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We’ve fallen in love with an adorable miniature horse who’s only 29 inches tall

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Ten-year-old stallion falabella horse "Indi" plays with sheep as he goes with Ali Thom on checks of the valley black nose sheep at Arnbeg Farmstay in Stirlingshire. July 31, 2018. See CENTRE PRESS story CPHORSE.
(Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)

We’ve fallen in love with an adorable miniature horse who’s only 29 inches tall – the same size as some of the sheep he plays with.

Indi, a 10-year-old falabella horse, was given to 52-year-old farm owner Ali Thom in May after his previous owner had to give him up.

He is one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world, and it didn’t take long for the tiny brown horse to make himself at home on the Arnbeg Farmstay, Stirling.

Ali Thom takes her two falabella (miniature horses) as she checks on the valley black nose sheep at Arnbeg Farmstay in Stirlingshire. July 31, 2018. See CENTRE PRESS story CPHORSE.
(Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)

The Falabella miniature horse is one of the smallest breeds of horse in the world but despite its size, it is not considered a pony.

Though he might be small, Indi doesn’t have a problem making friends – he’s become pals with a number of sheep on the farm who just happen to be the same size as him.

Ali says Indi loves playing with his woolly friends.

Ten-year-old stallion falabella "Indi" plays with sheep as he goes with Ali Thom on checks of the valley black nose sheep at Arnbeg Farmstay in Stirlingshire. July 31, 2018. See CENTRE PRESS story CPHORSE.
(Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)

Ali said: ‘Indi was born on July 4 and he was named Indi because of the American Independence Day.

‘He’s the smallest horse we have. You can’t ride him though because my legs are longer than his.

‘When he arrived here he was with his son who was called Twix but I changed his name to Sitz.

Ten-year-old stallion falabella "Indi" plays with sheep as he goes with Ali Thom on checks of the valley black nose sheep at Arnbeg Farmstay in Stirlingshire. July 31, 2018. See CENTRE PRESS story CPHORSE.
(Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)

‘Indi is still a stallion, he’s the cutest thing ever. I think he just loves to keep me company just so he can eat the grass.

‘Everyone here loves him, he’s such a people animal, his very gentle with us all here.

‘I think it’s funny that some of the other sheep are much taller than him because he’s just a miniature horse.’

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Couple have elegant Jurassic Park themed wedding

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See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

A couple who bonded over Jurassic Park brought their obsession to life by making the movie the theme of their wedding.

28-year-old Courtney McMillion has loved Jurassic Park since she was a kid, and was over the moon when she found out her now-husband Billy McMillion, 26, was also a fan, when they began dating in 2013.

Event manager Courtney and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have a Jurassic Park themed big day.

Then, when they got engaged last February, the couple decided to make it a reality.

Courtney spent 18 months organizing the $25,000 wedding, which was complete with dinosaur decorations and saw her arrive in a Jeep Wrangler.

Their venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guests were issued VIP passes for the prehistoric ceremony.

Courtney and Billy in front of the Jeep Wrangler. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

The bride walked down the aisle to the movie’s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park.

Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant.

She said: ‘It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park. I remember watching it when I was small and that’s when I first fell in love with it.

‘When the original first came out in IMAX, I was so excited but no one would go with me.

Courtney's dino themed bouquet. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

‘At the time me and Billy were just good friends and he offered to go.

‘We started dating in October 2013 and we just loved staying in and watching movies together.

‘We would regularly watch Jurassic Park or it would coincidentally be on TV.

‘It sort of become our thing. We would go to dinosaur museums and exhibits on dates.

Guests were issued VIP passes to Jurassic Park. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

‘I used to joke that our wedding should be Jurassic Park themed and after we got engaged, I started to think, why not?’

‘I work at my wedding venue, where I see weddings three times a week.

‘They’re all hydrangeas and baby’s breath. They’re beautiful but I wanted something different.’

Billy said that when Courtney first suggested the dinosaur themed wedding he was a ‘little sceptical’.

He explained: ‘I wanted a country wedding but the more we talked about the more interesting the idea became.

Courtney McMillian and her bridesmaids in Jurassic Pajamas on the morn of her wedding. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

‘Everyone loved it I was scared people were going to think it was childish but Courtney being as crafty as she is, it was super pretty and held the theme really well.’

One of the highlights of the day for Courtney was arriving to the ceremony in a Jeep, supplied by a fellow fan in Iowa.

Courtney said: ‘I’ve always wanted a Jeep Wrangler like in Jurassic Park so a couple of years ago I joined this group on Facebook called Jurassic Park Motors, where fans renovate jeeps to look like those in the movie.

Groom Billy crafted a Jurassic Park donut wall for the reception. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

‘I really wanted to feature one of these jeeps in the wedding and I just asked in the group if anyone wanted to come.

‘One man, JurassicPark09, whose real name is Adam, drove all the way from Iowa to help us. He was so dedicated and it really made our day.’

Billy added: ‘My favorite part of the day was seeing Courtney in her wedding dress and being in awe of how beautiful she was.’

The bride said although she was really dedicated to the theme she did not consider decking out her bridal party in dino-themed attire.

Bride Courtney McMillian and Groom Billy McMillian. See SWNS story NYDINO; A couple who bonded through their shared love of Jurassic Park brought their obsession to a new level when they made the movie the theme of their WEDDING. Bride Courtney McMillian, 28, has been a fan of the dinosaur flick since she was a kid and was thrilled to realize her partner Billy McMillian, 26, shared her dedication when they began dating in 2013. Courtney, an event manager, and Billy, an engineer, always joked they would have Jurassic Park themed wedding but decided to make it a reality after they became engaged in February 2017. Courtney, of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, spent 18 months planning her $25,000 dino-themed bash which even saw her arrive to her venue in a Jurassic Park Jeep Wrangler. The couple???s wedding venue, The Landings 1841, in Burlington, Wisconsin, was decked out in forest greenery and their 170 guest were each issued a VIP pass ahead of the prehistoric ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to the movie???s theme tune and groom Billy even crafted a doughnut wall to look like the front gates of the fictional park. Courtney said she had a blast planning her dream day but said there was a fine like when it came to keeping it elegant. Courtney said: ???It was more so me who always loved Jurassic Park.
(Picture: Cassandra Spiegelhoff / SWNS)

Courtney said: ‘I never considered wearing Jurassic Park costumes. I think that would have crossed the fine line.

‘I didn’t want it to be too much of a spectacle. It was fun, but it was still a wedding after all.’

Cassandra Spiegelhoff, who photographed the couple on their big day, said it was exciting to work on a wedding that was so different from the rest.

The wedding photographer even photoshopped some dinosaurs into the final prints for the happy couple.

Cassandra said: ‘We shoot 50 weddings every year and there’s always the same poses, the same readings, the same speeches.

‘This wedding was so different. The Jurassic Park theme could have been so lame but it wasn’t tacky or cheap.

‘It was so elegant. She really nailed it. It was amazing.

‘You could tell it was the best day of their life.’

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Tatler releases their declaration of the best-dressed people in Britain in 2018

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(Picture: Ian West/PA Wire/Metro.co.uk)

Tatler has unveiled their rankings of the best dressed people in Britain for 2018.

You probably won’t be surprised to discover that the posh people’s magazine has included a bunch of royals in the top ten.

In fact, the Queen landed a top spot deemed ‘the ultimate power dresser’ for her choice of ‘bright block colours’.

Prince George also makes an appearance, making him the youngest addition to the list. Tatler praises him for flying ‘the flag for Christopher Robin chic’ with his wardrobe of shorts, long socks and sleeveless jumpers.

Should we all be copying these people’s style? Probably not. Few of us can pull off shorts and knee-high socks with such aplomb.

But what we can learn from everyone on this list is to be bold, to stick to a style that works for us, and don’t be afraid to ignore passing trends and repeat the classics.

Here’s Tatler’s full list of the best dressed people in Britain.

