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Why do dogs wag their tails and do they control it?

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(Picture: Getty)

We love our doggos and despite not being able to communicate with them, we have a few ways of knowing what they want.

When they wag their tails, for example, we usually assume it’s because they are happy or if you see one doing it in the park, you assume that they’re friendly, approachable pets.

Some believe that our canine companions do it to convey their emotional state although there isn’t any definitive answer for why they move their tails around.

Dr Stanley Coren, a professor at the University of British Columbia says a dog’s tail movement serves the same function as a human smile.

‘The tail’s position, specifically the height at which it is held, can be considered a sort of emotional meter,’ he said in Psychology Today.

‘A middle height suggests the dog is relaxed. If the tail is held horizontally, the dog is attentive and alert. As the tail position moves farther up, it is a sign the dog is becoming more threatening, with a vertical tail being a clearly dominant signal: “I’m boss around here,” or a warning, “Back off or suffer the consequences.”‘

‘As the tail position drops lower, it is a sign that the dog is becoming more submissive, is worried, or feels poorly. The extreme expression is the tail tucked under the body, which is a sign of fear: “Please don’t hurt me.”‘

(Picture: Getty)

So can dogs control their tails wagging?

Dog tail language is complex; just like humans, they also have dialects and speed determines different feelings.

The speed of the wag indicates how excited the dog is. Meanwhile, the breadth of each tail sweep reveals whether the dog’s emotional state is positive or negative.

It also appears that they often start wagging out of instinct, not out of conscious thought. It’s kind of like a human frowning (or resting bitch face) and is an instinctive thing rather than a conscious decision.

If you were really keen, you could keep a dog-tail-wagging dictionary to learn more about your canine friend.

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71-year-old woman gets her first tattoo in honour of her dying cat Twerpy

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A pensioner has proved its never too late to get inked by getting her first tattoo at 71 in homage to her dying pet cat
(Picture: James Speakman/Caters News)

A 71-year-old woman has proved it’s never too late to get a tattoo – after getting a homage to her dying pet cat inked on her wrist.

Lesley Holmes, from Burnley, Lancs, decided to get a cat’s paw encased in a heart tattooed on her wrist as a reminder to 17-year-old kitty Twerpy, who doesn’t have long to live.

Lesley got the tattoo so she can look at her wrist and always remember the fluffy pedigree cat, who suffers from a kidney condition.

The retired council worker has had twelve cats over the years but she said her connection with Twerpy is ‘very special’.

Pic by James Speakman/Caters News - (Pictured: Lesley Holmes, 71, and her cat Twerpy, 17, who she has just got a tattoo of to remember him when he passes away.) -A pensioner has proved its never too late to get inked by getting her first tattoo at 71 in homage to her dying pet cat. Lesley Holmes, from Burnley, Lancs, decided to get the cat paw encased in a heart tattooed on her wrist as a reminder to 17-year-old moggy Twerpy, who doesnt have long to live.SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: James Speakman/Caters News)

She said: ‘I did the tattoo because I wanted to have something to remember Twerpy by.

‘All my girlfriends said I was stupid when I told them.

‘I’ve always wanted one but friends and family were always trying to put me off.

‘My daughter said to me, “Mum, don’t you think you’re a bit old for a tattoo?”

‘But I thought I’m not getting younger, and the cat neither so I said I’d go for it – then I came up with the idea of the paw tattoo.

Pic by James Speakman/Caters News - (Pictured: Lesley Holmes, 71 who has just got a tattoo of her Twerpy to remember him when he passes away.) - A pensioner has proved its never too late to get inked by getting her first tattoo at 71 in homage to her dying pet cat. Lesley Holmes, from Burnley, Lancs, decided to get the cat paw encased in a heart tattooed on her wrist as a reminder to 17-year-old moggy Twerpy, who doesnt have long to live.SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: James Speakman/Caters News)

‘I think what finally pushed me to do it was that everybody was trying to push me out of it.

‘It didn’t hurt much, I am very satisfied with the result and I am now already thinking about the next one.’

It’s not just Lesley who loves her cat. Her family are also all very attached to Twerpy, so much so that when Lesley goes on holiday to Spain this year her husband William, 73, a retired accountant, is staying back home to take care of him.

According to Lesley, Twerpy has anxiety problems and doesn’t like being left alone for more than a couple of days.

She said the family have an extra special connection with Twerpy as they got him by coincidence.

Lesley said: ‘Twerpy came to us because there was a young lady living across the road and when she moved, she left him there with water and food.

‘He was crying all the time and when she came back to pick him up, he had already made his choice – to stay with us.

‘He is a cat with an attitude, he’s a monster. Everybody knows him as “The Boy”.

Pic by James Speakman/Caters News - (Pictured: Lesley Holmes, 71, and her cat Twerpy, 17, who she has just got a tattoo of to remember him when he passes away.) -A pensioner has proved its never too late to get inked by getting her first tattoo at 71 in homage to her dying pet cat. Lesley Holmes, from Burnley, Lancs, decided to get the cat paw encased in a heart tattooed on her wrist as a reminder to 17-year-old moggy Twerpy, who doesnt have long to live.SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: James Speakman/Caters News)

‘He’s got so much fur, he looks like a miniature sheep.’

‘My husband didn’t want to leave Twerpy alone, so he’s staying back to take care of him.’

Lesley had her tattoo done at Creative Arts Tattoo & Gallery in Burnley on Wednesday.

Manager of the shop Natalie George, 36, said: ‘Lesley wanted something to remember her cat by once he is gone.

‘At first, the plan was to get the exact design of Twerpy’s paws.

‘As this area is very sensitive for cats it couldn’t be done, so Lesley picked one of our designs instead.

‘She is a very sweet lady and we were happy to work with her.’

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Harry Potter Sorting Hat from Argos will actually tell you which House you’re in

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You can now get a Harry Potter sorting hat to put you in a Hogwarts house Credit: Warner Bros.
(Picture: Warner Bros)

You can now buy an actual, real-life Sorting Hat.

Yes, you can finally reenact the moment Harry Potter begs not to be put into Slytherin in front of the school.

The Sorting Hat looks just like the original from the Harry Potter franchise – and even comes with the same grumpy face.

All you have to do is put it on, and the talking hat will tell you which house you belong in.

The hat comes from Argos, and costs £39.99.

You can now get a Harry Potter sorting hat to put you in a Hogwarts house METRO GRAB taken from: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/8656982?storeID=4328&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59130|acid:289-152-2757|cid:599679308|agid:24126975897|tid:aud-144400486596:pla-511022759404|crid:94168518057|nw:g|rnd:3735021692528018145|dvc:c|adp:1o1|mt:|loc:1006628&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzK_bBRDDARIsAFQF7zOv5DvTPN6sCX7mzP3ZvgEZMGyd8cJlZGlayUesOlGvo3WgVVx-wD0aApIkEALw_wcB Credit: Argos
(Picture: Argos)

The product description reads: ‘Ever wondered which Hogwarts House you’d be in?

‘The Harry Potter Animatronic Sorting Hat can tell you! With 5 phrases at his disposal, your fate is in his hands- will you be in Gryffindor house, Brave at heart; or Slytherin, cunning and shrewd?

You can now get a Harry Potter sorting hat to put you in a Hogwarts house METRO GRAB taken from: http://www.argos.co.uk/product/8656982?storeID=4328&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59130|acid:289-152-2757|cid:599679308|agid:24126975897|tid:aud-144400486596:pla-511022759404|crid:94168518057|nw:g|rnd:3735021692528018145|dvc:c|adp:1o1|mt:|loc:1006628&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzK_bBRDDARIsAFQF7zOv5DvTPN6sCX7mzP3ZvgEZMGyd8cJlZGlayUesOlGvo3WgVVx-wD0aApIkEALw_wcB Credit: Argos
(Picture: Argos)

‘Place the hat on your head to find out!’

The best thing about the hat is that you don’t have to settle on which house you’re in.

If you ended up with Gryffindor but were sure you’re a born and bred Hufflepuff, you can always put it back on later to try again – because nobody should have to be sorted into a house they don’t really belong to.

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Romantic teen creates app that lights up his room when his girlfriend presses a button

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(Picture: Justin DeSimpliciis)

Young love seems to be easier to find and maintain these days, what with all the apps designed to help the process along.

Forget about throwing pebbles outside her window or holding up a boom box (did anyone ever really do that?) it’s all about technology these days.

Justin DeSimpliciis, a 16-year-old from Georgia, America, decided to utilise his tech-savvy skills to show his girlfriend, Sarah, how much he cares about her.

He created an app which lights up his room whenever she wants attention. All she has to do is press a button.

Teen romancer creates app that lights up his room when his girlfriend presses a button
(Picture: Justin DeSimpliciis)

Justin told Metro.co.uk he was interested in computers and programming since he was 12 years old.

He’s created programs in the past with his friends for silly things like puns or idioms, he said. But this app, which he is testing under the name of Boyfriend Alarm or the Justin Alert, is a special one.

‘A lot of this project was thinking about how I could show my girlfriend that I care,’ he explained.

‘I originally thought of it as a sort of Bat signal, but that wasn’t the thing that sparked the idea. Honestly, it was probably just a necessity. I noticed that I don’t really pay a lot of attention to my phone when I’m really focused on a video game or programming or something.

‘If I wasn’t thinking a lot about what I could get for my girlfriend I wouldn’t have thought of the idea.’

Teen romancer creates app that lights up his room when his girlfriend presses a button
(Picture: Justin DeSimpliciis)

Justin added that the programme didn’t take long to make either, saying that it was simple conceptually and technically. The hardest part for him was coming up with the idea in the first place.

‘I spent hours just thinking “How can I show Sarah I care? How can I make it personal? How can I make it useful?”

‘I think she really liked it. When I told her I had a present for her, she replied with “babe you can literally get me a rock and I’d be happy.”

‘But yeah I think she definitely saw how much effort I put into it and that’s what really matters.’

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Forget chocolate, you can now buy perfume from a Tiffany & Co vending machine

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Tiffany & Co, Covent Garden store in London includes own vending machine
(Picture: Tiffany & Co)

Forget 80p chocolate bars, because you can now buy perfume from a vending machine, thanks to Tiffany & Co.

The jewellery company has added a new vending machine to its London store, where, instead of buying a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps, you can buy their first fragrance.

The blue vending machine comes in celebration of the brand’s new store, which opened earlier this month in Covent Garden.

Tiffany & Co, Covent Garden store in London includes own vending machine
(Picture: Tiffany & Co)

Alongside the vending machine, they’ve also included Tiffany Blue Wooden crates displaying their favourite ‘Everyday Object’ accessories, and a #MakeItTiffany personalisation bar.

Richard Moore, vice president, creative director of store design and creative visual merchandising at Tiffany & Co said: ‘We’ve integrated uniquely playful displays that reflect the wit and humour of Tiffany design to create a one-of-a-kind, experiential destination.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a vending machine offering more than just snacks.

Tiffany & Co, Covent Garden store in London includes own vending machine
(Picture: Tiffany & Co)

Back in April, a gin and tonic vending machine was installed at the Barton Arcade in Manchester.

The vending machine came as part of an advertising campaign for Lone Wolf Spirits, who were giving away the cans of gin for free from 16 – 17 April.

Sadly, the gin and tonic vending machine is no longer there – but hey, at least there’s one for perfume, right?

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Danish designer puts on fashion show protesting burka ban

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CAPTION CORRECTS THE GARMENTS - Models display creations by Iranian born designer Reza Etamadi during a MUF10 fashion show in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. An Iranian-born fashion designer has stolen the limelight at a fashion show when showcasing models in niqabs and dressed as police officers appeared on the catwalk as part of his collection themed around women wearing face veil, days after a new law banning such garments in public places entered into force. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
(Picture: Ritzau Scanpix)

After Denmark passed a law to ban Muslim women from wearing niqabs and burkas in public, designer Reza Etamadi decided to get political.

The Danish fashion designer, who was born in Iran, put on an emphatic display during Copenhagen Fashion Week, featuring models wearing headscarves and veils.

Models advertised new lines for streetwear brand MUF10 while wearing traditional Muslim dress.

The runaway show came days after the law came into effect which will penalise those who wear it.

Punishments include first offence fines of more than £100 which can reach up to £1,200 with a potential jail sentence of six months.

CAPTION CORRECTS THE GARMENTS - Models display creations by Iranian born designer Reza Etamadi during a MUF10 fashion show in Copenhagen, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. An Iranian-born fashion designer has stolen the limelight at a fashion show when showcasing models in niqabs and dressed as police officers appeared on the catwalk as part of his collection themed around women wearing face veil, days after a new law banning such garments in public places entered into force. (Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
(Picture: Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

‘I have a duty to support all women’s freedom of speech and freedom of thought,’ he told AP.

‘In Iran where I was born, women fight to freely choose what to wear. In Denmark, where I grew up, women were free to choose how dressed or covered they wanted to dress.

‘I have no unanimous attitude toward the ban in general but I have a principle: No man should decide what women should wear.’

The show also featured models playing police officers and one female officer passing a flower to a veiled woman to show support.

Two masked men could also be seen sitting on the ground in handcuffs next to the policemen.

Many Danish people opposed the ban and protested on the streets at the beginning of the month despite risking fines.

Austria, France and Belgium also have similar bans.

Fotis Filippou, Amnesty International’s deputy Europe director, explained the devastating consequences the laws are going to have on Muslim women.

‘Whilst some specific restrictions on the wearing of full-face veils for the purposes of public safety may be legitimate, this blanket ban is neither necessary nor proportionate and violates women’s rights to freedom of expression and religion,’ he said.

More protests are expected to take place.

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People having affairs tend to keep having sex with the partner they’re cheating on

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

We’d like to think that if we were being cheated on, we’d know about it.

We’d see the signs. We’d pick up a general vibe of disloyalty.

One of the signs we’d be watching out for: a sudden dip in the amount of sex we’re having. If they’re getting laid somewhere else they won’t be as keen to have sex with us, right?

Well, apparently not.

A new survey of 1,000 people from Illicit Encounters (yep, that’s the dating site for people looking for affairs) found that two thirds of people having affairs carry on having sex with their main partners.

So no, someone who’s cheating won’t automatically lose their interest in sex with their partner. That’s not a reliable sign to wait for if you’re suspicious.

33% of cheats said they made an effort to maintain their usual sex routine so they don’t raise suspicion.

Four in ten cheats say they actually have more sex with their significant other than before, as the excitement of having an affair heightens their sex drive.

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

Only 15% stop having sex with their partners entirely when they’re cheating, and of those, most had stopped sleeping with their spouse before their affair started.

That’s despite 74% of respondents saying that sex with their bit on the side is better than sex with their regular partner.

The partner in cheating won’t usually know that’s happening, mind you. Only 22% of adulterers tell their lovers that they’re continuing to have sex with their primary partner at home. Naughty.

IllicitEncounters.com spokesman Christian Grant said: ‘What this new research shows is that people start having affairs to add some excitement to their lives.

‘They are almost certainly still having sex with their spouses but it has become a little dull and routine.

‘The excitement of the affairs makes them betters lovers – not just with the person they are cheating with but with their spouse at home.’

So at least if you’re being cheated on you might still have decent sex. We guess that’s a plus?

But in more jaded terms, what we can learn from this survey is that our go-to sign of an affair isn’t legit. Your sex life with your partner is likely to remain exactly the same – or get better than before – rather than coming to a sudden halt.

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Woman yanks away her eyebrows trying to peel off a face mask that won’t budge

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Oh, look, it’s our worst beauty nightmare in real life.

Like many of us, Dayanara Mendivil wanted to try out one of those charcoal peel-off masks to clear her pores and give her skin a deep clean.

It didn’t go well.

When it came time to peel off the mask, it got stuck on her skin and wouldn’t budge.

That’d be bad enough in itself (it’s the pain equivalent of ripping off a giant plaster), but Dayanara also managed to slather the mask all over brows.

That meant that when she tried to peel off the mask, quite a bit of her eyebrows came away with it.

Dayanara and her cousin Amber filmed the painful – but hilarious – process of removing the gunk from Dayanara’s skin, managing to laugh through the struggle of watching a significant portion of her eyebrows get yanked off.

Eventually she realises that there’s no way to peel off the mask without wrecking her eyebrows, so has to brave through pulling the stuff away in tiny pieces, removing hairs with each one.

After filming the video Dayanara shared an ‘after’ image – a close-up of the black mask filled with eyebrow hair.

Girl rips off her eyebrow when Facemask goes wrong
The ‘after’ shot. (Picture: Facebook/Amber Ladd Callis)

There are some lessons we can learn from this incident.

First off, be careful with peel-off masks. If they hurt to remove and you have to yank the dried mask away, you could be causing damage to your skin – and end up pulling away hairs.

Secondly, avoid your eyebrows when you’re applying any mask, especially peel-off ones.

And finally, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation – mask refusing to budge and eyebrows in peril – try an oil-based cleanser. That should break down the mask enough to wipe it away without causing any loss to your glorious brows.

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McDonald’s is giving out a gold card that entitles you to two free meals a week for the rest of your life

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(Picture: McDonald’s/Metro.co.uk)

There have long been rumours of a magical McDonald’s gold card that gives the holder free burgers for life.

Rob Lowe, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet all have one, apparently, as well as a 100-year-old McDonald’s-loving woman, and a man who abandoned a Big Mac to help rescue three kidnapped women.

But while the rumours have raged on, there hasn’t been any confirmation from McDonald’s that the cards exist – or any information on how you’d go about getting your own.

Until now, that is.

Across the pond in the U.S., McDonald’s has released a video stating that yes, the McGold Card does exist… and they’re running a competition to give one lucky person a gold card of their own.

This particular McGold Card will be different from the ones held by celebs, as rather than a card, it’ll be a phone case engraved with the winner’s name. It’ll also be made out of 24-karat gold. Fancy.

The winner of the phone case gets a lifetime of free McDonald’s, entitling them to two meals up to $7 a week for at least 50 years.

