‘It feels great sitting in a wet and soiled nappy. For a normal person it would be horrible but for me it feels comforting, while also naughty and humiliating.’

Mark,* a 35 year old who lives in South London, is an adult baby. He has a fetish known as ABDL, which stands for adult baby diaper lovers.

For Mark, his fetish began in early puberty, as, ‘a sense of wanting to be a baby again’. He says it also had a sexual side from the beginning: ‘I’d fantasise about a teacher I fancied changing my nappies. Sometimes at night I’d put all my underpants on at once, to try and feel like I was wearing a nappy. That was when I came for the first time, in a non-wet dream scenario.’

While some involved in ABDL argue there is nothing sexual about it, and that it shouldn’t be classed as a fetish, views within the community vary – and even those who protest ABDL’s innocence send mixed messages.

‘I, and folks talking here, have stated categorically their practice is not fetish or kink. Why are we not being believed?’ says Nottingham based Mummy Grace, a spokesperson for the ABDL community who has a link to fetish site FetLife in her Twitter bio. Mummy Grace, who runs a nursery for adult babies, did not respond to a request for an interview.

And in a similar vein, the Yorkshire based Dotty Diaper Company which sells adult-size nappies and babygros to the ABDL community, declined to be interviewed on the grounds that, ‘honestly there is not much too [sic] tell either unless it’s shocked up like previous media interviews.’ However, despite their claims of media sensationalism, there is a link on the Dotty Diaper site to ‘Dotty After Midnight’ which is, ‘our sister site that focuses purely in the BDSM market.’ For the uninitiated, BDSM stands for bondage discipline sadism and masochism.

The ABDL community seems both secretive and sensitive. The Dotty Diaper Company blocks me on Twitter following my request for an interview, and one adult baby tells me via a Twitter direct message: ‘I don’t use hashtags that would be easily stumbled upon by people outside of the community.’

Daddy Derek, who looks after adult babies at a nursery near Cardiff, tells me on the telephone that he isn’t willing to do an interview as he still feels burned by a 2015 feature in the Liverpool Echo. And Nanny Luna of the ABDL London Nursery tells me to ‘f*** off’ then slams the phone down when I ask if she’ll talk to me about working with adult babies.

Nanny Prudence, who’s based in London and Brighton, agrees to speak to me, but with the following proviso: ‘Please be respectful. I always refuse interviews as usually they become sensationalised and twisted. But I feel the adult baby community is misunderstood, and wanted to be open and honest.’

After initially speaking on the telephone, Nanny Prudence tells me she’ll do the interview via WhatsApp message, to allow her to compose her thoughts. She explains that she started looking after adult babies while working as a dominatrix and fetish actress.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I specialise in roleplay and when someone asked me if I’d do an ABDL roleplay session, I thought why not. It might seem bizarre or perverted to some, but to me it’s another interesting character I can develop, and have fun with.’

Nanny Prudence’s clients are aged 25 to 65, and over 95% are male. She tells me there’s a myth that adult babies are all wealthy and in powerful positions, and she sets out to debunk this, explaining: ‘I’ve had bankers, CEOs, a vicar, and politicians, but also taxi drivers and students. No one picks their fetishes. It’s something that emerges as a part of you – you become aware of it, and either bury or embrace it.’

Wearing a traditional nurse outfit, or a 1950s style dress with heels and seamed stockings, Nanny Prudence offers bottle feeding, baby talk, play time and down time, which consists of listening to lullabies. She also changes her clients’ nappies, ‘wet only, no poop.’ Nanny Prudence doesn’t mind the wee, explaining, ‘I just wash my hands afterwards. I prefer not to wear gloves. I’m not germphobic.’

When her clients have their nappies changed, ‘sometimes they are aroused,’ however, ‘they are not ever allowed to reach for my breasts. Nanny Prudence is very strict about that,’ she says, adding, ‘and it’s never happened.’

According to Nanny Prudence, who charges upwards of £200 an hour, a session with her is essential to the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of her clients, who often book time with her when they’re feeling ‘stressed out and need time out from the daily grind’.

Reflecting on her role, she says: ‘it doesn’t sexually turn me on, but I love it. I see myself as a therapist and I have a lot of fun and freedom, and it’s creative. You have to be an actress to play this role, and make it authentic and not a joke.’

Mark, who works as an estate agent, has never had a session with a professional mummy or nanny to adult babies, explaining, ‘none of them are very pretty. I’d have to fancy them in order to go for it.’

He is, however, aroused simply by wearing a nappy, and although he’s currently single, he fondly recalls a relationship he had with a girlfriend who accommodated his ABDL fetish.

‘It turned me on so much when she changed my nappy,’ he tells us. ‘I was super excited. Sometimes she’d wank me off into my nappy by putting her hand in. We had sex when I was in nappies too, sometimes when I was being changed – or when it was wet, I’d pull it down a bit so my penis poked over the top and we’d do it doggy style.’

The relationship, which started when Mark was at university, lasted several years. During that time, Mark’s girlfriend would feed him, bathe him, spank him, bounce him up and down, and play games like patty cake with him. Mark would wear a nappy at the weekend once a month, or once a fortnight, and his girlfriend would change it for him, even if he did a poo. Mark explains, “it wasn’t her favourite thing about me being in nappies, but she didn’t mind because she was my girlfriend, and she said it was part of going out with a big baby.”

There were times when not changing Mark’s nappy was part of the game. He says: ‘Sometimes she’d punish me, by making me sit in it when it was full. She’d say I was stinky and I’d sit in the corner. I enjoyed that a lot.’

Looking back at their time together, Mark says, ‘she said that ABDL turned her on, but I think it’s weird, so I don’t see how someone else would be turned on by it. If it wasn’t weird, you’d be able to buy adult Pampers in Boots instead of having to get big nappies online!’

Now responsible for changing his own nappies, Mark tells us: ‘I sh*t and p*ss myself, and don’t change until I really have to – like when they are leaking. Even then, I’ll sometimes just put plastic pants on over the top.

‘Sometimes I put myself on a 24 hour “nappy punishment” where I imagine a girlfriend has caught me doing something naughty and she’s punishing me by not changing me.’

At times, Mark takes it further. He says, ‘the longest I’ve gone without changing is two days. I add more, bigger nappies, over the top, with holes in each layer so the wee can soak through. It gets big and bulky, so I have to crawl or waddle.’

