We use pens everyday, but a regular ballpoint is not good for the thing we call home: Planet Earth.

Most of your regular Bics are made from non-biodegradable plastics, which when discarded, clog up landfills and find their way into unwanted habitats – mainly, the oceans.

The effects range from polluted habitats to poisonous toxins being released into the environment because like most plastics, disposable pens are notoriously difficult to recycle.

In an attempt to combat the problem, coffee giant Nespresso has partnered with Swiss writing and drawing instruments company Caran d’Ache to produce their second limited edition ballpoint pen, made from, wait for it, recycled coffee capsules.

The result? A pen that’s snazzy, on trend and environmentally conscious.

This year’s edition has been made out of discarded Nespresso Master origins India capsules and is a shade of matt deep green.

Why should you buy it? It celebrates that wonderful thing we call recycling, and according to the guys and gals behind the entire concept, has been made to remind us of the importance of up-cycling.

For those not in the know, aluminium is a super special metal that can be reused and remelted pretty much endlessly.

Large organisations all over the world work with businesses, communities, individuals and industrial recycling programs to transform the discarded metal into everything from window frames to tubing and now, pens.

In other words: waste can indeed be made into beautiful things.

Jean-Marc Duvoisin, CEO of Nespresso, said of the collab: ‘We’re delighted to be partnering once again with Caran d’Ache and bringing consumers this unique object, a true celebration of the infinite recyclability of aluminium.’

The pen itself is just as impressive as the concept.

Made in the recognisable shape of the Caran d’Ache 849 ballpoint pen, it comes ready with a Goliath ink cartridge which lasts for roughly 600 A4 sheets and has undergone a super cool microbeading process and electrostatic treatment to make it look extra slick.

Oh, and it’s wrapped up in 100% eco friendly packaging, too.

Definitely one for the Christmas stocking.

MORE: 11 easy changes you can make to be a more sustainable human

MORE: How to reduce waste and help the planet when you’re travelling on a plane

Veganism is becoming much more popular but for those not following a plant-based diet, it can be hard to get your head around.

Still, most people understand that it’s basically about not eating anything produced by animals, right?

Well, it seems that a surprising number of people thought goats milk was vegan.

The study, of 2,004 UK adults by meal kit company HelloFresh, found one fifth thought that just because goats milk isn’t from cows, it was suitable for vegans.

And it’s not just older people who don’t understand the move towards veganism – 20% of 18-34 year-olds thought vegans can consume eggs.

The study looked into how much Brits know about where their food comes from.

One in 10 adults are under the impression that tofu is a type of mushroom, while a fifth mistakenly think veal comes from a deer – rather than a calf.

11% of those asked think tea is grown in the UK when most of it is shipped from Asia and 4.2% thought bacon comes from cows.

The study also revealed that half of those asked would struggle to cook basic meals like smashed avocado on toast, lasagne or a basic curry.

And 22% are unable to put together a traditional Sunday roast – with 10% of those saying they’ve no intention of learning.

HelloFresh head chef Andre Dupin said: ‘It’s surprising to see that some of the most popular foods, as well as things that Brits have always held dear to them, are difficult for people to cook from scratch and they struggle with knowing where it’s from or when it’s in season.

‘We found that 61% of Brits didn’t know how to cook the national favourite, chicken tikka masala.

‘Scratch cooking and getting hands on with ingredients at home is one of the best ways you can begin to understand the origins of food.’

MORE: Nespresso is making pens out of recycled coffee capsules

MORE: A new LGBTQ+ club is coming to east London this week

Week three of the Great British Bake Off and it’s bread week.

Yes, expect flour-covered aprons, the first shots of the proving drawer and lots of jokes and kneading some love.

Following on from some recipes for cake week and biscuit week, this week, we’re bringing you a guide to making focaccia.

The experts at Patisserie Valerie have put this guide together to make sure you get delicious Italian bread.

Master baker Mario explains: ‘Breadmaking fits perfectly with cosy Autumnal days at home.

‘The rhythm of baking bread, the gentle rising of the dough and the firm folds of kneading, the tactile and repetitive nature of bread making, the patience of it, gives it a mindful quality. Making a fresh loaf to enjoy at the weekend is the perfect way to detach and unwind after a busy week.’

Bread making is easier than most people expect but it does take a little bit of time.

Mario says this olive-scented focaccia is the perfect bread to start with – and best of all, it makes two generous loaves or lots of little ones.

Focaccia method

Put the flour, sugar, olive oil and yeast into a large bowl, add the butter and milk and mix well to make a sticky dough. Do not add salt before dough is mixed as it can damage the proving process.

Add the salt and mix again. 

Cover the bowl with cling film and leave to rise until doubled in size. This will generally take around an hour, depending on the temperature of the room. 

Flour the work surface generously, then turn out the dough and knead lightly. Knead in some of the flour from the work surface, adding a little more if the dough remains sticky. 

The dough should come away from the work surface cleanly, but still be quite moist.

Divide into even chunks and roll into palm-size balls (around 150g) then place well spaced apart onto a tray lined with baking paper.

Push the balls down to make mini pizza style breads, around as thick as your thumb. Do not worry about even thickness. They will rise and the lumps are part of focaccia’s charm. 

Top with olives, rosemary, oregano or a grind or coarse salt. 

With a floured finger, push several small wells into the dough, then push olives into the dough. Scatter liberally with salt flakes, or top with rosemary and oregano.

Bake at 190 degrees for around 20 minutes till pale gold, crisp on top and springy within. Drizzle with a last tablespoon or two of olive oil then allow to settle.

While still warm, free the bread from the pan with a palette knife, then cut or tear into pieces.

MORE: Bake Off 2019: How to make Italian Biscotti and Sablé biscuits for biscuit week

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Many of us worry about climate change and want to make our homes more sustainable to protect the planet for future generations. But with so much information out there it can be difficult to know where to start and do your bit for the environment.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with E.ON to come up with five changes – both big and small – that will make your home more eco-friendly, starting by switching to a renewable energy source like solar power.

Install solar panels with battery storage and not only could you cut your carbon footprint* and potentially cut your monthly bills by up to £400** but, thanks to E.ON’s ‘Solar Reward’ scheme***, you could even make money by exporting extra electricity you generate back to the grid.

Want to learn more? Then visit the E.ON website here for more information.

POWER YOUR HOME WITH SOLAR PANELS (AND GET PAID!)

The first step in creating a more sustainable home is by making sure it’s powered by a cleaner, greener, renewable energy – like solar power – and reduce your use of the dirty fossil fuels that pollute the planet****.

Solar panels work by capturing the sun’s energy to convert into electricity to keep your home running. Amazingly, this works even when it’s not sunny. So you don’t need to be put off by the grey skies outside!

E.ON offers different solar panels depending on your home – and your budget – as well as a team of helpful experts who are on hand to guide you through every step of the process.

There are also flexible payment options available, which means you can choose how you would like to pay for your new panels. And remember, sunlight is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation you’ll likely see your electricity costs drop, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

To make the prospect of installing solar panels even sweeter, E.ON also offers the option of paying new solar customers back for extra energy through the ