rebuilding myself from the inside out, my self-esteem improved. I found an opportunity to work in marketing in the tech industry and my approach to success began to pay off. I worked hard. I over-prepared for every meeting. I was buttoned up when I presented plans and strategies to senior management. By the age of 30, I had become a vice president of marketing. I served as a VP of sales and marketing for two other companies, and I consulted for large tech companies like Cisco Systems and Intel.
I began speaking about my cancer and life journey. My confidence flourished. People stopped noticing my facial difference. I began to learn that how we carry ourselves is what people notice. When you have confidence, people are attracted to that and focus a lot less on your physical appearance.
I met a wonderful woman named Sue in my late 20s. We had two dates together before the topic of what happened to me even came up in a conversation, which told me a lot about her. She wasn’t really concerned about what happened to me, but she cared about who I was as a person. We have been married for 31 years.
Because of this, people with visible differences are forced to learn skills to overcome what they believe to be their shortcomings. They learn to adapt. They find strength, build character, gain resilience, and dig deep to find grit.
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I would argue that often these skill sets make them better leaders and managers in the workplace because they can bring empathy to their teams, are comfortable with change, and bring greater life perspective. I am an example of this.
I wouldn’t wish my experience on anyone, but I must say that when I look in the mirror now, my battle scars remind me of healing. I am reminded each day of the gifts my journey has provided for me – gratitude for all I do have, empathy for others struggling, and a bigger and bolder outlook on life.
I hope my story can be a reminder that we just might be happier if we focus on what we’re capable of, who we are, what we’re fortunate to have, and what we can offer the world – instead of how we look. That’s the best way to fix our insecurities.
A survivor of a life-threatening cancer that left him with a permanent facial difference, Terry Healey is the author of The Resilience Mindset (ECW Press, 9/9/2025), and is a keynote speaker. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a 35-year career as a marketing executive, Terry challenges audiences to face adversity and change, and apply his ReBAR resilience framework and principles to gain confidence, build resilience, and find greater purpose and joy in their personal and professional lives. Terry lives in Santa Cruz, California, with his wife, Sue. For more information visit terryhealey.com.
The family-owned Rudding Park, south-west of Harrogate is using HSBC UK funding to complete the development of a new 60,000 sq ft golf and country club.
This will include upgrades to existing health & wellbeing facilities, a new swimming pool and general improvements across the resort.
Rudding Park expects the HSBC UK supported expansion to create 75 new jobs and generate an estimated £14m in annual GVA for Harrogate. This builds on the business anticipating a 4.8% increase in turnover over the next 12 months.
The development of Rudding Park will also include the addition of 7 new padel and tennis courts, an accompanying pavilion, and the full restoration of a walled garden.
Nick Mackaness, Joint Managing Director at Rudding Park, said: “This is an exciting new phase of growth for Rudding Park, as we continue to expand and diversify high quality experiences for our guests.
“HSBC UK support will enable us to complete these development works, making sure our facilities exceed the expectations of our guests old and new. We look forward to expanding the team and attracting guests from all over the UK as our plans take shape.”
Rudding Park Hall (Image: Pic supplied)
Tom Sikora, Relationships Director at HSBC UK, said: “Rudding Park is a fantastic example of an ambitious business in a competitive market with a clear strategy for growth.
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“The team has built a well-loved resort over many years, always understanding the next steps needed to keep attracting guests These developments will ensure Rudding Park stays a household name across the UK for many years to come and we look forward to seeing the new facilities open.”
Rudding Park was built in the early 19th Century and has been owned by the Mackaness Family since 1972.
Following previous expansions, it now features 90 bedrooms and suites, a spa, three restaurants (one of which was recently awarded a MICHELIN star), a kitchen garden, private cinema, two golf courses and conference & events spaces.
The business is building new premises to a BREEAM Excellent rated sustainability standard. This process includes tree planting and the introduction of more wetland areas to achieve overall BNG gains.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan announced the measures in October, with one of them being that developers without an upfront viability assessment can proceed if they can provide at least 20 per cent affordable housing, with schemes being able to access grant funding for around half of the affordable homes delivered.