At home by himself, wearing a full nappy, Mark sucks a dummy, drinks from a baby bottle, and eats baby food dessert. He says, ‘I don’t play with many toys – but I have a My First iPhone toy.’

Mark sometimes goes out wearing a nappy under his jeans. ‘I’d never go to work in a nappy, so it’s usually just on weekends when I get the chance,’ he explains. ‘It might look a bit bulky and some people might notice, but they probably wouldn’t expect it to be a nappy so they don’t realise. Also, I’ve worn them out more in winter, when I’ve got a big coat covering the jeans – and I’ve never messed myself when I’m out of the house, just wet. I do have a fantasy where a pretty woman notices I’m in a nappy, then she checks, and decides I need changing!’

Mark has had three girlfriends in the eleven years since he split up with the woman who embraced his fetish. However, none of the subsequent relationships have lasted long enough for Mark to feel comfortable telling them he’s an Adult Baby.

Dating and relationship coach James Preece says it’s important to feel comfortable sharing a fetish with a partner, but to get help if the shame around it becomes overwhelming.

‘Many fetishes are completely normal and everyone is into different things,’ James explains. ‘However, if it’s something you are deeply embarrassed by, and it’s making your life a misery, get professional help before it becomes something you can no longer control.

‘If you have a partner, consider sharing it with them. They may choose to play along with your fetish and experiment, or they could offer moral support if you want to stop obsessing over it. Ultimately, a relationship with secrets is not a strong one.’

Mark has struggled to fully embrace being part of the ABDL community.

‘I wish that wearing a nappy didn’t turn me on – if I knew why I liked it, I’d be able to go back and unlike it,’ he tells us. ‘I’d love to be like a normal person.

‘I wonder, if I got into a relationship again, whether I’d tell my girlfriend and risk her leaving me, or do I just hide it forever? I don’t know if I’ll ever reveal that side of me to someone I love, or if I’ll trade nappies for happiness.’

*Names have been changed.

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Brian Hallworth is one of the most fancied blokes in Britain, according to the dating app and website Plenty of Fish.

He’s a house renovator for Warrington, Cheshire, who impersonates Colin Farrell in his spare time.

Apparently, lucky Brian has received more messages than any other man using Plenty of Fish in the time he’s been searching for love on the app.

Brian created his account in January, and since then he’s received hundreds on messages and been on 10 dates.

The 46-year-old hasn’t found the woman for him yet, but he knows what he doesn’t want from a date.

Brian has been disappointed when his matches turn up looking significantly different to their pictures.

We assume he means in terms of how attractive he finds them IRL compared to in their selfies, but perhaps Brian did expect some of his dates to arrive wearing a digital flower crown or a pair of peach-coloured bunny ears.

He says: ‘I try and stick local and have been on about ten dates so far.

‘None have been bad – I’ve not had any bad experiences really going out on dates, but a few of the girls I’ve met in real life have had these filters on their pictures.

‘And then when I’ve been to meet them they don’t look exactly like the do in pictures.

‘I’m like “Jesus Christ you look different” – you know what I mean.’

Does using filters on your dating profile snaps mean you’re not being as honest about your looks as you could be?

Or is it fine, as long as you mix filtered images with more representative pictures?

Face filters on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook can make people look different to their appearance in real life, but you can usually tell what’s a filter and what isn’t. No one’s going to assume that you actually have angel wings and a tiny halo, or outsize bug eyes.

If Brian is disappointed that his dates don’t arrive fully-filtered IRL, perhaps it’s worth having a little play around with Snapchat and familiariseing himself with the filters on offer.

Then he’ll know the joy of giving himself massive fake glasses, and it will be easier to spot the effects of a playful filter instead of being catfished by them.

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The jacket at a top trend certainly isn’t new, and was arguably started by absolute queen and icon Rihanna, who was one of the first to rock the look back in 2016.

She was snapped paring a simple denim skirt with a Balenciaga denim jacket worn off the shoulder.

Models on the Balenciaga fall 2016 catwalk mimicked her style, with their coats only done up half way to expose plenty of shoulder and chest.

In September 2017, she styled a denim jacket as a top again, wearing an oversized offering Matthew Adams Dolan unbuttoned to mid-chest and a pair of thigh high denim boots.

Model Emily Ratajkowski emulated Rihanna in the same year, with another double denim combination where the jacket took the place of a shirt.

Fans on Instagram had mixed feelings, with one user commenting: ‘How does that not fall down when you’re walking round ? It defies the rules of gravity!’

In 2018, the denim jacket as top trend is seeing a resurgence.

YouTuber Shani Grimmond uploaded a snap to Instagram where she wore a fluorescent peach version of the double denim combo with an off the shoulder jacket on holiday, and Spring Breakers actor Vanessa Hudgens also shared a picture of herself rocking the shoulder-baring trend.

Hudgens wore an open harness bra in gold underneath her denim jacket, but most of the stars showcasing the look don’t have visible straps, meaning that they’re either wearing strapless bras or letting their boobs go free.

Jackets as shirts have also been spotted on Victoria’s Secret model Sara Sampaio and singer Diamond White.

If you’re feeling confident enough to rock the denim jacket as top trend, there are plenty of cropped denim jackets available on the high street, in classic denim washes and bold colours

River Island is also selling a denim top that looks like a jacket, in case you want a ready-made version of the look.

Retailers like Boohoo are even styling their models in jackets only done up on the last button, with a bralette underneath.

The bralette’s probably a good idea if you’re going to be moving around and not just posing for a picture.

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When you’re a teenager, there’s always someone who has it better than you. 

Maybe all your friends had Sky+, or your bestie got to use the family car as much as they wanted. There’s always someone who gets stuff that you don’t. And one of the most annoying? The friend who gets cold hard cash for good grades at GCSE or A-level.

Paying your children to get top marks in exams is a tale as old as time. Some parents feel that (like adults being paid a salary) teens deserve to be rewarded for their hard work with cold hard cash rather than a ‘well done’ and a nice card from the grandparents.

According to a study from Voucher Codes and Opinium, more than a third (39%) of parents incentivise good grades.  An A typically earns kids an average of £25.50, followed by £21.30 per grade B and £17.40 per grade C. Almost three-quarters (71%) of parents reward their children for their general performance at school, such as in teacher’s evaluations and extracurricular activities. Almost a third (27%) claim that they reward their child’s general performance at school equally, regardless of subject or achievement.

