I got into magic at 13. My father took me to Hamleys, where a salesman performed effects-for-sale, finishing with a mind-blowing trick known as the Dynamic Coins.

A small stack of 10p coins was covered by a brass cylinder, when the cylinder was lifted, the coins have vanished. They appeared and disappeared again and again, finally vanishing from my own closed hand. A miracle to my eyes.

My father said he had a book of basic magic tricks at home, and perhaps the secret to the trick would be in there. It was not, but there were other delights and I was hooked.

Magic allowed me to work in short, sharp bursts, earning good money while I established my career.

While friends sacrificed weekends to Saturday jobs, for example, I performed for a local restaurant, earning £20 an hour – plus a free pizza.

When romance became a motivating factor, close-up magic was an effective icebreaker. I was never the most confident young man, but give me a deck of cards and I could approach groups of girls as if I was Superman.

It didn’t always work, but it never completely failed.

I choose to remember the times when, asked to sign a card, a girl (who I would never have had the courage to approach) would write her phone number down instead; my friends, on the other hand, remind me of times when the invitation to ‘pick a card’ was met with a quizzical look.

Now, as an award-winning magician and magical consultant, I spend my days inventing ‘effects’ – what the audience takes away as the final moment of wonder.

I have to come up with the exact method I’ll use to accomplish the effect, and then I practise it until the movements become invisible.

There are lots of things to consider. The first is how difficult the trick should be; there are, after all, plenty of blow-your-socks-off ‘self-working’ effects where you just follow the instructions with no sleight of hand required.

Then I need to think about what tools are at my disposal, from cards to coins.

And finally, I need to decide how I want the audience to respond at the end – gasp, laugh, or something more complex.

In my youth, it was the first two.

I wanted to shock – cards stuck to ceilings, bottles smashed to reveal signed £10 notes, a rose produced from a ball of fire. ‘Reputation makers’, as they were titled.

Now I’m older, I see each trick as a little narrative to share. This is harder.

Everything distracting must be cut, or folded into the way I perform it; like a pick-pocket who, knowing that in 20 minutes he’ll steal your watch, takes subtle opportunities to hold your hands and normalise what he’s about to do.

Done right, simple tricks start to take on an almost miraculous feel.

As a magical consultant, I also teach these skills to others or help create a ‘magical’ scene.

I get no joy from performing a trick for the first time. It’s terrifying.

Wiser people than me call magic ‘the art which conceals its art’, meaning you have to be able to execute whatever moves are needed, and do them invisibly.

I am always painfully aware that the first time I try something, I’m terrible at the concealing element: sweaty, shakey hands and a face that – I’m convinced – screams ‘I’M DOING THE MOVE NOW!’

The only specific thing you need is patience: for yourself as you learn, and from your friends as you practice on them again and again and again.

Before long, muscle memory starts doing most of the work for you. You start trusting your own timing and can get away with more and more outlandish sleights.

Those are my favourite tricks: the ones that are so brazen, an audience can’t believe you’d be so cocky. That’s the level of confidence you need.

Then, if something goes wrong – and things go wrong all the time – you can repair or recycle as you go along without anyone noticing that something had gone awry.

For example, early on in my career, one family said they would hire me on the condition that I did the rabbit-from-the-hat trick.

I had stopped doing the trick as my rabbit was fairly old, but seduced by the as-yet-unimagined sum of money, I agreed to revive the effect.

My poor pet died mid-trick – thankfully, I noticed before revealing the rabbit to the children.

The most common thing I’m asked is, ‘How do you do it?’ What a weird question – as if I make a habit of revealing secrets.

When I have shared a technique, the response is equally baffling: ‘Oh’, delivered with a tone of sincere disappointment.

The solution to an effect is usually simple, in premise, if not execution. It takes practise to sense the rhythm, to throw the focus, to distract enough but not too much, to execute the switch – but it is just a switch.

This is not what they want to hear, but I am as limited by the rules of physics as anyone, and that upsets people anticipating an antique book of spells.

There are plenty of other things that only magicians would know, but if I told you, I’d put my own life in danger.

The Magic Circle has operatives everywhere.

(Top picture: Tom Price for Metro.co.uk)

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Imagine this scenario: it is uncovered that one third of children in the UK are drinking dirty polluted water and are therefore at a very high risk of contracting disease.

Hundreds of thousands of parents take to the streets calling for action, there is 24-hour news coverage on what is happening, and the front page of every newspaper and every editorial demands that the government take urgent steps to save our children from this terrible, polluted water.

In response, the government declares a state of emergency and urgent legislation is drafted. A clean water act is rushed through parliament, and lives are saved.

It’s not hard to imagine.

However, substitute dirty polluted water for dirty polluted air and suddenly we don’t have hundreds of thousands of parents marching, there is no TV news channel reporting and there are very few articles demanding action.

The crisis of air pollution in the UK is largely a silent emergency – even though it is estimated that the equivalent of 40,000 premature deaths are caused as a result.

A recent report by Unicef found that one third of our children live in areas where levels of air pollution are above the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits.

To make matters worse, 6,000 new school places have been approved in such areas in the lasts six years.

The crisis of air pollution in the UK is largely a silent emergency – even though it is estimated that the equivalent of 40,000 premature deaths are caused as a result.

This isn’t because parents don’t care about the poisoning of their children – it’s because they just don’t know it’s happening.

Air pollution is hard to see. Many people wouldn’t know that the UK has regularly breached the legal limit for air pollution in the country.

They wouldn’t know that these legal limits should have been met in 2010 either.

But without further action, they are unlikely to be met until 2028 in London, and until as late as 2027 in other cities and towns including Bradford, Cardiff, Derby, Glasgow, Southampton, Nottingham, Leeds and Middlesbrough.

Most people also are probably not aware that children are more likely to be affected because they breathe more air per minute than adults, and buggies and prams put them at the level of car exhausts.

Dirty air is a danger to their health, from triggering asthma attacks and stunting lung growth, to causing problems in later life and increasing the chances of cancer and infections such as pneumonia.

So although we have banned tobacco adverts from our children’s schools, we haven’t done anything to protect them from the poisonous air they are breathing while there.

But here is a twist to cheer you up.

Unlike so many of the apparently intractable problems we face today, this is absolutely fixable with a little bit of political will and a modest amount of investment.

This is why I, along with former Conservative cabinet minister Maria Miller, helped to launch the Clean Air for Children Programme last week, which has been created by the Clean Air Parents’ Network, made up of mums and dads from across the country.

The programme calls for emergency measures to protect childrens’ and babies’ lungs from illegal and harmful levels of air pollution at their schools and playgrounds.

At the moment, national government doesn’t even collect data on which schools and children are at risk. We are demanding that the government identify all schools affected by harmful levels of air pollution.

Parents rightly expect to know the exam results at a school, the quality of teaching and the policy on bullying. They also have a right to know whether their kids’ health is being put at risk.

The next step is to support local authorities to have traffic exclusion zones – timed diversions – for those schools identified.  It’s already being done, and working, in some areas.

We also need a halt to building new school places in areas that are polluted.

Cash-strapped local authorities will have trouble affording this on their own. But just £150m from national government could roll out the emergency measures required that would tackle schools that are most affected.

It seems a small price to pay in order to protect our children.

So how do we make this happen?

New laws on clean air have been promised next year as part of the upcoming environment bill, but despite support from MPs of all parties, it won’t happen without public pressure.

Join the Clean Air parent’s network and even if you don’t have children, get involved in the campaign. Demand action from your local authority and from central government.

Once inflicted, the damage that polluted air does to our children’s lungs is irreversible.

We can’t afford to wait. It’s a public health emergency and there is a cross-party will to fix it.

We need to make it happen.

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Welcome to Modern Etiquette, a brand new series where we ask the pressing questions of 2018.

Let us paint you a word picture.

A recently engaged friend has invited you to a swanky, Instagrammable bar. When you arrive, she’s sitting at a table looking like the cat that drank and entire pint of cream, and you know what’s coming. The words ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’ (or if you’re very unfortunate, ‘member of my Bride Tribe’).

Now for some of us, that’s a lovely thing. The prospect of helping to plan the wedding and standing beside our best friend on the day they get married, is a nice one. But let’s be honest. Whether it’s because the woman in question is a nightmare to deal with, or whether it’s the seventh time you’ve been asked in the last two years, sometimes you don’t want to say yes.

