Whisper it, summer is coming to an end. It has been the most glorious of five months of almost unadulterated sunshine.

We have swanned around enjoying bicycles, beaches and barbecues – and all that rather Continental-style fun has taken our collective mind off that other B-word: Brexit.

Now though, quite unlike many of our sunlight-blessed Continental counterparts, we are settling in for a good five months of grey, cold and rain. There is a chill in the air and if you listen carefully enough, you can hear the clouds approaching.

Lulled into a false sense of security by our freakishly hot summer, you might have forgotten how to be happy when it’s cold.

Here are 10 tips to help you survive – and even enjoy – our more customary Arctic conditions.

Reframe the way you think about winter

You can’t change the UK’s usually notorious grey weather – which means that much as we all enjoy a casual rant about the weather, it’s futile to complain. If you choose to live in the UK, it’s much more helpful to make your peace with the fact it’s cloudy for 9 months of the year and try to find beauty in that.

It might seem like a stretch when we are fresh out of a five-month heatwave, but the day you can wake up and find joy in a flat off-white sky, a thick fog or even relentless drizzle is a great day indeed.

Try to reframe grey, cloudy days in your mind as beautiful – like a film set, brooding, luminous light, dramatic, good for the garden – etc etc. Look for qualities and positives in the weather and changing seasons. Positive words strengthen areas of the brain’s frontal lobes,  enhance cognitive function and propel the motivational centres of the brain into action, according to Andrew Newberg MD and Mark Robert Waldman, authors of the book Words Can Change Your Brain.

Using positive words can literally make you feel happier. The language you use, even internally, and the way in which you approach the day really can shape the way you end up living it.

Spend time outside

Sounds counter-intuitive, particularly in this Scandi-loving era of hygge (are we still doing the hygge thing or can we stop now?), but as daylight hours dwindle it’s all the more important to chase a hit of natural light.
Sunshine and natural daylight, even when it’s cloudy, trigger the release of melanin from the pineal gland, which in turn stimulates the production of the mood-boosting hormone seratonin, and melatonin, the sleep hormone. In short, the more time you spend outside during daylight hours, the better your mood and sleep could be. It’s the best way to prolong happy summer vibes well into winter.

And on that note…

Embrace ‘bad’ weather

‘There is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing,’ the Alfred Wainwright saying goes. So, next time it’s raining and everyone else is loafing around on the sofa watching Netflix (yes yes, we know that sounds like fun), do the opposite.

There is nothing like putting on a raincoat and running through the park splashing in muddy puddles like a kid to make you feel alive. It is unbelievably life-affirming to stand in the elements and enjoy Mother Nature while everyone else is at home eating biscuits. Try it – you might find you get just as addicted to that as to the latest series you’ve been bingeing. Fortune favours the bold after all.

Exercise… do some

It is a scientific fact that exercise boosts mood – in fact, studies (including this one from Harvard)  have shown that exercise – even if it is no more exerting than a 35-minute walk each day – is an effective treatment for mild depression. That’s along with the more obvious benefits on sleep, maintaining a fitter, stronger body with better aerobic and cardiovascular function and its effects on blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

But exercise also has as-yet unquantified beneficial effects on our memory and brain function and can help stave off Alzheimer’s – check out the fascinating Ted talk from neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki if you want to be truly inspired to get moving.

She describes exercise as ‘extraordinary, life-changing – the single most transformative thing you can do for your brain today’.

Switch up your skincare

Summer calls for high SPF and light moisturisers that won’t have you sweating into your shirt on the way to work. Post-summer skincare is about nourishing and protecting sun-dried skin as it becomes exposed to dry centrally heated air, hot water and colder temperatures.

Keep using a moisturiser with at least a SPF15 but look for more calming, nourishing formulas.

A gentle facial exfoliator will get rid of summer’s dead skin layer and reveal brighter skin cells beneath beneath. Go pro with an oxygen facial combined with gentle dermabrasion or use a product like Dermalogica’s daily microfoliant, which is gentle enough to use every day. Alternatively, pop on a balaclava and remove it when the first rays of sun come back next April.

Eat more chocolate

Don’t blame us for this one – it’s science again. Scientists agree that chocolate really does have mood-boosting effects – and it’s down to a combination of orosensory effects (clever way of saying how nice it is to eat) and the ‘pharmacological actions of chocolate constituents’ – aka, ingredients like polyphenols in the cocoa bean that enhance positive mood.

In fact, cocoa has a laundry list of qualities. Here are just a few:
– Antioxidants that can help protect against cancer, heart disease and effects of ageing (in fact, 2-3 times higher levels than green tea and 4-5 times more than black tea).
– Flavonoids in cocoa help the body process nitric oxide, which helps with healthy blood flow and heart health
– Those same flavonoids and the increased blood flow and oxygen it provides can assist brain function too, some studies suggest
– Just eating a couple of cubes every day can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol

A Milky Bar won’t do though – white chocolate contains only cocoa butter, not the actual bean. Go for dark chocolate with the highest cocoa percentage possible – 70% minimum. Lindt make bars with 85% or even 90% cocoa.

Or drink it…

Drinking hot chocolate actually has surprising health benefits too. Ever since the Mayans started drinking spiced chocolate thousands of years ago it has been recognised for its nourishing and health-giving – even medicinal – qualities.

Heating chocolate helps release its antioxidants, while mixing it with milk gives further benefits: milk contains the amino acid tryptophan, and calcium – both of which help with the production of sleep hormone melatonin.

Warm drinks have been proven to give relief to cold-sufferers, while an experiment by the University of Colorado found that even holding a hot drink can make people friendlier and more generous. And drinking hot chocolate feels like a hug in a mug, so we’re in.