Emmerdale viewers think Sadie King’s huge return to the ITV soap after 20 years could be linked to Graham Foster’s mystery phone call after he targeted Kim Tate
19:52, 08 Apr 2026Updated 19:53, 08 Apr 2026
Sadie King’s return to Emmerdale could be linked to Graham Foster’s mystery behaviour, according to a fan theory.
Reports that Sadie would be back for explosive scenes were shared earlier this month, while ITV are yet to confirm the news. It follows Graham’s revenge against former flame Kim Tate being exposed.
We’d seen Kim be rushed to hospital after choking and collapsing. It was initially thought she’d suffered from severe mushroom poisoning, but doctors soon confirmed it was an overdose of her painkillers.
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While other residents assumed Kim had been confused and accidentally taken too much, we soon saw Graham was to blame. He’d swapped out her tablets for a bigger dose, before swapping them back.
He had a mystery phone call with someone, where he told them the tablets had not worked. Making it clear he had planned to kill Kim, it seemed he was planning a different move after the pills failed to do what he had intended.
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It wasn’t clear if the person he was talking to was also after Kim, but fans now think they know who it was on the phone. Viewers think it could be Sadie, and that she and Graham know each other.
They wondered if Sadie could be helping Graham to target Kim and that this is what will spark her return to the village later this year. One fan posted on social media: “So is it Sadie on the phone to Graham?”
Another fan agreed: “I wonder if Graham is working with Sadie King? Hence the phone call from the other day.” A third fan wrote: “Presumably she is somehow connected to Graham.”
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A further theory read: “Graham is hooked up with Sadie King.” Another added: “Sadie King is on her way back to Emmerdale and Graham is on the phone with a mystery person to bring down Kim Tate.”
Others also named Sadie as the person they thought Graham was talking to. Just days ago it was reported that Patsy Kensit would be reprising her role on the ITV soap.
The character debuted on the show back in 2004 as part of the King family. The former wife of Jimmy King, who is still in the village with his new wife Nicola King, Sadie turned against the family when she teamed up with Cain Dingle to target them.
Cain ended double-crossing his former flame and her plan backfired, sparking her exit from the show in 2006. A source is said to have told The Sun: “This signing has been kept a top secret as bosses want Patsy’s return to shock fans.
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“She is apparently delighted to be get her teeth back into the meaty role. Scriptwriters want to keep the show going with explosive plots and divisive characters.”
En route to winning their first-ever Champions League title last season, PSG knocked out three Premier League sides and are threatening to exert their dominance over English teams once again.
Date, kick-off time and venue
PSG vs Liverpool is scheduled for a 8pm BST kick-off tonight, Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
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The match will take place at the Parc des Princes, in Paris.
Where to watch PSG vs Liverpool
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm BST on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.
A trip to Paris has been made all the more daunting for Liverpool following their 4-0 loss to Man City, which was on the back of defeat at Brighton before the international break.
Furthermore, when factoring in how the Reds – in much better form then – were battered for large spells against PSG at the Parc des Princes last season, all signs point towards a difficult night.
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PSG, though, have shown vulnerabilities in defence and we expect that will be the reason for why the tie is still alive in the second leg at Anfield.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
This will be only the fifth meeting between PSG and Liverpool in the Champions League and last season was the first time either had won the respective away fixture.
Despite the talk of Joshua, Fury faces a decent test in Makhmudov, who has 19 knockouts within the first three rounds and is considered one of the world’s most avoided heavyweights.
“I need a dangerous person to get my juices flowing,” Fury said. “I’ve got a stone-cold killer in this man who could put me out in one shot.
“That means I have to be on my form to deal with this guy. At any given time in my career, I would deal with him the same as I’m going to on Saturday night.”
Fury has not fought in Britain since stopping Derek Chisora in December 2022. A recent training stint in Thailand sparked a renewed passion for the sport, but the ‘Gypsy King’ said he “missed this game”.
