Jade McLellann first reported problems last year – but says her landlord Larkfield Housing Association has allowed the problem to get worse.

A mum-of-two is battling her housing association after drainage issues turned her dream garden into a “hazardous swamp”.

Jade McLellann first reported problems last year – but says her landlord Larkfield Housing Association has allowed the problem to get worse. She says her children, one and four, are unable to play outside – and the flooding has even destroyed some of their toys.

Jade says the garden looks like a ‘swamp’ and the home is also plastered with mud inside. She says she eventually gave up battling the brown sludge after spending countless hours cleaning because she says she’s ‘just wasting’ her time.

Jade, of Greenock, said: “Before I moved here I was in a flat, so I thought, ‘this is great, my wee boys are going to have a place to play.

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“My oldest was just turning a year, and it was a great garden. But now all his toys are in the bin because they all got ruined.

“It’s heart-breaking watching the place where my kids should be able to play turn into a swamp because basic repairs haven’t been done.”

Her sons are confined to the house while at home because of the potential health risk Jade feels the garden poses. She said: “My youngest wee boy was in and out of hospital at birth. I’ve always got the fear ‘what if he puts something in his mouth? I don’t know what’s in that’.

“He’s restricted to the living room, and that’s not fair – in his own home. My kids should have access to my full house, but they don’t, because it’s not safe.”

She said access is also an issue because when it rains flood water can form at the back steps. Jade said: “Obviously my youngest would be in my arms, but I can’t take my four-year-old through that to get out. It wouldn’t be safe at all.

“I’ve had to constantly paint, and all my flooring needs replaced. Everything’s minging.”

The problem dates back to last May but Jade says that at the time it ‘wasn’t anything crazy’. Nonetheless, she reported it to Larkfield Housing Association, but says she wasn’t seen until October.

Eventually the garden was assessed, and an attempt was made to drain the pipes underneath it using a jet wash – but that flooded the garden so badly that water got into the house.

Jade added: “They said that the garden needed to be ripped out and replaced because the pipes underneath were broken. I didn’t hear anything from October until January, and someone came out pm January 15. I was under the impression at that point they were coming to replace the garden, because that’s what I was told in October.

“As soon as he stood on the garden, he said that the ground has collapsed and there’s no way to fix it. I’ve then been fighting since January until now to get them to sign off on the works.”

Another jet wash was attempted – but again it made things worse, with Jade describing it as ‘a very silly choice’.

She said: “When I wasn’t in, they let themselves in and did it anyway, which then caused my kitchen to be flooded, as well as creating a big puddle on the path. The path was completely gone because of how much water there was left.

“I was told that they would attempt to drain the water when they did the works. I was told that they plan to do it four more times before the repairs are done. And I’m thinking ‘absolutely not, because you’re making it more of a hazard’.”

A spokesperson for Larkfield Housing Association said: “We are sorry a quick resolution for this surface water drainage system issue has not been possible.

“This is a complex repair involving a number of contractors and agencies – including the local authority, who are carrying out their own investigations alongside ours.

“We have been working closely with our tenant to ensure they receive all available support while this repair work is ongoing, and have been taking necessary measures to ensure safe access to their home, such as jet washing steps and pathways to keep them clear.

“Civil works are arranged to take place in early April to repair the damaged pipework, and we will continue to provide all support while we work with our partners to get this resolved as soon as possible.”

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When charged particles from the Sun are guided by Earth’s magnetic field towards the poles, they collide with gases high in the atmosphere.

Each colour tells its own story, and on a clear night, the sky above becomes a window into the science of our atmosphere.

As they do, they release energy as light. The colour that appears depends on two things: which gas is hit and how high up the collision happens.

From the familiar greens of oxygen collisions to the exceptionally rare blues of nitrogen far below, every aurora is a unique display shaped by the Sun, Earth’s magnetic field and the gases that surround our planet.

There is currently no service on the Mildmay line between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction due to a faulty train at Shepherd’s Bush. The rest of the line is running normally, and tickets are being accepted on London Underground and bus services via reasonable alternative routes.

Mi Little Bakes was founded by Sian Longhorne, a former Human Resources manager who worked more than 20 years with the NHS.

The mum made the switch when she was off sick from her role, during which her young daughter was diagnosed with autism.

This led Sian to cut her NHS hours to one day a week to focus on her caring commitments.