Now, before you rush into your nearest Macca’s all excited, you’ll notice that we said those meals can be up to $7.

There’s a reason we’ve said dollars, not pounds: The competition is only happening in the U.S., and when we previously asked McDonald’s UK about the existence of the magical cards they told us: ‘The gold card does not exist in the UK and we have no plans of introducing it.’

Which, yes, sounds like exactly what a restaurant with a plan to launch a gold card would say, but we reckon it’s wise to avoid getting your hopes up.

If you do live in the U.S., however, you are blessed with the chance to get your paws on free burgers for life.

All you have to do is place an order on the McDonald’s app any time between Friday 10 August and 24 August to be in the running. Or if you don’t fancy buying some fries, you can email entry@amoeentry.com with the date in the subject line and your full name in the body of the email. Easy.

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Grandmother discovers her ‘ugly’ nails were a sign of lung cancer

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Jean was shocked to discover that her clubbed nails were a sign of lung cancer (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

A grandmother has shared photos of her ‘ugly’ nails to raise awareness that they can be a sign of cancer.

Jean Taylor, 53, was shocked to discover that her drooped nails were a symptom of lung cancer.

She’d assumed her nails, which curved down rather than growing straight, were a family trait, as her mother – who lost half a lung to cancer – had them as well.

But when her daughter Stephanie spotted her nails, she was concerned. She Googled curved nails and found that they could be a sign of cancer.

Jean assumed nothing would be wrong (a Google search always says cancer for any symptom, right?) but decided to go to the doctor to reassure Stephanie.

Doctors recognised the symptom immediately and sent her for a series of tests. Scans found two tumours the size of golf balls in her lungs.

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: JEAN TAYLOR'S CURVED OR CLUBBED NAILS THAT SHE THOUGHT WERE JUST 'UGLY' BUT WERE SYMPTOM OF LUNG CANCER) A young gran who just thought she had 'ugly' nails has now praised them for saving her life - after they revealed she had cancer. Jean Taylor, 53, felt ???ridiculous??? going to the doctor for her nails that curved around her fingertips but her daughter Stephanie Taylor, 31, begged her to seek advice. Yet the gran-of-three was horrified when her doctor diagnosed her with stage one lung cancer less than a month later after a series of painful tests. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 660 8596
Jean had assumed her droopy nails were a family trait (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

‘I’d been working in a factory so my nails were really short,’ says Jean. ‘I got an office job about six weeks ago and they decided to grow.

‘I’ve always had weak nails and I’ve never got them to this length because they were never strong and I was working in a factory.

‘My daughter said “god, they’re ugly”. I didn’t want to go to the doctor over a curved nail, but I did it to put my daughter’s mind at rest.

‘She’s the Google queen, and when you Google it the first thing that comes up in big bold letters is cancer.

‘I felt ridiculous going to the doctor over a curved nail. I just thought I was wasting their time.

‘I never in a million years thought it would be this. Never. I just said “I feel stupid, but I’ve come about this” and I held my hand up.’

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: JEAN TAYLOR'S CURVED OR CLUBBED NAILS THAT SHE THOUGHT WERE JUST 'UGLY' BUT WERE SYMPTOM OF LUNG CANCER) A young gran who just thought she had 'ugly' nails has now praised them for saving her life - after they revealed she had cancer. Jean Taylor, 53, felt ???ridiculous??? going to the doctor for her nails that curved around her fingertips but her daughter Stephanie Taylor, 31, begged her to seek advice. Yet the gran-of-three was horrified when her doctor diagnosed her with stage one lung cancer less than a month later after a series of painful tests. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 660 8596
Jean hopes that by sharing her story she’ll raise awareness of a little known symptom of cancer (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

Jean now faces surgery to remove cancer from her left and right lungs, alongside intense therapy.

After she was diagnosed, Jean went to a salon to have her ‘ugly’ nails painted a glittery silver, to celebrate them saving her life thanks to an early diagnosis.

She also shared photos of her nails on Facebook to raise awareness of a symptom of cancer few of us are aware of.

The photos have been shared more than 85,000 times.

‘These nails are my life savers and I’m not cutting them off,’ says Jean.

‘They’re gonna grow, and if I have to put silver bells and fireworks on the end of them to raise awareness, I will.

‘I’ve got so many people sending me shares of their nails, but I’m no expert – I’ve only been diagnosed less than 48 hours.

‘People out there are terrified now and saying “my mum had that and it was never picked up and she died of lung cancer”.

‘I feel sorry for these people. I want to help. But I’m not qualified to look at anyone’s nails.’

Jean wants to encourage nail technicians to be trained to look out for club nails on their clients, with the hopes that this will speed up diagnoses and save lives.

‘They should know about it, because if people are wearing acrylic nails the only time they’re going to have their nails seen is by a nail technician,’ Jean explains.

‘I think it’s so important for them to know. It could definitely save their [customers’] lives. Whether the nails look ugly or not, they saved my life.

‘I’ve just been dealt a curveball. It’s a very unfair curveball but somebody has to go through it and I’m just glad I’ve put it out there now.’

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Allergic reactions to gel and acrylic manicures could leave you with an itchy rash and loose nails

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(Picture: Getty)

A word of caution before you get your nails done: Dermatologists have warned that the trend for gel and acrylic manicures is causing an ‘allergy epidemic’ in the UK.

While a lick of polish may seem harmless, a reaction can cause adverse effects such as red and itchy rashes in different areas of the body, loosened nails, and difficulty breathing.

The British Association of Dermatologists said an audit of 13 dermatology units last year found that 2.4% of people tested had an allergy to at least one type of (meth)acrylate chemicals – they key ingredients in acrylic nails, gel nails, and gel polish.

That might not seem like a huge percentage of the population, but those are only the people who have been tested for allergies. There may be more people with sensitivities to these chemicals that aren’t aware of potential allergies.

A separate survey of 742 people attending dermatology clinics found that 19% had experienced negative effects from acrylic nails applied in salons, while 16% had a negative reaction to a gel manicure in a salon.

(Picture: Getty)

Issues occur when uncured chemicals come into contact with the skin, which is most likely to happen when people apply gel or acrylic products to themselves or they go to a nail technician who hasn’t been properly trained.