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The Morecambe fighter has been out of the ring since losing consecutive bouts to world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury’s return comes just a week after two of his trilogy rivals – Deontay Wilder and Chisora – fought in London, with the American victorious.
However, Fury was scathing about the performance of two men he previously dominated.
Fury described the pair as “finished,” suggesting that if he showed even a fraction of that decline, he would have no business being in the ring.
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“I’ve never seen two men slide as much as these two,” Fury added.
“They look like a couple of club fighters from a white-collar match in a local leisure centre. It was sad for me to watch.”
Masters winners have been spilling the beans on Rory McIlroy’s Champions Dinner at Augusta National, where Jack Nicklaus accidentally left a fellow guest in pain
Rory McIlroy’s Masters Champions Dinner has received rave reviews from the likes of Sir Nick Faldo, Jordan Spieth and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley.
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But there was one awkward moment at golf’s most exclusive dinner on Tuesday when six-time champion Jack Nicklaus left 2008 winner Trevor Immelman with a sore foot.
Faldo, a three-time Masters champion, said that Nicklaus was on top form at the event, although the 86-year-old planted his walking stick onto the foot of Immelman without knowing.
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“Dear Jack’s getting a bit old, and he came up with a cane, the one that’s got the four claws on the bottom,” Faldo said in an Instagram video.
“He doesn’t realise he’s put the claw on Trevor Immelman’s foot and, so while he’s leaning on it Trevor’s going [in a pained voice], ‘Oh, how are you, Jack? How are you feeling?’ So poor Trevor’s walking with a limp today.”
Faldo is not afraid to criticise the food on offer at the Champions Dinner if it is not to his taste. Bubba Watson got a particularly brutal verdict after his efforts in 2013 and 2015, likening the food to a Happy Meal. But Faldo had only praise for McIlroy’s dinner.
“It was very nice, the food was great,” he said. “It was a really cool moment when Rory, Jack, and Gary [Player] were siphoned off for a photograph secretly, you know, they’re the only Grand Slam winners here, so that’s a very cool moment for Rory. He spoke well, of course, that was all good.”
Jordan Spieth, the 2015 champion, also gave a glowing review. He said the wagyu fillet mignon was his favorite dish, and he added: “The food was incredible. It’s one of the best, like, dinners that we’ve had on the meal. His choices were fantastic. And there were some great stories told.
“Obviously, he completed the slam and won the Masters, which had been something that had been held over his head by others and probably himself for a long time, and you obviously saw what it meant to him last year. And then gets to come back and enjoy the perks of what that means when you come back as the defending champion.”
Augusta National chairman Ridley was also in the room, and he said: “Rory was a wonderful host at last night’s Masters Club Dinner.
“That evening always is a special occasion, but especially when we celebrate a first-time champion. I should say that, like his golf game, Rory’s menu and wine selection were world-class.”
Donald Trump’s MAGA base – and the Republican party – are divided over his threats to wipe out an entire civilisation. In this episode, Justin, Anthony and Sarah unpack how we got from Trump’s annihilistic threats to the start of a two week ceasefire and new claims from the US president, that Iran will stop enriching uranium.
With both sides claiming victory, what are Donald Trump’s options now for ending the war, and how big a factor is keeping the support of his MAGA Republican base? With several prominent influencers and MAGA supporters speaking out against Trump, and the war, the Americast team look at who Trump is listening to in the Republican party, and what influences him.
We also look at the bigger issues around what happens now with the Strait of Hormuz and reports that Trump has also suggested the US could impose its own tolls on vessels in transit through the channel.
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• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
• Sarah Smith, North America Editor
• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Cheryl Bartley was charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter after Robert Smith died in 2023.
Matthew Cooper, Press Association and Gemma Ryder Reporter
18:53, 08 Apr 2026
A 48-year-old pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the drowning of a man at a baptism ceremony in Birmingham. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Crown Prosecution (CPS) said the charge was linked to the death of 61-year-old Robert Smith, who drowned at an address in Erdington on October 8, 2023.
