COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 23, 2023--

If there ever was a day Michael Owen could relive, it would be the 2001 FA Cup final. With about three to four minutes left of the match between Liverpool and Arsenal, he sprinted past Lee Dixon and Tony Adams, and scored the winning goal for The Reds, proving that he has a strong left foot after all. “It was the exact moment my boyhood dreams came true,” says the 43-year-old, who also played for Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Stoke City, and England (89 times), before hanging up his boots in 2013. “When I was a kid, the FA Cup final was one of the biggest games of the year. But lifting up that trophy is just the icing on the cake. The true feeling is the 10-15 seconds after scoring a goal and realising that you are going to win. That’s the moment. “You have an adrenaline rush and lose touch of where you are. Listen, it’s been 10 years since I retired and I [still] can’t find anything in life that gives me the same feeling. Just incredible.” Owen, who is also a regular TV pundit, doesn’t miss playing football but has found other ways to maintain his “absolute love” for the game. “I watch games from a different perspective now, especially since doing a lot of TV work. I’m always thinking about how I can inform the viewer, share insight, and bring my own experience into it,” he says on a Zoom call from his home near Chester. “I’m also at the stage in my career and life where clothes are pretty important to me too. I’m not running around the pitch or promoting energy drinks and sportswear anymore. My work is now about being seen on TV and appearance is a big part of that. So it’s important to look presentable and feel good when you are about to go on air.” Owen’s personal style has always been pretty consistent: classic, smart, and gentlemanly. He stays within the boundaries of never wearing anything “really outlandishly mad” and doesn’t mind a bit of colour here or there. “But I’m a father of four and my children are at the age — my eldest is 20 now and my youngest is 13 — where they all have their own opinion about my fashion choices. I get more tips nowadays than I ever have before,” he says. So when England’s 11th most-capped player started working on his own menswear collection, called The Michael Owen Edit, with British high-street brand Peacocks, it was an eye-opening experience. The collection includes casual staple pieces, such as chinos, knitwear, a bomber jacket, smart polo shirts, and stretchy jeans, all in high-quality materials. “I wanted the collection to fit and suit me. It felt right straight away. I had no idea so much thought and attention to detail went into a simple t-shirt,” he says. “I’ve loved learning more about menswear and helping design pieces that I think represent my own style.” His love for learning new things is also what convinced the former professional footballer to buy a farm at 24 and turn it into Manor House Stables. It’s at the heart of Cheshire near Malpas, and the home of his business, The Michael Owen Racing Club, which allows racing fans to experience racehorse ownership with an annual membership of the club for £95. “I’ve been trading at Manor House for 20-odd years,” Owen says. “I started very small. We were trading 10-15 horses, now we’re trading 110-115 horses. It’s a big business — we employ 40-odd people — that has been really popular for people who want to get a piece of the action for a small amount of money. “It’s a sport I feel like I know, because there’s a relationship between football and racing. We are doing the same thing. We’re trying to train a body and mind to be fast and durable. It’s a competition. It’s people. It’s social. The whole thing is a massive passion of mine. “And [the] horses are magnificent animals that we treat with utmost care. We give them the best feed, the best care, the best everything, to be legends themselves in many ways.” Owen didn’t know what he had to do to lock in his status as an England football legend, but he’s really grateful. “You don’t get called that at the start of your career, and I was always so focused on the next thing and never really looked back. I don’t think about it much or know how to feel. “It’s why I have great admiration for footballers such as Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham, who are brilliant on and off the pitch. I know this path and how hard it is. You’re only taught to be a footballer, but because you are a footballer, you get pushed in front of hordes of press to speak on behalf of the nation. But even though our voices travel far and wide, we aren’t politicians. “It’s about being confident and learning fast; understanding what’s right and wrong. My family always teases me and says I think I’m bloody good at everything. If I was playing Tiger Woods in golf, I’d probably think I’m going to beat him even though I’ve got no chance. But I’m a bit delusional like that. And I guess football has driven that since I was a kid.” The Michael Owen Edit is available now online and across the 340 Peacocks stores nationwide. Peacocks offers fashion for all the family at affordable prices and great quality.