Find happiness through your stomach

You are what you eat (hope for your sake you’re not reading this as you come to the end of a bucket of KFC). The link between our diet and how we feel is well known – indeed, serotonin, the feel-good hormone – is produced in higher quantities in the stomach than it is in the brain, with as much as 90% of the body’s serotonin made in the digestive tract. Best foods to nourish your bod and brain are as close to their natural state as possible, low in sugar and high in vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats. These nutrient-rich foods can help fight fatigue and stress while both calming and energising the body.

Limit processed foods and try these instead: Avocados and walnuts for B vitamins that help to maintain healthy brain activity. Dark leafy greens (spinach, cabbage, kale) for vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium (which both helps muscle function AND to regulate cortisol levels). Brazil nuts for magnesium – 100g would give you almost your entire RDA of magnesium.

Complex carbs (brown rice, wholegrain cereal, oats) help the body to produce more serotonin while keeping hunger pangs at bay and stabilising blood sugar levels.

Oily fish for Omega 3s – good for cognitive function, mood, stress levels, cardiovascular, joint and skin health (and more besides).

Get the kit

A cool flask so you’re never without a hot drink.  A proper coat that is waterproof and windproof so you’re not troubled by the elements. Decent waterproof boots.

Like good boy and girl scouts, your motto for survival should be Be Prepared. There’s nothing you can’t handle if you have a hot cup of tea and dry feet.

Get hygge with it

Oh, go on then. We may have expounded the benefits of frolicking in the rain – but there is an awful lot to be said for cuddling up with a book and a nice cup of tea (or glass of wine).

People who read literary fiction are more empathetic, studies find.

So, there’s a very good scientific reason to get cosy.

Good luck and see you on the other side.

The makeup gods have descended and given us all the sparkly new cosmetics we could want for Christmas as both Fenty and Mac drop shiny new lines.

Rihanna’s best-selling Fenty Beauty is releasing its winter collection, Chill Owt, which includes what is said to be their first highlighter palette – Killawatt Foil.

Meanwhile, Mac is also upping the stakes, releasing its Shiny Pretty Things collection which includes highlighters, gloss, and lipsticks in various colours.

So you’ll have plenty of options this coming holiday season.

The Killawatt palette is described by Fenty as ‘seven icy hot hyper-metallic shades to glo’ up your eyes and cheeks this holiday season’, and they are said to have the ‘same cream-to-powder formula y’all love, with vibrant pops of colour made for every skin tone’.

Colours include Subzero, a ‘supercharged iridescent blue’, Stone Cold, a ‘supercharged icy pink’, Chillz, a ‘supercharged iridescent baby blue shimmer’, Heart Burn, a ‘metallic plum shimmer’, Coppin Ice, ‘a supercharged copper’, Hunny Slope, a ‘metallic pumpkin shimmer’, and Scandal’ice, ‘Supercharged Iridescent Lilac Shimmer’.

If that sounds like something you can’t wait to get your hands on, you’ll have to wait a few more days sadly as it’ll only be available after 12 October online and in-store at Harvey Nichols.

And the best-selling brand is matching price to quality too as it will be on sale for £42.

Other products available in the Chill Owt line include: the Avalanche All-Over Metallic Powder Set, which is ‘a limited-edition mega set of do-it-all loose metallic pigments for eyes, cheeks, and lips – featuring seven high-impact shades in a melt-worthy range of jewel tones’; a lipstick set; and a limited edition Mini Fairy Bomb Glittering Pom Pom.

Mac will be giving Fenty a run for its money with its equally illuminating Christmas collection.

The Shiny, Pretty Things range includes two Extra Dimension Skinfinishes, lipsticks, Shiny Pretty shadow, Lipglass and Dazzleliner.

The Skinfinish highlighter is sure to catch the light and comes in a palette with a pretty Christmas bow crafted into it.

Shiny Pretty Shadow shades feature Make A Wish, P for Pink, Just Chilling, Major Win, and Joy To which will all get you into the festive spirit.

Dazzleliners – liquid eyeliners – come in silver, black, blue and a pale gold to make your eyes pop.

The lipsticks – Both Cheeks, Straight Fire, Babetown, A Wink of Pin, At Leisure – are welcome additions to their already extensive range.

Lip glosses in glistening nudes and pinks are also available. Prices for the collection range from $18.50 (£14.19) to $35 (£26.84).

After you’ve done your Fenty haul, you can get on the Mac one as it’ll be available from 18 October.

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Aldi has just restocked its chocolate wine in time for the festive season.

The Rubis chocolate wine first appeared on shelves last October, two years after it picked up a ‘Silver Outstanding’ award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition back in 2015.

And, for award-winning wine it’s seriously cheap.

The sweet dessert wine is selling for £9.99.

Rubis says its wine offers an ‘unforgettable taste sensation’, which is ‘extraordinary in every way’.

They say: ‘Surprising, distinctive and deliciously decadent it satisfies the curious and rewards the adventurous.’

The wine can cost upwards of £13 elsewhere, so buying the wine from Aldi saves you money – and while you’re there you can also take a look at the rest of its alcohol range, which includes this new gingerbread flavour gin.

The gin, which launched on 1 October for £9.99, is characterised by notes of ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and orange, and is apparently best served with tonic water or over ice.

It was launched as part of an increase in Aldi’s gin range, with the store planning to extend it by 60% this autumn, as 12,500 bottles are sold every single day.

Aldi expects the new gin to be very popular with its customers, considering it’s been handcrafted and uses one of the biggest Christmas flavour trends.

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Asda has launched some new ghost themed crumpets just in time for Halloween.

The crumpets come in the shape of ghosts and feature spooky faces – on hole-filled bodies.

They are available in a packet of six for £1, and Asda says they are best toasted and covered in melted butter and jam.