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Little Blondie Bakehouse in Walmgate voted Press Best Bakery

However, the mum launched Mi Little Bakes, named after her children Mila and Isaac, after she found baking was a way to unwind during a time of challenge.

The business specialises in brownies, cookies, biscuits, cupcakes and bespoke celebration cakes, with a focus on seasonal flavours and supporting local independent suppliers wherever possible.

Sian hard at work in her fulfilling career

Mi Little Bakes reports strong support from the local community, including Sian’s first ever market stall selling out in less than two hours.

This confirmed a market need, leading her to expand with seasonal treat boxes, mixed bake boxes and bespoke celebration cakes, all marketed through social media and ordered directly via direct message.

Community involvement remains an important part of the business. Mi Little Bakes has worked closely with the local school attended by Sian’s children, gifting treats for parents during Christmas performances.

Sian has also donated a proportion of sales to the National Autistic Society and she previously supported Macmillan, with stall fees from her first market donated to the charity.

Sian said: “I never imagined Mi Little Bakes would be as successful as it has been in its first nine months. I’m incredibly grateful to my customers and everyone who has supported me, and proud of myself for taking the leap. This business allows me to be present for my children while still having something that challenges and fulfils me.”

Running Mi Little Bakes involves early mornings, late nights and plenty of organisation, with baking fitted around school routines and family life.

From testing new flavour combinations to designing cake toppers while bakes are in the oven, Sian balances creativity with the practical realities of running a small food business from home.

Looking ahead, Sian says she plans to continue growing Mi Little Bakes at a sustainable pace, focusing on refining her core skills, understanding her customers and offering seasonal products throughout the year.

For more information, follow Mi Little Bakes on Instagram at @milittlebakes or on Facebook.

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NASA’s Artemis II crew entered quarantine on March 18 whilst the massive moon rocket completed its journey to the launchpad a day later

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A groundbreaking chapter in space exploration is set to unfold as NASA’s Artemis II mission has achieved a significant milestone. On the evening of Thursday, March 19, the colossal moon rocket made its way to the launchpad for a second attempt, whilst the astronauts preparing for the voyage monitored proceedings via screens from their isolation quarters.

The rocket concluded its trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to LC-39B, wrapping up an approximately 10-hour nocturnal transfer. Concurrently, the Artemis II crew – Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen – all commenced a 14-day isolation period on March 18, with a potential launch window opening as soon as April 1.

Throughout this isolation phase, medical personnel will conduct health assessments of the astronauts, with additional checks scheduled immediately prior to departure to detect any indicators of potential illness.

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“We choose to isolate the crew for 14 days before a launch because most infectious diseases take 10 to 14 days to be transferred from one person to another,” said Dr Raffi Kuyumjian, the Canadian Space Agency’s flight surgeon.

This protective environment extends to support personnel, technical staff and relatives who may choose to participate as well.

The crew members will be well-versed in the quarantine process, as this marks their third experience, following two earlier scrubbed launch attempts. Artemis II had been scheduled for a February lift-off, but NASA was compelled to scrap the launch attempt and return the rocket to the Vehicle Assembly Building in Cape Canaveral for repairs after discovering a helium leak, reports the Express.

Engineers have confirmed the problem has been resolved and are optimistic that a final series of tests at the launch pad will allow the rocket to blast off in early April.

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NASA is targeting 6.24pm Eastern Daylight Time on April 1 – 11.24pm UK time – for Artemis II’s initial launch attempt. Back-up launch windows are available on April 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 if the first date proves unsuccessful. If all these opportunities pass, the month’s final launch window will fall on April 30.

The mission encompasses a 10-day crewed journey that will transport four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will function as the exploration vehicle.

It will mark the first human lunar flyby since Apollo 17 in 1972, laying the groundwork for Artemis III, which seeks to land astronauts on the Moon’s surface once again.

Jannik Sinner surpassed Novak Djokovic’s 10-year record for most consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 events by dismantling Frenchman Corentin Moutet at the Miami Open.

Italian world number two Sinner, 24, recorded his 25th and 26th straight sets at the sport’s highest level of tournaments below the Grand Slams in a commanding 71-minute 6-1 6-4 victory.

Sinner had equalled 24-time major champion Djokovic’s previous record of 24 straight sets won in beating Damir Dzumhur in his opening match.