We spoke to professional bridesmaid Jen Glantz, who is the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire and author of Always a Bridesmaid for Hire about why we sometimes don’t want to be bridesmaids.

She told Metro.co.uk: ‘Being a bridesmaid can feel like a part-time job. It’s a strain on someone’s bank account, free time, and of course, stress levels. It’s not just being there to party during the bachelorette party or walk down the aisle, it’s about being the bride’s personal assistant and on-call support system. It’s something that if a person has a lot on their personal to-do list might want to say a big no to doing.’

Unfortunately, it’s not a question that you’re really supposed to say no to. When a woman says ‘Will you be my bridesmaid?’ what she means is ‘you will be my bridesmaid.’ And if you don’t want to do the honours, you’re going to need to handle it incredibly carefully. Think final episode of Bodyguard levels of careful.

Jen explains that the best way to get out of being a bridesmaid is to explain that you don’t think you’ll be able to give enough time and effort to do a great job, and that you don’t want to take on the role and then let her down.

Professional bridesmaid Tiffany Wright explained that how you deliver the message is important, telling Metro.co.uk: ‘Make sure you tell the BRIDE first. The last thing you want to do is is seek advice from your mutual friends and then find they have told her before you do. Also, do it face to face – don’t chicken out and do it via text or (even worse!) social media.’

Once you’ve bitten the bullet and said no, you’re probably still not off the hook entirely. Jen says if you want to keep the friendship, you need to try to be supportive of the wedding in a different way, saying: ‘Make sure you decline the role of being a bridesmaid ASAP and offer a suggestion for how you can help with the wedding instead. Offer to still help with what the bride needs and let her know that you’ll still be at her pre-wedding celebrations, you just can’t be there in the bridesmaid capacity that she needs you to be.

Realistically, if the bride is a good mate, she’ll get it. As co-founder of wedding planners ADDO Events, Georgie Fowle told Metro.co.uk: ‘The fact that a friend has asked you to play such a pivotal role within their special day is testament to your relationship. That said, they should be understanding that the bridesmaid role isn’t your bag. Any understanding bride will respect your decision and invite you to be a part of the day in another way.’

Saying no might feel awkward and embarrassing in the moment, but in the long run it’ll be a lot less pain then signing over all your free hours and half your salary to a responsibility that you didn’t want in the first place.

The worst case scenario is to say yes and then do such a poor job that you fall out with the bride anyway – a very real risk if you’re resentful of the entire experience. Sucking up the awkward conversation might be hard in the moment, but it’s an investment in the friendship, and your quality of life for the next 12-18 months.

Modern Etiquette is a weekly series. Rather than telling you what to do with a salad crescent or which shoes are most appropriate for Ascot, we’ll be working out how to navigate shared houses, drugs, ex-boyfriends and that moment when you send the screenshot of the person you’re bitching about to them. 

Next week, we’ll be asking how to deal with a friend who takes all your coke but never offers to pay.

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Period shaming is a very real thing.

More than one in three women in the UK have experienced it at some point in their lives, according to research released by Action Aid earlier this year.

But while we’re all for talking about and celebrating periods, lifting the stigma on having sex when it’s your time of the month and providing all women with access to sanitary products, we’re not sure about this latest development.

Maxinne Björk, a blogger from Sweden who currently lives in Bali, has taken to Instagram to honour her womanhood – with a picture of her face and breasts, covered in period blood.

The post is captioned: ‘Today, after a very productive and super fun day, I just came home all emotional with lots on my mind that I just pushed aside ’cause I didn’t have space to deal with it in the moment.

‘I sat down and did some deep breathing, and all of a sudden felt a strong urge to cover myself in my life-giving fluids as a woman. So, without really thinking of why or anything else, I just did.

‘Smudged it out all over my body and then rolled around naked on the grass in my garden all covered in my menstrual blood.’

Comments from other users show a divide in opinion, with some expressing disgust and writing ‘nasty’, and others thanking her for the post.

One user, Feminism for All, said: ‘I’m a good feminist. covering yourself in your fluids, rolling around in grass, crying and then laughing like a maniac is not impowering [sic] or inspirational, it’s disgusting and worrying.’

Unusual photos on Instagram is nothing new for the blogger, who describes herself as a ‘naturist’ and ‘yogini’, a theme that is reflected on her account (and blog) – with most of the pictures featuring nudity.

On her post, Maxinne goes on to write: ‘Smelled the earth and started crying intensely. Both from happiness and sadness. After some crying I started laughing instead.

‘I’m so happy to have my mum in my life, we both help each other to get through some roller coasters. The family situation we are in right now is just very draining. But, that’s life. And exactly how it is suppose to be in this moment.

‘Accept and love.’

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Marks & Spencer has ditched the set price of its Dine In For Two meal deal, and will offer a third off a range of mains, sides, desserts and wine instead.

A third off sounds great, but according to loveMONEY, this could mean you could end up paying over £16 for the exact same meal you would have gotten with the offer.

Before, you could get a main, side, dessert and a bottle of wine for £12, though it was originally £10.

But now you have to buy each with its own individual discount – and the cheapest price you can pay for meals that used to be within the deal comes to over £13, so you’re guaranteed to pay more.

This is pretty saddening, considering M&S did some really great dishes within the deal, including Chimichurri beef steaks, pancetta carbonara, slow-cooked aromatic half duck, carrot cake cheesecake and chocolate peanut tart.

We know, they all sound amazing, so it’s saddening that we can no longer get a range of these for 12 quid.

But of course, you can still go to other stores to benefit from a dine-in menu – Tesco’s Finest Meal Deal for Two costs just £10, which includes a side, main, dessert and drink – and features similar dishes to M&S.

Hopefully, if more people start heading to Tesco, M&S will take note and bring back the meal deal.

Because come on, who doesn’t want delicious M&S food at a bargain price?

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The dress is a huge part of any wedding. No matter how low-key or extravagant a gown, people will always have an opinion on what you wear on your big day.

Ultimately though, as a bride, you want all eyes on you.

So, American retailer Fashion Nova is giving brides what they want, with a pretty attention-grabbing wedding dress aptly named ‘Craving Attention’.

The £77.92 mermaid-style gown features a thigh split on either side and lace detailing has made some shoppers go wild for it, while others branded it ‘tacky’.

Due to its various sheer, ‘cut-out’ areas, revealing some side boob, back, and legs, some people even questioned whether it’s actually appropriate for a church wedding.

Fashion Nova uploaded a picture of the tongue-in-cheek Craving Attention dress on its Instagram this week.

The gown, featuring long sleeves, an invisible back zipper, and padded bra cups is carefully put together to look as if the bride is showing off her skin. But, nude mesh panels connect the whole thing together and it is, in fact, a one-piece.

Others appreciated the badass attitude aspect of the dress.

One Instagram user wrote: ‘Looking like a whole queen. I know it looks like a wedding dress but I high key want to wear it to Walmart and just get congratulated on the wedding that I didn’t have.’

‘I’ll probably show up to my wedding in this, no f**ks given,’ wrote another.

The post, which has almost 100,000 likes, displays a mixed bag of reactions with some asking what happens if your boob falls out and you end up flashing your grandad, to those asking if the nude comes in darker colours.

‘I love how if you look at the front of the dress is pretty modest and elegant but when you turn it’s like side boob paradise,’ said one person.

While another keen fan wrote: ‘This dress would have been perfect for my wedding plus affordable, I’m in love, I might have to throw myself another wedding party.’

What are your thoughts?

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It might be getting chilly in November but the restaurant scene in London is hotting up (sorry, not sorry).

Ahead of Christmas, the capital is filling up with exciting new openings and pop-ups, including some hotly anticipated projects.

There are sweet spots from Michelin-starred chefs, cosy neighbourhood spots and plant-based concepts with an indulgent flare.

So forget about that diet, put your festive shopping on the back burner and book into one of these to warm up against the cold front.

Sushisamba – November 1

Sushisamba is opening its second London site in Covent Garden, serving up its signature blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine.

As well as the main restaurant and bar, the new site will also have a 14-seat sushi counter.