Super lucky anonymous sources admitted that their parents were willing to shell out £1,000 for an A. One woman (who wanted to remain anonymous) said that her parents bought her a new car to celebrate her two As and a B.

Is it a good idea to bribe your children into working hard?

Emma Pattison, Headmistress of Croydon High School, part of the Girls’ Day School Trust told Metro.co.uk: ‘Speaking as a mother myself, we’ve all been there! How do you get a child to do what they are supposed to do? When they’re young, it’s perhaps chocolate or cookies handed over by slightly guilty mothers to get them out of the house on time.

‘When the teenage years strike, the stakes start to get a bit higher. It’s not my place to criticise any parent who wants the best for their children and resorts to trying a variety of ‘carrot and stick’ tricks for that extra bit of motivation.

‘The problem with offering money to incentivise children is that the motivation can then be misplaced … and what happens when the bank of mum and dad closes for business?

‘Just as a parent would perhaps try the star chart before they resort to the cookie, encouraging GCSE and A-level students to visualise their own futures, and understand the role their current efforts play in securing that future, is key.

‘Excellent careers departments in schools (such as GDST schools) will start very young (at Croydon High it’s at Key Stage 1) and start encouraging their pupils to imagine what types of careers they would enjoy and understand how important today’s to-do list is in securing that future.

‘In these excellent schools, this stretches far beyond GCSE or A-level results, and all sorts of exciting opportunities come into play such as trip-of-a-lifetime excursions, work experience opportunities, sports tours, and supporting projects in the local community, amongst many other things.

‘These opportunities build character, offer exposure outside the routine teenage experience and – crucially – mean that young people can see that their efforts and their work matter. This encourages them to want to become the best version of themselves – for themselves. There is no better motivation than that.

‘So rather than paying for grades, we should be teaching kids that good grades will pay for themselves in the long run.

Emma’s sentiments are echoed by Richard Dunk, lecturer in education at Manchester Metropolitan University.

‘Whilst it may increase motivation on an individual level, paying for grades devalues education as an ends in itself – it becomes a commodity, rather than a personal development,’ he tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Time may be better spent emphasising the benefits of a strong educational background and fostering a positive attitude to life-long learning.

‘Additionally, paying for grades could increase inequality, as some families will not have sufficient income to offer financial incentives to their children.’

So it might have been pretty galling to watch your friends with generous parents splashing the cash on results nights but, the reality is, good grades are about more than making a hundred quid off your mum and dad.

If you weren’t going to bother revising, the prospect of making some money probably wouldn’t have made any difference anyway.

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McDonald’s is our go-to for a cheap meal on the go, but it turns out you can actually get it much cheaper.

Yep, apparently there’s a way to get a McDonald’s meal half price with minimal effort.

Well, as long as your favourite thing on the menu is a Big Mac and fries.

Instead of the usual £4, you’ll be paying £1.99, and all you have to do is buy something and remember to keep the receipt.

This could be a receipt for anything – even just a kids’ size coke.

Then, you just need to head to the McDonald’s food for thoughts website, enter the 12 digit code on the receipt, and fill out a short survey about your visit.

You’ll then be given a five digit code which you can take into McDonald’s and use to get half price off your food.

According to The Tab, who drew our attention to the hack, if you’re a vegetarian or just don’t fancy a Big Mac, you can trade it in for a Veggie Deluxe or a Filet-O-Fish instead.

While there’s no limit to the deal, you’ll only be able to get a half price meal once a day – as it’s one code per day per person.

Of course, if you want to be super sneaky, you could always ask a couple of friends who don’t like McDonald’s to buy something else for you – that way you could get a half priced McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Winning.

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Superdrug has launched a Skin Renew service in one of their London stores, where customers of 25 and older can come in to receive Botox or dermal fillers.

The retailer plans to roll the in-house surgery service out nationwide.

However, cosmetic practitioners aren’t happy about the plans, arguing that offering cosmetic procedures in a high street store makes the risks seem less real.

Dr Dirk Kremer from London’s Harley Street Aesthetics told Metro.co.uk: ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.

‘Even though Botox and filler treatments are considered non-surgical, they are in fact invasive and can cause more damage than the layman thinks.

‘When undergoing these so-called “blind” procedures, needles or canulas are penetrated through the patient’s facial skin and muscles to place the Botox or filler in the right places.

‘The practitioner can’t see where he or she places the needle and the product, hence the name.

‘You can imagine that if the needles are inserted in the wrong place, nerve damage can be caused, leading to skin necrosis, blindness or paralysis of the muscled causing deformation of a patient’s face.

‘This might be temporary but it can also be permanent.’

‘These treatments should still be considered as medical, and I can’t see a cosmetic doctor, nurse or even plastic surgeon working in such a unprofessional setup.

‘Offering these procedures in a drugstore lowers an invasive procedure to the same level as a product being sold. The customer can then underestimate the risks that accompany Botox and fillers.’

Dr Kremer is also concerned about whether Superdrug will be able to offer a sufficiently hygienic environment for cosmetic procedures, as a Superdrug store isn’t a hospital or clinic.

‘Will a drugstore with the traffic of thousands of people per day will be able to guarantee their patients a sterile environment?

‘An infection is one of the complications that can occur after having one of these procedures, and as a clinician I place a great deal of importance on having a sterile setting to work in.’

Dr Munir Somji, Chief Medical Officer at Dr MediSpa, expressed worries about Superdrug’s plans because they could reduce the overall quality of care and see more people coming back to have botched treatments fixed.

He told Metro.co.uk: ‘The provision of Botox and fillers follow very strict guidelines, such as requiring a face-to-face consultation prior to administration and being regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

‘You also need to have medical qualifications to provide this service, not only for the initial procedure but also to handle any potential complications such as blindness, stroke and skin death.

‘I worry that with this service there will be no standardisation of care so patients won’t get all get the same quality of service.

‘20% of my practice is correcting mistakes from unqualified or “just qualified” practitioners, and this can represent an further strain on the NHS.

‘Overall, I think this is a huge undertaking for Superdrug to offer such a service safely and responsibly.’

Taimur Shoaib, plastic surgeon and founder of the La Belle Forme clinic, called the plans ‘a recipe for disaster’.