Basically, when the products go outside of the nail and on to the skin, problems can pop up.

And because our fingers and nails come into contact with plenty of other parts of our body, itchy rashes can spread fast. You might start with some pain on your fingers, then scratch your face and come up in a rash or wash your hair and develop an itchy scalp.

Rashes are the most common negative reaction, but loosening nails and – in very rare cases – breathing problems can also occur in response to gel and acrylic manicures.

Dr David Orton, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: ‘It is really important that people know they can develop allergies from artificial nails.

‘The truth is that there will be many women out there with these allergies who remain undiagnosed, because they may not link their symptoms to their nails, especially if the symptoms occur elsewhere on the body.

‘It is important that they get a diagnosis so that they can avoid the allergen, but also because developing an allergy to these chemicals can have lifelong consequences for dental treatments and surgeries where devices containing these allergens are in common use.’

(Picture: Getty)

BAD want to encourage people to carry out patch tests with these products, and be very careful when using DIY gel and acrylic kits.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Deirdre Buckley, who led the audit of dermatology units last year, said: ‘Although the rate of allergy to (meth)acrylates is continuing to increase, many doctors are unaware of the issue, and these chemicals are not routinely included in patch tests.

‘We would particularly urge people to be careful when using home kits.

‘If you do use one, make sure that you use the recommended UV lamp for curing, and read the instructions carefully.

‘Using the wrong lamp may mean that the gel polish does not cure properly, and this means an increased chance of allergy.

‘Avoid any direct skin contact with the (meth)acrylate nail product.’

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It’s time to celebrate the stay at home dad: We don’t deserve your prejudice

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Chris and his son (Photo: Chris McGuire)

I’m a stay at home dad, and I’m getting bored.

What am I bored of?

My two year old’s company?

No, he’s far too energetic to be anything even close to boring.

Not having enough to do?

No, I’ve never been busier in my life (I genuinely see working at my desk as ‘me time’).

Changing nappies?

That’s true. But if changing nappies doesn’t bore (or horrify) you, I’d be pretty convinced you’re not human.

What I’m really bored of is the attitudes of other parents (and grandparents) to stay at home dads, like me.

I’m tired of being watched when I take my son to the playground. I’m fed up of saying ‘hello’ to mothers (out with their children, like me) and being blanked.

I’m frustrated by the mutterings of grandparents when they see a man ‘of working age’ in the soft play at 9am on Tuesday morning.

This archaic attitude to men in childcare roles really has to stop, for everyone’s sake.

Stay at home dads are a growing trend, yet the men fulfilling this vital role consistently find themselves treated with either contempt or as a threat.

Yes, I understand when men first entered the weekday childcare world (traditionally occupied exclusively by women), it must have been a surprise. Yet (surely) the time has come to get over the shock and move on.

Women, we all agree, should have equality in the workplace. Yet why are we, as a society, so slow to positively embrace men taking their fair share of childcare – surely the logical result of this parity?

Stay at home dads aren’t in playgrounds because they’re sexual predators, nor are they hunting among the mothers for a potential new mate. They’re not even ‘failures’ taking the ‘easy route’ instead of ‘working for a living’ (all phrases I’ve overheard).

Dads are in playgrounds, soft play centres and (archaically titled) ‘mother and baby’ groups in order to parent their children, it’s as simple (or complex) as that.

Recently, in a soft play centre, an older child began following my son around throwing plastic balls at his head. I asked the child to stop, politely. Nothing happened.

So, I repeated my request, more firmly this time. From nowhere, a mother ran into the area. Without looking at me, she exclaimed, ‘come away from the nasty man,’ and dragged the child off.

Had I been a woman, would she have acted in the same way?

I doubt it.

Children, especially boys, are crying out for strong male role models. We’re all clear about that, aren’t we? So why is it that a dad devoting his time to looking after his own children is strange?

That parenting isn’t easy is something women have understood for years. So why are men criticised as ‘skiving’ when they take the lion’s share of the childcare work?

Women, we all agree, should have equality in the workplace. Yet why are we, as a society, so slow to positively embrace men taking their fair share of childcare – surely the logical result of this parity?

As the government scratches its head, wondering why droves of men aren’t taking up shared parental leave, I’d suggest the solution is clear.

Our society must change its attitudes on what is a ‘manly’ occupation. The days of masculine activities being limited to lifting heavy objects are over. Men in non-traditional job roles (and being a stay at home parent IS a job) aren’t modern day eunuchs.

What could be tougher (or more ‘manly’) than giving up the predictable kudos of bringing home the proverbial smoked pork products in order to support their family in another way?

Together we must create a new consensus that celebrates males in full time parenting roles, ending the era of the playground pariah.

You can find Chris on his blog, Twitter or Instagram.

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Tiny two-floor maisonette for £65,000 could make your dreams of home ownership come true

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Exterior. THIS QUIRKY take on the tiny-home movement shows a two floor maisonette style home available from ??65K that could be a first-time buyer???s dream starter home in the UK. The incredible images show the grey exterior and wooden porch with a lot of windows to flood the home with natural light. Other striking shots show the surprisingly spacious interior with a cost living area and sleek kitchen. Built on a gooseneck trailer, The Goose offers a spacious tiny home on wheels that can sleep up to six people and comes with all of the amenities of a conventional home ??? just in a compact size. The work of Tiny Heirloom, The Goose is eight-foot wide and more than 13-foot tall while it comes in three lengths ??? 27, 30 or 34 feet. It is also available to ship to the UK. Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com
(Picture: Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com)

Not too bothered about having a load of space to roll around in?

This tiny maisonette might be your dream home… and not just because it’s only £65,000.

Built on a gooseneck trailer, The Goose is a tiny home on wheels that can sleep up to six people.

It’s eight foot wide, more than 13 foot tall, and comes in three lengths, 27 foot, 30 foot, or 34 foot.

So yes, it is smaller than your standard house, but apparently it has all the things you could need in a home… just more compact.