Expect to see some exclusive menu items too, including the Samba Covent Garden Roll – a blend of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, white fish, avocado, cucumber, red onion, sweet potato corn, aji amarillo and leche de tigre.

Biff’s Jack Shack – November 1

Biff’s Jack Shack, who serve self-billed ‘filthy AF vegan junk food’, have a new spot in Boxpark Shoreditch.

All their usual plant-based burgers, wingz and filthy fries are on the menu.

And while officially opening on November 1, they will be giving away 20 free burgers between October 29 and November 2 to celebrate the launch.

The Meet – November 2

Clapham is getting a vegan pop-up in the shape of The Meet.

The plant-based menu will feature everything from sharing plates and burgers to late night bites.

And at the weekend, there’s even bottomless vegan brunch and Sunday roast.

Artisan – November 7

Portbobello Road is getting a new neighbourhood restaurant dishing up contemporary Italian food.

Artisan will offer the likes of grilled octopus with artichoke salad and their take on vitello tonnato.

And of course, there’s fresh pasta and pizzas cooked in the wood-fired oven.

Cakes & Bubbles – November 8

The long-awaited project from Albert Adria is finally landing on Regent Street.

Dessert-only concept Cakes & Bubbles will offer a taste of his Barcelona Michelin-starred restaurant, Tickets, alongside a whole host of other sweet treats.

And to celebrate their opening, they will be giving away free cheesecake and champagne to the first 40 guests on opening day, plus an extra 100 free cheesecake for those who didn’t quite make it as the first through the doors.

Lino – November 9

Richard Falk, formerly head chef at The Dairy, will be heading up new all-day eatery Lino.

There’s a low-waste approach to the menu, which includes using left-over croissants from the morning for ice creams later in the day, with everything made from scratch on site.

The ethos translates to the drinks too, with cocktails being made using ferments made in-house.

Le Petit Citron – November 9

Coming to Hammersmith is new French bistro Le Petit Citron.

The focus will be on Provençal cooking, with dishes such as lemon and garlic poussin with French beans, persillade and pine nuts on the menu for lunch and dinner.

And at the weekend, it’s all about brunch, featuring an abundance of (of course) croissants.

Market Hall Victoria – November 12

After successfully launching Market Hall Fulham earlier this year, the team behind the project are back with a second site – this time in Victoria.

The idea is the same – get a group of great vendors round an open indoor seating space.

There’s Koya Ko by Koya, BaoziInn, Kerbisher & Malt, Super Tacos from Breddos and more vying for your attention this time.

Fare Bar + Canteen – November 12

The team behind Sager + Wilde have been putting their energy behind opening a new spot in Old Street.

Fare Bar + Canteen will be an all-day eatery combining a cafe, cocktail and wine bar, and restaurant.

Food-wise, it will be sharing plates with a blend of British and Mediterranean influences.

EartH Kitchen – November 27

Hackney Arts Centre has had a bit of a make-over – becoming EartH – and with it comes a new eating space, EartH Kitchen.

The restaurant bit is taking over what was once the cinema foyer, and will have Chris Gillard, formerly of St John, at the helm.

You’ll find dishes like griddled mackerel, with beetroot, leaves and horseradish, while for dessert, it’s all about modern takes on traditional tarts and puddings.

Notable recent openings…

The team behind Salon have gone to Peckham for their second concept, Levan.

It’s an all-day affair, with freshly baked pastries kicking off the morning and simple bistro-inspired lunches.

For dinner, look out for dishes such as Comté fries with saffron aioli and smoked pollack with spinach, asparagus and vin jaune.

Bao-hungry Londoners have a new spot to try in Haymarket, where Brighton’s Baby Bao is currently running a pop-up.

While inspired by Taiwanese bao buns, it also takes inspiration from further afield.

You can find flavours such as Korean BBQ prawns and cod tempura for the buns, and there are also lettuce wraps for those who are gluten-free.

Gamma Gamma has recently opened in Soho, serving up small plate fusion dishes.

Although billed as pan-Asian, you will find flavours from South America, such as ceviche and chimichurri, on the menu as well.

A bit left field is perhaps its focus on exotic meats, such as zebra, kangaroo and ostrich.

For a taste of the Philippines in Hoxton, there’s now Kinilaw & Buko.

Kinilaw is all about a Filipino dish that’s similar to ceviche, using palm vinegar and kalamansi limes.

On the sweet side is Buko, the Filipino take on ice cream, which are served in coconut shells or cones.

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Have you ever wondered why the fashion show runway is called a catwalk? Fun fact, it’s because the models’ walk in a way that is similar to the strut of a feline.

One Turkish show had the catwalk live up to its name, after an actual live cat walked ahead of the models, squatted down, and began licking himself clean.

You know, just your standard haute couture show.

The event took place during the Vakko ESMOD International exhibition at the Emaar Square Mall in Istanbul, Turkey, and in true model fashion, the women simply walked past the black and grey cat, while he had his fun.

The feline creature wasn’t impressed nor fazed by the faff around him, as onlookers excitedly filmed his actions.

At one point, the cat began to swat away models that got too close before going back to licking himself.

Clearly a bit of a diva, the cat then assumed the role of a showstopper, taking centre stage and walking in front of a model who couldn’t help but smile.

The video has now been shared all over social media, with one woman, American author Jessica Einfeld, proclaiming: ‘This is fashion!’.

‘Everybody was in shock,’ fashion designer Göksen Hakkı Ali said to The Dodo.

So far no one knows how the cat was able to get through security, enter the building, and manage to prop itself up on the catwalk.

But where there’s a will, there’s a way.

And the cat left as it came – shrouded in mystery.

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Let’s face it, a lot of us are adults who never grew out of our love for Disney.

Which is why every time Primark does a Disney tie in, we go mad for it. And now Birchbox is getting in on the act.

Birchbox is a subscription service which sends you a box of beauty treats every month, the idea being that you can try out slightly smaller sized products and get a good deal buying the full size of anything you fall in love with. Birchbox often do themed boxes, and for November they’ve teamed up with Disney to create a Nutcracker themed box, to celebrate the release of the new Nutcracker film.

There’s a bit of variety in what you get in your box, but box contains five beauty treats from brands such as Paul and Joe, Spacemasks, GLAMGLOW. Everyone will get a Manna Kadar roller ball eye shadow.

Also, if you subscribe to Birchbox you’ll get a full sized Nutcracker and The Four Realms OPI nail varnish.

The Birchbox X Disney box is available to buy from 1st November, for the normal monthly subscription price of £10.00 (plus £2.95 P+P).

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They say pregnant women glow during their second trimester – and Meghan Markle is certainly living up to the old wives’ tale on the royal tour in Australia.

The Duchess of Sussex has showcased a string of stylish outfits over the course of their first week Down Under, changing from beach wear to city chic to ballgown and diamonds.

And, to the delight of royal fans, her baby bump can be seen underneath her outfits, making them all the more exciting to marvel over.

Harry and Meghan are currently on their first overseas official tour as husband and wife, taking in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga, and Meghan has been sailing through it in a variety of stylish and plain gorgeous outfits.

Oh to be a Duchess.

In fact, it’s getting us ridiculously excited about Meghan’s maternity wardrobe.

To help us all keep track and refer back to these joyous and stylish times, we’ll be updating this post with every outfit Meghan wears during her trip to Australia. Buckle in.

DAY ONE:

Meghan wears a white Karen Gee dress at Admirality House

For a visit to the official Sydney residence of the Governor-General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove, and Lady Cosgrove – and her first appearance since announcing her pregnancy – Meghan opted for a sleek white shift dress by Australian designer Karen Gee.

The dress, known as ‘The Blessed Dress’, promptly sold out and crashed the Karen Gee website. It costs AUD1,800 (£971.99)

Meghan completed her look with Stuart Weitzman nude suede pumps.

Meghan wears a Brandon Maxwell khaki shirt dress for an afternoon reception

Meghan did a quick change for the afternoon reception at Admiralty House, swapping her white shift for a khaki shirt dress by Brandon Maxwell.

Brandon Maxwell is a favourite of Meghan – she previously wore their design, a yellow shift dress, at the Commonwealth Youth Event in July.

Just like the white shift, the green khaki dress has already sold out, but we know it cost £1,728. Whew.