He said: ‘Treatments such as Botox and fillers are medical and should be performed in a medical clinic, not a high street pharmacy. The complications of fillers can be quite dangerous and the risks include blindness.

‘Thankfully, these things are rare but when they are threatened, it requires extensive knowledge, experience and skills to recognise and treat.

‘In the specialty of cosmetic medicine, we want to drive quality standards high. We don’t want there to be a race to the bottom of quality.’

Shoaib also warned that customers might end up spending even more money if they opt for a cheap procedure that ends up going wrong.

‘We are seeing an increasing number of people coming to us, usually younger women who have had their lips done with complications associated with fillers performed in cheaper places,’ he explains.

‘They end up spending far more money just to fix the complications.’

Superdrug say that the Skin Renew service is a response to increasing demand for cosmetic treatments from customers, caused in part by the influence of shows like Love Island, where so many of the contestants admit to using surgery to achieve their uniform good looks.

Superdrug sponsors the reality TV show, so it’s unsurprising that they’re keen to cash in on people wanting the Love Island look.

Caris Newson, head of health and wellbeing services at Superdrug, said: ‘We’re listening to what people are telling us they would like, which is the reassurance that if they choose to have aesthetic treatments then it will be administered by highly qualified nurse practitioners in a private consultation room.

‘Our minimum age for this service is currently 25 to ensure that, when supported by a full clinical consultation, our customers are able to make the best decisions about engaging in aesthetic treatments.’

We’ve reached out to Superdrug for their response to criticism, and will update this article when we hear back.

Customers must first book over the phone and attend a consultation with a qualified nurse before receiving treatment.

Superdrug cosmetic procedures start at £99.

The risks of Botox injections include feeling like you’ve got the flu, bruising around where you had the injection(s), temporary weakness or droopiness of your face and a resistance to treatment if you have it too often.

Dermal fillers also have potential side effects and can cause infections, rashes, bruising, swellings, lumps under the skin and blocked blood vessels. The latter can result in tissue death, a pulmonary embolism or blindness.

Whether or not Superdrug Skin Renew service becomes a feature of the high street, people interested in cosmetic procedures should always do their research before committing to treatment.

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The internet can be a weird, frightening old place. But if it’s bizarre viral ‘challenges’ you’re after, then there really isn’t a better place to look on Earth.

2014 gave us the Ice Bucket Challenge and the year before the Nekomination craze.

This year we’ve had Drake’s In My Feelings challenge, quickly followed by Ciara’s Level Up dance.

Clearly we all love a good old online sensation. That’s probably why the ‘Falling Stars Challenge’ is currently sweeping across the Instagrams of the Russian super-rich.

It’s pretty simple, even if its origins remain inexplicable.

Posters on #fallingstars2018 are uploading their most extravagant fake falls, while challenging followers and friends to do the same.

For reasons yet to be grasped, it’s proved an enormous hit with wealthy youngsters who have taken to the platform in their droves to upload themselves spreadeagled in front of private jets and opulent backdrops.

Others have taken to launching themselves from boats, or flopping down in front of cars and escalators.

Some of the tumbles have been genuinely inventive, with a few notables already getting in on the act – including a former Miss Ukraine and the American supermodel Arizona Muse.

The faceplanting mania hasn’t really hit our online shores yet, though it’s almost certainly just a matter of time.

Funny old world, right.

If you fancy trying out the challenge for yourself, it’s pretty simple. Choose a great backdrop then gently lie on the ground as if you’ve had a fall.

Don’t take a genuine tumble. That’d hurt.

We’ve popped plenty of inspiration below for you to behold.

Easy, right?

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Ever heard that patronising saying: ‘That degree won’t keep you warm at night’?

Well, now you can put two fingers up to these people (though you probably have already), because it turns out a degree keep you warm at night.

Kynnith, a girl on Twitter, recently shared a photo of a large blanket printed with her masters degree.

She wrote: ‘My mom turned my Masters degree into a blanket.

‘“yOuR dEgReE wOnt KeEp yOu wArM aT NiGhT tHoUgH.” NOW it will, you lil b*tch.’

Yep, the masters degree from the University of North Carolina was turned into an oversized blanket which covers her entire bed.

Kynnith’s tweet received more than 46,000 retweets and 168,000 likes.

People were incredibly impressed by her mum’s skills:

Since graduating with a 4.0 in education, Kynnith has already secured a job.

So, while her degree will be keeping her warm at night – it’s also paid off.

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Vers is a term used for men who don’t have a position preference when they have sex with other men.

It’s short for the word versatile and means men don’t mind being a top (meaning the person penetrating) or bottom (the person being penetrated) during sex.

The term began as shorthand in gay chatrooms but is now used in real life and on dating apps.

In a nutshell, it’s having the best of both worlds. Why limit yourself?

There’s an assumption that men who have sex with men fit neatly into being a top or bottom, and that their preference in the bedroom reflects on who they are and what their role in a relationship is like.

Gay men who bottom are sometimes assumed to be the ‘woman in the relationship’ (which isn’t accurate. If two men are in a relationship, neither of them are ‘the woman’), or shamed for being weak or submissive.

While everyone has preferences, the idea of vers is that the part you play in intercourse isn’t limited to a binary and you can enjoy different aspects of it. It’s about not being limited to just one role.

Even people that vers men have hooked up can find the concept difficult to grasp and may assume they’ll be on top/bottom every time just because they were the previous time. That can mean vers people get shoehorned into being a top or a bottom.

Unfortunately, vers men also still have to deal with bottom-shaming.

In addition to that, not having just one role in sexual positions can make people assume that they don’t have an established role in the relationship.

But we know that isn’t the case – a vers person simply enjoys giving and receiving. And why not?

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We all know that dirty talk can be sexy. 

And unlike a lot of other tips to improve your sex life it doesn’t involve buying lots of complicated toys or dressing up in an outfit made from polyblend. But the downside of dirty talk is that it can feel a bit embarrassing.

Many of us don’t find it easy to come out with a steam of filth, even if we’re pretty sexually liberated. So we spoke to professional camgirl Amber Kelly, who works for ‘Off the Record’, who gave us the inside track on talking dirty.

Sound effects don’t go unnoticed…

‘If I’m on a phone chat, I always fake moan… heavy breathing really gets my clients turned on. I recommend that you be as vocal as you can during sex talk, as you want an experience that culminates in a climax and maximising every sensation will go a long way towards achieving this.

