I never expected to be a young mum. I mean to be honest I never imagined myself even being a mum.

I was one of those girls at school that everyone said wouldn’t be a teen mum; I was too good for that. I kept my grades up, didn’t mess around with boys and focused on my future career. But at 19, I fell pregnant.

Society tells us that young mums are irresponsible young girls. Those ‘benefit scrounging’ kids that do it on purpose.

That they wander around with buggies full of babies, hair scraped back like Vicky Pollard with no ambition in their lives.

The media tells us they have no focus, no drive and are in it for free housing, free money and an easy life. Looking for handouts instead of paying back to society.

As I said, I never expected to be a young mum, but who really does?

I was in the middle of a degree and all of a sudden I was faced with the fact I was set to be not only ‘student and Laura’ but now ‘mum and Laura’, too.

At a time when I was at my most vulnerable, when my world had been turned upside down, I had people telling me that I was making a foolish mistake and throwing my life away.

It was tough being a young mum. I had jeers and stares, comments and murmurs about how I did it for benefits.

I was told I was throwing my life away by colleagues, and my university lecturers asked whether I was being responsible by returning to my course.

No one seemed to expect that I would actually do more than sit at home and live up to a stereotype that was placed upon me.

No one beyond my close circle of family and friends gave me the opportunity to prove myself before they labelled me as an irresponsible young mum. But they were all wrong.

When my son was born I knew I had made the right choice. Being a parent was everything I hoped for and more.

I had gone from being a partying student to a mum under a mountain of baby clothes. The postnatal depression was in full swing as I suddenly didn’t know where I belonged in the world.

My friends dropping me and the juggle of being a parent meant I hid myself away. I felt that everyone was looking at me and expecting me to fail.

I honestly almost gave up and listened to the voices that were telling me I was a scrounger and a dead weight on society.

But I fought through with sheer determination. I defied those expectations that others had placed on me.

I went back to university and worked my hardest to prove to my peers and other adults that having a child didn’t hold me back.

I found a job that valued me as an employee. I felt like people were looking beyond the label of young mum.

But I was then applauded. Told that I wasn’t like the other young mums in the world, those ones that sit and do nothing.

All because I graduated university and found work, built a future and worked hard. Because I chose my path and took it.

Because I supposedly broke the stereotype and didn’t sit and reap those non-existent benefit handouts that all young mums are handed on a silver platter.

But who really defines what a young mum should be like?

I’m fortunate to have a large group of friends that are young mums through the Young Women’s Trust, and all of my friends that are young mums are happy and successful in their own way.

Some have masters degrees, some own houses, some are their own bosses, and all of them are just amazing mothers.

At the end of the day we all clothe, feed, wash and love our children the same way that everyone else does. We take them to school, teach them to read and nurture them into fantastic young adults and beyond.

So if we, as young mums, do all of this the same as every other mum on the playground and in the baby groups, why are we penalised for how we choose to live our lives?

Mums come from all walks of life and all experiences, so why should we judge others without knowing them? Why do we put them into a box on the shelf and label them without a second thought?

I never expected to be a young mum.

People may have said I had ruined my life, but I can honestly say it has shaped me into who I am today.

It’s made me someone that campaigns for young women; that inspires others to talk about their experiences and who stands up and is proud of who she is.

And for that I am thankful and I wouldn’t have it any other way now.

Being a young mum was one of the most challenging but best turning points in my life. I am a young mum, and I am proud to be one.

You can find Laura’s blog here.

MORE: My Label and Me: I save lives but please don’t call me a hero

MORE: My Label and Me: Being pansexual in the real world is complicated

MORE: My Label and Me: I’m not tired and lazy, I have ME

Welcome to Lean On Me – a weekly agony aunt style column from Metro.co.uk where Kate Leaver answers your friendship woes.

Dear Kate,

I’m in my last year of school and I really care about my friends. I’ve heard from older friends and my parents that it’s really easy to fall out of touch with your school friends when you get to university.

My cousin told me that you make a whole new set of friends at uni and kind of forget about your old ones. But I don’t want to do that.

I love my school friends and I want to keep them in my life. What’s your best advice for not losing your school friends when you leave school?

Hannah, 17

Dear Hannah,

You know what, I am delighted to hear that you want to hold onto your school friends. So often, our teenage friendships are built more on fear and proximity than actual compatibility.

We can be in such a rush to find out who we’re going to be as an adult, that we ditch anyone who knew us as a teenager. So it’s completely lovely that you’d like to keep your current friends – that says to me that you’ve had a happy time with them.

I will say, just to give what your parents and older friends said a little context, that it is easy to drift from school friends because once you get a little distance from them and the institution in which you met, you might feel like you want to choose your own friends as an adult.

A lot of people meet their true friends at university because they feel like they’re more in control of their decisions and more sure of who they are in the world.

Adolescence can be hard, and sometimes the joy of finding out who you can be outside the school grounds throws you into different social circles. That may happen to you, and that’s OK, too.

In my experience, people either cherish their school friends all their lives, vehemently reject them the moment university starts or fade out of each other’s lives with a pleasant sort of unspoken agreement.

Don’t be frightened if you lose some of the closeness you have with your school friends now. Right now, you’re seeing them every day, which tends to give you this feeling of intense intimacy.

You probably swap secrets and gossip and texts all the time, which makes those friendships feel urgent and precious. And they are. But when you start turning up somewhere different each morning, whether that’s a new job or a university course or an apprenticeship, you may notice a little distance. That’s natural; do not panic.

The good news is that you’ve actually already done some of the work towards keeping your school friendships. The most important thing is to make that decision.

We lose friendships when we forget about them, or let them slip down our life priorities list. We lose them when we stop investing time and energy and love and vulnerability.

By saying out loud that you want to keep these friendships in your life, you’ve already recognised how special they are to you. All you have to do now is follow through on your lovely intentions.

So, as you start the next phase of your life, whatever that might look like, make sure you stay in touch with your friends. Call them, text them, stay vocal in that WhatsApp thread.

Tell them what they mean to you. Be conspicuously present in their lives, so they remember what you mean to them. See each other in person as often as possible.

Have real conversations, be candid, be open, be genuine. Talk about how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, who you want to be. Actively and consciously make them a part of your life, even if your life changes. The good ones will adapt.

If you want to keep your school friends, I want you to know that it’s entirely possible. If you become one of those people who keeps her childhood friends all her life, you’ll be an extremely lucky woman.

Having people around who knew you as a child or a teenager can be an immensely comforting thing. My mum is still best friends with the group of women she met in primary school and it’s absolutely delightful.

My boyfriend still sees all of his school mates. If you want to keep them, keep them. Just commit to those friendships and don’t let them go.

