What will December’s house price rise mean for this year? January 3, 2014 The end of 2013 saw UK house prices up 1.4 per cent month-on-month, and increasing 8.4 per cent year-on-year. And things aren’t expected to slow down this year. IHS Global Insight predicts price increases of eight per cent in 2014, with gains across the whole of Britain. Moreover, says chief European and UK economist Howard [...]
Two Doctors play very distinct villains December 19, 2013 THEATREAMERICAN PSYCHOAlmeida Theatre | By Steve DinneenFive Stars MATT Smith looks nothing like how I imagine Patrick Bateman, the axe-wielding investment banker at the heart of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho. In fact, he doesn’t really look like any other human being apart, perhaps, from the guy who posed for the Easter Island statues. [...]
Football Comment: The Trevors: Why Roberto Martinez is my man of 2013 December 19, 2013 MAN OF THE YEAR Once seen as a manager only good for relegation battles, nobody has had a stronger 2013 than Roberto Martinez. First, he won the FA Cup with Wigan, a club that had previously not been anywhere near it, upsetting firm favourites Manchester City in the final. He might have been unable to [...]
Dyke cut-throat gesture a joke, insists FA chair December 19, 2013 FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke has defended the cut-throat gesture he made in response to learning of England’s difficult group stage draw for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Dyke was caught on camera miming slitting his throat after Roy Hodgson’s team were drawn in the same group as four-time winners Italy, South American champions [...]
Rosberg shaken up by 200mph tyre blowout December 19, 2013 BRITISH driver Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One team-mate Nico Rosberg suffered a major fright during a test session yesterday when his tyre blew at 200mph. Mercedes abandoned the final day of a three-day session in Bahrain after the incident, which left the German unharmed but shaken. “Just spun at full speed 320km/h on Bahrain straight because [...]
Tomkins eyes extended Test run December 19, 2013 HE WAS described during the autumn internationals as simply keeping the England No13 shirt warm for the injured Manu Tuilagi, but Saracens centre Joel Tomkins has very different ideas. With Lions duo Brad Barritt and Tuilagi injured, head coach Stuart Lancaster turned to the inexperienced pair of Tomkins and Gloucester’s Billy Twelvetrees to fire England’s [...]
Swann sorry over rape jibe December 19, 2013 ENGLAND cricketer Graeme Swann has apologised after comparing the team’s comprehensive Ashes defeat to Australia with rape. Spinner Swann, who was criticised by rape charities for the remarks he posted on Twitter following Tuesday’s third-Test defeat, said: “Sorry to anyone who was offended by my comments in the papers today. Crass and thoughtless of me [...]
Tottenham keep faith with Sherwood as De Boer focuses on Ajax December 19, 2013 TOTTENHAM interim manager Tim Sherwood is set to remain in charge for Sunday’s trip to Southampton despite suffering a Capital One Cup exit to London rivals West Ham in his first match. Sherwood confirmed after the midweek 2-1 defeat that he hoped to keep the job, while admitting he was unsure he would remain in [...]
20 December On this day… December 19, 2013 ENGLAND’S Ashes cricketers still spend Christmas away from home, but today’s professional rugby players do not have that worry, unlike their counterparts in the amateur days. Australia, South Africa and New Zealand would normally arrive in Britain in October and head for home in January after the traditional Barbarians match. Despite the sunshine, this Wales-Australia [...]
Leicester target No10 Priestland December 19, 2013 RUGBY UNION: Leicester have enquired about signing Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland from Scarlets as a possible replacement for Toby Flood, who could join Toulon next summer.