‘It’s unlikely your partner will go crazy for a silent lover, whether this be in the bedroom or over the phone, so emphasise every sound.’

Keep the focus on your partner

‘Your partner will love it if they feel prioritised… keep the focus on their body and what you’ll do to them next. This will also take the pressure off if you’re a newbie, as it’s likely you already know what turns your partner on. Channelling this will give you a head start.

‘In addition, your partner probably has trigger words and pet names which get them going; there’s no reason you shouldn’t incorporate these into phone sex. Your tried-and-tested bedroom vocab will work wonders no matter where you are, providing you with the perfect basis for great sex talk!

Be invested

‘If you get distracted and forget what you’re saying, this will probably dampen the atmosphere.

Make sure you’re somewhere you won’t be interrupted and feel completely comfortable; this can be anywhere, I was once in my car eating a McDonald’s and my client didn’t even notice. I still gave the call my full attention and knew no one would walk in on me by accident.’

It’s all in the detail

‘If you struggle to think of what to say during phone sex, then just describe everything in detail. Talk about every move, every thought and everything you want to happen without cutting corners… you’ll never run out of things to talk about if you’re simply narrating the experience.

‘It’s not even about being dirty, it’s all in the detail.

‘This can be particularly helpful if you’re struggling to initiate sex talk, which many people view as the most awkward part. Start off by talking about what’s going to happen, more specifically, what you’re planning to do next… this will only build momentum and apprehension, making the overall experience even more satisfying.’

Everything to the extreme

‘I take everything in sex and exaggerate it to be almost porn-like. Sex talk is meant to get your partner’s pulse racing so the wilder the better…

‘Also, don’t hold back in raving about your partner’s qualities that excite you, if there’s ever a time to be passionate it’s now! Describe how they turn you on and you’ll find that the rest comes in floods of inspiration as you get equally excited.’

Establish your preferences

‘As with any sexual encounter, your preferences and limits might differ from your partner’s. Chat with them about what they like and don’t like; for example, while some men love hearing how big their manhood is, others might feel that this highlights an insecurity, making them self-conscious as a result.

‘If you have a safe word in real life, have one for sex talk too; if either of you aren’t comfortable with what’s happening, then it’s important to have a well-understood exit strategy. Although, the likelihood of needing to use this is drastically lessened if you talk about what you’re expecting beforehand.’

Say it with confidence

‘The key is to not overthink sex talk; don’t hesitate or apologise for your performance, this will only put your partner on edge. Say whatever comes naturally and find confidence in this open expression.

‘If you’re feeling a little insecure mid-way through, throw the ball back into your partner’s court and ask them questions. Ask what they want you to do and how they’re feeling; you are both vulnerable during dirty talk, so trust in one another.’

‘It’s also important to remember that dirty talk makes you vulnerable. Try not to be judgmental of something that your partner says and don’t laugh at them.

‘Of course you should never do anything which makes you uncomfortable, but try to keep an open mind, and if you want to move away from a specific area of dirty talk, be honest about that without implying that what your partner was fantasising about is wrong or offensive.

‘Try to remember that there are lots of things we find arousing in theory that we would never do in real life, so just because your other half is talking about a threesome, for instance, that doesn’t mean that they actually think you should bring someone else into your bedroom.’

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Asda is going to be selling a vegan cheeseboard this Christmas, so those who don’t eat dairy won’t have to miss out.

The board will include three different non-dairy cheeses.

This will include the traditional mature cheddar alternative, which is said to be full-bodied and smooth, a garlic & chive mature cheddar alternative, and a wensleydale & cranberry alternative for those wanting something a little sweeter.

While the board does sound amazing, another great thing about it is the price – as it’s just £5.

Sadly, you won’t be able to get your hands on it straight away, as it’s not going to be made available until 22 November, when cheeseboard season really starts.

This isn’t the only thing getting us excited for Christmas, as other companies are already revealing their festive goodies too.

This includes Yankee Candle, which has unveiled its three new, candle-filled calendars.

Harrods has also given us a sneak peak at its beauty calendar, which costs £250 but is worth £680.

The calendar features an illustration of the emporium’s famous facade and the 25 mini drawers contain products such as Charlotte Tilbury’s Wonderglow face primer and the Nars Velvet Lip Glide.

Some favourites within include the Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser and the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow in Beach Bronze.

Obviously, it’s super expensive, and let’s face it, most of us can’t really justify spending that much on a calendar.

But hey, if you have got the money and you fancy treating yourself this December, you know where to go.

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Cats do what they want. Which includes deciding when they want to listen to you, and when they don’t.

But it turns out there is a way to get your cats to pay attention to you a little more – and that’s by giving them the right name.

Yep, apparently the reason they might ignore you when you repeatedly call them isn’t to be rude, but because they won’t respond to certain names.

According to Dr. Uri Burstyn, a Veterinarian from Vancouver, the best names to give cats end with an ‘ee’.

This is because cats respond to high pitched noises.

In a video, Dr. Burstyn talked about naming cats using a cat named Lancelot. He explained that Lancelot wasn’t a very good cat name because it ends on a low note.

Calling him ‘Lancey’ got a better response, as the ending of the name ends on a higher note.

He proved this by saying Lancelot repeatedly throughout the video with no response from the cat – but as soon as he called ‘Lancey’, the fluffy feline turned around straight away.

Cats respond to higher pitched noises their ears are tuned to them.

He said: ‘They’re placed fairly close together on the head, and cats have evolved to hear high pitched sounds much better than low pitched sounds.’

He adds that this is because most of their prey animals – mice and birds – make higher pitched, squeakier noises, communicating in a higher frequency that humans can’t hear.

Of course, you can name your cat whatever you like – but if you want to get their attention, you should create a nickname that ends on an ‘ee’.

And hey, you don’t even have to use the same name every time – as cats respond to the noise, not the name.

So give your cat a hundred different names if you please, as long as they’re high pitched, it won’t make any difference to them.

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Hundreds of animal lovers wanted to get involved with Direct Blinds’ competition and put forward their misbehaving pets, including chew-happy dogs, sofa-shredding cats and parakeets who live to cause mayhem.

Each entrant sent in pictures of the damage done to their homes with the guilty pet in shot, with a description of the destruction and an estimated cost of repair.

All these applications were whittled down, leaving only the 10 most shameless and destructive pets – all of them dogs.