Cheryl Bartley was charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter in relation to her role as a pastor during the baptism, the CPS said. Mr Smith, from Brixton in south London, died at the address on Slade Road.
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the CPS’s Special Crime Division, said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with West Midlands Police as it has carried out its investigation.
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“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that she has the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Bartley, from Erdington, will appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday May 14, the CPS added.
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Fans of the family are excited for the second series of At Home With The Furys
Paris Fury has addressed the future of her family’s Netflix series as she provided a ‘good, the band and the ugly’ tease.
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Premiering back in 2023, At Home With The Furys follows Paris, Tyson and their seven children. The series was praised for showing them in a candid manner.
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With the second series set to premiere on the streaming service on Sunday (April 12), viewers will see how Tyson is doing at home after retiring from the ring. Tyson famously retired after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
However, Tyson is coming out of retirement for the fifth time on Saturday night (April 10) when he squares up against Arslanbek Makhmudov in a huge heavyweight clash. Russian native Arslanbek has lost just two of his 23 fights.
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The synopsis for the second season of At Home With The Furys teases: “At Home with the Furys returns for a second season, following heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as he attempts to give retirement another shot and embrace life beyond boxing in Morecambe Bay.
“Surrounded by wife Paris Fury, their seven children and his ever-opinionated dad John Fury, Tyson channels the competitive drive that made him a world champion into new ventures – from a family road trip to Monaco to investing in a racehorse and finding creative ways to stay busy.
“Meanwhile, Paris is determined not to be left out of the mayhem. As she explores new business opportunities, she’s also juggling life at the heart of the Fury household while planning two major family milestones: a spectacular sweet sixteenth celebration for their daughter and an elaborate renewal of her wedding vows with Tyson.”
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On Wednesday (April 8), Paris appeared on ITV talk show This Morning to speak to presenters Emma Willis and Rylan Clark. During the exchange, Paris shared that a third series has already been confirmed.
“We’re already on number three… we’ve signed up… I really enjoyed the whole filming process of the first one, I enjoyed it, it was good fun, it’s nice to have all the memories documented,” she said.
According to Paris, the reason it took three years for more episodes was due to Tyson being committed to his boxing career. The cameras began rolling again when he decided to briefly step away from the sport.
“We started it again and again, I do love it, because the cameras don’t bother me. I don’t act differently if they’re there or not there… the good and the bad. If they’re there or not there, I just get on with it like normal.
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“The aftermath is great, and to know that I’ve got it all stored, like home videos for the future, even though I’m sharing the home videos with millions of people,” she said.
Paris continued: “We don’t act any differently on camera, it is what it is. We couldn’t do airs and graces, there’s too many of us to pretend anyway! You’re going to get the good and the bad and the ugly.”
There are two types of people in this world: those who complain about rain and those who rejoice because it’s good for their garden. If keeping your lawn lush is your top priority, one of the best garden hoses will see you in good stead. Hosepipe bans allowing, of course (we’ve covered how to keep your garden hydrated if there is below).
Our tested edit includes expandable anti-kink hoses, retractable hoses and heavy-duty designs, ranging in price from under £20 to over £200. I’ve chosen long hoses to suit large gardens, as well as short ones for balconies and patios. There’s even a former nominee for the RHS Chelsea Sustainable Garden Product of the Year made from 65 per cent recycled materials.
You can find my full reviews below, followed by an FAQ section with advice from expert gardeners. But first, here’s a quick look at my top five:
Camilla Basset-Smith, television horticulturalist on ITV’s Love Your Garden and RHS Plant Committee Member, advises “a 13mm or 15mm diameter bare hose is fine for filling a pond or watering large pots (or trees) in the ground and a thumb over the end can vary the pressure/spray.
“But many of us use our hose for watering baskets, pots, bedding, borders, vegetables and more and in which case a spray gun or nozzle attachment is needed. Expandable hoses are lightweight to use, so pick these if heavy lifting is an issue. And before you buy a hose, always check if connectors come fitted as part of the kit to attach the hose to your tap.”
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