The Duchess accessorised the dress with Dior nude heels and jewellery previously owned by Princess Diana – a bracelet and butterfly earrings.

DAY TWO:

Meghan goes casual for a visit to Mountain View Farm in Dubbo

For a rainy visit to the Mountain View Farm in Dubbo, the Duchess of Sussex kept things casual in a shirt, blazer, and jeans.

The blazer is the creation of Meghan’s pal Serena Williams, from the tennis champion’s Boss collection. It features a red and blue check, has an oversized fit, and costs $145 (£110). Naturally it has already sold out.

If you’re keen to wear the same jeans as Meghan, you’ll need to head to Outland – she’s wearing their Harriet style in black, which cost £140.

That crisp white shirt is the work of Maison Kitsuné. It’s still in stock through Matches for £192.

Meghan completed her outfit with J. Crew’s Sadie ankle boots, earrings by Sydney-based designer Natalie Marie, a Natalie Marie initial necklace with the letter M, and the Pascale Monvoisin Cauri necklace.

She wore her hair in an excellent ponytail.

DAY THREE:

Meghan wears a blue Dion Lee dress to visit Melbourne

Arriving in Melbourne, Meghan topped her Folded Sail navy dress by Australia designer Dion Lee (already sold out, of course) with a Martin Grant trench coat.

Her bag is £850 by Gucci, her navy shoes are Manolo Blahnik, and she’s wearing a gold cuff bracelet by Shaun Leane.

Those necklaces you can spot were a gift from some children.

Then swaps to a Club Monaco dress and flats for a trip to the beach

Honestly, if the Duchess of Sussex had gone to the beach in Manolo Blahniks we would have suspected she’s super-human, so we’re glad she made a quick change to flats.

While Meghan kept on her trench coats, bag, and jewellery from earlier in the day, for a visit to the beach she swapped her navy dress for a £325 black shift by Club Monaco and traded in heels for the same flats she wore when she arrived in Australia; Rothy’s The Point Black Flats.

Could this mean ballet-style flats are making a comeback? We hope so.

DAY FOUR:

Meghan wears a striped Martin Grant maxi dress to Bondi Beach

Keeping with the beach theme, Meghan wore a striped maxi sundress by Martin Grant  – an Australian label – for day four of the royal tour.

The dress is still available to buy and will set you back £1,080.

It’s not the first time she’s worn a Martin grant piece, opting for a trench coat from his collection on day two of the tour.

She wore Castañer espadrille wedges, costing £90, with the dress and kept things relatively simply with her hair in a ponytail.

Then switches to a two-toned Roksanda Athena dress for a school visit

Her second look of the day, for when she and Harry visited a school was a Roksanda Athena dress in navy, costing £1,400, with a blue border.

She swapped the sandals for Stuart Weitzman The Legend Pumps in being, costing £280, and had changed her ponytail to a soft up-do.

DAY FIVE:

Meghan wears a black custom Emilia Wickstead dress to honour Australians who died during the First World War

She wore a custom black version of an Emilia Wickstead dress, which is still available to buy in ivory and costs £1,595.

Meghan completed the look with a black straw Philip Treacy hat, Givenchy clutch bag and Tabitha Simmons black slingback heels.

Later, Meghan changed into a more casual outfit to attend the Invictus Games

Meghan wore a black Invictus Games shirt with a custom Altuzarra white blazer, a style she also owns in black.

She added a pair of black Mother denim jeans, costing $196 (£149) and the same shoes she was wearing earlier in the day.

Meghan goes for a third outfit change as she finishes the day at the Invictus Games opening ceremony

For the third and final engagement of the day, Meghan wore her hair up for the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Sydney Opera House.

She dressed in a navy Stella McCartney cape dress, with a navy Gillian Anderson swing coat, which costs £395, to stay warm.

She added a bespoke Dior clutch bag and Stuart Weitzman ‘Legend’ suede heels in Haze Beige, which cost £280. She had worn these the day before during her time in Sydney.

DAY SEVEN:

After taking Sunday off to relax, Meghan gets back to business in a sharp blazer

On Monday, Meghan attended a reception hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, wearing a white L’Agence pinstripe blazer, which costs £510, over a black turtleneck.

She added black high-waist jeans, a £171 Oroton ‘Avalon’ zip top crossbody bag and a Ralph Lauren suede belt, which costs £385.

She completed the look with Aquazzura ‘Denzure’ black suede bow pumps, which cost £490.

Meghan swapped her blazer for a windproof jacket to watch the Invictus Games sailing finals

Next on the agenda was watching the Invictus Games sailing finals, which Meghan swapped her blazer for an Invictus Games windproof jacket.

She also switched her heels for Veja lace-up trainers, which will set you back £120.

DAY EIGHT:

After a morning off for more rest, Meghan met Harry head to Kingfisher Bay Jetty on Fraser Island.

Meghan arrived in a casual Reformation dress, which is on sale for $218 (£167).

She accessorised the look with Karen Walker sunglasses and flat Sarah Flint sandals.

DAY NINE:

Meghan touches down in Fiji

As they arriving in Fiji, Meghan stepped off the plane wearing a pearl white dress by Zimmerman, with a matching hat by Stephen Jones.

The shoes were her trusty Aquazzura ‘Denzure’ black suede bow pumps, which cost £490, while the earrings were given to her as a gift by Queen Elizabeth II and the bracelet was a gift from the Prince of Wales.

She teamed her outfit with a black Anna straw clutch by Kayu, which sells for £173.

And then gets dressed up for an evening ball

Meghan later switched into a stunning blue SAFiYAA dress for a state dinner hosted by the president of the South Pacific nation Jioji Konrote at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

She teamed the dress – which is considered to be her take on ‘Fijan blue’ as a nod to the state – with diamond earrings and a very clear view of her baby bump.

DAY TEN:

Meghan wears a sea-shell and pom pom adorned dress to meet students in Fiji.

For their second day in Fiji, Meghan kept things summery in a pretty printed wrap dress by Figue.

The dress featured pom-poms and seashells on the skirt with a ruffled hem.

If you fancy Meghan’s dress for your own outings to far away sun, you can pick one up for $1,495 (£1,150).

On her feet, Meghan wore her Castañer espadrille wedges, costing £90, which she wore earlier on in the trip when they headed to Bondi Beach.

She also wore an oversized clutch bag which was worn by local women, making that the most expensive outfit on the list as you’ll have to pay for air fare to Fiji to pick one up yourself.

Meghan’s earrings were by Karen Walker (£277), and she wore bracelets by Shaun Leane (£550)

Harry and Meghan visited the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji to talk to students about the effects of climate change.

DAY ELEVEN:

Meghan and Harry leave Fiji

As they prepared to leave Fiji for the next leg of their trip in Tonga, Meghan wore a green sheath dress from Jason Wu, costing £1,312.

She teamed the dress with her navy suede Manolo Blahnik BB pumps costing £639.

The Sussexes arrive in Tonga

Meghan made a bold statement as they arrived in Tonga, opting for a red Self Portrait dress, which would set you back £400.

She kept her Manolos on and teamed the look with a smart Dior clutch bag.

Meghan oozes bridal glamour in a striking white dress

Meghan gave off all sorts of bridal vibes as she and Harry attended their official welcome at Consular House in Tonga on day eleven of their royal tour.

The beaded silk satin gown was by Theia.

Meghan wore Diana, Princess Of Wales’ gorgeous Aquamarine ring with the dress. The last time she was pictured wearing this was during the evening do of her and Prince Harry’s wedding on 19 May when she was again wearing white.

DAY TWELVE:

Meghan meets the Prime Minister of Tonga

For her meeting with the Prime Minister of Tonga, Akilisi Pohiva, the Duchess wore a Martin Grant striped dress – the same designer she wore earlier in her trip.

The dress is still available online and is currently on sale – from £1,593 down to £1,062. A royal, er, bargain?

Meghan opts for a stylish shirt dress

Meghan oozed comfortable chic during the couple’s last engagement in Tonga, wearing a Veronica Beard shirt dress for her plane ride from Tonga to Sydney.

Teamed with suede blue shoes, the shirt dress is available only in red at the moment and costs £595.