Asda decided to revamp its crumpets after finding they are one of the most popular breakfast choices and snacks across the country.

Ciara Loker, Asda Product Developer said: ‘Following the success of the fluffy Bunny and Love Heart-shaped toaster treats at Easter and Valentine’s Day, we know that shaped, novelty crumpets are always popular choices amongst our customers, and we couldn’t let Halloween go by without creating these devilish delights, which are no trick and all treat.

‘Last year, our Jack-o’-lantern crumpets flew off shelves throughout October, so we hope our customers enjoy these spooktastic crumpets for Halloween just as much.’

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Online clothing outlet ASOS has come under fire for banning shoppers who complain about their items going missing.

Model and reality TV star Lucky Mecklenburgh took to Twitter to complain that she’d ordered an expensive gift for her boyfriend, and said gift hadn’t turned up. Which, you can imagine, she wasn’t pleased about. She then shared a screenshot of an email from ASOS telling her that she was blocked from using ASOS’s services.

Other people then replied to Lucy’s complaint, saying that the same thing had happened to them. Kris Gill said: ‘Had the exactly same thing from them last month, after nearly a month of fighting they gave me a refund but still won’t let me order again, very poor customer service.’

‘[ASOS] did this to me their courier signed for a parcel they hadn’t delivered with my name  but I got a refund I guess they pick and choose when they want to be helpful’ wrote Charlotte Carr.

Why would ASOS do this?

Usually the reason that an online retailer would decline to sell to a buyer is because they suspect fraudulent activity.

Some internet shoppers will order items, pretend that they didn’t arrive and then claim a refund while keeping the item, something which understandably companies are keen to avoid. Therefore, if there is any suspicion of fraudulent activity companies will attempt to disengage with the buyer.

What are you rights?

Under the Consumer Rights Act, the person who sold you the item is responsible for it, until it has been delivered to you. That means that even if the courier loses the item, it is still the retailer’s responsibility to put things right.

What can you do if this happens to you?

ASOS advised Lucy to follow up with her bank and to attempt to reclaim the cost through them, leaving ASOS and the bank to discuss between themselves. This is an option, and some banks will help you out.

Other options would include engaging the services of a lawyer (which is expensive and time consuming) or putting your complaints in a letter and sending them to head office. You can also contact the retail ombudsman or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

ASOS have told Metro.co.uk: ‘We want all of our customers to have a great experience ASOS, and are working with Lucy to understand what happened in this case.’

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Facebook user Ingrid Stone noticed that fashion retailer Office was selling shoes labelled as Me Too.

The shoe brand seemed to have inadvertently named a number of their heels after the anti-sexual assault movement, backed by millions around the world.

‘Is it just me or is the Me Too name of these shoes from Office a tad awful?’ wrote Ingrid on her page.

The British shoe shop was called out by other shoppers who discovered a range of stilettos called Me Too on the company’s website.

They are available in various shades and are made of leather and suede, costing £85.

Ingrid’s followers expressed the same outrage at the shoes, calling it ‘disgusting’ and ‘dreadful’.

One user wrote: ‘This is beyond bad, bad taste and (is) commercially capitalising on something that should not be commercially capitalised upon and more’.

One person called up the brand to ask why the shoes have been named after the insensitive topic.

‘Just called customer services,’ she wrote. ‘Finally got through to speak to someone directly to register my extreme disquiet. It’s a shocker this one. Should carry a trigger warning.’

The shoes are still available for sale with the same description. It is unclear whether the shoes predate the movement nor if it was done inadvertently.

We have contacted Office for comment and will update the article if they reply.

The news comes after we previously reported the #MeToo movement has caused a shift in attitude towards sexual assault.

Research by gender equality organisation the Fawcett Society found that over half of young people between 18-34 say they are now more likely to speak up against sexual harassment, including 58% of young men.

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A rebellious 77-year-old great-grandmother has spent £2,000 on 16 tattoos covering her body since her husband died – including a tribute to him.

Glenys ‘the Menace’ Coope, 77, saves up the money from her pension so she can afford to get a new tattoo every few months.

The widowed gran-of-five and great gran-of-three got her first set of tattoos back in the 1960s but later had them removed by plastic surgery because her husband Walter disapproved.

But since his death in 2014, the retired housewife and mum-of-two has begun to re-explore her love of body art and now has dozens of tattoos – including inkings of an alien vampire and Medusa – on her arms, chest and back.

She said: ‘I’m not an ordinary old age pensioner.

‘I get one every couple of months.

‘I’ve spent £2,000 but it’s been worth every penny.

‘I save up because I’m a pensioner so when I’ve got enough money I go and get one done.

‘I like them so I’ll get a few more but I won’t have loads. I want a werewolf on my back and then I’ll leave it for a little bit.’

Glenys got her first of tattoos – two hearts on her neck, a beauty spot on her face, two swallows on her hands and a devil and rose on her back – in 1964.

But she said husband Walter didn’t like them, so she underwent plastic surgery to remove them in 1985.

The couple were married for 54 years before Walter passed away in 2014.

It was soon after that Glenys decided to get a tattoo to cope with her grief, and she now has a love heart with his name tattooed on her chest.

And she said despite her age, she isn’t interested in what people think about her tatts

Glenys said: ‘After he died I felt that this was something I wanted to do for myself.

‘People don’t say anything. They just look at me.

‘The occasional person doesn’t like them but everybody else is fine. People stop in town and want to take photos of them.

‘At the end of the day to be quite honest I don’t give a toss.’

Glenys visits a local tattoo parlour in Derby, Octopus Tattoo Studio, run by artist Gerry Carnelly, to have all her inkings done.

Glenys says that she’d encourage any older person considering getting a tattoo to have one.