The Queen

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 04/07/18 of Queen Elizabeth II, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire
(Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

 

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 10/07/18 of The Duchess of Cambridge, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
(Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire)

 

Harry Styles

(Picture: Getty)

 

Dua Lipa

(Picture:Gotham/GC Images)

 

Lily James and Matt Smith

(Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

 

Lady Amelia Windsor

(Picture: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

 

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle

(Picture: Anwar Hussein/WireImage)

 

Racil Chalhoub

(Picture: Darren Gerrish/WireImage)

 

Sabine Getty

(Picture: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)

 

Lady Jean Campbell

(Picture: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

 

Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles

(Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

 

Riccardo Tisci

(Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

 

Amal Clooney

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 07/05/18 of Amal Clooney, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
(Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

 

Grace Wales Bonner

(Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

 

Daniel Kaluuya

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 07/05/18 of Daniel Kaluuya, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
(Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

 

Stella McCartney

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 18/04/18 of Stella McCartney, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
(Picture: Ian West/PA Wire)

 

Debbie von Bismarck

(Picture: Getty)

 

Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor

(Picture: OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)

 

Countess of Burlington, Laura Cavendish

(PictureVittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images for Gucci)

 

Elisabeth Murdoch

(Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

 

Jonathan Anderson

(Picture: Taylor Hill/FilmMagic)

 

Countess of Snowdon, Serena Armstrong-Jones

(Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Jerry Hall

(Picture: Getty)

 

Hon Daphne Guiness

(Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

 

Prince George

Embargoed to 0001 Thursday August 02 File photo dated 21/07/17 of Prince George, who is among Britain's best dressed for 2018. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Thursday August 2, 2018. A list complied by Tatler magazine celebrates the year's most stylish, from the royals to music stars. See PA story MEDIA Tatler. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
(Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)

 

Nicky Hilton

(Picture: Getty)

 

Countess of Mornington, Jemma Kidd

(Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

 

Stella Tennant

(Picture: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Alison Loehnis

(Picture: Getty)

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The couple’s guide to bestselling sex toys

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(Picture: LELO/ Ann Summers)

Life is too short to have vanilla sex.

Whether you’re into dropping trou in front of strangers and dogging away or you enjoy the risk that comes with doing it in a place you’re likely to be caught, it’s important to keep sex interesting.

If you missed the chance to get some this National Orgasm Day (It’s 31 July btw, mark it in your calendar), don’t worry, the weekend awaits (and literally any other day).

So grab a partner, a friend, or a consenting stranger, and make use of these bad boys and bring a climax to your day.

To remind you that toys are not just for solo sex, Ann Summers and LELO have told Metro.co.uk about their bestselling toys that are sure to get you to come together.

Tor 2, LELO, £92.65

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: LELO)

This cock ring will intensify the pleasure for the two of you with its vibrations, enhancing the sensation for both partners. It comes with a satin storage pouch and USB charging cable.

 

Tiani 2, LELO, £101.15

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: LELO)

The Tiani is worn internally while having sex, and features exclusive Sense Motion technology, which allows users to control the sensations through movements of the remote. The faster you move, the faster the vibrations.

It can be enjoyed with a partner and solo with other insertable toys.

 

Lyla 2, LELO, £129

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: LELO)

This vibrating bullet-style massager comes with a wireless remote and can be enjoyed hands-free. You can up your game and wear it while you’re on a romantic night out.

 

IDA, LELO, £145

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: LELO)

IDA is flexible so it’ll sit comfortably inside you in any position while your partner is inside too, stimulating both of you and offering an intense and tight sensation. Using the wireless remote, you can play around with powerful vibrations and rotations. Ideal for various positions.

 

Couple’s sex toy starter set, Ann Summers, £40

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: Ann Summers)

You can get a whole bunch of stuff with this package, such as butt plugs, cock rings, Thai beads, silicone dildo, and more. It’s sure to add some variety to your sex life.

 

Fusion remote control couples’ vibrator, Ann Summers, £80

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: Ann Summers)

The round end is inserted into the vagina to send strong vibrations to the g-spot and his peen during penetrative sex, while the rabbit ears maintain contact with the clit for intense stimulation with every thrust.

It’s remote controlled and packed with two speed settings and five pulses for you to explore.

 

Elation Couples Ring, Ann Summers, £55

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: Ann Summers)

Place over the penis to start vibrations that massage her clitoris.

In touch sensor mode, the vibrations are triggered by the bodies touching. The ring is programmed with a memory feature that enables you to go back to the last setting used so you’ll know the last thing that made you finish.

 

Double-ended vibrating dildo, Ann Summers, £35

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: Ann Summers)

This double-ended vibrator is curved to provide you both with deep, internal satisfaction. The two shafts are connected and have multiple vibration speeds.

 

Remote control butt plug, Ann Summers, £30

Couple's sex toys Picture: LELO/Ann Summers METROGRAB
(Picture: Ann Summers)

This butt plug is angled and textured for your enjoyment and a bullet is also hidden within it which can be taken out and further explored as you please.

So go forth and enjoy.

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What it’s like to be a parent when you have an anxiety disorder

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(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Being a parent is tough – especially when you live with a mental health condition that affects your day-to-day life.

Lucy Nichol is one of these parents, as she lives with an anxiety disorder.

40-year-old Lucy has been a parent to her stepson Sam, 20, for 12 years. He’s been living with her since he was just 8 years old.

Lucy has had anxiety since she was young. Her first panic attack happened when she was 15, but she thinks she had more minor attacks before then.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘In terms of how it affects me, I believe there are three distinct types of anxiety that I experience.

‘Firstly, day to day anxiety – which is what most people experience at some point in their life.

‘However, I probably experience this more often than most and in situations where others might not.

‘Examples might involve panicking that my step-son has drowned in the bath and having to call for him every ten minutes when he’s in there (bearing in mind he’s almost 20 it’s a bit ridiculous but its one of my “things” and luckily he laughs about it.)

‘Or panicking that my husband has been involved in a crash when he’s been travelling from work or that I’ve accidentally locked one of my cats in the dishwasher.

‘This is the day to day anxiety that I experience. I don’t consider myself unwell at these times as this has just become a part of my life – although I’d obviously rather be without it!’

Lucy on her wedding day (Picture: Lucy Nichol)

Lucy says she experiences a ‘second kind of anxiety’, which happens when she is unwell.

She explained: ‘This might involve panic attacks or feeling in a constant state of anxiety for no reason whatsoever.

‘I can become obsessed about having a terminal illness, wake up in the middle of the night having a random panic attack or just generally feel constantly on edge.

‘Symptoms vary and can include poor sleep, waking and getting up in the early hours of the morning, upset stomach, night sweats, palpitations, tingling in my arms and a constantly catastrophising state of mind.

‘I also tend to experience a tightness in my throat which I become preoccupied with.’

Lucy’s other type of anxiety is when she ‘experiences an extreme reaction to life events’.

She said: ‘My GP has described this as acute stress reaction. There’s a reason behind it, but it manifests in quite an extreme way with most of the above symptoms present and therefore makes me unwell.

‘So out of all of these types of anxiety, it’s the second one, the illness that occurs seemingly for no apparent reason that is harder to manage. However, I don’t experience this very often these days thankfully.’

Lucy has treated her anxiety with various forms of therapy over the years, including CBT. She’s been on medication for the last three years

She says that having anxiety can make it hard to be a parent at times.

She said: ‘I think people assume anxiety is all about worry and panic. However, when I have become ill I also struggle with anger.

‘It feels as though the whole world is against me and this can sometimes result in angry outbursts in the home. It’s something I’ve had to watch carefully because with a child, you can end up behaving less like a parent and more like a child yourself.

‘Shouting, heart racing, crying, arguing like a teenager! When you’re in the moment and angry over the most ridiculous thing it’s hard to take a step back, but it’s important to remember you are an adult dealing with a child.

‘I’ve found that my medication really helps me with this, as it allows me to take a step back before the amygdala kicks in and I transform into a raging banshee! The banshee, thankfully, is mainly confined to history these days!’

Lucy says that her anxiety can affect her parenting in other ways, too.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I have to be really careful not to panic if Sam becomes unwell or cuts himself as my health anxiety tends to kick in with other people.

‘As Sam also has problems with anxiety, as well as depression, I sometimes have to put on a bit of a calm act to ensure that he stays relaxed if he is worried about his health in any way.

Lucy and Sam (Picture: Lucy Nichol)

‘I am always grateful when my husband can step in and have the health conversations in case I give away any sense of worry which will only fuel everyone’s anxiety.