But also, just a little hint: be open to meeting new people and making new friends, too. I met some of my most important, special people at university and I am lucky every day to have them in my life. I want that for you, too. Good luck, Hannah, go well.

MORE: Lean On Me: Should I tell my friends I want our holiday to be boyfriend-free?

MORE: What to do if you love your friend but hate their social media presence

If your name is Lucy or Lucia, you could bag yourself a free holiday.

Virgin Holidays is offering free flights to St Lucia – the only place in the world named after a woman – to namesakes across the UK.

The competition starts today and runs until March 11.

Anyone with the name Lucy or Lucia on their passport is eligible to enter.

To launch the competition, three Virgin Holidays travel consultants who share their namesake with the nation, Lucy Messina, Lucy McManus and Lucy Hudson, travelled to St Lucia to check the island out for themselves.

Lucy Hudson, Virgin Holidays Travel Consultant, said: ‘Saint Lucia is such an incredible country with beautiful scenary and beautiful people.

‘I’m so proud to be able to claim the same name an link to the only nation it the world named after a woman – and now Lucys all over the UK have the chance to experience it too.’

Joe Thompson, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays, added: ‘We wanted to celebrate St Lucia’s place in the world – the one country named after a woman – by empowering St Lucie’s namesakes, Lucys and Lucias across the UK, with the opportunity to visit this tropical island paradise.’

St Lucia was named by French explorers who discovered the island in the Caribbean sea, and named it after St Lucy of Syracuse who was a Christian martyr, who died via persecution of the Roman Empire in 304AD.

Tiffany Howard, acting CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, said: ‘We commend everyone’s contribution to the growth and success of travel and tourism in Saint Lucia.’

MORE: Woman shares emotional fertility battle in heart-wrenching videos

MORE: Vegan fried bucket in completely edible takeaway packaging launches

Laura Sides, 36, left her psychology degree course at Nottingham University in 2004 to care for her dad Dr Jeremy Sides, who died, aged 60 in 2009.

Discovering her father’s dementia was genetic, for several years Laura agonised over whether to be tested, finally finding out in August 2017 that she has the APP gene, meaning that, like him, she will develop the condition within a decade.

Despite the devastating diagnosis, Laura, of Norwich, Norfolk, is determined to stay positive and make the most of every day she has left.

She said: ‘There are not many times in life when you will find out your fate, so taking the test was a very big decision.

‘In the 10 minutes it took for doctors to sit me down and tell me I had the gene, I hadn’t changed as a person – but every single part of my life was different.

‘Still, I want people to be comfortable around me and to realise that, although the situation is tragic, we can still be positive.’

Laura first noticed signs of her dad’s developing dementia when she moved to Nottingham, and he would sometimes sound disorientated on the phone.

She continued: ‘Dad was a doctor, so he knew exactly what was happening to him, but people try to hide it when they are ill.

‘He would call and not sound quite right, so I started to wonder what was going on.

‘Then, I came home for my 21st birthday and arranged to meet him, but he never showed up as he’d forgotten. That’s when I knew something serious was happening.’

From there, Laura’s dad, who had parted from her mum years previously, began having carers, but he would become distressed at the thought of strangers being in his house.

So, aged 21, she made the decision to leave university and look after him herself, as he was much calmer around her.

At first, she lived close by, popping in every day to make sure he was eating, and that the house was tidy, before heading off to her then-job as a waitress.

But, as he deteriorated, it became clear he needed round-the-clock care, so in 2004, she moved in with him.

‘It got to the point where if he was left alone, he’d walk off and get lost. I’d write my number on his hand, and on pieces of paper, which I put in all his pockets, but there were still a lot of times when I’d have to go and get him from the police station,’ she said.

As well as challenging moments, there were times when looking after her dad was a pure joy, according to Laura.

She continued: ‘He was the most wonderful, doting father, so it wasn’t a chore to look after him. I wanted to do it, and it’s still one of the best decisions I ever made.

‘I know it sounds very sad, but there were really beautiful moments. We’d wake up, I’d ask what he wanted to do that day, and however ridiculous the adventure, off we’d go.’

Laura tried for as long as she could to keep her dad out of a care home, but later in 2004, aged 55, he became too unwell to stay at home.

For the next five years, he was moved around various care facilities – during which time Laura’s mum sadly died in April 2008, aged 59, after a stomach ulcer ruptured – only for her to lose her father shortly after, in June 2009, aged 60.

Before he died, Laura went to a hospital appointment with him, where doctors mentioned that his form of Alzheimer’s was genetic, meaning there was a 50/50 chance she had inherited it.

Overcome by a haze of grief after his death, she put their warning to the back of her mind.

‘After Dad died, I just wanted to get away, so I went on a round the world trip before deciding on a whim to move to Melbourne in Australia,’ she said.

‘After a couple of years, the doctors’ warning crept up on me that this form of Alzhiemer’s was genetic, so I could get it too.

‘I wanted more information, so I saw some doctors out in Australia who confirmed that I had a 50/50 chance of having it.

‘I wasn’t quite ready to know then. It’s information you can never ‘unknow.’ But I realised I may be useful to researchers and I asked if I was able to help in that way.’

So, in 2015, Laura began to participate in a drugs trial, which saw her visit hospital every three-and-a-half weeks to receive medicine intravenously.

Her progress was monitored through monthly MRI and CT scans, as well as lumbar punctures, and while the researchers knew whether or not she carried the gene, she still had no idea until 2017.

She explained: ‘The not knowing started to really impact on me. I thought about it every day. It was no way to live.’

Following six months of counselling, which assessed her mental health and ensured she was ready to find out such life-changing news, in August 2017 Laura was given her results, while she was still living in Melbourne.

Speaking of the day that will be etched into her mind forever, she said: ‘After taking the test, it had been a six week wait, which felt like a lifetime. I was living in limbo, flitting between feeling as if I was facing impending doom, to being serenely calm because I had no control over the results.

‘When doctors broke the news, I didn’t cry. I didn’t feel fear over the fact I won’t have a long life, it was more sadness for all the things I wouldn’t do.

‘I was pretty numb until I started to think about how I’d tell my loved ones – and that’s when my heart broke.’

Still processing the news, Laura decided to move back to the UK – returning home in December 2017.

At first, she struggled, feeling as if she lacked purpose, admitting: ‘I felt awful. I knew I wouldn’t have a family or a retirement to work towards. I didn’t have anything to focus on.’

Then, during a sleepless night in summer 2018, she decided at around 2am to enter the ballot for the 2019 London Marathon.

Casually mentioning it in hospital a couple of weeks later, during one of the routine drug trial appointments that she still attends, now at London’s University College Hospital, she was told she should apply for a charity place instead, to guarantee her a spot.