And she said her grandchildren and great-grandchildren love the designs covering her body.

She said: ‘I’d tell anyone thinking about getting one to go ahead and get one. It doesn’t matter what other people think.

‘I’m proud of them and I like them. They’re very nice. My tattooist Gerry is very friendly and they’re a lovely lot at the tattoo parlour.

‘I’m always looking at people who’ve got tattoos. I find it fascinating.

‘My grandchildren and great-grandchildren think they’re alright, after all, it’s just a painting on the arms isn’t.

‘If I could get anything I think I’d have a forest with a werewolf on my leg and a werewolf on my other leg.

‘You name it, I’ll do it.

‘I’m living life to its limits. I won’t let my age put me down.’

According to Glenys’s sister, Pearl, her sister is tough and no-nonsense.

And Pearl, 84, was been inspired to get her own inking of a bee on her leg two years ago after watching Glenys’ love affair with inkings develop.

She said: ‘She’s always been a menace.

‘Not to me though, I love her to bits.

‘I love her tattoos. I’ve got one little one because I’m not as brave as she is.

‘As she says, it’s her body and she can do what she likes.’

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If you’ve read a fairy tale recently you might have noticed that they’re not exactly compatible with modern feminism.

The female characters tend to wait to be saved by handsome princes, and as one mum pointed out earlier this year, Sleeping Beauty is hardly an example of good consent practice.

But, kids love these stories and they’re a big part of our cultural lexicon. Which is why award wining author Emma Dodd has written a retelling of three major fairy tales, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel.

Rather than waiting on Prince Charming to save the day, the young women use their own acumen and skills to realise their happily-ever-afters.

The books are published by HSBC UK and see the princesses taking charge of their own destinies. Rather than attending the ball in glass slippers, hoping to meet Prince Charming, Cinderella makes and wears her own trainers, going on to launch her own shoe design business.

Girl, 13, died after 'friend told her it was OK to take three ecstasys at once'

Rather than being rescued by a Prince who climbs her hair, Rapunzel cuts her plait off to use as a rope and escape the castle , which she then rents out to Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.

Instead of Sleeping Beauty waking to a non consensual kiss, she saves her pocket money and when she wakes, her savings have grown.

You can download the free ebook, or the audiobook here. 

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Two years ago, I had a baguette from Pret a Manger. It was a flavour I tried before but hadn’t eaten for a while.

After eating the baguette, I experienced tingling sensations in my mouth, severe stomach pains, nausea and speedy dashes to the loo.

I checked the ingredients in the store – no nuts, no sesame. Odd, must be a one-off. I did not approach a member of staff.

As someone who has multiple food allergies – some severe, some not – I wasn’t actually that concerned. I just thought, this is annoying but it can’t be the baguette because of the labelling.

Minor reactions to food are common for me and often I won’t know the cause of them.

Earlier this year, I went into the store again and, to my surprise, saw that the ingredients list on the baguettes had altered. It now said it contained sesame.

I was confused. When I checked the ingredients before, it hadn’t said this. I also doubted myself – maybe I wasn’t reacting to the baguette before and it was just a coincidence that the labelling has now changed.

I forgot about it, made a mental note to avoid, and again didn’t speak to a member of staff.

Then last month, I read about the death of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse and I felt sick.

Same name, same allergy and same brand of baguette – but this bright, beautiful teenager had died.

I felt sick with shock, for the loss of her family and the similarity to my own experience.

During the inquest into Natasha’s death, it was found that between July 17, 2015, and June 29, 2016, nine cases of sesame-related allergy incidents had been reported.

Four of these led to hospital treatment.

I was one of the people affected during this time period but I was not one of the nine people who reported it.

I doubted my own body’s reaction because I trusted the labelling.

But my own attitude towards allergies needs to change as much as food companies’ commitment to food labelling.

I fear that – such is the outrage around deaths like Natasha’s – a default warning will be put on all products, like the ever useless and unhelpful ‘may contain nuts’ warning.

This is known as ‘precautionary allergen labelling’, and also includes ‘not suitable for someone with X allergy’.

Since I was a child, I have had to explain to overly cautious adults that yes I am fine with products even if they say ‘may contain’.

But when they ask me why that is, and why the label is on even there, I have never had an answer.

And that is because generic allergy labelling is not the answer.

According to the Food Standards Agency, this type of labelling should only be used if a ‘thorough risk assessment’ has found ‘cross contamination’ risk is real and ‘cannot be removed’.

Food labelling is not about covering the backs of companies, it is about protecting the welfare and lives of allergy sufferers.

But how do companies measure this risk and, for that matter, why should they? My gut tells me they won’t.

The inquest into Natasha’s death found Pret’s labelling was inadequate. Another inquest, into the death of Celia Marsh (after she reacted and died, allegedly owing to a dairy protein in a vegan wrap last year) is due to take place.

Unfortunately, they will not be the last allergy sufferers to have their lives cut short by eating something they thought was safe.

So we must keep the conversation going.

Allergy food labelling should be accurate and specific, not one size fits all.

Life is already awkward enough for allergy sufferers without food companies hiding death traps in our food.

What have I learned from Natasha’s death?

I’ll listen to my body even if that means questioning a list of ingredients with staff at shops, cafes and restaurants until food companies finally get it right.

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An adorable dog loves helping primary school pupils to read, and even has his own school uniform and backpack.

Rescue dog Russell, aged 13, visits Coalsnaughton Primary School, Alloa, Clackmannanshire every Friday afternoon.

The elderly dog is the family pet of school worker Kelsie McAlpine, 25, who came up with the idea of bringing him in to meet the children.

Kelsie researched the benefits of children having contact with animals, and said she has seen pupils’ confidence soar since Russell first visited the classroom in February.