‘Of course, none of these worries about Sam’s health have ever come true – but I do recall taking him to the GP when he was about 9 years old and running through a big long list of worries that I had about his health – he was, of course, absolutely fine.’

Lucy explained that now Sam is an adult, she worries about other things. For example, when he’s come home after a night out she likes to check in on him every hour or so to check he’s still breathing.

And if he stays at his friend’s house and forgets to tell her, she ends up social media stalking him to see when he was last online and therefore alive and well!.

When asked whether there were any aspects of parenting that were restricted due to her anxiety, Lucy said: ‘I know there have been times when Chris has taken Sam to the doctors and neither of them have told me they were going because they knew that I would get wound up and worry too much, which wouldn’t help Sam.

‘One thing that does occur with my anxiety, that could be seen as a positive, is the need to fight intense feelings of potential injustice.

‘When Sam was having a tough time at school I was so driven to go all out and get him into the school of his choice by speaking with councillors and governors and head teachers directly and fighting for that place.

‘It’s something that drives my work as a mental health campaigner and writer as well – the tenacity and the passion to see justice being done.

(Picture: Lucy Nichol)

‘So in some ways, it can be helpful in my role as a parent – although I imagine there are a few teachers who used to wish I’d leave them alone with my constant emails, phone calls and meeting requests!’

Lucy often feels she has ‘imposter syndrome’ when it comes to parenting.

‘Like I’m not cut out to do it like other parents and that I have messed things up by being so angsty and short tempered,’ she said.

Lucy added: ‘If I could change anything it would have been to accept medication sooner so that the family home was a more relaxing place for Sam to be.

‘However, I am sure all parents have regrets of some sort. I am happy with where I have got to today – it’s been a steep learning curve, I’ve certainly not been perfect, but I think just knowing that I get better at it with every day helps me.’

As words of advice to any other parents living with anxiety, Lucy says it’s important to remember that ‘we are all only human and we all experience illness from time to time.

She said: ‘Obviously, if you are struck down with the flu you’re not going to be on top form as a parent as you’ll most likely be bed ridden.

‘It’s the same with anxiety – sometimes you become lost in the catastrophes that your brain creates and it clouds your parenting for a transient period of time.

‘I think the most important thing is to ensure you have good support, that you speak openly (where appropriate) and try to practice good self care – as helping yourself will ultimately help the family.

‘Take time out for you, eat well, exercise and seek professional help if needed – there’s seriously nothing selfish about that.’

MORE: 10 questions everyone in a relationship needs to ask

MORE: What is treatment-resistant depression, and does it mean you’ll never get better?

Dear clothing manufacturers – fat women want clothes that fit their curves not bigger versions of your original designs

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metro illustration
Plus-size clothing aren’t always made to fit (Picture: Mmuffin for Metro.co.uk)

I love high street clothes shopping.

The obsession began from the first rite of passage trip sans-mum with a few fellow 16-year-old friends round the local mall (OK, so it was a tiny Berkshire shopping centre, but Clueless had just come out).

Since then, shopping has almost always lifted my spirits – a way to solidify friendships and forge new identities, to prepare for first dates and get over exes with ‘screw him’ new looks.

As a teenager, I was lucky – my puppy fat somehow disappeared at 12 and I rarely had to worry about a shop not having my size.

Now, aged 36 and a size 18, I find that the high street shops, my old friends, have turned on me.

For all their adverts and soundbites about inclusivity and everyone loving themselves, I find most of them woefully ill-equipped for my needs.

And before you say it, no, I’m not interested in shopping in Evans or going online or to some ‘fat girl’ catalogue despite being, by my own definition, a fat girl (ps you’re not fooling anyone by calling someone voluptuous or curvy).

Why should I? I’ve given these shops my business for the past 20 years after all.

It’s my money that’s helped pay their (admittedly under-paid) staff, their electricity bills, their designers, and even their ad campaigns.

plus size woman
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

You can also bore off telling me to lose weight.

Besides, the fact is, I’m a size 18 now and I want to go shopping now – not in a year’s time when I may or may not have lost (or for that matter gained) weight.

So I feel let down by the high street shops and the so-called designers who develop their ‘plus size’ ranges.

Because it’s just not enough that shops actually stock sizes higher than a 16.

They actually need to design versions of their clothes with curvier women in mind.

It’s simple – size 18 women are a different shape to size 8 women.

And yet, whenever I go shopping, the dresses have waists in the wrong place, insufficient boob room, unflattering necklines and God knows what else.

The trousers are ridiculously long, the skirts don’t stop at the most flattering place on the leg and you can pretty much forget about jeans.

My annoyance at high street shops’ shortcomings came to a head recently when I decided to buy my first bikini in about five years.

When I finally actually found a bikini top in my size (thank you Debenhams) I realised that all the bottoms were just, well, wrong (screw you Debenhams).

Sure, they fit; but they also looked bloody awful, with my big mound of muffin top flapping out for all to see.

It was clear they hadn’t been designed for anyone with any kind of stomach.

In the end, enraged, I took a leaf out of a friend’s book and went over to the dark side, AKA the men’s section.

That was a revelation. It turns out that their sizing is not only a lot more forgiving but the shapes can look pretty good on women too.

I ended up with a black bikini top and what, in my mind anyway, are sexy board shorts that cover the bits I want covered and sit where I want.

The thing is though, I don’t see why I should start shopping in the men’s section (although now I’ve tried it once, it may become a regular habit, especially as it seems to be cheaper too).

This isn’t about one isolated incident – it’s about all the times I’ve tried on clothes clearly designed with smaller women in mind.

I’m not sure why it’s so hard for clothing manufacturers to, I don’t know, actually try putting their size 18 clothes on size 18 women and hear what they think of them instead of presumably designing for size 8s and then going ‘right, job’s a good ‘un – for the bigger girls we’ll just add a few more cm of fabric in every direction and hope for the best.’

I don’t give a damn what size the ‘average’ women is – if it’s your job to make clothes then those clothes should look fantastic on every sized woman – short, tall, fat, thin.

So please, manufacturers, make more of an effort. Don’t make me break up with the high street shops.

MORE: Why some fashion brands don’t make plus size clothing

MORE: Hey, Love Island – plus-size people want to find love in the villa too

MORE: Why are plus-size maternity clothes so hard to find?

Mum writes emotional letter to the daughter she lost to miscarriage

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A young mother has written a heartfelt letter to the daughter she lost to miscarriage, touching the hearts of dozens of other parents who have struggled after losing a child themselves. Phoebe Shields, 31, suffered a miscarriage before she had her son last year, which left her suffering with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). http://psitsamumthing.com/a-letter-to-the-child-i-lost-to-miscarriage/
(Picture: @p.s.itsamumthing)

A mum has written an emotional letter to the daughter she lost to a miscarriage, explaining that while they never really got to meet, she had already made space for her daughter in her heart.

Phoebe Shields, who’s one half of the P.S. It’s a Mum Thing blog, experienced PTSD after suffering a miscarriage.

She went on to give birth to a healthy son, but that doesn’t mean the daughter she lost has been forgotten.

‘You slipped away from me, quickly and quietly, without making an impression on the world,’ wrote Phoebe. ‘No one even knew you were there, except your daddy and I.

‘But you should know that you were loved. I like to think that you know that already.

‘Some would say that you were barely there long enough to make any great impression on me. But the thing is, even in such a short space of time, I made a space for you in my heart.’

A young mother has written a heartfelt letter to the daughter she lost to miscarriage, touching the hearts of dozens of other parents who have struggled after losing a child themselves. Phoebe Shields, 31, suffered a miscarriage before she had her son last year, which left her suffering with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). http://psitsamumthing.com/a-letter-to-the-child-i-lost-to-miscarriage/
(Picture: @p.s.itsamumthing)

Phoebe explains that even before her daughter was conceived, she had a ‘special place’ in her heart – but now that space is ’empty’.

And while the birth of her son filled Phoebe with joy, it didn’t take up the space left for the daughter she’d lost. Instead she made a new place in her heart just for him.

But with time and all the busyness of being a mum, the devastation of miscarriage is no longer at the front of Phoebe’s mind.

The sadness and loss still make appearances, however.