In a poignant twist of fate, charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK have been named Charity of the Year for the 2019 race, after joining forces to create Dementia Revolution, which aims to power groundbreaking research at the UK Dementia Research Institute.

After securing a place, Laura has been diligently training, which she said has given her a focus once again.

By speaking out, she hopes to raise awareness of Dementia Revolution, and also to start the conversation around early-onset Alzheimer’s, to encourage people to talk about it more openly.

She is also fundraising for the charity.

She said: ‘I have decided to use my marathon run for Dementia Revolution as a platform.

‘I refuse to live in shame. I remember when Dad was ill, people wouldn’t know how to react and it all felt very hidden away, but I want to be honest and open.

‘It is difficult to know what to say to somebody like me, who has been diagnosed with something that hasn’t happened yet, but will. Still, the last thing I want is for people to feel uncomfortable around me.

‘The more information we can get out there, the less of a taboo this will feel. That said, the support I’ve received so far after going public has been amazing – that’s what is carrying me.’

MORE: My Label and Me: As a young mum I was asked whether I was doing it for the benefits

MORE: You can get free flights to St Lucia – but only if your name is Lucy

Thousands of talented canines are set to descend on Birmingham’s NEC this week as Crufts kicks off.

The international event is part trade show and part contest, as the dogs are judged on everything from the quality of their coat to their agility.

And all eyes will be on the Best In Show competition, to see who’ll be the successor to last year’s winner, the whippet Ch.Collooney Tartan Tease.

But which are the ones to watch this year? Well according to bookies Betway it’s the Gundogs who are currently leading the betting after last year’s triumph.

Gundog breeds, which include Labradors, retrievers, spaniels and pointers, have odds of 11/8 on one of their number taking the top prize, with Terriers snapping at their paws at 7/4.

Utility dogs – with breeds including Dalmatian, akita, French bulldog and Chow Chow – are next at 9/2, with Hound just behind at 11/2.

Pastoral dogs and working dogs come next at 9/1 each, while the outsider to win is Toy at 11/1 – unsurprisingly since only one dog in that category has been crowned Best In Show in the past 20 years.

‘Punters have been wagging their tails and nodding their heads in favour of the gundog ahead of this year’s Crufts,’ said Betway’s Alan Alger.

‘They’ve shot straight to the top of the Best in Show betting and are as short as 11/8 to make it two wins in three years.

‘Having won the top prize five times since the turn of the millennium, including in two of the last four years, you’ve got to keep a close eye on the terrier category at 7/4, while we think the toys will need a stroke of luck at 11/1 to win a first Keddall Memorial Trophy since 1998.’

You can keep up with all the action on Channel 4, who will be showing highlights every night from now until Sunday, with Thursday night’s show at 8pm.

If you have lots of old mascara wands lying around, this is your chance to put them to good use.

Animal shelters are appealing for old wands to brush all their cute creatures.

The Wands for Wildlife idea was launched by Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.

According to their website, old mascara wands are used to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of wild animals.

They added: ‘They work great because the bristles are close together.’

The NEW ARC shelter in Aberdeen also posted an appeal for wands for their animals.

They had so many responses, they have now closed it but said they would be looking into more ways to recycle the wands in the future.

A post on Facebook said: ‘We now have (or have been offered) more Wands than Hogwarts – so we are now closing the plea for Mascara Wands.

‘So many people have contacted us from all around the globe – how fantastic to have so much support for wildlife and for re-using items destined for landfill.

‘We hope we can secure a recycling facility for our used wands, and once we have this set up, we will post details of where they can be sent. The less plastic in our seas/landfill, the better.’

If you have some old wands lying around, you need to wash them in warm soapy water to remove any residual mascara.

Once they are clean, you can post them to the Wands for Wildlife address or try your local animal shelter to see if they can use them.

MORE: You can get free flights to St Lucia – but only if your name is Lucy

MORE: Gundog tipped to win Crufts Best In Show as the annual dog contest kicks off

Aldi is launching a new egg just in time for Easter made entirely of the newly discovered ‘ruby’ chocolate.

Recently discovered by chocolate experts, and known to be significantly more expensive than milk, dark and white chocolate, ruby chocolate is set to be the next big thing for chocoholics.

Made from the rare Ruby cocoa bean, ruby chocolate is known for its distinct pink colour and completely unique flavour.

It is said to be incredibly smooth, intensely fresh and fruity with both sweet and sour notes.

If you think of yourself as a chocolate fanatic – you’re going to have to try it.

Aldi’s Ruby egg is shaped like a giant gemstone, with a handcrafted, shimmering finish.

And if the egg itself isn’t enough excitement, it’s also surrounded by 24 luxury truffles with decadent flavours including milk chocolate with kir royal, pecan praline with black tea gianduja, dark chocolate with Maldon salted caramel and orange with pomelo.

Ruby chocolate is the first new type of chocolate to be discovered since white chocolate over 80 years ago, and the discovery has been 13 years in the making.

‘We are incredibly excited to be the first to launch a ruby cocoa bean chocolate egg in time for Easter,’ says Julie Ashfield from Aldi UK.

‘The Specially Selected Exquisite Ruby Heist has been created to indulge and delight chocolate lovers and we look forward to our customers trying something different this year.’

The egg costs £12.99 and it also came joint runner up in Good Housekeeping’s ruby chocolate Easter egg test, scoring 77/100 – so we think it probably tastes as good as it looks.

MORE: Marks & Spencer releases pink glittery prosecco flavour Easter egg

MORE: White chocolate Easter egg controversially crowned the best of 2019 in a taste test

MORE: A cafe is selling Creme Egg and Ferrero Rocher cheesecakes inside Easter eggs

Nestle has launched a new Milkybar product and it sounds amazing.

Milkybar Mix Ups round button-like chocolates in both white and milk flavours, and each one is filled with the opposite flavour.

Inside the white chocolate button is milk chocolate and vice versa.

It is the first time Nestle has ever used both milk and white chocolate under the original Milkybar brand.

They’ve been made at the Nestle Fawdon factory in Newcastle, on the same production line as Rolo.

There has been around £1.5 million invested at the factory to enable production there.

Kevin Shrimpton, Factory Manager at Nestlé Fawdon said: ‘We are really excited to be producing under the Milkybar brand for the first time.

‘We are doing a lot of work at the factory to focus our particular areas of expertise and it’s great that we have been able to put our knowledge and experience on Rolo to good use in creating Milkybar Mix Ups.’

Given we’re nearing Easter, you might be more interested in Easter eggs.

And if so, Marks & Spencer has launched a pink, glittery, Prosecco flavoured Easter egg and it looks incredible.