There are only 64 pupils at the school, and they all adore Russell.

When Russell attends class, he gets to wear a teeny uniform matching the children’s, and a backpack which contains a packet of dog food and Gravy Bones – his favourite treat.

Kelsie, who works on the early interventions team, said: ‘A lot of parents ask about when he is coming in.

‘Some of the kids aren’t that confident and I have seen in reading groups where there are four children and they have all been really quiet, that you can hear them getting louder as they read.

‘Dogs do not judge, they just listen.

‘You can see it from the children’s faces.’

Russell, a collie-Alsatian cross, also takes part in the ‘daily mile’ walk which the children go on each day.

His proud owner said: ‘Somebody in the class gets nominated by the teacher for the responsibility of having his lead.

‘The children are so empathetic and so loving.

‘They ask me “how many sleeps until Russell comes?”.’

When he visits the classrooms, Russell is greeted with applause by the pupils, but often lies down to sleep on the floor.

Kelsie added: ‘The morale is up a wee bit, the whole atmosphere just lifts when Russell is in the room.’

For children who do not have pets at home, Russell’s visits provide a chance for them to take responsibility for caring for a dog.

Headteacher Colleen ClarkBurns is convinced that Russell’s visits teach pupils ‘compassion and responsibility’ – as well as boosting their confidence.

She said: ‘We have a couple of really shy kids, and try to use Russell to build their social skills, so they can get an audience with him.

‘The staff members all love him.’

The idea has already caught the attention of other schools in the area.

Kelsie added: ‘I’m really passionate about doing it, I love animals and I love my job.’

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A stunning tiny house perfect for living off the grid – as you can drop it almost anywhere without a permit – is selling for £19,000.

The 106-square-foot property has huge windows and basic but modern interiors.

The property doesn’t require a permit in most of North America, is entirely pre-fabricated, and can be delivered to whichever location you choose.

Drop structures, who will bring you your teeny home, said: ‘The Mono can go in a backyard as an exercise room, an office, a play room, or a guest room.

‘It can go to the country for glamping, or act as extra space at a family cottage.’

Each Mono is lit by LED pot lights and heated by an electric heat source. It features a Baltic Birch interior finish, vinyl flooring, and a Douglas Fir deck, though alternative materials are available at additional charge.

The model can be upgraded with a bathroom, kitchen, loft, Murphy bed, cabinets, and blinds.

Ryan Abernathy, Brandon Boorsma, and Matt Leitch—the brains behind DROP Structures—hope that Mono revolutionises the concept of space.

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An incredible home set within an 11th century castle has gone on the market for £1.2 million – and it comes with a lordship title.

The three-floor home, which is set in the Thurland Wing of Grade II-listed Thurland Castle, comes with its own moat and battlements, and can only be accessed via the castle’s original stone arch and gateaway which stretches across an ancient bridge.

The castle was once owned by ‘The Stainless Knight’, Brian Tunstall – a war hero who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and was immortalised in a poem by Sir Walter Scott – and the Thurland Wing has been extensively renovated to bring its 1,000-year past up to date.

The castle still has many of its original features, including mullion windows and stone fireplaces.

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One surviving feature is the ballroom, which comes with a  marble fireplace, carved linen-fold wood panelling and stained glass windows.

The property also features three bedrooms with en suites, and a master suite with views over the Lancashire country side.

It also has a renovated kitchen which has traditional features, as well as a Belfast sink and large skylight.

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Stumbling on toy cars left on stairs and dolls strewn over the floor is one of the many joys of parenting.

Why, oh why, do kids refuse to put away their toys once they’re done using them?

One mum has come up with a simple but smart solution, ingeniously named the ‘f***et bucket’.

Here’s how it works. Any toys left laying around will go in the child’s bucket. If the toy is still in the bucket at the end of the day instead of being put where it belongs, it gets thrown away. Sorry, kids.

‘Today I got the kids f***et buckets,’ wrote Jessica McGinty on her Facebook page, Mishmash Moments.

‘If they leave it laying around, it goes in their bucket. If it’s still there at bedtime it goes in the bin because f***et if I’m cleaning it up.’

The trick has been shared more than 25,000 times, and has been flooded with comments from parents keen to try it out for themselves.

‘Guess who is getting their very own f***et bucket,’ wrote one commenter. ‘Brilliant idea.’

Another reminded us that the bucket isn’t just for parents – it can be used to deter any messy types from leaving their stuff lying around.

‘What a great idea, I’m going to start one at work,’ wrote Jo.

Now, it’s important to note that the bucket idea does require toys being placed in the bucket when they’re left strewn all over the place, so parents might still need to make the effort of picking up their kiddo’s things throughout the day. It’s not an entirely fuss-free solution.

But the idea is that the first time the toys get chucked, children will quickly take the buckets seriously and tidy away their stuff sharpish.

One mum suggested hammering home the concept by making kids throw out the contents of their buckets themselves, which sounds emotionally intense.

Another recommended using positive reinforcement rather than relying on the fear of losing toys.

‘Love this, don’t know about chucking toys in the bin though, what a waste of money!’ wrote a parent in the comments. ‘I’d think of doing some sort of reward system if they do empty them.’

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Wheelchairs aren’t sexy. Unless you have a medical fetish, they’re not sexy. Most wheelchairs are clunky and creaky and don’t exactly scream passion.

When I first contracted sepsis and meningitis, I admit sex wasn’t my priority. Despite there being something really sexy about the way my boyfriend looked after me and quietly left the room every time I needed to use the commode, I wasn’t about to jump on him for a hot minute.

When I got ill in June this year, I’d been with my boyfriend for six months. A bit of a whirlwind, we’d already been on several holidays together and planned to move in together so it didn’t surprise me when we came out stronger in the face of serious illness. Richard became brilliant at making sure I was getting enough fluids, doing daily activity and having a great time… we just needed to figure out how this would work in the bedroom.