‘Sometimes, when it is quiet and the house is still, that empty space in my heart echoes so loudly that it can’t be ignored,’ she explains. ‘The hollow grief washes over me once more and I am stunned with the intensity of its power.

‘I have found that it is better not to fight these moments.’

Phoebe has learned to deal with the pain not by ignoring it or pretending the miscarriage never happened, but by giving herself permission to feel the loss.

A young mother has written a heartfelt letter to the daughter she lost to miscarriage, touching the hearts of dozens of other parents who have struggled after losing a child themselves. Phoebe Shields, 31, suffered a miscarriage before she had her son last year, which left her suffering with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). http://psitsamumthing.com/a-letter-to-the-child-i-lost-to-miscarriage/
(Picture: @p.s.itsamumthing)

‘Instead, I sit quietly and think of you and what might have been,’ she writes. ‘Sometimes I even read the storybook that I bought when I was pregnant with you.

‘I have accepted that it is ok to still feel sad about what we lost.

‘It seems that no matter what happens, or how much time passes, I cannot fill that void that you left.

‘So I have decided that I will leave that space in my heart exactly where it is. I will stop trying to fill it with other things or pretending it isn’t there.

‘It is your space and I am going to leave it just for you. I will carry you there always, in that space, in my heart.’

Phoebe’s words have stuck a chord with readers, who’ve thanked her for her honesty and sensitivity around the very real trauma of miscarriage.

Miscarriage and the grief that comes with it isn’t something we often talk about, which leaves many of those who have gone through it feeling alone and ashamed.

We’re glad there are people like Phoebe who are breaking the silence.

MORE: People ask me how I sleep at night: As a barrister, representing criminals who might be guilty is just part of my job

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Morrisons is now selling wonky flowers to join their wonky veg

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(Picture: Victor de Jesus/UNP)

We’d all like to be the type of people who have flowers in the house for no reason at all.

We’d like to buy ourselves a bunch of tulips just because, rather than only seeing some petals when it’s Mother’s Day.

But that’s usually a pricey habit.

Thankfully, Morrisons is here to help us all out on our road to domesticity. They’ve just announced that they’ll be selling wonky bouquets on the cheap.

Just like the supermarket’s wonky vegetables before them, wonky bouquets are made up of flowers that wouldn’t usually make the cut because they don’t look completely perfect.

You might not want to buy one for someone else (the shame), but if you know you won’t be put off by a slightly uneven stem, wonky bouquets are a more budget-friendly way to get some flowers into your home.

The standard bouquet is on the left, the wonky ones are on the right. Note the shorter stems. (Picture: Morrisons)

Morrisons is selling the bouquets thanks to the current hot weather and dry conditions, which have stopped some flowers from developing properly.

Usually a less-than-stellar batch of flowers would go to waste, but Morrisons has decided to put them to use. The Wonky range will help out growers as Morrisons will take more of their crop.

A wonky bouquet costs £3, while a regular bouquet costs a fiver. The first wonky bouquet will be made up of British sunflowers and statice, whose stems are shorter because of the lack of rain.

That’s no bad thing in our eyes, though. Shove shorter stems in a mason jar and live out all your Pinterest-y dreams.

MORE: Basil the beagle works as a funeral therapy dog to help people through their toughest days

MORE: Iceland is selling plastic-free chewing gum

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Pineapple Bounty bars exist and they taste just like piña coladas

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(Picture: eBay)

Bountys are usually the last chocolate left in the Celebrations tin. But piña colada Bountys? Now we’re talking.

Yep, piña colada Bountys exist and they’re currently being sold on eBay.

The new Bountys come from Russia, and feature the original coconut filling but with a touch of concentrated pineapple.

From the outside, the chocolate bars just look like normal Bountys, but the inside is yellow due to the pinapple.

Instagram Photo

According to one Instagram user, the Bounty, which comes in a yellow and orange tropical-looking wrapper, is filled with ‘delicate coconut pulp and pineapple juice’, and is covered in milk chocolate.

However, they only gave the chocolate a 5.5/10 rating.

They said that the chemical sourness really interrupts the taste of pineapple – however, they do add that you shouldn’t miss out on trying it if you can because there’ll definitely be some fans out there.

They also add that this year’s release is much better than Mars’ last fruity release – which was a mango Bounty bar.

Instagram Photo

Another Instagram blogger said that as soon as you open the Bounty, the ‘sweet smell of pineapple’ comes out.

They say it tastes like a ‘tropical mix of pineapple and coconut’, and reminds them of a piña colada cocktail.

Instagram Photo

As mentioned, these chocolate bars are only being sold in Russia, or you can find them on eBay – though they’re pretty pricey.

The cheapest we’ve found online is one mini chocolate bar for £5.33 and free postage, or £3.80 for free with £6 postage.

Obviously, we’d go for the second deal – but a tenner for some chocolate you might not even like seems like a risky buy.

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Mum has to bathe her baby in bleach every other day to stop her scaly skin getting infected

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(Picture: PA Real Life)

A mother has to bathe her baby in bleach every other day to prevent her getting an infection.

23-year-old Raven Ford’s daughter, Amelia Moe, one, suffers from lamellar ichthyosis – a disorder that encases a newborn in a membrane that sheds every few weeks, revealing scaly skin and redness underneath – and cannot tolerate soap.

Raven, who describes Amelia’s skin to feel like ‘petting a snake’ was told by doctors to wash her baby in bleach to prevent her scaly skin becoming infected.

Amelia’s hard, shedding skin requires constant moisturisation to keep it from getting caught on clothes – and her hair, skin and nails are also affected.

To bathe Amelia, Raven puts two tablespoons of bleach in her bath water every other day.

She said: ‘It’s controversial, and not everybody is comfortable with it, but it’s been recommended by dermatologists and it’s the only way to kill the bacteria under her scales.

Raven with Amelia when she was first born (PA Real Life/Collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

‘If we don’t do this, she can get infections or pockets of oil, which show up like yellow bumps on her scalp.’

Aside from bathing, Amelia also requires an intensive daily healthcare regimen.

Raven, who is also a mother to Benjamin, six, and Cole, two, said: ‘She takes fluoride supplements for her teeth, as we were warned the condition can cause some dental abnormalities.

‘We also have to put petroleum jelly round her mouth when she eats otherwise the food will stain her skin.

‘Her hair is quite brittle and can fall out easily, and her nails have begun to build up and harden too.’

Over time, Amelia’s skin has settled into a cycle of building up and shedding.

Amelia when she was first born (PA Real Life/Collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

Raven said: ‘She starts out smooth, then her skin gets darker and shinier as it builds up. Eventually, she’ll be unable to close her eyes, at which point we have to start using a type of topical medication called Tazorac cream.

‘Then, her skin will start to shed and peel. Thankfully it doesn’t bleed anymore like it did when she was first born.

‘Her hands and feet are largely unaffected, but the peeling on her face takes around a week and the peeling on her scalp takes two.

‘Her torso is more or less always scaly, with a texture like you’re petting a snake.’

Raven and her partner Gary, 43, knew something was wrong the moment their daughter was born.

She said: ‘She looked like a little plastic doll. She had this build-up of really thick skin, which looked very tight and shiny.

‘She couldn’t close her mouth or eyes, so doctors weren’t sure at first if she had eyelids, and it covered her hands and feet so much that there were no visible prints.’

Amelia's torso (PA Real Life/Collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

Due to lamellar ichthyosis’s rareness, doctors were initially baffled as to what was wrong, until a specialist from the University of Minnesota confirmed the diagnosis the following day.

Raven continued: ‘The not knowing was the worst feeling in the world.

‘We were told not to Google ichthyosis, but I couldn’t help myself. I just wanted to know what was happening.

‘Some forms are really severe, and carry quite bleak life expectancies, so it was terrifying thinking Amelia might have to go through that.

‘I had so many questions, and just needed to know what type she had.’

The family are waiting for the results of genetic testing to determine what stage Amelia’s lamellar ichthyosis is.

The youngster stayed in hospital for the first 10 days of her life, which saw her hardened skin crack and bleed at the joints, forcing her parents and nurses to apply ointments every couple of hours, including Vaseline around her eyes.