Interior. THIS QUIRKY take on the tiny-home movement shows a two floor maisonette style home available from ??65K that could be a first-time buyer???s dream starter home in the UK. The incredible images show the grey exterior and wooden porch with a lot of windows to flood the home with natural light. Other striking shots show the surprisingly spacious interior with a cost living area and sleek kitchen. Built on a gooseneck trailer, The Goose offers a spacious tiny home on wheels that can sleep up to six people and comes with all of the amenities of a conventional home ??? just in a compact size. The work of Tiny Heirloom, The Goose is eight-foot wide and more than 13-foot tall while it comes in three lengths ??? 27, 30 or 34 feet. It is also available to ship to the UK. Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com
The kitchen has a set of stairs that leads to an elevated master bedroom. (Picture: Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com)

The maisonette can be shipped to the UK if you fancy, and is made by tiny home experts Tiny Heirloom.

Inside there’s a master bedroom, a full-size bathroom, a surprisingly spacious living room, and a kitchen with a fold-out table for dining. There are plenty of customisation options if you’re keen on more storage.

The design is pretty lovely, with plenty of natural light to make the space feel bigger and exposed wooden beams crossing a vaulted ceiling.

Kitchen and living area. THIS QUIRKY take on the tiny-home movement shows a two floor maisonette style home available from ??65K that could be a first-time buyer???s dream starter home in the UK. The incredible images show the grey exterior and wooden porch with a lot of windows to flood the home with natural light. Other striking shots show the surprisingly spacious interior with a cost living area and sleek kitchen. Built on a gooseneck trailer, The Goose offers a spacious tiny home on wheels that can sleep up to six people and comes with all of the amenities of a conventional home ??? just in a compact size. The work of Tiny Heirloom, The Goose is eight-foot wide and more than 13-foot tall while it comes in three lengths ??? 27, 30 or 34 feet. It is also available to ship to the UK. Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com
The living room and dining table. (Picture: Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com)

‘The Goose is the culmination of purposeful architecture and a keen eye for design,’ said Tiny Heirloom.

‘Built on a gooseneck trailer it increases mobility and interior floor plan space.

‘A fresh aesthetic flows seamlessly from room to room with windows and skylight options throughout bringing natural light into the home.

Floor plan. THIS QUIRKY take on the tiny-home movement shows a two floor maisonette style home available from ??65K that could be a first-time buyer???s dream starter home in the UK. The incredible images show the grey exterior and wooden porch with a lot of windows to flood the home with natural light. Other striking shots show the surprisingly spacious interior with a cost living area and sleek kitchen. Built on a gooseneck trailer, The Goose offers a spacious tiny home on wheels that can sleep up to six people and comes with all of the amenities of a conventional home ??? just in a compact size. The work of Tiny Heirloom, The Goose is eight-foot wide and more than 13-foot tall while it comes in three lengths ??? 27, 30 or 34 feet. It is also available to ship to the UK. Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com
The floorplan. (Picture: Tiny Heirloom / mediadrumimages.com)

‘A master bedroom located at the front of the home creates a separate space for privacy.

‘Options to add a closet or two additional lofts makes this home ideal for larger families or lifestyles.

‘A full-size bathroom with modern amenities and the spacious living room are designed for function and style creating a relaxing and visually appealing space. The modern farmhouse exterior is simplistic yet undeniably attractive.’

If you’re ready to commit to a little place of your own, you can find out more information through Tiny Heirloom.

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You can now buy a pool float designed for pregnant mums with baby bumps

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(Picture: Peanut)

The crisp bag, the avocado, the donut.

No, we’re not just listing random, delicious foods – we’re talking about pool floats.

Long gone is the boring, rectangular-shaped lilo you bought on holiday with your parents in a Spanish resort.

Peanut, the app for mothers, has taken things a step further with the launch of a new, purpose-designed float made specifically for pregnant women.

The aptly named ‘Peanut’ features a large hole just below the headrest, so that pregnant women can sprawl comfortably on their fronts while in the pool, without squishing their tummies.

Written on the side of the float in a solidarity to pregnant women everywhere is: ‘Put your feet up mama, we’ve got you’.

(Picture: Peanut)

‘We have seen lots of mamas-to-be talking on Peanut about how much they miss being able to lie on their fronts so I wanted to make something just for them,’ said founder of Peanut, Michelle Kelly.

This isn’t the first purpose-built pool float to appear on the market; earlier this year, lingerie brand Bravissimo fooled the world on April Fools’ day, telling us they were creating a pool float for women with larger breasts.

The big breast boob float (Picture: Bravissimo)

But women on Instagram got so excited at the prospect of it, with one saying it would be ‘amazeboobs’ if they created it, that the company decided to launch its ‘cup-holder’ lilo just a few months later.

Want to get your hands on a pregnancy pool float and make the most of the heatwave?

You’re in luck – Peanut is giving expectant mums the chance to win a free float, if you like and comment on the advertisement for it on the brand’s Pages.

And once your little peanut is born and you fancy a new inflatable, you could always give the cockroach lilo a go.

No, really, we’re not kidding.

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Lion brows are the low maintenance look worth trying

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(Picture: Instagram/bambilegit)

Okay, so you saw Rihanna’s Vogue cover and were tempted – for one brief moment – to tweeze your eyebrows back into 90s oblivion.

Do not do it.

Yes, Rihanna makes an extremely thin eyebrows look good. But Rihanna makes everything look good.

Do not fall for this trap and pluck away your eyebrows for this fleeting trend. You’ll regret it the moment Rihanna pops up on the Fenty Beauty Instagram with thick, luscious brows.

If you are looking to get in on a brow trend, we’d recommend lion brows instead.

Glamour reports that the lion mane brow will be everywhere this season, gracing the faces of every model and it girl you’ll spy on the catwalks and on the gram.

Sadly, the lion mane brow does not refer to sticking fur on your brows or painstakingly painting them to look like a lion, as makeupbycatha did last year.

Instagram Photo

Instead the trend is based on making your eyebrows as thick and full as a lion’s mane.

How, you may ask? Simply by brushing your eyebrows upwards so they take up more space on your face. Simple.

But it’s not that simple for everyone.