When my mobility got worse and I was confined to a wheelchair, I started to wonder how on earth we’d ever have sex again.

I’m lucky that I can transfer to the bed (or sofa) relatively easy but having sex somewhere that doesn’t come with cushions has had to be stopped. As have 99% of positions. Missionary has even had to be adapted, making sure my legs are comfortable lying flat and that the one leg that I can wrap around my boyfriend isn’t going to cramp up leaving me in crippling pain.

Recovery also means my libido has plummeted so the new-relationship-at-it-all-night sex has quickly become once per week if we’re lucky.

But it’s not all bad, we’ve had a lot of fun experimenting along the way and reigniting my sexuality has been key.

No-one talks about disabled women and sensuality and sexuality. Like every other woman in the world, we have the right to explore our fantasies and our bodies. When you’re ill, that can go out of the window but it’s such a vital part of life that it should in no way be abandoned.

Going solo was my first port of call and I’ve quickly learned sex toys are a godsend for disabled people. Using a sex toy has been amazing for me – the toy itself takes away any discomfort in my wrists and arms and allows me to explore my body when I’m alone and figure out what feels good again.

At first, full sex felt scary – would it feel the same for him or me? Could I still do it? Would I still orgasm? But finding out, rediscovering it all, has shown me I’m more than my disability and the wheelchair doesn’t define me. Being a smart, sexy, strong woman does and that’s exactly who I was before I become disabled.

Consent and who initiates sex has also changed since I’ve become disabled. Gone are the cheeky grins and quickies, replaced by the logistical things like wheeling me into the bedroom then getting me out of my wheelchair comfortably. It’s because spontaneity isn’t too much of an option anymore that I’m the one who initiates sex.

‘You don’t initiate it anymore, do you?’ I said to Richard when we were cuddled up in bed, fluffy socks replacing silk negligees and cheeky grins.

‘Not really, because I know you’re in pain a lot of the time so I leave it up to you for when you’re in the mood… And you know me, I’m happy anytime!’

One thing this whole experience has taught me, apart from the fact you should absolutely put the breaks on your wheelchair if you’re going to use it to steady yourself during sex, is that kindness is one of the sexiest things imaginable. Once I’m out of the wheelchair, once meningitis and 999 calls are a long forgotten memory, I hope I won’t forget that sex is about being kind to someone else’s needs, desires and wants and that goes a seriously long way.

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What’s it like to rent in London?

That’s what we’ve been investigating through our weekly series, What I Rent.

The general consensus: Expensive. We knew that already, but it’s good to see we’re not the only ones paying absurd amounts of money so we have the pleasure of living near a Tube station.

We’ve also been enjoying nosing around people’s rented properties, checking out not just the specifics of what they’re getting for what they’re paying, but also seeing how they’ve made a rented property feel like home.

This week we’re with Tom, who lives on the Barbican Estate.

Hi Tom! How much do you pay to live in your flat?

I pay £400 a week for rent.

You get heating included on the estate; but at the cost of not being able to control it. It’s turned on from October to April, and delivered under-floor. A friend lies his washed clothes on the floor to dry them; I stick to more traditional methods.

I’m not sure what I pay otherwise, around £150 I think? I’m paying £75 a month for energy through Bulb, which I think is hugely overpriced, and a mistake on their part, but I don’t know how to find out a meter reading to get to the correct figure because no-one can tell me where the meter is.

What do you get for that money?

1 bedroom, 1 bath, a kitchen, and a living/dining room area.

How long have you lived in the flat?

Coming up to two years in December.

And how did you find it? 

I always wanted to live here, and was in Camberwell before doing a daily cycle in. One day I had a fairly bad crash, and so when I got better I decided to just move here to a) avoid the commute and b) tick off a bucket list item.

All I did was call a few agents who specialise in the Barbican and leave my name with them. Flats don’t come up too often, so it helped that it was December, a quiet month for lettings.

Do you like where you live?

I absolutely love it. It’s a 5 minute walk from the office; and seemingly nowhere I ever want to go is more than 20 minutes away by bike. Despite being so central, it’s incredibly quiet.

I live by the estate’s lake, so get nice views of nature out the window, including a shaggy old heron and lots of ducklings.

And because of the adjoining arts centre, there are usually some friends lurking on a weekend who’ll come over for a coffee.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

Yeah, it’s about 650 sq ft which is more than enough. All I’ve really got in here is books, lamps, and a laptop; so there’s plenty of room for loafing, or playing football with balled up socks.

Do you enjoy living alone?

I do enjoy it. I have a stressful job so it’s nice to get back and just collapse on the floor sometimes, George-Michael in Arrested Development-style, without any obligation to chat.

That said, I often have people around so it doesn’t get too lonely.

Are there any problems with the flat?

It’s an old place that could do with a refurb. All the features are original (i.e. ancient) and so, whilst cute, they’re not particularly efficient.

The oven is tiny; the water runs either scolding hot or freezing cold; and there’s a weird garbage disposal system called a ‘garchey’ that takes tremendous effort to keep clean, and ends up smelling quite badly if you neglect it. Oh and the ceiling leaks when it rains very heavily.

How have you made the place feel like home?

I had a bit of a battle with the landlady to let me get rid of some huge old sofas when I first moved in, that were really killing the vibe. Once she acquiesced I added my plants; and various bits of furniture I’ve acquired over the years. I’ve got a big flokati sheepskin rug that is nice to walk over barefoot.

Any plans to move again?

I want to stay here forever ideally. The only reasons I’d move would be to either get a flat at the top of the big towers they have here (for the views); or to move somewhere where dogs are allowed.