Meghan and Harry return to Sydney

Harry and Meghan returned to Sydney on Friday to attend the Australian Geographic Society Awards.

She absolutely stole the show with her best look of the entire tour so far – an Oscar De La Renta gown. It’s currently unavailable online but you can contact them directly if you have a right royal budget.

DAY THIRTEEN:

Megan wears poppy for first time at Invictus Games

As Meghan and Harry presented Team USA’s wheelchair basketball final winners with their gold medals in Sydney’s Olympic Park, there was a new addition to her outfit.

David Beckham and son Romeo were also in attendance, as Meghan wore a poppy clasped to her $550 jacket from popular Australian luxury label Scanlan Theodore, coupled with black trousers and matching pumps.

Meghan takes to the stage at the Invictus Games closing ceremony

Bringing the Games to a close, Meghan wore a bespoke Antonio Berardi dress, a Cuyana mini chain saddle bag, costing $225(£175) and Aquazzura Casablanca peach suede pumps, costing £505.

Like earlier in the day, she added a red Rememberance day poppy.

DAY FOURTEEN:

Meghan recycles her accessories as she says farewell to Australia

As she boarded the plane with Prince Harry to head to New Zealand, Meghan stepped out in a Hugo Boss dress, which costs £249.

She recycled the Cuyana mini chain saddle bag, costing $225(£175) and Aquazzura Casablanca peach suede pumps, costing £505, she was wearing the night before.

Meghan wears £35 high-street dress for her first day in New Zealand

Meghan wore a checked Karen Walker trench, costing £430, over a dress that was much more budget friendly. Her black gathered wiggle dress, which sat just above the knee was from the Asos maternity line, but you can pick it up the same dress in a non-maternity version, a midi version, a tall version and a variety of other colours – all for just £35.

She matched her high-street find with Sarah Flint Jay pump shoes, costing $395 (£307), and poppy lapel pin badge.

Duchess of Sussex attends reception to celebrate 125 of women’s suffrage in New Zealand

Meghan’s final outfit of the day was a navy Gabriela Hearst dress, with added cap sleeves, which costs $2495 (£1944).

DAY FIFTEEN:

Meghan and Harry get down to business on Monday morning

Meghan and Harry began day 15 by visiting the Maranui Surf Life Saving Club for a morning engagement to discuss the country’s mental health initiatives.

The Duchess wore a $420 (£232) Club Monaco Ellayne Trench coat in seaweed green, a black $199 (£109) pair of Outland jeans, a Jac and Jack black turtleneck and some lace-up Stuart Weitzman boots.

The Sussexes then go casual in waterproofs

On Day 15, the pair dressed down in waterproofs as they went to Abel Tasman National Park on New Zealand’s south island.

They were there to see the conservation initiatives managed by the country’s Department of Conservation.

Meghan wore a Seasalt jacket, although it’s unclear where this retailer is based. With the jacket, she wore Outland Denim ‘Harriet’ jeans, which sell for $199.90 (£155), Stella McCartney Stan Smith trainers (£235) and a Loro Piana scarf, which has been reduced from $644 (£501) to $96 (£75) and is still available online.

Meghan brings out her staple tuxedo

Meghan and Harry ended Monday night celebrating the work of industry leading artists in film, sculpture and costume design with a visit to Courtney Creative in Wellington, New Zealand.

And Meghan showed off one of her best looks for her tour (and there have been quite a few!), wearing a tuxedo dress by New Zealand-based designer Maggie Marilyn.

The white number was custom-made for Meghan with the sleeves removed but you can still buy the original online for £455.

She kept the chill away with a navy coat by Winser London, designed by actress Gillian Anderson, as well as her staple navy Manolo Blahnik shoes.

Meghan and Harry’s tour kicked off on Tuesday 16 October and will culminate on Wednesday 31 October.

MORE: Prince Harry berates fan saying ‘you can’t give flowers that big to my wife’

MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan receive first baby gifts as they kick-start Australia tour

There’s a lot that you don’t know about weddings until you plan one.

For instance, did you know that it’s not possible, in England at least, to get married outside? Though, that might be about to change.

If you’ve ever been to an outdoor wedding, then the couple in question will have had to do the legal bit at another venue, one which has already been cleared to hold legal weddings. Thanks to a 180 year old law, in England you can only get legally married in a fixed structure. So unless your guests sit outside and you’re under a structure, no legal wedding.

Currently most couples get around this issue by having their legal wedding at a registry office and then having their wedding-wedding in front of their loved ones in whatever location they want.

However, there are now moves to change these rules, bringing England (and Wales’) wedding rules in line with Scotland, which has a more relaxed policy and allows brides and grooms to get married in a wider variety of locations, including outside.

As well as giving couples more choice, this move will also allow couples to save money. Instead of having to pay a licenced venue to host the wedding ceremony, couples will be able to take their pick of locations. The average cost of a location to get married currently stands at £4,500.

‘While the laws around who can get married have evolved substantially in recent years, the laws on how and where marriages must take place have remained largely unchanged since 1836,’ a Treasury spokesperson told The Guardian. ‘This review will help the law keep pace with modern Britain, while helping people keep the cost of living down.’

So if you’re currently planning a wedding, you might want to hold off on booking a ceremony venue for a few weeks, in case you end up able to save yourself an arm and a leg.

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A groundbreaking new IVF treatment has let a same-sex couple become the first women in the world to take turns carrying their unborn baby.

Bliss Coulter and her wife Ashleigh were desperate to have a child, although Bliss did not want to carry a baby to full term.

But fertility doctors Kathy Doody and her husband Kevin offered the Coulters the chance to try out a revolutionary technique that would let Bliss carry their child temporarily, before Ashleigh gave birth to him.

The Doodys began by stimulating Bliss’s ovaries and extracting an egg, just like they would for any other couple trying for a baby with IVF.

But rather than following the traditional method of then putting that egg and some sperm into a lab incubator, the Doodys instead placed them into a special device called a INVOcell.

That INVOcell was then put back inside 36 year-old Bliss’s body for five days, allowing the sperm and egg to develop into embryos.

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Embryos do not have livers, kidneys or lungs, with lab incubators normally used to remove toxins and perform other vital functions performed by the unformed organs.

However, the Doodys theorized – correctly – that a woman’s body and her organs could do just the same job if it was used as a temporary incubator instead.

Dr Kathy explained: ‘(Bliss) got the embryo off to an early start.

‘The eggs fertilized in her body and when they returned five days later, we removed the device and froze the embryos.’

She continued: ‘It turns out, not surprisingly, that the woman’s own body is a very good incubator.

‘We have livers, kidneys and lungs so we’re able to provide those same services to the embryo more naturally.’

After five days, the embryos were removed from Bliss’s body and frozen.

The Doody’s then waited for the optimum time before implanting them into Ashleigh’s body.

Dr Kathy said the technique was ‘Almost passing the baton, like it’s a relay race.’

The couple, who live in Bedford, Texas, years, got pregnant at the first attempt, and gave birth to a baby boy called Stetson five months ago.

Afterwards, Ashleigh told WFAA: ‘She got to carry him for five days and was a big part of the fertilization, and then I carried him for nine months.

‘So that made it really special for the both of us – that we were both involved. She got to be a part of it, and I got to be a part of it.’

Ashleigh called Stetson ‘our miracle baby,’ with Bliss branding him ‘perfect…our little cowboy.’

The INVOcell technique used by the Coulters is around half the price of traditional IVF, with the Coulters spending $8,000.

That is far less than the $15,000-$20,000 cost of the most commonly used form of IVF, involving lab incubators.

Dr Kathy said she hopes her and Dr Kevin’s efforts will ‘open up new avenues, new choices for same sex parents.’

She also offered a response to those who claim such cutting-edge science is contrary to their religious beliefs, saying: ‘I would respectfully disagree.

‘I think that family, relationship, children is exactly everything that was meant to be in our world.’

With cannabis becoming more available and legal in certain areas, a new study has revealed that women may be enjoying the high more than men.

The research also showed that women are more likely to be addicted to cannabis, because of the female sex hormone, oestrogen.

Meanwhile, men are up to four times more likely to try cannabis, and use higher doses more frequently because of their testosterone levels.

Yet, despite women using the drug less, they might go from the first hit to habit faster than men do.

