THEGAYUK

Day: 14 December 2018

  • CAR REVIEW | Alfa Romeo Stelvio

    CAR REVIEW | Alfa Romeo Stelvio

    ★★★★☆ | Alfa Romeo Stelvio – Alfa Romeo’s Power House

    What Have We Got?

    Alfa Romeo has buckled to the trend and launched a very sporty SUV into the ever popular SUV market. It’s big and rather good looking but can it wow you and win you over, away from the competition?

    Driving

    The downside for me was the steering lacked some feedback. You could tell when it was ploughing on in an enthusiastically taken corner but this was probably more to do with its sheer size than through the steering wheel.

    That said, the overall driving experience wasn’t a bad one. Quite the opposite. The 2-litre 280hp  petrol engine would hurtle towards 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Now for a car that can manage that and develop its maximum of 400 Nm of torque at just 2250rpm, it seemed to be rather more refined than you’d think. It wasn’t really throwing you back into your seat on hard acceleration and yet it never hesitated in response to throttle inputs from stand-still or when on the move.

    In actual fact, you’d be wise to select the MPH display on the fascia panel at all times. The Stelvio gathers pace quicker than it feels. 

     

    Inside

    Inside is below par for the class and the money. What was nice to see was that nothing rattled. That might sound premature when a new car is being reviewed but this Stelvio was delivered with almost 24,000 miles on the clock at the time of the test. It is just over a year old. That’s almost the equivalent or 2-3 years of motoring. Alfa Romeo hasn’t been known, in the past, for rattle free insides, well they have now. And this is a press car. They pass from journalist to journalist and they are driven hard. This is a great testament to Alfa Romeo. 

    Living With It

    It’s rapid and great fun to drive and deserves to wear that Alfa Romeo badge. As SUV’s go, the Stelvio cuts it in the market for being different. It might not do things as well as a Mercedes GLC but then again, for the money, the GLC isn’t going to do things that the Stelvio can do. 

    For drivers alike, the Stelvio is a great car to drive. It’s comfortable and despite its size and somewhat lack of steering feel, it does give the impression it is far nimbler that on first acquaintance. 

    The Verdict

    It’s not the best. Then again you’re not going to regret having it parked on your driveway and an Alfa Romeo key in your pocket. There are things I’d like to see changed in line with the market leaders but then again, if it did, it wouldn’t be an Alfa Romeo! 


    Love

    Linear throttle reactions

    Infotainment system

    Auto box changes

    Loathe

    Interior quality

    Fuel consumption

    Steering feedback

    The Lowdown

    Car –  Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.0 Turbo 280hp Q4 Milano Edizione

    Price – £ 46,865(as tested)

    MPG – 40.4mpg (combined)

    Power – 280hp @ 5250 rpm

    0-62mph –  5.7 seconds

    Top Speed –  143 mph

    Co2 – 161 (g/km)

  • Die-cast Dreams 

    Die-cast Dreams 

    I had some fun thinking about this article. Motoring writer and author, Richard Gooding recently posted up on Twitter pictures from his visit to the Hornby toy museum in Kent. This got me thinking about the toy cars that I longed to own as the real thing. Namely those from Corgi and Matchbox.

    There is no sense of occasion with die-cast toys anymore. In the ’80s, a new Matchbox or Corgi release was AMAZING. Imagine the rush for the latest iPhone, to a young boy, it was exactly like that.

    I can still remember certain releases with fondness. Even a rehash of an old model in new colours was a worthy occasion. 1985 was a particularly hot year for releases and first to get the new Golf GTi, BMW 325i cab, Escort cab or Lamborghini Countach was frantic.

    I would save my £1 a week pocket money and once I had got to the usual £4.99 (I think), I’d treat myself to a large Corgi or for about a quid, I’d buy one of the 75 small Matchbox cars available, choosing it from the rotating Matchbox stand in our local toy shop, Chapmans. The nostalgia I am feeling right now is unbelievable.    

    The small Matchbox and larger corgis were the ones I loved. I wasn’t so keen on the larger Matchbox or the smaller Corgi’s. Matchbox Superkings lacked details and the small corgis were just cheap. That said, I still had some because, well because I wanted that car like the Peugeot 305 saloon from Matchbox, so don’t judge me. 

    The die-cast toy was a gateway to driving and car ownership. It taught you about keeping the paint pristine or what would happen in the real world when a brick was dropped onto say, a Rolls Royce. I did end up with a fair number of convertibles and a scrapyard worthy of a lot of money had it been real.

    There were also adventures to be had with a die-cast and dream garages could be built from new or exchanging with friends. In some ways, it really is little different to car ownership. So without further ado, let us look at my dream garage of die-cast.

    One particular model jumps out. The Corgi Fiat X1/9. It was blue with some racing decals. It looked the nuts. Sleek and wedge-like. There was nothing else like it in my toy box. What’s more, this came with a tow hook. What a stupid option. 

    That’s what I thought until I was given the Carlsberg X1/9 with the boat on a trailer. Forget the silly little boat you could win on Bullseye, this was a real speedboat with a Cosworth engine. Both of these models I still have and to that, I also have to add a real Fiat X1/9.  