The ‘Proseggo Egg’ has been flavoured with Prosecco, berries and a little salt, and is now on sale for £5.

It took M&S Easter Egg Developer Katy Patino over a year to perfect the product as part of the store’s Easter egg collection.

She said: ‘I absolutely love the new and on-trend Proseggo Egg.

‘We’ve infused luxury milk chocolate with raspberry, blackcurrant and Prosecco for a delicate flavour with floral notes.

‘And, at just £5 you can treat your loved ones to that touch of luxury without breaking the bank.’

MORE: You can send a chocolate penis to friends because why not

MORE: White chocolate Easter egg controversially crowned the best of 2019 in a taste test

A holiday threesome became much more serious for this couple when they both ended up falling for their third partner.

Workplace trainer Thomas Fennemore, 28, and Jonny, 32, a senior admin worker at a defence company had been together for seven years and were considering tying the knot, when they asked a stranger to join them for sex.

They were on holiday in Perth, Western Australia, 460 miles from their home in Adelaide, South Australia, in May 2018 when they decided to spice things up with a threesome – only for it to change the dynamic of their relationship forever.

Thomas said: ‘Jonny and I had never even thought about being polyamorous before. We had watched random documentaries about it and thought, “Good for them, but it’s not for us”.

‘It wasn’t something we planned to do until we went on holiday to Perth, where we met Anthony, who is 29 and gorgeous.

‘We were staying in the same hotel and came across him in the elevator and later logged into a local gay dating website to see if we could find him – and we did.

‘Jonny and I agreed he was good looking, and I ended up bumping into him again in the bar. One thing led to another and we had a threesome in our hotel room.

‘None of it was planned, and we thought it was just casual sex, but it turned into a lot more than that.’

After the encounter, the three men exchanged phone numbers and agreed to get in touch if they were ever in the same city again.

But when they learned that product manager Anthony was in Perth on business and lived in Sydney – two hours by plane and 14 hours by car from Adelaide – they did not expect to see him again.

After joining a WhatsApp group together and messaging constantly as friends, however, they met up again in Adelaide in July 2018 and had another threesome.

‘We all had this underlying feeling that it would progress into something more, but none of us said it at first,’ said Thomas.

‘After Jonny and I saw Anthony again in July, we agreed we both liked him.

‘It was weird when we admitted it, but communicating helped. By August 2018 we asked him if he wanted to date us, after he also admitted he had fallen for us both.’

Anthony was equally surprised when his emotions changed from lust to something more.

He said: ‘At first, I was surprised they wanted me to date them, as it started as just casual sex.

‘But we spoke so much on the phone and when we met in person again the excitement only grew.

‘I’ve never been polyamorous before either and it never crossed my mind. But I did some digging when I met Thomas and Jonny, and the articles I read made me realise it was possible.

‘I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect it to be difficult, but it’s been smooth and we’re all happy.’

After becoming officially polyamorous in August 2018, the trio – who see each other as equal members of one relationship – set ground rules for their sex life.

Because of this, for the first six months they only had sex as a throuple when they saw each other every two weeks – but with Anthony still living in a different city, problems began to arise.

Thomas explained: ‘We didn’t want anyone to feel left out, so we made an agreement to only have sex when the three of us were together, but our schedules didn’t always match up.

‘Let’s face it, it’s hard enough to match up two people, let alone three – and sometimes one of us isn’t in the mood.

‘After a while, quite naturally, we just started having sex with each other and it felt right.’

Surprisingly, Thomas claims he has not felt ‘an ounce of jealousy’ when he has known Jonny has been sleeping with Anthony without him – adding that their sex life has remained just as good, despite the addition of a third person.

Meanwhile, when the throuple enjoy date nights together, people assume, as there are three of them, that they are just a group of friends.

‘We don’t do a lot of hand holding or kissing in public, so people think we’re just gay friends on a night out,’ Thomas explained.

‘Throuple relationships are so obscure and out of the norm that no-one assumes we’re together. This means we never feel judged or shut-in when we all want to go on a dinner date.’

Although gay marriage has been legalised in Australia, the trio hope that in the future the law will change to allow them to marry as a throuple – however, they want to get to know Anthony better before taking the plunge.

And, in time, Thomas believes he and Jonny will consider moving to Sydney, so the three of them can be together.

Now that they have stopped being a monogamous couple, Thomas cannot imagine going back.

He continued: ‘Going back to monogamy doesn’t feel right, but if Anthony ever left us I’m not sure we would actively seek out a new third boyfriend.

‘We haven’t had issues or arguments, so I can’t see a break-up looming. In fact, always having a third person makes little bickers easier to get over.

‘If either of us argue with each other, there’s always another person to go to and ask for help, or just a person to mediate and calm a situation – which works perfectly.’

Jonny also believes the relationship has been good for everyone.

He said: ‘Thomas and I have had our ups and downs, but we’ve grown from every experience and being poly has been the biggest growth of all.

‘We all fulfill each other’s different needs and this is a new and exciting time.’

But, despite how well their throuple is working, Thomas would not advise every couple to rush into a threesome, with the hope of it becoming poly.

He said: ‘If you’ve been together long enough and are strong enough then you can attempt it.

‘You have to have great communication and not pressurise your partner, though, as it could really make or break a relationship.

‘Luckily for us, it truly worked and we ‘re excited to see the next chapter of our lives.’

MORE: You can get free flights to St Lucia – but only if your name is Lucy

MORE: Nestle launches Milkybar Mix Ups with white and milk chocolate

Representation is important – films, literature, media, advertising – people need to see themselves reflected on mainstream platforms in order to feel included and valued.

And the world of emojis is finally catching up with this concept.

In response to the more than 52,000 people who signed an online petition posted by Tinder last year, Unicode, the global organization responsible for emoji standards has released artwork for emojis that represent interracial couples.

And we think this is a serious win for inclusivity.

Emojis for people of colour and same-sex relationships were launched in 2015, but it has taken four more years for the little couples to represent people of more than one race.

The 71 new combinations of emoji couples will be available for use this autumn, and they will incorporate couples of all races, genders and sexual-orientations.

‘Tinder advocates for the freedom of people to live how they want to live and love who they want to love,’ chief marketing officer Jenny Campbell said in a statement.

The company’s message was also promoted through the hashtag #RepresentLove – and judging by the response to the petition, it’s clear that this move is long overdue.

Last month Unicode announced the imminent arrival of 230 new emojis that focused on inclusivity – including a wheelchair user, guide dog and prosthetic limbs.

Emojis may seem inconsequential, but for the people who are chronically underrepresented in society, this simple step can go a long way in promoting normalisation, removing stigma and helping in the fight against prejudice.