Because of how the drug affects women at a biological level, they are more likely to have a cannabis use disorder.

Researchers at the National Research Council of Italy found that females are more sensitive to the effect of the drug and the release of the ‘pleasure’ and ‘reward’ brain chemicals.

‘Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug worldwide,’ said author Dr Liana Fattore.

‘Although its use is associated with multiple adverse health effects – including the risk of developing addiction – recreational and medical cannabis use is being increasingly legalised.

‘In addition, use of synthetic cannabinoid drugs is gaining considerable popularity and is associated with mass poisonings and occasional deaths.

‘Delineating factors involved in cannabis use and addiction, therefore, becomes increasingly important.

‘Similarly to other drugs of abuse, the prevalence of cannabis use and addiction differs remarkably between males and females, suggesting that sex plays a role in regulating cannabinoid sensitivity.

‘Although it remains unclear how sex may affect the initiation and maintenance of cannabis use in humans, animal studies strongly suggest that endogenous sex hormones modulate cannabinoid sensitivity.’

‘Studies in rats show that the female hormone oestradiol affects control of movement, social behaviour and filtering of sensory input to the brain – all targets of drug taking – via modulation of the endocannabinoid system, whose feedback, in turn, influences oestradiol production,’ said Dr. Fattore.

‘Specifically, female rats have different levels of endocannabinoids and more sensitive receptors than males in key brain areas related to these functions, with significant changes along the menstrual cycle.

‘As a result, the interactions between the endocannabinoid system and the brain level of dopamine – the neurotransmitter of “pleasure” and “reward” – are sex-dependent.’

But looking at animal studies for this topic has its limitations as humans, like animals, are diverse in their genetic and hormonally driven behaviour and how they process information.

This means more research will need to be done in the area.

If you need support or help with a drug addiction, you can call the UK Narcotics Anonymous (UKNA) helpline on 0300 999 1212.

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Women are constantly reminded that their biological clocks are ticking – even more so if they are over 30.

Though some might be in a rush to increase their families as soon as possible, women over 35 are now being encouraged to wait a year in between pregnancies.

To reduce the risk of death from complications, mothers should wait up to 12 months before getting pregnant again, a new study has found.

Canadian and American scientists said between 12 and 18 months was deemed the ideal length of time between giving birth and getting pregnant again.

Among women over 35 who conceived six months after a previous birth, the researchers found a 1.2% risk – 12 cases per 1,000 pregnancies – of death or other severe conditions.

Waiting 18 months between pregnancies, however, reduced the risk to 0.5%, or five cases per 1,000 pregnancies.

‘Short pregnancy spacing might reflect unplanned pregnancies, particularly among young women,’ said Professor Sonia Hernandez-Diaz at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

‘Whether the elevated risks are due to our bodies not having time to recover if we conceive soon after delivering, or to factors associated with unplanned pregnancies, like inadequate prenatal care, the recommendation might be the same: improve access to postpartum contraception, or abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse with a male partner following a birth.’

Researchers looked at pregnancy spacing among 148,544 pregnancies in British Colombia, Canada. The data was pulled together from birth records, billing codes, hospitalisation data, prescription data for infertility information, and census records.

Preterm labour (giving birth before 37 weeks) is also affected by the amount of time waited between getting pregnant, said researchers.

Among older women, the risk of spontaneous preterm labour was about 6% (or 60 cases per 1,000 pregnancies) at the six-month interval, which drops to 3.4% if you wait 18 months.

Professor Wendy Norman at the University of British Columbia said: ‘Older mothers for the first time have excellent evidence to guide the spacing of their children.

‘Achieving that optimal one-year interval should be doable for many women, and is clearly worthwhile to reduce complication risks.’

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Furious at how they are being treated by doctors, women are taking to Twitter to vent their thoughts under a new thread: #MyDoctorSaid.

So, what’s it all about?

It all started as user Suzannah Weiss posed a question in a tweet directed at women with chronic illnesses.

She said: ‘Women with chronic illnesses: how long and how many doctors did it take you to get diagnosed? I counted 11 months & 17 doctors and wrote down what each did to show what we go through just to begin to heal.’

The tweet also included a picture where Weiss outlined what each of her physicians had told her.

One example is doctor number three, who gave her antibiotics before the test results came back, doctor 10 – who ‘prescribed a low carb diet and foot massages’ – and doctor 12, who told her ‘it really should have gone away by now’.

Women are sympathetic and many are now sharing their own stories of being dismissed or misdiagnosed by their doctors.

‘After years of depression and two suicide attempts, I finally plucked up the courage to seek help from my doctor, only to be told “I think you’re overreacting don’t you?!”,’ said one user.

Another, who had approached her doctor after becoming worried that she might have cancer, tweeted: ‘I’m worried I have ovarian cancer, I always have pain near my ovary.

‘Doc: How long has this been going on? Me: On and off for seven years. Doc: (laughing) If it was cancer, you’d be dead by now. It took five more years to be diagnosed with stage IV endometriosis.’

The stories are still pouring in.

One woman told the tale of how for a decade, male doctors kept telling her she had allergies or a cold.

Finally, a female dentist told her she had cancer – and turned out to be right.

Further down the thread, Weiss extended the question to people in LGBTQ and minority communities too.

She claimed that they (along with women) are ‘criticised for self-diagnosing’ because doctors are biased against them.

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Last week Kim Kardashian West told an interviewer that she doesn’t like talking about sex and that she finds talking about private things embarrassing, implying that she’s actually quite a shy person.

Of course the reaction was one of disbelief. How could Kim ‘perfume bottle of her own naked body’ Kardashian West be anything approaching shy?

Only, I sympathise with Kim. I might not share her gabillion dollar empire, but I am also a shy extrovert.

Whenever I describe myself as shy, people roll their eyes.

I’m on TV a lot, I write about my sex life on the internet and at a party I’ll usually be in the middle of the room in the middle of a conversation.

Not exactly the hallmarks of a shy, introverted person.

But just because I’m laughing in a big conversation rather standing on the outside, it doesn’t mean that I’m not shy.

Hours before a party I’ll already be stressed and nervous about what I’m going to wear, what I’m going to say and what people will think of me. Going on TV might be a major part of my job, but it takes a lot out of me. I try to come over totally zen, but my Fitbit tells a different story when it comes to my racing heart rate.

I’m not the only one, either, Eliza, 26 from London told Metro.co.uk: ‘My friends would say that I’m a really confident person but they don’t realise I’m actually really shy. I’ve learned coping mechanisms, but it hasn’t changed who I am.’

Tom, 31 from Edinburgh echoed Eliza’s sentiments saying, ‘Just because I’m the one downing pints of doing the music at a part doesn’t mean I’m not shy. I put myself on display to avoid having one-on-one conversations, because they scare me.’

In order to understand why people like me (and Kim, apparently) have this odd middle ground between being confident and terrified, I spoke to psychologist and founder of PsychApps Silja Litvin, who tells Metro.co.uk that shyness can actually be a form of narcissism (you can imagine how pleased I was to hear that.)

Litvin said: ‘Not all introverts are shy, and not all shy people are introverts.

‘Shyness can be a sign of covert introvert narcissism, the idea that everyone is seeing / judging / assessing one which leads to retreat and feeling uncomfortable around others.

‘In the case of Kim Kardashian West, her public life is highly curated and she does not come across as a bubbly person in public: it is very possible that she is shy, possibly an introvert narcissist and does not like talking about things that make her feel vulnerable or shameful.’

Again, most of us don’t have millions of fans, but the ‘high curated’ online presence and gap between how we present ourselves online and who we are in real life?

That’s perfectly possible, even for us non-famous people.

‘The idea that shyness can be a type of narcissism is quite surprising for most because we are used to the loud, outgoing and flamboyant narcissist,’ Litvin said.

‘In research and literature, another narcissist has been discovered and classified: the introverted covert narcissist. This type of narcissism divides into four sub-types – the covert narcissist, the hypersensitive narcissist, the closet narcissist and the vulnerable narcissist.

‘All sub types are interesting to know about, because having inter-personal relationships with them is as difficult as suffering from narcissism yourself. Narcissism develops during childhood and adolescence as a psychological strategy, a defense mechanism so to speak, against an inner sense of vulnerability.