Amelia just after turning one (PA Real Life/Collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

Amelia’s condition means she does not have sweat pores, which makes summer particularly difficult, forcing her parents to keep her indoors and use ice packs to keep her cool.

Unfortunately, due to her daughter’s condition, Raven has received some really nasty comments from strangers, with people assuming Amelia is extremely sunburnt.

They’ve also called Raven selfish for wanting more children in the future who could also develop the condition.

Raven says being called ‘selfish’ is the most upsetting comment she’s received.

She said: ‘That was the most upsetting comment. I didn’t even know this person. She just butted in with a conversation I was having with a friend.

‘Amelia is such an easy-going child. Yes, we have to do things a little differently, but she is still very happy so it hurts to be called selfish.

‘When people do make these comments, I either ignore them or try to educate by explaining what ichthyosis is.

‘You don’t know what someone is dealing with, or why they are making the choices they are. Everyone has their own reasons, don’t assume it’s all down to bad parenting.’

Now, Raven is speaking out to raise money towards Amelia’s care, as well as to educate people and encourage them to not be so judgemental of others’ appearances.

She said: ‘I’d really like people to stop judging things they think are out of the ordinary, especially parenting choices.’

You can donate to help with Amelia’s care here.

MORE: Mum bathes her baby in bleach twice a week to help him fight infection

MORE: Pineapple Bounty bars exist and they taste just like piña coladas

Piglet escapes from her sty to herd a flock of sheep

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Babe is real.

A little piglet called Peppa broke free from her sty just so she could prove she can herd sheep as well as any dog.

Peppa made her escape along with her sisters George and Chris P. Bacon on Monday afternoon while their owners, Danni Roberts and Rob Morgan, were busy arranging sheep for delivery.

They believe one of the sheep acted as an accomplice, moving part of the pen to allow the piglets to squeeze through the bars.

Once they were free the piglets set to racing around the farm, apart from Peppa, who dedicated herself to herding sheep.

She absolutely nailed it.

Sheep farmer Danni from Market Drayton, Shropshire, said: ‘I’ve never seen anything like it before, it was definitely a first.

MERCURY PRESS. 02/08/18. Pictured: Saddleback pigs Peppa, George and Chris. P Bacon. A pint-sized porker who broke free from her sty and gave her owners the run around on their farm was then caught on camera herding a flock of sheep. The hilarious footage shows 13-week-old piglet Peppa Pig bounding into a sheep pen and rounding up the baffled mammals who obediently huddle together and trot in the direction she chases them. Saddleback pig Peppa made her great escape along with sisters George and Chris. P Bacon on Monday afternoon after owners Danni Roberts and 35-year-old Rob Morgan's backs were turned. The couple were arranging to move sheep for delivery and believe one of the Border Leicester sheep acted as an unwitting accomplice to their break out by moving part of the pen, allowing them to squeeze through the bars. SEE MERCURY COPY
The three piglets, Peppa, George, and Chris P. Bacon. (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

‘Peppa acted exactly like a sheep dog does. Border Collies like to get the sheep in a group and move them together on instinct, she was doing exactly that.

‘Pigs don’t normally have a natural affinity to try and round up animals but she clearly does – she’s a real life Babe.

‘All three got out but only Peppa was interested in the sheep.

‘We managed to round up the other two quite quickly but Peppa spent a good few minutes trotting after them and rounding them up.

‘I started filming as it was such a funny sight and it was lovely to see her running around having fun. It was impressive to say the least.’

Peppa eventually gave up herding sheep when her owners’ daughter Mia tempted her back to the sty with a bucket of feed.

MORE: This pig owner loves her pet so much she lets him sleep in her bed and even gave him a wedding

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A new campaign is calling for better treatment of chickens in the food industry

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(Picture: Getty)

A new campaign by the Humane League UK is aiming to improve the lives of chickens bred for food purposes.

One in a Billion looks to highlight what these chickens go through before slaughter, and implore people and organisations to make changes.

It specifically shows broiler chickens, of which there around a billion in the UK.

These chickens typically live for less than seven weeks in a commercial setting, and those seven weeks can be wrought with health problems due to their breeding an living conditions.

Broiler chickens have been bred to grow unnaturally fast, with an offshoot of this being skeletal malformation and dysfunction, skin and eye lesions, and heart conditions in a large number of the chickens.

(Picture: Getty)

The Humane League UK website lets you find out about the life of one chicken called Frank from birth to slaughter.

As part of One in a Billion comes the Better Chicken Commitment, which is a set of standards that business can sign up to to go above and beyond the minimum legal requirements for poultry welfare. It was devised by The Humane League, Compassion in World Farming, and the RSPCA, and companies like Zizzi, Ask Italian, Prezzo, M&S, and Pret a Manger have already signed up.

The standard sets minimum amounts of light and room for chickens, and asks businesses to commit to using different breeds that have fewer health concerns. As well as this, it ensures that more humane methods of slaughter are used by the businesses involved.

One in a Billion campaigners will be lobbying the British Poultry Council (who make up 90% of British poultry producers) to sign up, and you can get involved by signing this petition to show your support.

You can also sign up to the campaign’s Fast Action Network, or become a volunteer.

MORE: Piglet escapes from her sty to herd a flock of sheep

MORE: Mum has to bathe her baby in bleach every other day to stop her scaly skin getting infected

Scheduling sex might make you more satisfied than tearing each other’s clothes off

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(Picture: Getty)

People really hype up the idea of being so lust-filled that you simply have to tear your partner’s clothes off and do it on the floor right this very moment.

Scheduling in sex, meanwhile, gets viewed as the height of uncool, reserved for parents or couples who’ve lost their spark.

But it turns out that people who plan sex may be having more satisfying sex lives than all those smug, spontaneously randy types. So there.

People who plan ahead tend to have more satisfying sex lives, suggests a new study from Ruhrh University in Germany.

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,000 couples about their sex lives, asking them to discuss issues with sexual dysfunction, how easily they became aroused, how often they were having sex, and how they felt about sex in general.

Each participant also rated their personality and their partner’s in terms of extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and being open to new experiences.

Common thought would say it’s those super sexually open, extroverted types who are having glorious sex.

The effect of breast cancer on sex life Bed couple sex relationships girl boy man woman Erin Aniker for Metro.co.uk
(Picture: Erin Aniker for Metro.co.uk

But in reality, researchers found a strong correlation between a person’s conscientiousness – meaning their thoughts, their level of planning, and their consideration of their partner – and how satisfied they and their partner were in bed.

Now, this could point to many important sexual factors.

Conscientious people likely spend more time focusing on their partner’s pleasure, which will lead to better sex all round. They might be more willing to dedicate significant time to foreplay because they want to do things thoroughly and well.

But conscientious people are also the types who tend to plan and think ahead – and the research offers evidence that you don’t have to be a spontaneous risk taker to have a satisfying sex life. Planning in advance isn’t uncool; it’s sexy.

The lesson here: Don’t panic if your relationship isn’t filled with sex sessions on the kitchen counter and morning orgasms that make you late for work. As long as you’re satisfied, everything’s grand.

Communicate, take your time to make sure everyone’s satisfied, and do what feels right without worrying about what your sex life ‘should’ look like.

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Student who was told she would ‘never be attractive’ because of her skin condition becomes a lingerie model

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PICS BY LUCY BEALL LOTT / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: - NOTE TO DESKS MANDATORY PICTURE BYLINES FOR PROFESSIONAL SHOTS - Here is lucy aged 13 in hospital when she started having surgery to stretch her throat by inflating balloons because even eating affects her badly - shes covered up in bandages due to her condition and the stares she would get) - A student who was told she would never be attractive by an ex due to her rare skin tearing condition defies cruel comments to become a lingerie model. Lucy Beall-Lott, 19, of Fife, Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa -RDEB- meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off, leaving painful blisters and wounds. Since she was diagnosed at a few hours old, she has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection. - SEE CATERS COPY
Lucy’s condition causes her skin to tear and shred at any friction. (Picture: LUCY BEALL LOTT / CATERS NEWS)

Lucy Beall-Lot was told she would ‘never be attractive’. Now she’s a lingerie model.

Lucy, 19, was born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a condition that means any friction causes her skin to shred off, leaving painful blisters and wounds.