And what about buying a place?

I have a property ISA with Bricklane.com so I sort of get all the benefits of owning without actually buying a house. But nevertheless I would love to renovate somewhere one day.

Alas for now it’s unachievable until I meet a rich woman and marry into wealth.

Same, Tom. Same. Shall we have a look around his flat?

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am. Check back next week to have a nose around another rented property in London. 

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With the nights drawing in and the temperatures plummeting to jumper-necessary levels, it’s out with Aperol Spritz and crop tops and in with Ovaltine and blankets.

Last year it was all about lagom, and hygge rained supreme the year before that when it came to lifestyle trends (even if it did ruin people’s sex lives).

Now people are looking a little closer to home to get their cosy on and living well.

Coorie (pronouncie coor-e) is a Scottish slang word that you might hear people say when talking about having a cuddle.

‘Coorie in’ is interchangeable with snuggle in or perhaps with cwtching if you’re Welsh – or watched Gavin and Stacey.

Author Gabriella Bennett doesn’t just think coorieing is a single act, though, but a way of life and something you can make an art form out of.

Her new book – called The Art of Coorie – details the ways in which you can dial down your busy life and gain a bit of Celtic perspective and peace.

She told Metro.co.uk, ‘Coorie is about learning to live better using what is around you. It’s about drawing comfort from Scotland’s oldest traditions and updating them for modern times.

‘It’s also about looking at how we buy, consume and spend our leisure time then trying to simplify the processes involved.

‘A coorie way of life practises small, quiet, slow activities by engaging with our surroundings to feel happy.’

In terms of things you can do to practise coorie, you should get back to nature as much as you can.

Gabriella recommends using pine needles to flavour some drinks, or learning how to smoke foods (don’t worry you won’t need an expensive smoker and there’s a DIY guide in the book).

Unlike hygge, which is all about candles, blankets, and just general warmth, coorie also encompasses being ‘at one with the earth’ in the least wanky way possible.

‘Coorie seeks to make the most of what comes from Scotland to feel satisfied. It is more than simply being cosy. Sure, it’s linked, but it’s also about working out how to be in tune with our surroundings to evoke that feeling.’ Says Gabriella.

‘The new coorie represents a way of life where peacefulness comes from engaging with our heritage.’

The need for something like coorie is certainly understandable. In the age of the gig economy and the expectation that we should all have multiple side hustles, doing something just for the sake of doing it can get lost.

Gabriella says, ‘We are living in uncertain, austere times with volatile politics. We’re also more skint than ever before and feeling the repercussions of all these things on our mental health.

‘Coorie ways don’t cost a lot of money and they help us feel mindful away from screen time. Coorie is a way of engaging with the real world and feeling like you’re part of it, even if there are things happening outside of your control.’

I’ll have a dram to that.

You can get The Art of Coorie book here.

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Parents – if you want a night out but can’t get a baby sitter, there is now a solution.

A venue in Glasgow is launching a sober club night and children can come along too.

Sober Clubbing Part 4 will be held at Canvas nightclub on October 18 to coincide with Sober October.

There will be a bar, just like any other club, but it will only sell mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks.

Hosts Sober Sonic Events promise ‘awesome sounds’ and ‘a balanced vibrant mix of Electronic Dance music from across the world’.

The event runs from 7pm until 11pm, with under 18s welcome until 10pm if they are accompanied by an adult.

Founder Ronnie Whittaker told the Evening Times: “It hasn’t been easy in face of the drink culture here in Glasgow to promote our events.

‘People scoff at it not truly realising what it’s all about. But we take that on the chin and continue on because we can see that something’s happening here

‘More and more people are taking to it and the feedback is always good. People are often totally surprised at how good their experience was.’

At the minute, the event is only in Glasgow but hopefully the idea will spread – everyone deserves to have somewhere to dance.

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From now on it could be up to you to decide when your apples, oranges, cabbages and asparagus have gone bad, rather than relying on labels.

Tesco is set to remove ‘best before’ dates from 119 fruit and vegetable products, which they say will help customers reduce food waste at home.

The supermarket giant successfully trialed removing the labels on pre-packaged fresh food lines back in May, and now they’re widening their strategy.

The company hope that removing the guidance date will make shopping less confusing and prevent consumers throwing away perfectly edible food.

A survey, conducted for the retailer, found that 69% of shoppers felt that scrapping ‘best before’ dates was a good idea, and 53% said removing the labels helped them keep fresh food for longer.

Tesco are certain that there are no issues around safety, and labelling on fish, dairy, meat and poultry will remain the same. The difference is that the ‘use by’ labels on these products mean the food is unsafe to consume after these dates, whereas ‘best before’ dates are largely just indicators of quality.

And there’s good news for bargain hunters – the yellow sticker reductions will continue in all Tesco stores. Staff have been given training and will use their judgement to help them decide when food should be marked down.

Tesco’s head of food waste reduction, Mark Little, hopes the new strategy will save people money as well as being good for the planet.

‘Removing best before dates is our way of making it easier for customers to reduce food waste at home and save money in the process,’ he said. ‘It’s simply not right that food goes to waste, and we’re going to do everything we can to help.

The company is also working with suppliers to figure out ways to use as much of their crop as possible, for example allowing more ‘wonky’ veg on the shelves and creating new products to use up food that is still edible.

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The only thing better than cheap booze is free booze. And Lidl, home of affordable food and drink, is one-upping itself and offering alcohol for free.

The budget supermarket is launching its first ever pop-up gin bar, and because they know everybody will want a taste of the stuff, they’re touring the country.

The Lidl House of Hortus, inspired by its cult favourite Hortus Gin range, promises guests an ‘immersive and Instagrammable experience’.