‘While it can protect a person in an inescapable situation such as being a child in an emotionally abusive household, it becomes a dysfunctional strategy for healthy relationship later on in life, alienating and hurting the people closest to the narcissist.

‘Being an introvert narcissist that manifests in shyness means that they believe that everyone around them is interested in what they do or say but with the twist that they are always being critically judged and assessed. The idea that everyone has their eyes on them is mostly unwarranted, an illusion of grandeur, which is typically aligned with narcissism.

‘The idea that these eyes are critical, leads to shyness, a strong inner censorship and the feeling of discomfort around others. A conflicting feeling of still being better than others and that they are simply too *fill in the blank* to see that, is a sure sign it is introverted covert narcissism.

‘If this strikes a cord with you and you often find yourself fearful of other people’s judgement of you, especially strangers, you will very much benefit from re-visiting your attitude and beliefs around vulnerability.

‘It is OK not to be perfect, to make mistakes, blunders and have embarrassing things happen to you – it happens to everyone.

‘Another good exercise is to look at the people around you: how many have you noticed at all? How many have you taken the time to judge and critique? Probably not that many because you were busy with your life. That’s exactly what everyone else is doing – not all eyes are on you.’

While I wasn’t delighted to hear that my personal brand of shyness-slash-confidence hybrid probably meant that I was a massive narcissist, Silja’s advice is pretty helpful.

It’s easy to forget that when you’re at a dinner or talking to a group of people, they’re probably way more worried about their own behaviour than they are about yours.

It’s unlikely that anyone is anywhere near as interested in how you come across as you are yourself.

If your confidence or concerns about how others view you is making you unhappy, you should speak to your GP who may be able to refer you for counselling.

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This year has been no stranger to unusual trends; from Instaception to the blank canvas and the fishtail brow, there is a myriad of weird beauty looks doing the rounds on Instagram.

Now, a company is selling a colouring agent for your gnashers and alas, it’s set off the rainbow teeth trend.

Chrom is the teeth polish brand selling the product, which is similar to nail varnish, and people are matching their smiles with their outfits, makeup, and nail colour.

Trend followers can choose from a whole range of colours including Fairy Dust, Mint, Pretty in Pink, or Sunshine, which – as you guessed it – is yellow.

All for a nifty price of £15 a bottle.

That’s right, you can pay £15 to have yellow teeth. Anything in the name of being trendy, eh?

Don’t worry, it’s not a permanent colour but will last 24 hours and can be washed off by brushing your teeth with ordinary toothpaste.

It won’t smudge when you eat and doesn’t have a taste – kind of like food colouring.

‘We see this becoming commonplace — everything from a club vibe to an everyday workplace fashion accent,’ said David Silverstein, the creator of the tooth polish to the New York Post.

‘Perhaps you go to work with one tooth that matches your nail polish or your hair colour.’

Silverstein also revealed that the brand is looking to release a glittery version of the product soon and that the nail varnish is completely safe to use.

The polish’s solvent is made from a grain alcohol base and the pigments are compliant with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, and have been approved by dentists.

So, would you rock these looks on Halloween, or maybe even during your next festival?

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You’re going to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida! The magical place where dreams come true is within your grasp.

The wonder of Walt Disney World Resort of course, is that no matter how many times you go back, you’ll always find something new to see or do.

Not only because Walt Disney World Resort is ever-evolving – adding new attractions, introducing new shops and themed restaurants and updating the classics – but because it is just so vast – six fantastic Disney Parks, including two Water Parks, plus two exciting night-time entertainment districts, a state-of-the-art sports complex, over 20 themed Disney Resort Hotels AND countless opportunities for dining, shopping and recreation- you’d be hard pressed to see it all.

Whether this is your first trip or you’re a frequent visitor, here are 9 amazing things to do at Walt Disney World Resort.

And, for the best advice on how to fit it all in, visit Virgin Holidays for help with everything from planning hotels and flights to Disney Park tickets and more.

They will plan it, book it and put it all into an itinerary for you so you don’t miss a thing. All you need to do is pack your mouse ears and get on the plane.

1. Happily Ever After fireworks show

One of the night-time spectaculars at Walt Disney World Resort, Happily Ever After is a super-sensory pyrotechnics display especially for the dreamers.

It features more lights, lasers and projections in 18 minutes than any other fireworks show in the entire history of Magic Kingdom Park.

Happily Ever After celebrates the adventures Disney Characters have embarked upon – including favourites from Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Moana, Frozen and Brave.

The epic display of fireworks and original animation has been created just for the show – along with a soundtrack featuring contemporary versions of classic Disney songs – music to the ears of Disney music lovers.

It is the number one way to round off a day at Walt Disney World Resort. Find out more and check showtimes here.

And after the days activity, there are more epic night shows to catch: The sensational Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, complete with a beautiful soundtrack and colourful lit-up animals gliding along the river, reflecting spectacularly on the water.

And Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – an absolutely stunning firework, laser and projection show featuring Star Wars Characters and some awe-inspiring pyrotechnics. This is a must-see, whether you are a Star Wars fan or not.

2. Pandora – The World of AVATAR

Visit Pandora—The World of AVATAR, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where you can journey to a distant world where floating mountains defy gravity. Where nature comes alive in a brilliant bioluminescent glow and mystical rivers flow. Where you can fly on the back of a mountain banshee and feel it breathing beneath you.

Your expedition begins in the Valley of Mo’ara where the land is an adventure unto itself. Hike under mountains that hover mysteriously above while you discover the totems, cuisine and artifacts of the Na’vi culture that surrounds you.

Ready for a rite of passage, until now exclusive to the Na’vi of Pandora? On AVATAR Flight of Passage you can climb aboard the back of a living, breathing banshee, and let anticipation build knowing you’ll experience flight like never before on one of Pandora’s largest predators.

Or why not board a reed boat on Na’vi River Journey and experience a mystical Pandoran river where every moment tells a story. With the rainforest canopy glowing with life around you, discover plants and exotic creatures as the Na’vi Shaman of songs calls.

3. Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Step into Toy Story Land, where kids and grown-ups alike experience all-new adventures you’ll only find at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In the so-much-larger-than-life setting of Andy’s backyard, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the Toy Story gang invite you to join them.

Slinky Dog Dash
Andy’s assembled his awesome coaster kit and Slinky Dog is poised to take you on a wild journey. Hold on for an exhilarating ride that twists Slinky Dog’s coils around curves, hills, bridges and drops. It’s a crazy ride the whole family can enjoy together.

Alien Swirling Saucers
The aliens have powered up their flying saucers to take you on a spin through space. Climb into a toy rocket and hang on as aliens lead the way on an interstellar romp set to an out-of-this-world beat. If you’re really lucky, you just might get ‘chosen’ by the claw.

Toy Story Mania!
Take aim, and head over to Andy’s room where your Toy Story pals will help you blast your way through the 4D arcade. Fire at targets with everything from baseballs to cream pies — but you’d better be on your toes, because high-score bragging rights are on the line!

4. Embark on Adventure in Arendelle

Experience Frozen Ever After at Epcot, an unforgettable adventure where you’ll be whisked away for an on-the-water journey through Arendelle—one set to the tune of your favourite songs from Frozen!

And don’t forget to head over to the Royal Sommerhus where you’ll have the opportunity to pose for pictures with your favourite royal sisters.

5. Have a splash at one of the waterparks

Soak up a storm of fun under the Florida sun at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. Plunge down rushing rapids, sunbathe on a sandy beach, glide down a lazy river, and enjoy the thrills and spills of the whitewater journey called Miss Adventure Falls where you can board a treasure raft and hit the high seas for the longest ride in the history of the Disney Water Parks!

The second Water Park came about when Disney built a ski resort in Florida. And it melted… go figure. What remains is the very cool Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. From bunny slopes to black diamonds, it’s packed with downhill thrills and plenty of ways to chill, whether you’re a little squirt or making a big splash.

Summit Plummet is the most extreme attraction at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Scale the heights of Mt Gushmore, then plunge at over 55mph straight down a sheer 120ft slope — there’s even a digital clock at the bottom to display your top speed!

6. Disney Springs

Disney Springs is it a place for fashion-forward finds at flagship stores, but it’s also a place for culinary adventures with world-famous chefs, and loads of exciting entertainment.