Interracial couples are everywhere – and they should be able to WhatsApp each other with sickeningly adorable emojis just like everyone else.

MORE: There’s a secret WhatsApp trick which ‘lets you use a hidden transgender pride flag emoji in messages’

MORE: Judges need to know what the aubergine emoji really means

MORE: Get excited, the Game of Thrones characters have been turned into Twitter emojis

Being ill wasn’t so bad when we were little, especially when we got to sip on that sweet sweet Calpol.

Those of us who still feel nostalgic over the childhood medicine (probably the same people who drank the stuff even when they weren’t sick) can now have their whole house smelling like it too.

Over on Etsy you can now get a Calpol scented wax melt bar so children and adults who love the purple stuff can now enjoy the fragrance of it all over their homes.

And it’s not the only thing inspired by the medicine; you can get wax melt balls, hearts, sticks, doughnuts, and glitter wax melts all reminiscent of that glorious syrup.

They’re all pretty cheap too, even with shipping costs included. You can get it all under a fiver, depending on how many you want and which ones.

The products were spotted on deal-finding Facebook page Ashleigh Money Saver who wrote: ‘Oh my God! You can get Calpol scented wax melts!’ which got over 1,000 people talking about their love for it.

Lots of people thought it was Calpol-flavoured chocolate. Just to remind you though, it’s actually wax, so please don’t try eating it.

In case you’re not familiar, wax melts are like candles, they are scented pieces of wax without a wick that are melted to release home fragrances.

Wax melts are placed in a warmer and are slowly warmed to melt the wax and fill your home with aroma.

If you don’t want to commit to buying a candle, which take time to burn out, wax melts might be better for as they come in smaller chunks.

All the Calpol melts on Etsy, made from soya wax, are homemade and also claim to be cruelty-free.

To use, you’ll need a burner and depending on the size of it, place one or two pieces of it in the top and a tea light underneath it.

Light the tea light and you are good to go. Use two melts at a time for a stronger scent and once you can’t smell the fragrance anymore, remove the wax and repeat.

Facebook users have been having a field day with the product, tagging their family and friends who they know will love it.

Not everyone was on board though. One person wrote: ‘I love Calpol but not enough for my house to stink of it.’

But mostly there was enthusiasm; ‘They have brought my favourite thing ever, to use in a wax melt, I NEED this.’

If you need it too, here are a bunch of places you can get them.

MORE: You can get free flights to St Lucia – but only if your name is Lucy

MORE: You can get shampoo and conditioner tailored to you depending on your answers to a quiz

MORE: Six best-selling beauty products on Amazon everyone is ordering now

McDonald’s is great for any occasion.

When you’re running late home from work and don’t have time to cook yourself dinner.

Eating stale chips at 2am after a night out on the town.

And of course, a McDonald’s breakfast goes great the morning after, when you’re severely hungover.

But now, if you’re a true McDonald’s fanatic, you can now do more than just eat McDonald’s – you can smell it.

Australian online shopping website Grey Lines has launched a scented candle inspired by the McDonald’s cheeseburger.

It’s been named ‘The Maccas Run’ and is selling for $29.95 AUD and they can be shipped to the UK.

The candle wax has a 30-hour burn time, meaning you can have the smell of bun, beef, onions, pickle, ketchup, mustard and cheese wafting around your home every night.

The candle has been incredibly popular with customers, and has been restocked online after selling out in just weeks last year.

One person said: ‘When cheeseburgers are life. If I can’t eat them, might as well smell them.’

Another tagged a friend to say: ‘Think how much money we could have saved at college if we had this.’

And someone else said the candle would be perfect for their ‘cheeseburger cravings’. And we’d have to agree.

If McDonald’s isn’t your favourite fast food, but you’re guilty of loving stuff that isn’t labelled as being so great for us, you’ll be happy to know there’s other food inspired candles available, including garlic bread, bacon and ‘girls night in buttered popcorn’.

Can we buy them all?

MORE: You can get Calpol scented wax to make your home smell like your fave childhood medicine

MORE: I’m Your Biggest Fan: Meet the storm chaser who has 600 McDonald’s boxes on his walls

Many people think of sex as the hot and heavy kind we see on television; all quickies in bar toilets and fevered brows bobbing away until the ultimate goal of orgasm.

Similarly, what we see in porn often overlooks the mind for the body, keeping the focus on the movement of the (usually young) people but not the connection.

That’s fine in many ways, and serves a purpose of its own. However, it doesn’t address the important spiritual side of sex or the way that people have sex as they get older.

John and Annie, along with director Erika Lust, are trying to change that with their new porn movie Soul Sex.

John Campbell is 73 and Dr. Annie Campbell is 72, and the pair both work as authors, speakers, and sexual educators (John is also a mind coach).

They’ve both had incredibly interesting lives – Annie produced and directed for the BBC and she started her own BAFTA-winning film company, and John moved to the UK as a child after having lived in Penang, Malaysia, South Africa, and Kenya, before going on to work as a sea Captain, ship owner, and oil trader.

The pair then met in August 2013 on a dating website called Spiritual Singles.

Annie’s first husband died after an 18 month battle with cancer and she later suffered the bereavement of her second husband. John has been divorced twice, but one relationship lasted for 27 years.

They realised they already had a lot in common, and that sex was an important part of their budding relationship.

They’d both written books about sexuality – Annie’s was titled Brain Sex, John’s The Secret of Intimate relationships. John had also written a list of things he was searching for in a woman, including someone willing to support him emotionally and in terms of sexual exploration. Annie, he says, ‘ticked every single box’.

As a couple they’ve now been together 24/7 since they met, and have even laminated that very same list as a keepsake and to help with their workshops. They live by the mantras ‘I want for you exactly what you want for yourself, with no exceptions – and that’s all OK’ and ‘absolute FREEDOM is the deepest desire of the human condition and we support each other in that’.

A term they coined called ‘Soul Sex’ is what inspired their work with Erika.

They told Metro.co.uk: ‘We believe that our bodies are communication devices whose primary purpose is to extend love, rather than fear, in all our interactions.

‘We find that in many sexual interactions there is often a great deal of fear present, as there was in our own before we learned a different way of having sex, and where fear is present, real love is not, as they are two opposites. We believe that this way of sex is a spiritual act, a symbolic attempt at joining with the Divine, non-physical part of us.’

Soul Sex means there are no goals or expectations, and each partner focuses on their own experiences.

John and Annie say this ‘sounds very counterintuitive at first but, once experienced, the result is so delicious for each partner that we find that going back to the old way is no longer attractive’.

It’s a slower way to have sex, centering on peace, verbal connection, and intimacy rather than reaching orgasm as quickly as possible.