Instagram Photo

If you’re not blessed with a thick brow, brushing upwards will make your little hairs look a tad wispy. If your brows are overly groomed, they won’t have the wild lion look we’re after.

The first step in creating lion brows is to ditch the waxing and tweezers and to leave the hairs underneath your arch entirely alone.

Once you’ve got some growth you can go in with a brow pencil, making light strokes to create the illusion of more teeny hairs, then brush, build up, and set the brows with a pomade or gel (Glossier’s Boy Brow will do the trick).

Instagram Photo

Be warned: This look is not about blocky, perfectly groomed eyebrows.

They’re supposed to be soft, wild, and free. Just like a lion.

Take a browse through the pics below for some IRL inspiration, then set down your tweezers, grab your gel, and let those brows roar.

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Why does my dog suddenly start zooming around?

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(Picture: Andrea Schenke / EyeEm)

Don’t panic, it’s perfectly normal dog behaviour.

If you’ve ever noticed your dog start running joyously for no discernible reason at all, with what looks like smile on their furry face, then they’re having a case of ‘the zoomies’.

The technical name for this sudden burst of energy is FRAP or Frenetic Random Activity Periods.

It’s most commonly seen in puppies and younger dogs, but elderly canines are perfectly capable to indulging in the zoomies if the mood takes them.

We don’t know exactly why dogs get the zoomies, but they’re usually an indication that your pup is happy and full of beans.

They just want to run and jump because life is good.

The zoomies often occur right after bath time, which is an indication that either they’re stoked to be nice and clean, or they’re relieved that the soapy ordeal is over.

However, dogs can FRAP in moments of extreme stress and this is believed to be because they’re trying to relieve the anxiety by burning off nervous energry.

If you’re dog is ready to zoom, make sure they can do it safely.

Zooming is fine in an enclosed back garden, but if you’re in public you’ll need to keep your dog on a lead.

You should avoid letting your pupper zoom into the road, and there’s also the chance that they could knock into a pedestrian or come into contact with a less friendly dog if they’re allowed to zoom without proper supervision.

Trixie, the Jack Russell Terrier. Loves to run as fast as she can.
This Jack Russell Terrier is enjoying a case of the zoomies. (Picture: Emery Way)

If your dog does get away from you when they’re got the zoomies, the temptation will be to chase after them.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, run in the opposite direction of where your dog is headed, while loudly (but not angrily) calling for them to follow you.

Having a bag of treats in hand will provide an added incentive for your pup to change course.

At home, zooming on laminate or smooth tiles can mean your dog goes sliding around.

To stop them crashing into children or elderly family members, make sure you direct your pup to a carpeted area.

There’s no guarantee that ornaments and small bits of furniture won’t get knocked over during an episode of the zoomies, so if you have a garden, it’s a good idea to just open the backdoor when you see that frenetic energy manifest itself.

The zoomies only last for a couple of minutes, or until your dog has tired themselves out, so as long as they’re sprinting in a safe, enclosed area, there’s nothing to worry about.

Zoom on, little pups.

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Aldi’s biggest ever baby event is coming

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(Picture: Aldi)

Budget retailer Aldi is launching a massive baby event this week.

Prices will be slashed across items for babies and toddlers, including baby-proofing equipment, toiletries and food.

For parents and carers looking to grab a bargain, this event will see prices start as low as 59p across all baby and toddler purchases.

The massive sale will start online on 12 August, and hit shops four days later on 16 August.

Items that will undergo a significant price reduction include the Ambiano Baby Food Nutrient Blender, half price at £29.99, the Baby Snuggle Nest which will be 60% cheaper at just £19.99, and a classic Moses basket with stand for £29.99.

Aldi baby and toddler sale event Specialbuys for our smallest customers At our Baby & Toddler Events you???ll find big savings on everything your little ones need, from high chairs, cute cots and snuggly baby blankets, to play mats, bath toys and toddler bed sets. And you can also find amazing prices on a whole range of gorgeous baby clothes and brilliant nursery furniture. So why not sign up to our email newsletter to find out when our next event is hitting stores.
The Ambiano Baby Food Nutrient Blender is almost half the price of the Nutribullet version. (Picture: Aldi)

Games and books for babies and toddlers will also be on offer, including play mats, puzzles and bath toys.

Even the absolute essentials will be reduced as part of this huge sale, with nappy cream and children’s shampoo costing less than £1 and nappies dropping to just £2.89.

Aldi is slashing prices of children’s clothes, bibs and muslin cloths – great news for parents who know that their little one is prone to make a mess.

Speaking of messy eaters, baby food will be on sale as part of the Aldi baby event, with reductions on Organix Banana Baby Biscuits, Mamia Fruit Pot Desserts and Mamia Just Apple, plus healthcare products like colic relief, teething gel and breast pads.

Aldi baby and toddler sale event Specialbuys for our smallest customers At our Baby & Toddler Events you???ll find big savings on everything your little ones need, from high chairs, cute cots and snuggly baby blankets, to play mats, bath toys and toddler bed sets. And you can also find amazing prices on a whole range of gorgeous baby clothes and brilliant nursery furniture. So why not sign up to our email newsletter to find out when our next event is hitting stores.
The My First Bed bundle is just £69.99. (Picture: Aldi)

Safety essentials such as stair gates and highchairs are also on sale, and for parents looking to kit out a new baby’s room, there’s plenty of must-have furniture to choose from, including summer bargains of a changing unit, wardrobe and chest of drawers.

Whether you’re expecting a new baby, buying essentials for your little one or choosing useful bits and pieces as gifts, the Aldi baby event has you covered.

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What is preating and is your partner doing it behind your back?

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

What do you consider cheating?

For some it’s a sext, for others it’s not cheating until the knickers are off.

You set the boundaries in your relationships, but as we learned from dating trends like benching and micro-cheating, there are ways to push those boundaries.

Preating is one of these phenomena, where nothing seems wrong on the surface and your relationship can be ticking on nicely. Go deeper, though, and something sinister is going on.

Preating is the bit that happens right before infidelity. Pre + cheating = preating.

It’s essentially when someone in a relationship puts the feelers out before actually cheating.

That might take the form of slightly flirty messages to someone else, or getting intentionally close to a work crush. Things that are innocuous in and of themselves.