Everyone will love the World of Disney at Disney Springs – it’s the world’s biggest Disney Character store guys – where you can find everything from clothes, jewelry and toys to collectibles and even home decor.

Once the kids have their souvenirs, grown-ups can get their kicks at the high end boutiques selling fine jewellery, art, beauty products and accessories. Brands like Kiehl’s, MAC, L’Occitane, Sephora are on offer, as well as Anthropologie, Kate Spade and Zara.

And if all that shopping has left you in need of some sustenance, there are plenty of options around Disney Springs. Head to The BOATHOUSE®  for fresh seafood, a raw bar and premium steaks—complete with retro dream boats, from vintage American Amphicars to Italian Water Taxis. Linger into the evening to enjoy night-time entertainment like live music.

7. Dine with a Disney Character

Meeting the Disney Characters is one of the most exciting parts of a trip to Walt Disney World Resort, and those with the inside scoop with book a spot at a Character Dining experience.

There are tonnes to choose from (a full list of Character Dining experiences is here), but we love Tusker House Restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, where you might meet Mickey, Goofy, Daisy and Donald in safari gear while tucking into a buffet featuring flavours of Africa along with homegrown US classics.

8. A Beauty and the Beast themed dinner at Be Our Guest Restaurant

Be Our Guest Restaurant is one of the most sought-after dinner spots in the entire Magic Kingdom Park.

At the Beast’s enchanted castle in Fantasyland you can choose to dine in one of three rooms: In the chandelier-lit baroque Grand Ballroom where snow-laced Gothic arches add to magical scenes, in the Beast’s study in The West Wing for a dark, atmospheric room complete with his enchanted rose, or The Castle Gallery, aka Belle’s private library, where you’ll find larger-than-life figures of Belle and Beast dancing.

You may remember Lumière the candlestick urging Belle to ‘Try the Grey Stuff, it’s delicious!’ Here at Walt Disney World Resort you can find out once and for all just what ‘the grey stuff’ is.

Reservations are strongly recommended for all meals—especially dinner—and can be made up to 180 days in advance. So get the date in your calendar and click here to book.

If there’s no table-service spots for dinner, it’s also open for quick service breakfast and lunch too.

9. Stay in a themed Disney Resort Hotel

At Disney, there’s no need to leave the fun behind when the parks close for the day. With themed Disney Resort Hotels, you can live, breathe, eat and sleep Disney round the clock.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, one of over 20 Disney Resort Hotels, is one of the most meticulously themed of all the resort.

The blue-hued The Little Mermaid room has an under the sea vibe with shell lights, a coral mirror and imagery of Ariel on the shower curtain.

There are Cars and Finding Nemo family suites and a The Lion King suite with gorgeous decor where it’s practically law to wake the family up singing Hakuna Matata.

Elsewhere, if pirates are more your bag, the Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort are themed to the nines, and even have pirate ship beds.

For more of a ‘spirit’ than a theme, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is the one: a slice of the South Pacific here in Orlando, with tropical palms, lush vegetation and cute waterside huts positioned right over the lagoon.

There are more than 20 unique Disney Resort Hotels to choose from ranging from value to deluxe. When you stay at a Disney Resort Hotel, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits – including extra time in the Disney Parks (valid Theme Park admission and Resort ID required) and complimentary resort transportation .

^Child prices are valid for children aged 3-9 years on day of first use; children aged 10 years and above pay the adult ticket price; children under 3 years do not require a Theme Park Ticket and are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Water Parks are subject to seasonal and weather closures. Tickets for Special Events must be purchased separately in advance by calling freephone on 0800 085 0582.
Disney’s 7-Day, 14-Day and 21-Day Ultimate Tickets include unlimited access to 4 Walt Disney World Theme Parks, 2 Walt Disney World Water Parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, plus one round per day (prior to 4pm) at Disney’s Fantasia Gardens or Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Courses. Note Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course includes green fees only, subject to availability, tee time reservations required (call 001 407 938 4653). ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex access valid only on event days, some events priced separately.
Disney’s Ultimate Tickets are available for 7, 14 and 21 day durations. 7-Day and 14-Day tickets expire 14 days from first day of use, 21-Day ticket expires 21 days from first day of use. 2018 tickets are for arrivals between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018 and must be used for the first time at any park listed above by December 31, 2018.2019 tickets are for arrivals between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019 and must be used for the first time at any park listed above by December 31, 2019.

^^Valid Theme Park admission and online registration required. Disney FastPass+ attractions and entertainment experiences, the number of selections you can make, and available arrival windows are limited. Disney FastPass+ attractions subject to change.

*Memory Maker includes Disney PhotoPass photos and other digital content taken during the Memory Maker window and linked to the Memory Maker guest’s Disney account. If Memory Maker is sold or ordered in combination with a Park ticket, the Memory Maker window for that Memory Maker entitlement will be equal to the usage window of the associated Park ticket and will automatically begin upon the first use of the associated Park ticket. The Memory Maker window will end upon the sooner of either the expiration or depletion of the Park ticket. A MagicBand is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Photos and other digital content will expire pursuant to the expiration policy at mydisneyphotopass.disney.go.com/help-and-support. Valid Theme Park admission required for certain photo locations. Memory Maker is subject to Memory Maker terms at mydisneyphotopass. disney.go.com/memory-maker-terms and, if applicable, Family & Friends terms at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_GB/ park-experience-terms-conditions. Disney is not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos or other digital content. **Standard gate price $199 correct at the time of article publication. ***Book by 31 Dec 2019 for arrivals through to 31 Dec 2019.

An adorable Jack Russell with just two months to live became an honorary police K-9 as part of his ‘sendoff of a lifetime.’

Jack the dog loves riding in cars – so his owners the Millers asked their local police department in Wilmington, Delaware, if the 14 year-old pooch could take a ride in one of their cruisers after being told their pet has teminal cancer.

But kind-hearted Sergeant Lisa Kittrell went one better by taking Jack out on patrol with her after the Sunday drive, and even bringing him for a visit to the 911 center.

The Millers shared photos of Jack enjoying himself on his Facebook page, where he ‘wrote’: ‘I got to scratch another item off my list today!!!

‘Sergeant Lisa Kittrell took me, my mommy and brother out in her VROOM VROOM POLICE CAR!!!

‘Wilmington Police Department made me a K9 officer for today, Sergeant Kittrell took me on foot / paw patrol at Hugh McRae Park, where i met lots of new friends.

‘I got to visit the great ladies in the 911 center too!!’

Among Jack’s other bucket list requests are a picnic in the park, and the chance to take place in a Halloween costume contest.

Doughnut is a very chunky cat.

He arrived at the Humane Society of Jacksonville’s shelter weighing in at 28lbs – almost three times the size of a healthy adult cat.

Doughnut’s owner had been forced to give up the kitty by her landlord, who wouldn’t allow the cat in her home. She took her pet to the shelter in the hopes that they’d be able to find him a forever home.

Staff at the shelter were pretty taken aback by the size of their new guest. Doughnut’s owner simply said he loves to eat, but clearly his diet spiraled out of control.

On Friday, the Humane Society of Jacksonville shared a photo of Doughnut on Facebook in an attempt to find him the perfect home. They explained that the cat’s new owner would need to be committed to helping the cat stick to a healthy diet.

‘Meet Doughnut,’ wrote staff. ‘The biggest boii ever. Big D is 28 lbs and very … thick.

‘He needs a home with an owner who is willing to keep him on his strict diet.

‘We know the extra pounds make him cute but it’s not healthy. His new family will need to work with a vet to get him to the right weight at the right pace. Think you’re the one? Come meet Doughnut today from 12-7.’

Doughnut’s picture was quickly shared all over the internet, and flooded with comments from people obsessed with the chubby cat.

That internet fame ended up having positive real-life consequences: Doughnut has now found a family who are up for working with a vet to get him back into shape.

Doughnut’s new owners have renamed him Ziggy, and say they’re overjoyed to give the cat the loving home he deserves.

Doughnut/Ziggy has already settled in to his new kingdom, and has made friends with the family’s other cat.

‘I feel so lucky that we were able to bring him home,’ said the cat’s new owner. ‘He’s the sweetest boy.’

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