Visitors to the gin club can enjoy new samples of the drink served by ‘Hortus-Culturists’. Mixologists will offer a customised gin and botanical pairing experience.

You can expect to start your tour at the Pink Gin Liqueur Lounge, where Hortus Gin liqueurs including raspberry, rhubarb and ginger, and rose and pomegranate will be available to try.

Then move to the botanical garden where you can learn about gin pairings while enjoying a free-pour serve from the signature range including Hortus Artisan Dry gin, Oriental Spiced, or Citrus Garden.

And what’s a good tour without a bar? The final stop on the boozy train will include the Spirits in the Sky bar – featuring a central circular bar and a starry night sky – so you can get stuck into Lidl’s wider range of spirits.

‘The nation’s love of gin shows no signs of slowing down, so we’ve decided to listen to the fantastic response from our customers and take our innovative own-label Hortus premium Gin range on the road and invite everyone to come and try our superb range of gins,’ said Paul McQuade, head of spirits buying at Lidl.

‘We have placed a huge emphasis on strengthening and diversifying our ever-growing spirits range, specifically our award-winning Hortus gin offering.

‘The festive season countdown has officially started and The House of Hortus will help us give our customers a sneak peek at the exciting new and existing spirits and liqueurs that we have in stores.’

The Lidl House of Hortus will open its doors on 26 and 27 October at 19 Greek Street, Soho, London – before travelling to Queen Street, Cardiff on Friday 2, 3, and 4 November, and Castle Street, Edinburgh on 9 and 10 November.

The Lidl House of Hortus tour is a free, ticketed event. You can book tickets here.

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In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, various beauty brands are donating part of their profits to breast cancer research.

So if you need to stock up on a classic, or treat yourself to a gorgeous beauty buy, October is the time to do it.

Brands such as Bobbi Brown and BECCA have dressed up their most-loved beauty products in pink, to support breast cancer charities, like Breast Cancer Care and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter, £30

In support of The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign, BECCA Cosmetics will donate £6 of the purchase price of their limited edition, ribbon embossed pressed highlighter.

The fan-favourite and best-seller, is described as ‘a golden-peach tone’ highlight and works on all skin tones.

Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter Breast Cancer Awareness Limited Edition – Opal, £30, cultbeauty.co.uk

TOWNHOUSE ‘One Heart’ Limited Edition Gel Manicure, from £39

TOWNHOUSE, the London nail salon that everyone’s talking about, is launching a limited edition gel manicure design ‘One Heart’, with £5 from each limited edition manicure donated to Breast Cancer Now.

All you have to do is book online, select Manicure with Gel and Accents and request the design in store.

There’s never been a better time to book a manicure.

TOWNHOUSE ‘One Heart’ Limited Edition Gel Manicure, from £39, mytownhouse.co.uk

ghd GOLD® BY LULU GUINNESS, £139

The original styler that heats up in a flash and glides through hair like a dream, has had an all-star makeover by Lulu Guinness and has been covered in her famous lipstick kisses.

£10 from every purchase of the pink styler is donated to Breast Cancer Now.

It would make the perfect gift for birthdays and with Christmas coming up.

ghd GOLD® BY LULU GUINNESS, £139, ghdhair.com

Bobbi Brown Pinks With Purpose Lip Colour Duo, £35

Bobbi Brown is offering a limited edition set featuring a suits-all lip duo.

With every sale, £5 will be donated to the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign.

Bobbi Brown Pinks With Purpose Lip Colour Duo, £35, bobbibrown.co.uk

Special Edition Rosie Magnetic Lashes, £18.95

If you can’t apply false lashes, ever thought about trying magnetic eyelashes?

With 20% of the proceeds of every pair of Special Edition Rosie Magnetic Lashes being donated to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, now is time to put the eyelash glue down.

The magnetic eyelashes secure to each other, and your lash line, with tiny magnets built into the strips – snazzy, huh?

Special Edition Rosie Magnetic Lashes, £18.95, lashfx-magnetise.com

Clinique Jumbo Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, £39

The award-winning, must-have Clinique moisturiser, has gone jumbo for a great cause.

£7.84 from every purchase will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research and you’ll also receive a Limited Edition BCA Keychain.

Jumbo Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+, £39, clinique.co.uk

GLAMGLOW BUBBLESHEET™ Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask, £7

GlamGlow have released a limited edition of their on-trend bubbling mask to help join in the fight against breast cancer.

This bamboo charcoal-infused sheet mask, is fun, effective and 3D.

So you can sit back, enjoy and effortlessly donate £3.50 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

GLAMGLOW BUBBLESHEET™ Oxygenating Deep Cleanse Mask, £7, glamglow.co.uk

Bumble and Bumble Pink Ribbon Bb.Thickening Spray, £24

For a good cause and a great hair day, Bumble and Bumble’s fan favourite Bb.Thickening Spray has been dressed in pink with 20% of proceeds going to Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

This pre-styler spray effectively creates volume, lifts the roots and is suitable for all hair types.

Bumble and Bumble Pink Ribbon Bb.Thickening Spray, £24, bumbleandbumble.co.uk

Elemis Limited Edition Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, £68

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the original ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm has been kissed by a rose, with this limited edition rose-scented release.

Not only does it smell like a fresh bouquet of flowers, it’s also beautifully boxed, making it the perfect gift for many reasons.

Elemis Limited Edition Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, £68, lookfantastic.com

Vita Liberata and Secret Spa, from £40

Vita Liberata has teamed up with Secret Spa, with both companies donating a total of £10 from every Vita Liberata spray tan to Breast Cancer Now.

Customers just need to go to the Secret Spa App, website or call and book one in for a wonderful cause.

You’ll feel and look good inside and out.

Vita Liberata and Secret Spa, from £40, secretspa.co.uk

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