Out of the 10 badly behaved pups shortlisted, Mishka the husky took home the title of Britain’s Naughtiest Pet.

Mishka’s owner, Sam Smith from Wigan, received £500 in high street vouchers and a set of blinds worth £100.

David Roebuck, Managing Director at Direct Blinds, said: ‘Anyone who owns a pet will know that they are not just companions, they are a part of the family. But like any family member, there is always the potential for frustration, especially when damage to property is involved.

‘With the search for Britain’s Naughtiest Pet we hope to find the most mischievous pets in the country and, more importantly, reward the long-suffering owners of such cheeky animals.’

The top 10 naughiest pets are as follows:

Mishka

Mishka the husky took great delight in destroying a set of brand new blinds. She decided that the blinds weren’t to her taste, and trashed them.

Her owner, Sam Smith, won the Direct Blinds prize for owning the naughtiest dog in Britain.

Mango

Mango the Hungarian Vizsla decided that door handles weren’t for her. Why not just go through headfirst?

Her owner, Fiona Johnson from Belton, was on hand to make sure Mango wasn’t hurt by her headstrong escapades.

Bosely

Bosley the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a big fan of chewing. Curtains, carpet, cushions, Christmas decorations – as long as it’s there, Bosley will get his chops round it.

According to his owner Rick Haswell from Tyne and Wear, he’s even chewed through a broadband cable before.

Ruby

Ruby only accepts quality journalism, and this is why she trashes every paper that doesn’t quite meet her standards.

Another Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Ruby is quite the critic. Her owner Romilly Snowden, of East Yorkshire, snapped this pic before clearing up the mess.

Ted

Ted is a Labrador/Spaniel cross, and this energetic pup decided to dig a big hole in his owner’s garden.

Georgie Ball of Cornwall found the inquisitive dog with his head completely stuck in the ground.

Milo

Milo the Short Haired German Pointer decided that he wanted to find out exactly what’s inside a bean bag.

Turns out it’s lots and lots of tiny plastic balls, which his owner Lucy Hadaway from York had to clean up.

Herbert

Jack Russel/Lhasa Apso cross Herbert’s favourite thing to do with loo roll is to unspool it, drag it across the house and give it a good shredding.

Lauren Cooke, of Chelmsford in Essex, made sure to snap the mess before writing off this particular toilet roll.

Jasper

Cream carpets and dogs are a dangerous mixture, particularly when there’s a tin of paint involved.

English Cocker Spaniel Jasper decided to create something wonderfully abstract, although his owner, Richard Martin of Sittingbourne, was less than impressed by his pup’s artistic side.

Winnie

Winnie the Boxer was too busy digging soil out of her owner’s planters to even notice that this picture was being taken.

Owner Sandy Hayes of Essex had plenty of replanting and sweeping to do after Winnie was done ‘gardening’.

Ernie

Ernie might be trying to style this one out, but we all know he’s been digging through the bin. The evidence is hanging round his neck.

His owner Vickie Bailey of Harrogate caught him trotting around wearing her kitchen bin lid like a ruff, after eating what we assume was a copious amount of rubbish.

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On Facebook, Ella Sophie Thorpe shared two images from Boohoo’s mobile app, showing the same model with remarkable different waist sizes.

The model is pictured wearing Boohoo’s Western Style Button Through Denim Skirt, priced at £18.

Boohoo’s website states that the model is wearing a size 10.

In one image, her waist is cinched in, but in another, there’s a much smaller waist to hip ratio.

Ella wrote: ‘So supposedly boohoo.com are about empowering #AllGirls, yet they feel the need to significantly Photoshop the waist smaller on a size 10 model?

‘Next time, maybe avoid uploading the original photo to your app as well as the edited one…’

It’s not clear which image was edited, but in the picture where the model has a skinnier waist, she’s also missing one of her earrings.

The brand was previously criticised when it claimed to be for #AllGirls in a 2017 campaign that didn’t feature any plus-size, disabled or trans women. Or women over the age of 30.

According to the campaign’s copy, Boohoo is ‘absolutely inclusive of all shapes and sizes, all styles and trends’.

Boohoo has also been criticised online for their lack of diversity and propensity for showcasing plus-size clothes on models who are size 12 and under.

Customers have taken to Twitter to express their displeasure, with users accusing Boohoo of ‘disgusting and incredibly damaging’ practices.

Boohoo’s plus size range starts at a 16, but several of the models featured definitely don’t look close to that size.

Boohoo had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

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A dog who’s been a rescue for the past two and a half years enjoys daily pedicures.

Snow the American Bulldog arrived at Dogs Trust after her owner was unable to care for her due to a change in circumstances.

She suffers from a skin allergy which causes her to lick and chew her feet as well as scratch her body and ears.

Due to the condition, she has to take regular medication, but also has a daily foot spa with her canine carer at the Kenilworth rehoming centre in Warwickshire.

Dogs Trust desperately wants someone to give Snow a new home, and will help with future vet bills for her allergy treatment.

Emma Healey, rehoming centre manager at Dogs Trust Kenilworth, said: ‘Snow is a firm favourite here, but she really deserves to be in a forever home of her own.

‘We think potential new owners are put off when they find out about her daily routine, and don’t want the commitment of caring for a dog who has some medical needs that need monitoring and maintaining.

‘But as you can see, Snow is no trouble at all when it comes to giving her paw and is happy to take a load off so both she, and her feet, can soak up the attention.’

Snow suffers from a skin condition which is a result of being allergic to multiple things, however it’s quite non-specific and therefore hard to know exactly what causes her allergies.

Dogs Trust describes dogs like Snow as atopic, which means they have lower tolerance to allergens.

Skin conditions are quite common in dogs and with Snow she will need lifelong management with regular vet visits and ongoing treatment.

Staff at Dogs Trust are hoping that when they realise how much Snow loves her daily spa, someone will come forward and adopt her.

Emma added: ‘At 30kgs, she’s a big girl and her size can often put people off, too. But she has a huge heart to go with it and she walks beautifully on the lead so is a pleasure to walk.

‘Snow is a truly wonderful girl and loves her cuddles once she knows you.

‘She is looking for an adult-only home with owners who will be committed to keeping on top of her medication and foot soaks so she is comfortable and feeling her best.’

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When you’re in love, nothing else matters. Except apparently your weight, of course.