It may seem surprising to see a deeply in love older couple having sex on camera, but they believe that our beliefs around age and sex are drilled into us based on our family unit.

They say, ‘If we witnessed our parents sleeping in separate bedrooms, for example, in their older years, we might assume that their sex lives had ended. Often, children just ‘know’ when their parents are not being intimate and that’s when the ‘programs’ may get activated.’

John and Annie also see the widespread advertising and prescriptions for erectile dysfunction as part of the idea that sexual activity diminishes as you age.

Despite their ability to talk openly and honestly about their sex life, they were still nervous when they arrives at Erika’s studios to film.

Annie says, ‘John was so nervous that his penis decided to ‘go on strike’ so to speak. He felt it saying to him ‘I don’t want to be on this film’ so it decided to shrink and almost vanish!’

They both found this highly amusing and say it was ‘perfect as it gave a synchronistic experience of how exquisite this sexual experience can be even without an erect penis!’

Erika tells Metro.co.uk: ‘The actual sex scene could not have been further from a typical, mainstream set. They started with some beautiful words of intention before starting their slow and tender ‘soul sex’.

‘They spent much more time touching, cuddling, holding, and gazing at each other than performers usually would.

‘They were also very vocal throughout and showed strong communication skills to tell each other what they were enjoying.

‘But most of all they just seemed to be having fun, they laughed a lot and were constantly smiling at each other. It was a very beautiful, fulfilling and emotional day for everyone involved.’

For other couples wanting to follow in their footsteps when it comes to better sex regardless of age, Annie and John say that talking and communication are key. They also say you should begin spending more time naked together to ‘get used to the wonderful experience of feeling each other’s bodies and the exquisite feeling of gentle touch’.

They recommend massages, relaxation, and laughing as a couple, along with the sage advice: ‘Have fun practicing’.

You can watch Soul Sex, and find out more about Erika’s work through her Twitter.

MORE: Fetish model sells dirty knickers so she can pay to rescue stray cats

MORE: Couple say their relationship is at its sexual peak thanks to their feederism fetish

Unfortunately, transgender people not only face the potential of being rejected by a romantic interest, just as the rest of us, they sometimes face abuse when they disclose their past.

When 23-year-old trans woman Tiffany Monroe told a man she was chatting to that she was trans, he didn’t react and told her it didn’t matter.

Tiffany, from Texas, U,S, wrote on her Twitter: ‘I told this guy I was trans and look at his response.’

Screenshots of a conversation between them showed that he said: ‘I ain’t worried too much about that if that’s the case, you’re a woman and I’m not gay. It’s 2019, I’m a grown man, your past shouldn’t matter like that,’ he said.

The tweet then went viral and everyone commended the guy for his sweet response.

Many felt that in a world where trans people are abused and constantly dehumanised, it was a breath of fresh air to see someone react with such a positive outlook.

Others said he simply reacted as a human being should and although we shouldn’t praise him for it, it is stil a nice thing he’s done that needs to be noticed.

I told this guy I was trans and look at his response pic.twitter.com/wqPzIqJEzr

— Tiffany Monroe (@tiffanymonroee) March 3, 2019

One user wrote: ‘I don’t want to praise him for the simple fact that we’re praising him for treating someone like a damn human being as he should, but I’m going to praise him because people ain’t sh*t anymore’.

Another person replied to the tweet saying: ‘In a world where trans people are treated so horribly and dehumanised, it’s an absolute breath of fresh air to see responses like that. Although, it should be the bare minimum and just common.’

pic.twitter.com/9M6WMMqwfu

— 💗💞💘💖raye💕💗💓💝 (@rayelanae) March 4, 2019

Many told Tiffany to marry the man or hold onto him though she hasn’t revealed whether they are still dating nor what she said to him.

But she thanked all her followers for the sweet messages, saying: ‘Thank you to all the lovely people being so nice to me, you all are beautiful, deserve love and I hope you have a good day!’

Though we certainly need more of this kind of behaviour, let’s hope we can see it so often that it doesn’t need to be out of the ordinary or praised for doing what is essentially just being a good person.

MORE: Trans man fell pregnant with a surprise baby just as he started his transition

MORE: Transgender woman thanks nothing but hormone therapy for her breasts

MORE: Londoner creates lingerie brand for transgender women

While it’s true that you can buy all manner of cute clothing for your pets, ideally they’d be different from what’s in your wardrobe.

For Callie Conway, however, she’s actually now giving hand-me-downs to her little dog Charlotte, after being sent a ridiculously small outfit only big enough for her pooch.

Callie ordered the £40 outfit for a trip to Ibiza, and it features mesh leggings, a mesh crop top, and matching headband.

What was supposed to be a UK size 8 didn’t remotely fit the 19-year-old, so instead she decided to model it on her Bedlington Terrier.

Charlotte certainly wears it well, and her tweet on the topic (in which she asked ‘fancy a hol Charlotte?’) now has over 32,000 retweets and 180,000 likes.

It’s not the first time someone has received an ill-fitting outfit they bought online. We recently reported on this woman who tried on her new dress to find it left her whole vagina exposed.

Callie, from Newcastle, did want to clarify on social media that Charlotte was ‘not in pain/fear… she loves getting dressed up however always looks miserable!’

Other owners of Bedlington Terriers also came forward to offer their words of encouragement to Char’s fashion show moment. They’re a relatively rare breed of dog, and it seems to owners stick together in solidarity.

Someone also asked why the dogs like Gail Platt, but that’s another story for another day.

It’s not been publicised by Callie which brand sent her the oddly sized garments, but hopefully she’ll get a replacement. Who knows, they might even let Charlotte keep hers, and the two can go to Ibiza and wow the beach bars.

We’re sure Charlotte would be the toast of Ocean Beach Club.

MORE: Woman orders Boohoo dress online, gets one that leaves her vagina ‘totally exposed’

MORE: People are puzzled by Boohoo’s ‘front thong’ bodysuit

When I heard that comprehensive period education would become compulsory in schools by 2020, I was really glad, although I am still apprehensive. I hope it will be better than mine.

I was one of the ‘lucky’ ones who did have some period education whilst at school, but it consisted of: ‘you’re going to bleed once a month for the rest of your life, here’s some pads, don’t tell the boys.’

This did nothing to prepare my classmates for what would become our new normal, and didn’t help me – especially for the tough times that lay ahead for me.

I was 17 when I first got my period, which was quite late, but I was a late developer and very underweight.

I was taught at school that to get a period was a magical thing and that I was finally becoming a woman. So why did it feel like my world was beginning to crumble?

For the next decade, I suffered from heavy, irregular periods, sometimes with only four days break and then sometimes I’d have nothing for three months.