“I am very happy. This sport is unpredictable, so we try to keep attention as much as we can and we’ll see what is coming in the next round,” Sinner said.

Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner, has triumphed at the past two Masters 1000 tournaments – winning at Indian Wells earlier this month and Paris in November – without losing a set.

The former world number one was dominant from the start against Moutet, winning 19 of the first 26 points of the match before taking the first set in 22 minutes.

Sinner then clinched his fourth break point to end Moutet’s resistance in the fifth game of the second set before serving his way to victory untroubled.

He will meet American Alex Michelsen in the last 16 as he seeks to continue his bid to become the first man to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ – winning Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back – since Roger Federer achieved the feat in 2017.

PSNI are appealing to the public for assistance to help locate the Co Tyrone resident

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Police in Strabane said they are becoming increasingly concerned for Strabane resident Tomasz Jabkiewicz.

Tomasz hasn’t been seen for a number of weeks and has not had contact with his family.

A spokesman for the force said: “Should you know of his whereabouts or have any information that could assist Police in locating him then please call 101 quoting 241-20/03/26.”

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At the end of the day, as the sky begins to darken, many people instinctively retreat indoors, turn on the lights and miss the arrival of dusk.

A small but growing movement suggests people can benefit from doing the opposite: stepping outside and observing the slow transition from day to night. This practice, often described as “dusking”, involves watching the light start to disappear, noticing the changing colours of the sky, the emergence of evening sounds, and the quiet rhythms that mark the close of the day.

This practice is rooted in historical traditions found in places as diverse as the Netherlands and parts of Africa. The idea has recently been revived by artist Lucy Wright and by Dutch poet Marjolijn van Heemstra among others.

Wright performs a style of Morris dance that encourages participants “to dance the old sun down”, drawing attention to the moment when daylight fades.

Van Heemstra describes dusking as taking time to simply watch the sunset and the gradual fading of light as a way of reconnecting with natural rhythms. In a world dominated by relentless digital stimulation, she believes that taking time to look at the sky can help restore awareness of our surroundings. She now organises regular dusking events across the Netherlands. “All you need is a chair and a view,” she said.

Across cultures, dusk marks the shift from activity to rest, from work to home, and from light to darkness; a boundary where social rhythms change. These in-between moments can invite reflection on the environment.

Across many cultures, dusk has also been associated with uncertainty and imagination. The fading of light has long been linked to folklore, ghost stories and childhood fears of the dark, moments when the familiar landscape becomes slightly unfamiliar.

When the sun goes down

Dusk also marks a particular point in the daily rhythm of the natural world. Many species become active during this transitional period, including bats leaving their roosts to hunt, while moths and other nocturnal insects begin to fly, and mammals such as deer, foxes, and hedgehogs emerge to forage. Biologists often study dawn and dusk because animal behaviour shifts notably during these times of the day.

The idea behind dusking aligns with studies indicating that briefly focusing on natural surroundings can enhance wellbeing and relaxation. Simply observing changes in light, sound, and atmosphere may also encourage a shift from the constant hustle of the work day to winding down, potentially moving people towards sleep.

Sounds of twilight

In our research, carried out in the North York Moors National Park, participants said that while walking at twilight, or in darkness, they became more aware of natural smells and sounds. The group noticed the transitions from daytime birdsong, with the robin last to tweet, to nighttime animal sounds and the hoot of an owl. These moments frequently produced quiet reflection.

In the last century, the places where people can experience darkness have reduced dramatically because of increasing artificial light glow from homes and office buildings. Now only 10% of the people living in the western hemisphere experience places with dark skies, where there is no, or little, artificial light. And the number of people who can see the Milky Way is reducing all the time.

Previous generations were more accustomed to navigating in low light, using their senses to move through landscapes after sunset. Today, this sensory knowledge has become increasingly rare in our artificially illuminated world.

Artificial lighting frequently masks the subtle environmental cues that once dictated the rhythm of everyday life. Noticing dusk, even briefly, can bring those rhythms back into focus.

The sky darkens, the air cools, birds shift their calls, and the world moves quietly toward night.

To quote the 18th-century poet Thomas Gray: “Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight. And all the air a solemn stillness holds.”

Of course, watching the sunset is hardly a new idea as Gray’s poem shows, but one it seems we may have forgotten to value to our detriment.