Since being diagnosed a few hours after she was born, Lucy has had to cover her fragile skin with bandages to protect her from infections that could be deadly.

Anything from a fall to opening a jar, brushing her teeth and even humid weather, can cause her skin tear and blister, leaving open wounds.

Her condition has improved in adulthood, but Lucy still has to take extra care of her skin.

‘If I don’t lance, drain and clean any blisters, they will continue grow and get really big,’ she explains. ‘If the area isn’t treated I will have a big open wound.

‘We have to take every precaution to make sure my injuries don’t get infected otherwise it can be fatal.

‘I have to worry about daily activities that able-bodied people would not give a second thought to.’

Lucy’s condition affects her eating, too, as scar tissue forms where food grazes her throat. That’s required surgery to stretch her throat open, and next year she plans to have further surgery to give her greater dexterity in her hands.

The student’s condition has attracted cruel comments from strangers who asked if Lucy had been in a ‘horrific accident’ or if she had been ‘mauled by a gorilla’.

She struggled with self-confidence in her teens, which was only made worse when an ex told her that she would ‘never be attractive’ because of her skin.

PICS BY LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: - NOTE TO DESKS MANDATORY PICTURE BYLINES FOR PROFESSIONAL SHOTS - WARNING MANDATORY BYLINE - here Lucy is showing off her skin on the Catwalk at university in Scotland, she never thought she would be considered beautiful in that way, least of all after being told she would never be attractive by an ex) - A student who was told she would never be attractive by an ex due to her rare skin tearing condition defies cruel comments to become a lingerie model. Lucy Beall-Lott, 19, of Fife, Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa -RDEB- meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off, leaving painful blisters and wounds. Since she was diagnosed at a few hours old, she has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection. - SEE CATERS COPY
Lucy walking the runway for Label Press. (Picture: LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS)

But when Lucy became a student at St Andrews, she slowly learned to embrace her skin. She now proudly shows off her wounds to inspire other people with skin conditions to love their bodies.

That confidence led to a lingerie campaign.

‘I never thought I’d be doing underwear photoshoots,’ says Lucy. ‘It’s incredible, the comments I have received so far, they have been amazing.

‘Starting to think that someone like me can be associated with beauty can change future women’s perceptions of scarring, similar conditions and more.

‘I’m used to comments where people have told me I looked diseased and things like that, so I was trying to change people’s perceptions.

‘One of my exes told me he could “never be attracted to me” because of my skin, it was very insensitive.

‘So when I was asked to do a lingerie shoot, I did think back to his comment that I could “never be attractive.”

PICS BY ULA RUSTAMOVA - LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: - NOTE TO DESKS MANDATORY PICTURE BYLINES FOR PROFESSIONAL SHOTS - WARNING MANDATORY BYLINE - here Lucy is showing off her skin as a lingerie model for Label Press, she never thought she would be considered beautiful in that way, least of all after being told she would never be attractive by an ex) - A student who was told she would never be attractive by an ex due to her rare skin tearing condition defies cruel comments to become a lingerie model. Lucy Beall-Lott, 19, of Fife, Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa -RDEB- meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off, leaving painful blisters and wounds. Since she was diagnosed at a few hours old, she has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection. - SEE CATERS COPY
As her confidence has grown, Lucy has embraced opportunities to model. (Picture: ULA RUSTAMOVA – LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS)

‘It’s a nice feeling and seeing how I’ve worked on my own body and I love myself enough to put my body out there like that.’

As well as appearing in a photoshoot, Lucy walked the catwalk for Label Press barefoot, with her scars on show.

‘It was great to see that instead of people pointing or laughing, they were cheering, which was incredible,’ she says. ‘I would never have thought this could happen.’

PICS BY ULA RUSTAMOVA - LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: - NOTE TO DESKS MANDATORY PICTURE BYLINES FOR PROFESSIONAL SHOTS - WARNING MANDATORY BYLINE - here Lucy is showing off her skin as a lingerie model for Label Press, she never thought she would be considered beautiful in that way, least of all after being told she would never be attractive by an ex) - A student who was told she would never be attractive by an ex due to her rare skin tearing condition defies cruel comments to become a lingerie model. Lucy Beall-Lott, 19, of Fife, Scotland, has recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa -RDEB- meaning any friction can cause her skin to shred-off, leaving painful blisters and wounds. Since she was diagnosed at a few hours old, she has needed to shield her fragile skin with bandages to prevent potentially deadly infection. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: ULA RUSTAMOVA – LABEL PRESS / CATERS NEWS)

Lucy now hopes that by continuing to show her skin, she’ll challenge our perceptions of scars, blisters, and all the things we often think of as ‘flaws’.

Lucy says: ‘I have had really positive, uplifting comments all the way to the extremely judgmental and callous remarks, as you can imagine.

‘It’s frustrating because people make comments without knowing me. On a night out recently, I was referred to as the “girl with no hands”

‘With modelling, I can present myself however I want. It’s nice to think I have these opportunities that I never would have dreamed were possible until now.

‘After photoshoots people tell me how proud they are of what I’m doing, not just students but fashion designers too.

‘It shows how much my mindset has changed and body confidence has grown.’

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Hiker rescues injured dog she found on a 11,000-foot mountain

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Tia Vargas in Idaho has given a dog named Boomer the happily ever after he deserves, by adopting him into her family after rescuing and carrying the lost and injured 55-pound pup down a 11,106-foot mountain.
(Picture: Tia Vargas)

It turns out that happy ever afters really do exist outside of classic Disney flicks.

At least that’s if you take Idaho Falls native Tia Vargas’ story as proof.

The 40-year-old was hiking down the peak of 11,000-foot Table Rock Trail in Boise’s Grand Tetons on the way to meet her father last month, when she came across an alarming sight: an injured English springier spaniel struggling to keep pace with another pair of hikers who were searching for the dog’s owners.

It wasn’t enough for Tia to simply take responsibility for his safe passage down the mountainside.

They now live together, with the 55-pound pup named Boomer and formally adopted by the family. However, such a heartwarming outcome wasn’t always on the cards.

Tia Vargas in Idaho has given a dog named Boomer the happily ever after he deserves, by adopting him into her family after rescuing and carrying the lost and injured 55-pound pup down a 11,106-foot mountain.
(Picture: Tia Vargas)

‘His eyes were super puffy and bloodshot. His body was swollen, even his bum was very, very swollen,’ she told ABC News. ‘And you could tell he was very dehydrated. He had cuts and scratches on his belly and on his head. He was in bad condition.’

Faced with the injured pup, Tia knew what she had to do. Even if it wasn’t going to be easy.

‘I felt the difficulty of it right away. I never felt 55 pounds like that before,’ she told Mother Nature Network. Luckily, it wasn’t long until she came across her father, Kasper, whose quips gave her a much needed boost.

Tia Vargas in Idaho has given a dog named Boomer the happily ever after he deserves, by adopting him into her family after rescuing and carrying the lost and injured 55-pound pup down a 11,106-foot mountain.
(Picture: Tia Vargas)

‘Dad laughed and said, “Isn’t this hike hard enough? You have to carry a dog too?”‘ said Tia. ‘My dad makes me laugh. He is such a great man.’

But it wasn’t to be the last challenge. Just as the father-daughter team were making headway it began to pour with rain.

Hours passed until the intrepid trio finally made it down to the bottom of the mountain at 6pm. It wasn’t long until they noticed a sign Boomer’s family had left for the missing pooch.

After getting in contact, the pair soon learned that Boomer’s people had lost the dog while hiking up Table Rock Mountain on 4 July, where he wandered off and fell 100 feet down a snowy crevice.

Tia Vargas in Idaho has given a dog named Boomer the happily ever after he deserves, by adopting him into her family after rescuing and carrying the lost and injured 55-pound pup down a 11,106-foot mountain.
(Picture: Tia Vargas)

Boomer’s overjoyed family offered to let Tia adopt him, as they will soon be moving to Arizona. Tia and her children were delighted to accept.

In the weeks since, Vargas has set up a Facebook page for her new ‘miracle dog’ where she posts updates and stories about how Boomer is doing as he recovers from the injuries sustained that fateful night on the trail.