    Another model was given to me second hand. A small matchbox VW camper van. It was wicked at rolling down the hill. Sadly by the time it got to me, it had lost its pop-up roof. That didn’t stop me from prizing it apart and painting it white over orange. That was always the dream. 

    Didn’t quite work out that way in the end because I ended up with a yellow VW camper van instead.

    Another die-cast hero of mine was made by Solido, the French die-cast manufacture. Always a little more expensive. They made an Alfasud racer. Not quite the Alfasud I wanted but that never stopped the hankering for one. And again I would eventually own the real car. Sadly, like the Solido model that came apart quite easily for restoration, my Alfasud came apart too.

    I’ve since managed to make die-cast replicas of practically all the cars I have owned. Sadly Corgi and Matchbox aren’t really the same anymore and what they sell aren’t really what I aspire to own. Instead, I have to turn to the many other makers of die-cast out there for my dreams or more importantly, to remake into my current garage. Thankfully Vitesse made some truly unusual models so I have been able to make the last addition to the fleet, the Berlingo. 

    Where it goes from here, why knows. I’m hankering for a Lancia Beta coupe, Solido made one of those. I also want another Citroën Dyane and I know Corgi made that because I’ve already got one.

  • 2021 Census will include questions about gender and sexuality

    The UK’s 2021 census will include questions to help determine the size of Britain’s LGBT+ community.

    ellisedelacruz / Pixabay

    The digital first 2021 Census will help shape public services to meet the needs of the LGBT+ community in the years to come, as plans set out in a government white paper today show.

    The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recommended a new voluntary question on sexual orientation for those aged 16 and over. In addition to the usual question on being male or female for all ages, there will also be a voluntary question on gender identity in England and Wales for those aged over 16.

    It was always the intention of ONS that these questions would be voluntary.

    The data gathered from these questions will make it easier to monitor inequalities under the anti-discrimination duties of the Equality Act 2010 and to directly plan public services and support for these groups.

    “Stand Up and Be Counted”

    National Statistician, John Pullinger, said: “The Census is for everyone; it gives us all the opportunity to stand up and be counted in democratic debate and policy decisions.

    “We have designed it with people at its heart and we consulted widely to ensure it meets the needs of society. Unlike previous Censuses, it will be digital first which will make it easier to complete electronically, with help available for those who need it.”

    The date for the digital-first census has been confirmed as 21 March 2021, subject to parliamentary approval.

    Information gathered by ONS will ensure vital public services can be targeted into communities and groups where they are needed, in 2021 and beyond.  

    ONS is transforming the way it collects, processes and shares data and the next census is part of a wider drive towards making more use of data already held and moving surveys online.

    In line with previous censuses, ONS will hold a census rehearsal in October 2019 and is currently reviewing which local authority areas will be included.

    For more information, see the white paper which has been laid today in Parliament.

    How many LGBT people are there in the UK?

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    The number of people who identify as lesbian, gay and bisexual is a hotly debated subject, with no clear answer, but here will look at all the available stats.

    There has long been a widely-held belief that around 10 per cent of the population is gay, lesbian or bisexual or who identify as non-heterosexual. This is probably the most accurate of all the figures – as more and more people feel comfortable to come out about their sexuality.

    The ONS (Office of National Statistics) says that in a survey of people in the United Kingdom it found that 1.5 per cent of people identified as LGB. This result was arrived at by extrapolation of data collected. However, these statistics were disputed for not being accurate or showing the full picture.

    By their estimations, this would mean that there are only 990,300 LGB people in the UK.

  • BBC announces its first LGBT+ correspondent for BBC News

    The BBC has announced that it has hired its first LGBT+ Correspondent for its news service.

    Ben Hunte has been appointed the BBC’s first LGBT+ correspondent for BBC News, a role which he’ll start in the New Year.

    This newly created role will report on the stories, issues and debates surrounding sexuality and gender and focus on providing insight and analysis on matters affecting the LGBT community in the UK.

    Ben played a key part during the coverage of the BBC’s Gay Britannia season and presented his own series of LGBT-themed programmes on BBC Radio 4 and 4 Extra called “The Ben Hunte Interviews”. He interviewed a range of high profile guests including Paul O’Grady and Stephen K Amos. This year Ben also became the presenter of BBC What’s New?, the BBC’s first TV programme and digital service for children in Africa.

    Ben Hunte said, “I’m delighted to be taking on this important new role for BBC News and I am looking forward to finding and telling stories from the LGBT community.”

    Richard Burgess, UK News Editor for BBC News, said, “BBC News has a rich heritage of covering issues and debates from the LGBT community. This year we announced our first gender and identity correspondent, Megha Mohan, and I’m thrilled that Ben will be taking up this dedicated role which aims to strengthen our offering of LGBT stories and original journalism across the BBC”.

    Ben Hunte graduated from the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus with a degree in Neuroscience, before studying TV Journalism at City University of London.