By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ryanair on Monday struck a cautious tone about travel demand for the rest of the

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It was a not-so glamourous end to Paris Fashion Week, as a “widespread” outbreak of bed bugs caused panic and disgust in the French capital. Paris authorities sent out a public warning that “no-one is safe”, with the small insects making their way through the city. In recent weeks and months, there have been numerous sightings on public transport and other locations. “No one is safe. You can catch them anywhere and bring them home, and not detect them in time until they have multiplied and spread,” deputy mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, told French TV. Videos posted on social media show insects crawling over seats on the Paris Metro as well as appearing in huge numbers on cinema seats. Some users have also shared their experiences of being bitten by the critters. So, how can you help protect yourself against a bedbug infestation? Here’s everything you need to know. How do you know if you have bed bugs? To find out if you have bed bugs, it’s best to keep an eye out for two things: 1. Bites on your body – these look like little red marks that cause itchy welts. “These welts usually appear in a zigzag pattern,” the American Academy of Dermatology Association says. 2. You should always keep an eye out for signs of bedbugs, this includes odour, specks of blood on bedding, exoskeletons, tiny blackish specks and eggs. • Odour: If you notice a sweet or musty smell in your sleeping area, there might be a heavy infestation in the room, the AADA says. • Specks of blood: Look at your bedding, mattress and furniture – if you notice specks of blood anywhere, the insects might have made their way into your home. • Exoskeletons: The small insects have an outer shell that they shed and leave behind. Check for remains on your bedding, mattress and cushions. • Tiny blackish specks: The blackish specks are a sign of beg bug excrement. • Eggs: “After mating, female bed bugs lay white, oval eggs in cracks and crevices,” the AADA says on its website. These will be in the size of an apple seed, so keep your eyes peeled. How do I treat bedbug bites? The NHS says bedbug bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so but there are a few steps you can take to help you during your recovery process: • Put something cool, like a clean, damp cloth on the affected area to help with the itching and to ease off any swelling. • Be sure to keep the affected area clean to prevent any further infection. • Try your best not to scratch the affected area. You can also get steroid creams like hydrocortisone cream to ease bedbug bites. However, children under 10 and women who are pregnant should get advice from a doctor before using this cream. Another option would be to use antihistamines, these may help if the bites are very itchy and you’re unable to sleep, the NHS says. How to get rid of bed bugs – the do’s and don’ts It can be hard to get rid of the small insects on your own, so you might need to contact your local council or pest control service to get rid of the pesky creatures. Here are some steps you can take to reduce bed bugs: • Remove the affected bedding and clothing – wash on a hot wash of 60c and tumble try on a hot setting for at least 30 minutes. • You can also put the infested bedding and clothing in a plastic bag and place It in your freezer for 3 to 4 days. • It’s time to up your cleaning game – “bedbugs are found in both clean and dirty places, but regular cleaning will help you spot them early,” the NHS adds. Here’s what you should avoid doing: • Do not keep clutter around your bed, try to keep your space as clean as possible. • Do not bring second-hand furniture indoors unless you have cleaned and carefully checked it. • Do not take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it properly – especially if you have come from somewhere where you know there are bedbugs. What are the causes of bedbugs and where do they live? The wingless parasitic insects are found all around the world and may be linked to, more frequent travel, changes in pest control practices and insecticide resistance. Bedbugs can be found in: • Clothing • Luggage • Bedding • Boxes • Box springs • Mattresses • Headboards • Objects near beds According to the Mayo Clinic, they can also be found: • Under peeling pain or loose wallpaper • Under carpeting near baseboards • In upholstered furniture seams • Under light switch plates or electrical outlets Can bed bugs reach the UK? The short answer is yes… Bed bugs have a lifespan of between four to six months and are known to cling onto dirty suitcases – so it is possible that they may hitch a ride on the Eurostar which is just two hours away from London. The Independent’s Barney Davis asked David Cain, founder and MD of Bed Bugs LTD and a qualified microbiologist, whether the bugs could survive the journey. “Easily, yes, without a shadow of a doubt,” he responded. Read the latest on the bed bug infestation in Paris here. Read More Is London prepared for the mutant bedbug invasion that has swarmed Paris? That will bug you: Thousands of mosquitoes take over walls of bathroom Hotel worker shares tips on how to hunt out bed bugs How can I tell if my child has ADHD? Man inundated with criticism after judging mum on her phone Brits think investing is for the super-rich, poll finds

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