In 2018, love is a tricky business. The only people we see in love on our screens or in our magazines are skinny, tanned and raking in the cash for being born ‘right’.

But what about those who are a little more, ahem, ‘big-boned’?

Take me, for example. I’m 25, and I’m happily engaged to easily the hottest man I’ve ever met. We live together, both have great jobs, degrees under our belt and already know what we’re calling our first born son. I even help oil his ginger beard – if that’s not true love, I don’t know what is.

Except, none of that matters since I’m bigger. When I walk down the street hand-in-hand with my very own Viking, people aren’t looking at him – they’re looking at me.

My wobbly legs, the stretched t-shirt over my boobs, the double-chin. I can see their heads tick over, like they’re trying to do the hardest maths equation of their life, as they work out why he’s with me.

I found out that there’s a name for this (because of course there is) it’s called being in a ‘mixed-weight’ relationship. Basically, he’s skinny, and I’m not. I’ve been asked:

‘Is he a feeder?’

‘Or a chubby-chaser?’

‘He must have a fat fetish, then!’

‘In the bedroom he must be so strong!’

Some small talk that is. People think that my fiancé has made a conscious decision to only fall in love with a fat bird – like he’s doing the world a favour and taking one for the team.

If the roles were reversed and he was my Homer Simpson while I strutted about in a tiny, tight green dress, with killer orange shoes and beads combo nobody would think twice. I wouldn’t have a fat fetish, or be in a ‘mixed-weight’ relationship – I’d be normal.

If my fiancé’s top was too tight, his bingos were out and his cankles on show, I’d be society’s perfect woman – skinny and procreating with a big, burly man.

To save myself from embarrassment, I often think twice about the clothes I wear around my other half. Is it sleeveless? Nope. Short? Not a chance. Belly out? Nada.

It’s ridiculous that you can be in love but random people on the street can stop you from loving yourself.

One couple hoping to put this bodyshaming BS to bed is body posi blogger Gloria Shuri Henry.

Spotted on Instagram under Glowpinkstah, plus-sized Gloria can often be found hot to trot in tight pink latex, strappy tops and delicate bras with her gorgeous husband Ali.

‘We’re just in a relationship and that’s that,’ she says simply in a YouTube video on ‘mixed-weight’ relationships.

She says that people assume that she’s being forced to stay that size by her husband, because of some sort of fetish.

When in fact, they’re just two people with an incredible connection.

If ever I worry about diets, hanging out with skinny friends or ask if my dress is too short the Viking tells me I’m beautiful. And what’s sexier is, he even offers to share his garlic bread with me while we sit in our pants watching Walking Dead.

This time next year, I’ll be saying ‘I do’ to spending the rest of my life with him. Looking ‘eleganza extravanganza’ in a plus-sized dress with my legs out, pint in one hand and fork in the other.

When you next see a big girl in the street, try not to be jealous as you watch her double chin wobble while she laughs her heart out, wrapping her bingos around the person that cherishes every single damn inch of her.

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Helping out the homeless felines of Muscat, Oman, isn’t just about compassion. It’s a whole world of hard work, money, time and medical care.

That’s according to Lesley Lewins, the British cat rescuer who has spent the last 26 years providing essential aid to over 8,000 cats in the city. She says there are still many thousands more in urgent need of the same attention.

The 62-year-old is originally from the north of England, but moved to the small Gulf nation when her husband took up a job in 1992. She’d always been an animal lover, a passion that didn’t end upon relocating- even if attitudes were sightly different from her home town of Ryton, Tyne and Wear.

‘It all started when I began to feed the numerous street cats and kittens that frequented the rubbish bins in our road,’ Lesley tells Metro.co.uk. 

‘I quickly realised that because I was feeding them, their numbers were growing in size. They were constantly breeding. I decided then that something needed to be done about it.’

It wasn’t an easy process, says Leslie. There was much to learn and many items of essential equipment to purchase. Luckily, she could rely on the kindness of friends at first.

‘A friend in Southern Spain worked for an animal rescue group there who regularly carried out TNR programmes (trap, neuter, return).

‘She taught me how to trap cats properly, so I borrowed a wooden trap from a small animal welfare group here and TNR’d all the cats in my street. 

‘I was trapping and neutering up to 15 cats a week. Unfortunately as I was doing so many, the welfare group couldn’t afford to support me financially, so I decided to fund my own TNR and began trapping street cats on my own.  

‘That’s how it started. I soon got hold of a metal trap (of which I now have six) and the rest is history.’

Lesley promotes her work on Instagram, with street_cats_of_oman providing pictorial updates on all the moggies that benefit from her TLC. She’s quick to acknowledge it isn’t a one man band by any stretch of the imagination.

‘I started out by helping a British Vet here called Louise, who has now left Oman,’ explains Lesley. ‘In return for me assisting in the clinic, she would discount the cost of neutering the cats and dogs I trapped.

‘I also learnt a lot from Louise about how to care for injured cats and dogs and the after-care necessary post-surgery, which has been invaluable in my work over the years.’

And though her skills have developed over the years, that doesn’t mean things have suddenly found themselves any easier, or the sheer volume any less onerous. Money and funding are still an issue.

Lesley says: ‘Unfortunately, it is illegal to fundraise in Oman unless you are a registered charity, so financially it is a constant uphill battle to fund my TNR work. I work with wonderful vets here who support me, but it isn’t free and I won’t allow myself to get into debt.

‘In addition I feed many street cats that I have previously neutered so food bills can become expensive too.

‘People don’t realise how time-consuming trapping can be.

‘I am often out until late at night, then taking them to the vets very early the following morning, before collecting them again in the afternoon and keeping them for 24 hours before returning them back to the site of capture. Then there is all the added work of washing and disinfecting traps and recovery boxes.

‘It is a never ending cycle but a job that must be done if we are ever to win the battle of overpopulation.’

But tough as the task can be, that hasn’t stopped Lesley or quelled her passion for doing right by Oman’s must vulnerable felines. It’s a labour of love, but an extremely rewarding one.

‘The street cats in Oman have fabulous characters and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing one of my neutered cats (recognisable because the vets clip the left ear which is a standard international sign that a cat has been neutered) enjoying a much better life because they are spared the never ending cycle of reproduction,’ she explains. 

‘My wish is that more people would trap and neuter, even if it is just their garden cats, so less kittens are born and spared a harsh life living on the streets.