I saw many doctors but always felt I was seen as a silly young girl who was over-exaggerating, and without the language or confidence to discuss my period openly I had to try and gain knowledge myself through endless google searches.

I tried six different methods of birth control, each time answering humiliating questions that seemed to be more focused on sex than menstruation. My GP focused on the fact the pill was for birth control rather than the positive affects it can have for painful and heavy periods.

Young people should be made aware of what the body goes through every month, and girls especially need to be told that it’s OK to express period pain.

I was referred back to and forth to gynaecologists, tested, discharged and eventually brushed off as a hypochondriac even whilst struggling to stand from pain. One doctor even told me ‘maybe this is just the level of chronic pain your body needs to get used to.

At 25, I desperately agreed to try the coil, despite having heard many horror stories about negative side effects but my GP told me this was the last option. Because I didn’t have the education to back me up, I was given a coil that made me lose weight, be in constant pain, lose my hair, lose my sex drive, have contractions every month and become suicidal.

After I finally got this removed (only through begging) I began to campaign for a hysterectomy. I had to endure appointment after appointment being asked ridiculous questions such as ‘what about your boyfriend?’ and ‘you know this isn’t reversible?’.

Having a hysterectomy was the best thing that ever happened to me, but it’s left behind a lot of medical PTSD and a distrust of doctors.

I don’t regret it but better education around periods, pain and the related illnesses could have gotten me better treatment and perhaps have prevented such drastic measures.

It shouldn’t be a shameful talk directed just at the girls while the boys get a free period, or, worse, involve a group of boys sniggering in the corner and throwing around pads like I remember.

Young people should be made aware of what the body goes through every month, and girls especially need to be told that it’s OK to express period pain.

Too often, complaints about cramps are written off, girls and young women are told that’s just how periods are, therefore dismissing their pain and making them doubt their own bodies.

Period education should work alongside sex education and include young people of all genders.

Including boys will give them a better understanding of the physical and psychological aspects, which will lead, I hope, to less teasing and blushing boyfriends in the playground, less stigma around periods as shameful and not to be discussed in front of boys – and eventually to a generation of more caring, compassionate men.

It will also offer girls more information of the different stages of their cycle such as spotting, breakthrough bleeding and heavy flow, and make them more informed on how to avoid becoming pregnant.

It will be vital to that the future lessons include information on what is and isn’t normal for menstruation and menstrual related illnesses such as endometriosis to give girls better tools to deal with their pain, something I never had.

With better period education I wouldn’t have suffered for so long and been able to fight better for what i knew my body needed. Who knows – I might still have a uterus.

I hope the next generation of girls not only have a broader understanding, but more support.

MORE: New period poverty fund ‘won’t help British girls forced to skip school’

MORE: A new period emoji won’t stop stigma, but this is how it will help

MORE: Free tampons to be offered to all hospital patients by summer

An Indian woman who has never had sex with her husband because of a painful condition causing her vagina to clench when touched has just had a baby.

Revati Bordawekar, from Ahmednagar, India, has vaginismus – the body’s automatic reaction to the fear of some or all types of vaginal penetration.

The 30-year-old, who works as a digital marketer, realised something was up when the mere idea of wearing a tampon as a teenager made her vaginal muscles tense up.

But she still tried to use one at the age of 22 but each time she tried, her hand began to shake and she wasn’t able to go through with it.

After Revati got married at 25, she told her husband Chinmay she was a virgin and that she struggled with anything being near her vagina.

Together the couple looked at possible causes and came across vaginismus. They were glad to finally have a name for her condition.

Now they have just had their first baby, through IVF, as they were unable to have fully penetrative sex.

After a year of marriage, Revati received advice telling her to practice foreplay, drink a glass of wine before sex and even use numbing cream around the labia.

None of this worked so she sought medical attention, but her condition meant she had to be put under general anaesthetic for doctors to check her over.

‘Through my twenties, I tried to feel around the area but was never able to even touch beyond the labia,’ said Revati. ‘At that point, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to seek medical attention or even talk about what I was going through.

‘I used a numbing cream after a year of being married but it didn’t change much at all.

‘We were desperate to overcome it because we wanted to get pregnant, so I looked at the vaginismus support groups for ways to get pregnant.

After trying two rounds of IVF, Revati was able to get pregnant but then worried about giving birth so opted for a C-section.

But after meeting with midwives and attending birth classes, Revati knew that she’d made it this far, so she wanted to experience the full birthing journey.

During the delivery, Revati had to psyche herself up for pushing and despite her vaginismus, she welcomed daughter Eva.

Revati and her husband are still only able to have partial penetrative sex, but they have been able to be intimate in other ways.

Groom slaps bride for teasing him with wedding cake

‘When I finally got our first positive pregnancy test, it felt so unreal that I cried my heart out’ said Revati.

‘I began to bleed during my pregnancy so I had to have a vaginal ultrasound. I requested two members of staff to hold my hands and soothe my feet as the doctor promised to insert the probe slowly inside to get an idea of things.

‘My midwife noticed the progress I made through the exams and she asked if I was willing to try for a natural birth but keep my planned C-section in case. We attended a series of classes on childbirth preparation which slowly made me turn towards at least giving vaginal birth a try before quitting.

‘When it was time to start pushing, I asked for five minutes to brace myself. I thought about my struggle with vaginismus since my teens, the years of being told to “relax and it will happen”.

‘I thought of how bad I felt each time I was deprived of something that came naturally to most, yet this was my only chance to experience the miracle of vaginal birth. And then I was ready to start pushing.

‘We haven’t tried sex yet, but I’m confident that it won’t be a barrier anymore. I’ll always remind myself that if I can push a six-pound baby with a head circumference of 33 centimetres out my vagina, I can easily take in a penis with much lesser circumference inside of me.

‘I want to show that vaginismus doesn’t stop you from giving birth to your baby.

‘Also, vaginismus is real, it’s not in your head and it won’t go away if you relax, drink wine or lube up. It will happen whenever it has to happen and until then, celebrate being you. Because you are so much more than a condition to label yourself with.’

MORE: Having vaginismus does not mean the end of your sex life – and you are not alone

MORE: Woman with painful vaginismus shares what it was like to lose her virginity at 32

MORE: Vaginismus: a major psychological reason women experience pain during sex

If you’re debating giving your child a phone but worried about their safety, one mum has come up with a genius contract to ensure her 12-year-old uses his phone in a safe manner.

Mel Watts, also known as The Modern Mumma, recently wrote up a contract for her son Ayden, and posted it to her blog.

She said: ‘Before we gave Ayden his mobile phone we wrote up an agreement that was to be agreed on by his three parents (modern day families these days lol) and then had to be signed by ALL parties.