    The BBC isn’t the first mainstream news company to hire a specific LGBT+ correspondent for their coverage. In 2017 the Evening Standard hired Amy Ashenden, but the role was short lived and Amy moved to PinkNews.

  • James McVey shows off shocking jungle weight loss

    James McVey shows off shocking jungle weight loss

    Spending time in the Celebrity Jungle will take its toll.

    James McVey who recently starred in 2018’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here showed off his shocking weight loss. During his time in the jungle, James who was already lean, lost 5kgs (0.7 stone).

    The Vamps’ guitarist shared a candid shot with his 1.1 million followers on Instagram, of him in his hotel room shortly after leaving the jungle looking incredibly skinny. He joked that he needed pizza and ice-cream.

    He captioned the photo “This was taken as soon as I got to the hotel after leaving camp. The jungle took 5kg from me and gave me awful facial hair. Here’s to pizza and cake…”

    Fans were quick to worry about the star, with many warning that he was looking “too thin”, “starved” and to look after himself.

    The photo was liked by 111,000 people.

    James lost out on winning this series, which was won by Football legend Harry Redknapp. John Barrowman came in third place, while Emily Atack narrowly missed out on being crowned the jungle queen.

     

     

  • This is how millennials really want to celebrate Christmas

    This is how millennials really want to celebrate Christmas

    One in 10 millennials secretly hope there is no room at the in-laws, a study found and six percent still believe in Santa Claus!

    Researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults aged 21 to 38, found the last thing they want to do is spend the night at their other half’s parents.

    Having worked long hours all year, those polled revealed they’re ‘desperate’ for some peace and quiet over the festive period – and being on duty at the in-laws holds little appeal.

    In fact, those polled revealed they can only tolerate their company for three hours before they start to struggle.

    Instead, the research commissioned by Hotels.com, found a fifth will look to spend Christmas Day with their mates, while 15 per cent are intending to go away on holiday.

    Adam Jay, president of Hotels.com brand, said: “We all love getting together with friends and family at Christmas, and everyone celebrates it differently.”

    The research also found eight in 10 are planning to have get-togethers with friends at some point over the festive period.

    Three in 10 of those will cook a Christmas dinner with their mates and a quarter intend to go to a Christmas market with them too.

    Similarly, 20 per cent are doing a Secret Santa and eight per cent are going to have a mini break with their friends.

    The research also explored what millennials will do on the day itself.

    Which films do they love the most?

    More than half will sit in front of the TV and watch movies.

    And the chances are at least one of the flicks they enjoy will Home Alone, Elf or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – these were voted the top three Christmas movies among those polled.

    More than a third will spend time on social media, 35 per cent will play board games or card games and a fifth will take selfies.

    Eighteen per cent intend to send a Christmas message to their social media friends and followers, 17 per cent will have an afternoon nap and 14 per cent will do a spot of online shopping in the sales.

    And whilst they aren’t keen to hit the prosecco, they are a dab hand in the kitchen with 19 per cent of millennials planning to host when it comes to the cooking.

    Almost half revealed they are planning to stray from tradition and have an ‘alternative’ festive meal – with a vegan dinner and pizza among the dishes likely to be served up.

    And the break from what many consider the norm doesn’t end there – a fifth are planning to avoid alcohol completely on Christmas Day.

    Death of the onesie

    Three in 10 will wear a Christmas jumper on the day, 22 per cent will wear pyjamas and only four per cent will opt for a onesie this year.

    The research also revealed a quarter of women polled will accessorise with a festive manicure

    While 12 per cent of men will go for a glitter beard and the same proportion will have a bauble beard.

    And seven per cent of everyone surveyed will be wearing festive pants.

    Despite all the excitement over Christmas and the rise of new traditions, those polled are sketchy over its origins – just 16 per cent know the complete nativity story.

    Four in 10 don’t know Jesus features – and it’s a similar story for Mary and Joseph (37 per cent) and Angel Gabriel (49 per cent).

    Don’t Stop Believing

    Six per cent even believe Santa Claus makes an appearance.

    Those polled also revealed their thoughts on how the nativity story might differ if it were to happen now.

    One in 10 think a unicorn would replace the donkey, 15 per cent think the three kings would be the three queens and 10 per cent believe Angel Gabriel would appear to Mary via Instagram.

    Carried out through OnePoll, the study also found gifts from the three kings – or three queens – would be a little different too.

    They’d include an iPhone (22 per cent), a Netflix subscription (18 per cent) and rose gold jewellery (16 per cent).

    Other gifts might include Bitcoin (12 per cent), a selfie stick (10 per cent), beard oil (8 per cent), Uber vouchers (seven per cent) and avocado on toast (seven per cent).

    Adam Jay added: “Whatever the occasion – friendsmas, quality time with the family or in-laws – there’s always room at the inn at Hotels.com and you can get a reward night when you stay ten nights with Hotels.com Rewards.”

    *Hotels.com is offering 10 per cent off bookings for Christmas Day with the code ‘RoomAtTheInn’.

    For more information click here [https://uk.hotels.com/]