It gives them the adrenaline rush of cheating, but if they get caught, they can easily explain it away as innocent.

The messages aren’t necessarily sexual or romantic in nature, and hanging out with friends or having work pals is never anything to worry about.

Doomed love: Can an affair ever turn into a healthy relationship?
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

There’s been nothing that would actually be considered a red flag, and it’s more about the intention than the action.

A preater is someone who’s seeing which avenues there are if they wanted to stray, and moving towards those avenues in baby steps for safety.

There’s a plausible deniability there if you get turned down or your partner finds out, but if it all goes well you can go forward and cheat.

That’s where it differs to micro-cheating, as it’s done with the intention of seeing whether they could get away with something more (or whether they’d want to).

Whether they’ll actually go through with cheating or not can vary, and will depend on how their toe-dip into the world of infidelity works out.

Although there’s no way to really know if your partner is preating, since the actual behaviour they’re exhibiting will seem relatively normal, you might notice they’re more distant than usual or perhaps you’re fighting more.

They’re doing the mental gymnastics to convince themselves what they’re doing isn’t actually wrong.

After all, you can’t police thoughts, and nobody would want to. Instead of trying to work out if they’re doing anything untoward (with underhand tactics like checking phones) you should focus on ensuring your significant other is the right person for you and building from there.

Do they make you feel loved and appreciated? Are they putting the effort in? Does it seem like your relationship is a priority to them?

They’re the main things that matter.

The frustrating part of all of this is that you’ll never get the morbid satisfaction of knowing you’re with a preater, and no good can come out of trying to find out.

Knowing it exists, and ensuring you never fall into the easy trap of looking elsewhere, is all you can do.

If you find that you’re fantasising about the excitement of someone new, or the feeling of being desired by someone who isn’t your current partner, don’t be tempted to see how it feels by seeing who you could potentially reel in.

It’s normal to be attracted to other people regardless of whether you’re in a relationship, but it’s how you act on it that matters.

Despite the fact you’ll never get caught preating (unless you do a very poor job of it and someone tells your partner), there’s a level of guilt that comes from acting on your feelings in a way that isn’t quite okay.

As a golden rule, anything you’d actively hide from your other half is probably something you shouldn’t be doing in the first place.

Seeing how easy it’d be to cheat on them definitely falls into that category.

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Fancy quitting your job and getting paid to look after a bunch of cats on a Greek island?

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MYTILINI, LESBOS, GREECE - APRIL 4: Fisherman Dimitris Tsirvoulis feeds the stray cats, and a few dogs, that live at the fishing dock, on April 4, 2016 in Mytilini, Lesbos, Greece. He feeds them every day. They got home-cooked pasta and chicken. Mytilini is the biggest town on the island and the place where ferries and cruise ships dock. Lesbos is one of the main destinations for migrants leaving Turkey in small boats. Their presence has kept tourists from coming to the island - which is devastating to local merchants. (Photo by Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images)
(Picture: Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images)

It doesn’t matter how much you love your job, this one’s probably better.

You can now get paid to head to a Greek island and look after a load of cats.

55 cats, to be exact.

God’s Little People Cat Rescue is looking for someone to take over the daily running of their Greek cat sanctuary on the island of Syros.

You’ll need to care for 55 cats, feeding, medicating, and giving each one plenty of love, and if you have experience trapping and handling feral cats, that’s a bonus.

You’ll also need to be able to drive, so you can take cats to the vets if needed.

Santorini, one of the most famous and romantic islands in the world, located in the Aegean sea in Greece. Santorini is still an active volcano and many settlements are located on the caldera of the island. It is famous for couples and sunsets! (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
(Picture: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto)

You need to be great with cats, obviously, and it’s a job suited best for someone who likes nature, tranquility, and hanging out in your own company… plus a lot of cats.

If you want the hustle and bustle of a city, this probably isn’t for you.

In return for looking after the cats, you’ll get to stay in a semi-detached little house with its own garden (rent, water, and electricity all paid for) plus a small salary.

Street full of feeding cats, Megalochori, Santorini (Photo by In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images)
(Picture: Barry Lewis/Getty)

The job is longterm and you’ll need to commit to at least six months, starting in October with a two to four week trial with free accommodation.

The dream candidate is ‘responsible, reliable, honest, practically inclined – and really, with a heart of gold!’

If that’s you and you fancy giving up your day job and living a cat-filled life of joy, you can apply for the gig by emailing an application with a photo and relevant information to joanbowell@yahoo.com.

Be warned though: We reckon this particular role might be very popular. You’ll have stiff competition (mostly from me).

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You probably think your friends are having more sex than they really are

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sex toys competition
(Picture: Ella Byworth/metro.co.uk)

Most of us think other people are having way more sex than they actually are, according to new research published on The Conversation. 

Ipsos, who are a company who do research, is doing a study study on misperceptions, which is going to become a book titled The Perils of Perception. As part of that study, they asked the question: how much sex do you think other people aged 18-29 in their country had sex in the past four weeks.

What happened? They guessed way, way more than the reality.

The average estimate for how often other people had sex per month was 14. The real number? Five in the UK and four in the US (lol we have more sex than you America).

Now, the people doing the estimating do actually know how often they themselves are having sex. Which, if it’s around the average for the UK, is five times a month. Knowing that, they still thought that other people were doing it almost three times more than that, 15 times a month. Which, in turn, demonstrates that we believe other people are having more sex than us. Not just a little bit, either. Three times more.

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

So, why is our perception of other people’s sex lives so wide of the mark?

The Conversation, who published this research claims: ‘Because we don’t have access to very much real-life comparative information, we turn to other “authoritative” sources: playground or locker room chat, dubious surveys, salacious media coverage and porn. These provide extreme examples and dodgy anecdotes that distort our views of reality.’

It could also have something to do with ‘sexaggeration’ – a concept we’ve explored in previous articles where sexual frequency becomes subject to inflation. One person lies about how often they’re doing it, prompting other to do the same and creating a false understanding of what an average sex life really looks like. You can read more about it here. 

MORE: What is preating and is your partner doing it behind your back?

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