‘In the meantime, I will continue to help as many cats as I can, one street at a time.’

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A dog who was used as a breeding machine for ten years is completing her very own bucket list before she dies.

Victoria, an 11-year-old German Shepherd, has enjoyed walks on the beach, played police K-9 for a day, DJed at her local radio station and has even met a state governor.

The elderly dog was born into a puppy mill and was used as a breeding machine for a decade, giving birth to around 18 litters – 100 to 200 dogs – in that time.

When she was young she was attacked by another dog. The wound was never treated, which led to her losing vision in her left eye.

Last year, the neglected pup began suffering from a disease known as degenerative myelopathy, which led her body into decline.

Exhausted and no longer useful for breeding, Victoria was rescued by Finding Shelter Animal Rescue in October 2017.

Charity co-founder Grace Kelly Herbert said Victoria now relies on a harness attached to a set of wheels after the disease, which will eventually kill her, paralysed her hind legs.

Grace and her husband Steve Herbert are determined to make the most of the rest of the dog’s days.

The couple, of Norristown in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA, decided to create a bucket list of fun things for them to do together to create happy memories.

So far, they have arranged for Victoria to be a police K-9 for a day, had her lead a parade with the local fire department and have taken her for runs on the beach.

Grace said: ‘Terminally ill dogs like Victoria are worth saving. They still have life left in them.

‘She is a wonderful dog. She is so loyal and friendly, and she has a lot of love to give.

‘If we’re lucky, she’ll last until the end of the year. Everyday is a gift with her.

‘I said to my husband, “Imagine all of the things she could have done in the past ten years if she had have been a dog that was free.”

‘She’s stronger and happier than ever before. Its about turning something negative into a positive.’

Since starting the bucket list, Victoria has helped DJ at a local radio station for a day.

‘The DJ played a game where he put cookies over the names of each song,’ Grace said.

‘Whichever cookie Victoria ate first, that was the song that was chosen to play.’

Because her condition is in rapid decline, Victoria isn’t able to complete strenuous tasks.

But she is taking part in a study with Cornell University into the effects of degenerative myelopathy in dogs to help better treat the condition in the future.

Grace added: ‘Victoria is one of the key dogs in the study.

‘Because of the bucket list, her very broken body is giving back.’

You can donate to Finding Shelter Animal Rescue or follow Victoria’s journey here.

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Have you ever smelt something bad that wasn’t actually there? You may be suffering from phantom odour perception.

Phantom odor perception is the term for an unpleasant smell wafting through the air despite there being no actual source for it.

It’s something that affects as many as 6.5% of people in America, with the National Institutes of Health saying that it can interfere with people’s appetite and quality of life.

It can cause serious issues when a lingering unpleasant smell keeps someone from noticing a genuine bad smell, such as a gas leak or smoke.

Though there are lovely things to smell in the world, our sense of smell is primarily there to act as an alarm system – since most bad smells are a danger to us.

This includes things like bad food, mould or illnesses.

According to a study, after the age of 40 we get better at smelling things that aren’t there.

And Dr Kathleen Bainbridge says there could be a reason for this.

She said: ‘The condition could be related to overactive odor sensing cells in the nasal cavity or perhaps a malfunction in the part of the brain that understands odour signals.’

The condition affects more women than it does men.

Kathleen found that when people were asked: ‘Do you sometimes smell an unpleasant, bad or burning odor when nothing is there?’, one out of every 15 surveyed said yes.

About twice as many women as men smell phantom odors, but anyone who said they experienced dry mouth and those who had had prior head injuries were at greater risk for phantom smells.

The researchers also found that poorer people were more likely to experience phantom odours.

This is suspected to be related to their exposures to pollutants and toxins, which can damage receptors towards the top of the nasal passageway.

Study author Dr Judith Cooper said: ‘Problems with the sense of smell are often overlooked, despite their importance. They can have a big impact on appetite, food preferences, and the ability to smell danger signals such as fire, gas leaks, and spoiled food.’

Dr Bainbridge, the co-author of the study, says the disorder is worth looking into, and that ‘a good first step in understanding any medical condition is a clear description of the phenomenon,’ which phantom odor perception lacks.

From here, other researchers may be able to form ideas about where to look for possible causes of the condition and how to treat it.

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F***boys are generally not referred to fondly in the dating community, but are they all bad?

I dated f***boy after f***boy for quite a while and began to realise that it wasn’t just bad luck or some kind of entrenched issue with modern dating. No. I was deliberately choosing f***boys because of the benefits of dating them.

It might sound strange to some people, and for many women dating a man who turns out to be a f***boy can be a real inconvenience in the search for love.

But there are some women, like myself, who recognise when a guy is a f***boy and date them anyway. And here’s why.

You can be lazy

Dating guys who genuinely want a relationship requires effort.

You have to meet up regularly, text often, have proper dates and generally get to know each other.

You don’t have to do any of that if you’re dating a f***boy. You can text intermittently, meet up whenever and you won’t be expected to put in a ton of effort or share your life story on dates.

It’s ideal if you have other stuff going on and don’t have the energy for traditional dating, but still want a bit of male attention.

They’re hot

F***boys wouldn’t get away with being f***boys if they weren’t hot. Let’s face it.

Most work out or have naturally good looks so if you value hotness, dating f***boys isn’t such a bad idea.

If you value other qualities like kindness, humility and consideration, steer well clear, but if physical attributes are all you’re really after, f***boys are often where it’s at.

You don’t have to commit

F***boys play the field; they don’t want to settle down. So if you’re not ready to commit, they’re the ideal type of guy to date.

They won’t expect anything from you in terms of commitment and you can pretty much guarantee things will never get serious.

You probably won’t hurt them

If you haven’t got your sh*t together to properly date with the intention of finding love, dating f***boys is a good option.

You can flake on them, take ages to reply to texts, forget to wish them happy birthday, disappear, whatever, and they won’t particularly care. They’ll shrug it off and move onto the next girl and no one’s heart will get broken.

You won’t get bored

It’s human nature to want what you can’t have and with f***boys, you’re far more likely to experience the thrill of the chase.

You never quite know where you stand or when you’ll see them next. They keep you on your toes and keep you wanting more, which can be maddening if you’re actually looking for a respectful loving relationship, but if you’re just looking for excitement, then it’s ideal.

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