‘This piece of paper pretty much gave up the ability to put down some ground rules and also allow us to monitor what he’s doing.

View this post on Instagram

Proud mama. Newest Rookie #lifeguard hitting the beach this summer. He’s stoked to be doing it with one of his biggest idols his uncle Keat. This is something I know he’ll love and actively do the best he can.

A post shared by m e l w a t t s (@melwatts) on Dec 20, 2018 at 2:25pm PST

‘To be honest no I don’t think we should be giving our younger teenagers mobile phones with social media however I didn’t want to be that parent who wouldn’t allow it.

‘I grew up with parents who didn’t allow me to have a phone and I did feel isolated and left out, it wasn’t a nice feeling.

‘Having to trust that your child is doing the right thing is nerve wrecking. Its a big step and a scary one for some parents.’

The contract consists of 17 rules for Ayden to follow. If he breaks any of these rules, the phone will be taken away.

The rules include fixing or replacing the phone with his own money if it is lost or broken. Ayden also has to always answer his parents’ calls, and won’t be given any extra data if he goes over his limit.

Mel also said her son must not use his phone in his room, the phone must be given to a parent before bed and there is to be no messaging before 7:30am.

Alongside this, Ayden must also follow the school rules on mobile phones, must promise never to troll anyone and he must not upload anything to social media that he wouldn’t want his family to see.

Most importantly, Mel adds that if her son is being bullied online, he must show her. The contract also reminds Ayden that anything he posts on social media will be there forever.

On her blog, Mel also wrote some tips for parents wondering whether it’s time to give their child a phone.

She wrote: ‘Having to trust that your child is doing the right thing is nerve wrecking. It’s a big step and a scary one for some parents.

View this post on Instagram

Home time 🌿 Actually had a fabulous evening and learnt so much information. Can’t wait to share it all soon with you. Photography skills by #iviesummer needless to say she’s hired and @_nolanwatts is no longer required.

A post shared by m e l w a t t s (@melwatts) on Mar 5, 2019 at 2:02am PST

‘Some tips from me and what I’ve learnt in these last couple of months –

‘Trust your gut. If you feel something is off search the phone. Children (yes regardless that’s what they are) hide things from their parents usually because their scared they’d get in trouble or embarrassed.

‘DO NOT allow them to hide you from your social media. If you’re being hidden they’re doing something they shouldn’t – trust me.

‘Kids are smarter in this area, it sucks I know but they are. Be strong and stand your ground. If they’re being protective of the phone take it and search. Password changes – loss of phone.’

Though these rules may seem a bit much for some parents, this mum swears by them. Contracts like these could be an effective way of tackling damaging online habits for younger children.

MORE: I won’t take the iPad off my toddler, it’s a great parenting tool

MORE: Mum raising money for surgery to treat condition which could ‘internally decapitate’ her

For people who don’t often, or ever, wear makeup, men seem to have a lot of opinions on it.

All too often we see men making jokes about taking women swimming on the first date to see what she looks like without her hair and makeup done, and men who stress they prefer the ‘natural look’.

One such man even broke up with the girl he was seeing when he discovered she had acne. He said he felt he was catfished because she normally wore makeup.

The woman wrote all about him on Reddit, asking whether she is in the wrong for not telling him she had acne.

She revealed that they were both 20, had been dating for a few weeks when they decided to go backpacking – during the trip he saw her without any makeup and it threw him off.

She wrote: ‘Am I the a*rsehole for hiding my acne with makeup and not telling my potential boyfriend about it?’

But the Reddit community had her back, reassuring her that she hadn’t led him on or catfished him and that the boyfriend just sounded really shallow.

He had even broken up with another girl in the past for cutting her hair too short, she revealed.

‘At first, he didn’t say anything, just looked at me a bit weird,’ she said in the now deleted post. ‘When we were alone, he just told me that he didn’t know I had acne like that. After that, he’s been acting distant the whole trip.

‘When we got home that night, he said that it would be for the best to stop seeing each other because he doesn’t like me anymore. As the very last thing he said that I shouldn’t lead people on like that.’

She added that it haunts her how he accused her of catfishing and that she only wears makeup for a bit of extra confidence, not to lead anyone on.

‘You’re definitely not catfishing anyone by wearing makeup,’ said one person, ‘Acne isn’t a huge deal for normal people, potential boyfriend sounds like a really shallow guy to break up over something like that.’

Another user questioned why he couldn’t tell she had ace even when she wore makeup.

Dads are the real inventors of the life hack; teaching us all to change tyres, lightbulbs, and get rid of spiders in the best way possible. All dads are also born with the innate knowledge of how to bleed a radiator.

In a different form of radiator hack, Dan Hobden’s dad has made use of his household heating in a brand new way that blows all previous methods out of the water.

Dan tweeted a picture of a Greggs bag taped to the side of his rad, with the unmistakable outline of a sausage roll tucked inside.

Apparently, his dad has found the ultimate technique for reheating the savoury snack, and will not be going back to the microwave any time soon thank you very much.

asked my dad why he doesn’t just use the microwave to warm the sausage roll but apparently it’s ‘not the same’ and there’s an ‘art to it’ so here we are pic.twitter.com/EsTirWWOLw

— Dan Hobden (@dlhbdn) March 7, 2019

Although the idea initially seems a little silly, it can’t be denied that microwaving pastry does leave a lot to be desired in the crispiness stakes.

Plus, given that you buy a sausage roll from a store already cooked, the high heat of the oven might burn the already-done pastry.

The mild heat and lack of moisture on the outside of the radiator could be just the ticket for a perfect bite. And plenty of people seemed to agree:

the microwave heating process excites atoms rather than conduct heat. The radio waves penetrate the food and excite water and fat molecules pretty fast... too fast. The watery part evaporate, It dries them. Your Dad knows his stuff. Cookery is the Art of patience and dedication.

— musicando (@musicandotweet) March 7, 2019

Nuking pastry in microwave makes it soggy. That warms it through slowly

— Stefan Paetow (@stefanpaetow) March 7, 2019

Exceptional. Microwave does totally ruin it.

— Lorna O'Neill (@lornaocomms) March 7, 2019

Other people did say that it may breed bacteria, but maybe that’s the price we pay for joy?

Dan further clarified his dad’s position on the matter, saying ‘In the summer he just eats them cold. A nice refreshing summer snack… In the summer he just eats them cold. A nice refreshing summer snack’.

We have contacted Greggs for comment on their favourite reheating methods, and will update you as soon as we hear back.

MORE: Vegan sausage rolls boost Greggs’ sales by 14%

MORE: What are ‘ultra-processed’ foods and why are they bad for us?