‘He’s part of our family now,’ she told People. ‘I feel like there’s a reason why I was on the mountain at the very moment that he needed somebody to help. Both of us had a guardian angel that day.’

Nah, there’s something in your eye.

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I came out to the entire secondary school where I teach. This is why I felt it was important to do so

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Pam came out to her school with colleague Luke (Photo: ITV)

As a secondary school teacher I’ve sat through – and led – countless assemblies. But at the end of this school year I led the assembly of my life.

Along with a fellow teacher, I came out to our entire school.

Some of the students knew I was gay – I co-run a weekly LGBT+ group at the school – and I suspect some of them had perhaps guessed. But for the majority of them, my sexuality wasn’t something they knew about.

But that changed one day a couple of weeks ago when a colleague came to me and told me a sad story. He’d been talking to a year 10 student about some other kids who had recently come out as bisexual.

The student said he felt they’d been attention seeking. My colleague, Luke, came out as gay to the student, and explained a bit about the coming out process.

When Luke told me this, I shared some stories of homophobic language I’d heard around school. He suggested doing an assembly for the year 10 students, and once we asked senior staff if this was OK, the plan quickly escalated to assemblies for the whole school.

The kind of things we hear that we’re trying to eradicate are comments like ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘Snapchat is gay!’. We hear them all the time. Could we really help stop this habit for good?

So what’s so different about this assembly? Well, just 15 years ago, doing what I did would have been illegal under Section 28. That act was passed in 1988 and essentially stopped schools from ‘promoting’ homosexuality. My assembly could have landed me in prison.

Repealed in 2003, Section 28 covered the first five years I was at school. There we had a teacher who spoke about being gay – he was breaking the law. Now the law has changed I feel privileged I’m able to speak so freely.

I come out to someone every day in one way or another. It can be super awkward. Sometimes I’m forced out. This way, with the assembly, I was going to reach out to students and do something for myself, too.

A few students told me they had no idea I was gay and I loved that, because it showed that although my classroom is covered in Stonewall posters they haven’t made an assumption, which is lovely.

It was daunting, but the risk felt worth any stress I felt.

We wrote an assembly that could be delivered to each year group across the course of a week, before the end of the summer term.

Before each assembly Luke and I would have a huddle, feeling terrified. Nothing could have prepared me for the moment we stepped on stage.

Of course, there was definitely a bit of me that worried that I might have to have difficult conversations with kids who might say they didn’t agree with what we were doing. But it didn’t happen.

A few students told me they had no idea I was gay and I loved that, because it showed that although my classroom is covered in Stonewall posters they haven’t made an assumption, which is lovely.

Our school is going for a rainbow flag award and this will count towards it. I can’t describe how proud I am. And now I’ve spoken about it on national TV, too. So I guess I’m out to the entire world!

Still, Section 28 has left countless teachers wary of the backlash of coming out. I hope I’ve showed that it’s possible and it can be a positive thing. This was as much for teachers as for the kids.

It’s not just about coming out as gay – the trans element is huge, too. It’s a much more obvious thing to decide.

Coming out as trans is much more difficult than as gay and I would like to think students will feel now they might be more comfortable doing that.

Of course we worried there’d be negative feedback but I can honestly say there hasn’t been any. The response has been overwhelming.

Students have been coming out to us, telling us their stories and generally expressing huge positivity towards the LGBT community as a whole. It’s brought the whole school together and that’s the best reward of all for taking such a risk.

It’s all well and good talking about Drag Race stars, and Ellen, Tom Daley and Laverne Cox, but what our students need are role models they see every day and know face to face as real people.

I hope I’ve shown myself to be one of them.

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We spoke to women who sell their used underwear to see if it’s as lucrative as it seems

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When the numbers on my bank account hit single digits, I tend to think of all the ways I could make some extra money, fast.

Traipsing the streets handing out catalogues or joining a pyramid scheme never appeal, but there’s one thing that’s always enticed – selling used underwear.

As sex work goes, on the surface selling your pants seems pretty passive – almost like getting paid for something you’d do anyway. It’s also touted by a number of publications as a quick fix way to bring in cash.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, though, and it seems that what many places forget about when it comes to this form of sex work is the actual work part.

Panty Trust is one of the sites where people can buy and sell used underwear, as well as other fetish items such as socks or tights.

They have around 1,600 members (although not all of them are active sellers) and get up to 5,000 potential buyers visiting their ads per day.

On the site, you pay a £40 lifetime membership fee to get started and verify yourself as a legit vendor.

Crimson started selling her underwear when she was at university three years ago. She told Metro.co.uk: ‘After bingeing on Orange Is The New Black I came across an Amazon Kindle [book] called ‘How to sell your used panties online and earn $200 (£152) per day’…

‘Needless to say I invested my last $4 (£3) and downloaded 2 different apps before I could even start reading this drivel.’

metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Buoyed by the promise of guaranteed sales and a $200 a day income, Crimson subscribed to a number of sites, but didn’t sell one single pair of pants or socks in five weeks.

What did she get for her trouble? Well, according to Crimson, ‘just loads of c*ck pictures.’

Crimson then ‘deleted [her] panty girl alter ego, left a suitably unfavorable review on the Amazon Kindle and cancelled [her] Netflix subscription because f**k you, Chapman,’ before going back to her part time job.

It was the unrealistic expectations that seemed to set her up for failure, as after she went back to the fetish industry about a year ago, she found a lot more success and sold five pairs of used socks and twelve pairs of used of panties within the first four weeks of joining Panty Trust (after initially being apprehensive about the fee).

Now she says that the income can be up to $800 (£611) a month – although this is on a very, very good month.

She put real time and effort into taking pictures, and was realistic about prices. She says, ‘I did all I could to stand out from the crowd and offer something that no other panty seller has, ME.’

Jennie, who began selling when she realised she enjoyed her own scent and partners did too, says: ‘I love the thoughts of someone enjoying and worshiping my used items/scent, especially if I am dominating them also.

‘It’s a turn-on and its a lot of fun, I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy.’

She takes pictures of herself in the items, and has built up a loyal following, but is well aware of the fact it’s a business like any other.

Jennie tells us, ‘You get what you put in..

‘Like most businesses there are peaks and troughs. You wont make millions and you can only wear one pair of panties at a time, prices of which can vary on length of wear and material etc.’

However, her store is doing well, and Jennie’s advice to those considering selling their pants is ‘be yourself and have fun,’ which echoes the enjoyment she shows in what she does.

metro illustration
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Misssmithxxx has been a seller on Panty Trust for five years now. As the other women I spoke to said, she says income can be unpredictable, but ‘typically in the UK a pair worn for 24 hours sells for £15-£20, however people pay extra for wearing longer, worked out in or pee.’

Spending around ten hours a week on her work (which ‘includes going to the post office, packaging up items and answering emails from customers’) she can make up to £500 a week, but this is certainly not guaranteed – and there have been weeks where that figure fell to zero.

The job allows Misssmithxxx to supplement her job in a professional office in a fun way. One of the big thrills for her is getting to wear pretty lingerie, knowing her customers will get something out of it too.

She tells us, ‘I think I buy new underwear at least twice a month now sometimes even weekly! It really is such a rush when a buyer tells you how much they have enjoyed your scent and underwear and I love getting messages of appreciation.’

Realism is key at Panty Trust. After all, how can a seller sell 20 pairs a week? They’d hardly be worn at all, which defeats the object of ‘used’ underwear entirely. For all of the women I chatted to, it’s about mutual respect between seller and customer, which means giving each pair around 24 hours’ wear, and making sure there’s a genuine transaction rather than leaving anyone feeling shortchanged.

Sex work can often be touted as a ‘get rich quick’ scheme, perhaps in part by sites wishing to get eager new sign-ups. With panty selling in particular, there may be a perception that you don’t need to do much at all to rack up the numbers in your bank account.

The truth is, however, that you’ll need great photography skills, a flair for writing, and a knack for customer service. You need to own your business and carve out your niche, and only then will you start seeing repeat custom and regular sales.

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Please don’t wash and reuse condoms and dental dams

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(Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)

Please don’t wash out condoms and reuse them.

Don’t skip the washing and just reuse them, either.

These might feel like obvious bits of advice, but they’re necessary to state – there are people washing and reusing condoms and dental dams, entirely unaware that this is a very, very bad idea.

The CDC recently tweeted about the issue, writing: ‘We say it because people do it: Don’t wash or reuse #condoms! Use a fresh one for each #sex act.’

To which people responded with shock that anyone would wash and reuse a condom, along with a bunch of jokes about turning condoms inside out (don’t do that either).

But the CDC know what they’re on about. There definitely are people who reckon that instead of using a fresh condom they can just rinse out a used one and go at it again.

There’s no recent data on how many people are reusing protection, but a 2012 study published in Sexual Health found that between 1.4% to 3.3% of respondents had reused a condom at least twice.

The real stats may be more concerning, as that study relied on self-reporting. It’s not clear how many people are quietly reusing condoms, having never been told that it’s not a good move.

So, we repeat, in the hopes that someone who needs this information will see it: Do not reuse a condom or dental dam.

When you reuse a condom or dental dam you significantly reduce its effectiveness at protecting you and your sexual partner from sexual infections and pregnancy.

That’s down to a few reasons, including the spread of bacteria and the risk of tears.

‘Condoms are designed to be used once and disposed of,’ Bekki Burbidge, deputy chief executive at sexual health charity FPA, explains to Metro.co.uk.

‘Condoms that have already been used will be weaker and more likely to tear, split or leak.

(Picture: Getty)

‘Washing a condom won’t necessarily remove all traces of bacteria, body fluids or other things that might lead to an infection. And some cleaning products could damage the condom and may also irritate your genitals and put you at risk of infection.

‘External condoms are designed to be unrolled down the penis quickly and easily. Once a condom is unrolled, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to get it back on the penis and could damage to the condom in the process.’

Dental dams may not tear as easily, but licking ’em, washing ’em, then reusing ’em means you’re putting a cocktail of bacteria in contact with your mouth and genitals, which could cause irritation, and, again, increase your risk of infection.

‘Condoms and dams should never be used more than once, for any reason,’ says Bekki. ‘Reusing condoms and dams increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections and makes condoms less effective in protecting against pregnancy.

‘Always use a new condom every time you have sex. It’s also important to use a new condom for each new sex act, for example if you switch from vaginal sex to anal sex.’

Thanks to the lack of data on the area, we don’t know for sure why people are reusing condoms – whether it’s down to a lack of information or a choice to take the risk to avoid buying more protection.

Some people may be worried about the cost of condoms and could be reusing to avoid the need to buy more. Perhaps people think it’s embarrassing to buy condoms and dental dams, so might be avoiding the purchase.

One thing that’s worth noting in both cases: It’s super easy to get free condoms.

Money should never be prohibitive to your sexual health, and if you’re worried about cost it’s a much better choice to head to a sexual health clinic for freebies rather than putting yourself at risk.

‘If you’re on a tight budget, there are lots of places to get free condoms, so you don’t have to put your health at risk,’ explains Bekki. ‘In most areas, people under 25 can join a local C-Card scheme to access free condoms, and many contraception and sexual health clinics, genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics, and some general practices will also provide free condoms to people of all ages.’

Simple, right?

So there’s really no excuse. Use condoms and dental dams, throw them away when you’re done, and always use fresh protection for a new sex session or when you’re switching between oral, anal, or vaginal sex.

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Grace Victory says she lost more than a hundred followers for posting a photo of her period

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(Picture: gracefvictory)

Blogger and YouTuber Grace Victory is often called the ‘Internet’s Big Sister’, and has campaigned for body image issues throughout her career.

When she decided to take a stand against period poverty, however, some of her Instagram followers seemed less than pleased.

After posting a period picture she immediately lost 150 followers. Commenters wrote ‘Eww’ underneath the post, or told of how it made them uncomfortable.

Far from a graphic TMI shot, however, the photo Grace posted simply shows her sleeping, with a red patch beside her on the sheets – an all too common occurrence for any of us with periods.

Instagram Photo

Grace has posted about period poverty before, but it seemed that this photo struck a particular nerve. She told Metro.co.uk that she’s been in partnership with Always UK campaigning on the topic: ‘I posted that particular photo because I just felt inspired to open up a conversation. I didn’t actually expect that much to happen other than other people who bleed discussing their periods.

‘I just want to become more liberated and free within myself and sometimes I like to share that publicly.’

Based on what some would deem an inoffensive post 150 of Grace’s followers immediately jumped ship, but there was also plenty of support in the comments section.

The author of ‘life guide’ No Filter said that the negativity didn’t bother her personally, though, telling us ‘I’m used to receiving criticism so it didn’t bother me that much, it was more the shame and dislike of period blood that rubbed me the wrong way.’

Instagram Photo

She thinks people likely unfollowed due to the curated nature of Instagram, and these pictures not showing the usual perfect lifestyle that our feeds offer us. However she did say that others did feel a visceral reaction and some objected on religious grounds:

‘From the comments some people felt it was “disgusting”, “unneeded” and “too shocking”.

‘I also had some comments and private messages that the photo was too much for them due to cultural and religious beliefs.’

It hasn’t stopped Grace, though, and she wants period to see periods as ‘a sacred and amazing thing that some of us go through.’

She quotes poet Nayyirah Waheed who said ‘I bleed every month and I do not die. How am I not magic?’

If only some people would catch up with the sentiment.

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Horror lovers, rejoice: Blood covered Jaws themed bath bombs exist

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METRO GRAB - taken from Etsy articles no permission This ?Jaws? bath bomb turns your tub into a shark-attack scene https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553790498/jaws-attack-bath-bomb?ref=shop_home_active_1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553351575/pennywise-it-bath-bomb?ref=related-1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/547863052/silence-of-the-lambs-bath-bomb?ref=related-3 Etsy
(Picture: Etsy)

Leeds-based bath bomb shop BubbleManiaCo has created a Jaws themed bath bomb that looks super creepy once it hits the water.

The bath bomb is inspired by the 1975 film, and comes in blue, topped with a shark silhouette with sharp teeth and blood pouring out of its mouth.

While it sounds a little gory for your 9pm bubble bath – don’t worry, because once it explodes, you aren’t left in a blood bath.

METRO GRAB - taken from Etsy articles no permission This ?Jaws? bath bomb turns your tub into a shark-attack scene https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553790498/jaws-attack-bath-bomb?ref=shop_home_active_1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553351575/pennywise-it-bath-bomb?ref=related-1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/547863052/silence-of-the-lambs-bath-bomb?ref=related-3 Etsy
(Picture: Etsy)

Instead, your water turns a really pretty blue with notes of pink. Lovely.

The bath bomb is denser and heavier than your standard bath bomb, and is handmade to order, costing £7.19.

It also smells like bubblegum – which is a much nicer scent than mauled flesh, don’t you think?

This isn’t the first time BubbleManiaCo has released a horror theme bath bomb.

METRO GRAB - taken from Etsy articles no permission This ?Jaws? bath bomb turns your tub into a shark-attack scene https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553790498/jaws-attack-bath-bomb?ref=shop_home_active_1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553351575/pennywise-it-bath-bomb?ref=related-1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/547863052/silence-of-the-lambs-bath-bomb?ref=related-3 Etsy
(Picture: Etsy)

They also sell bath bombs inspired by Silence of the Lambs and IT. Yes, you can really lay back in the water staring at a floating Pennywise the Clown.

Like the Jaws one, both bath bombs also cost £7.19.

In true clown fashion, the IT bath bomb turns your water into rainbow colours, while the Silence of the Lambs bomb – which comes with the signature butterfly pictured on the original film cover – comes with red and gold glitter.

METRO GRAB - taken from Etsy articles no permission This ?Jaws? bath bomb turns your tub into a shark-attack scene https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553790498/jaws-attack-bath-bomb?ref=shop_home_active_1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/553351575/pennywise-it-bath-bomb?ref=related-1 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/547863052/silence-of-the-lambs-bath-bomb?ref=related-3 Etsy
(Picture: Etsy)

If you aren’t a horror fan, don’t worry, because the Etsy company also creates bath bombs inspired by films such as Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland.

But come on, if you’re going to choose to buy your bath products from somewhere that sells horror bath bombs, you might as well buy something scary – right?

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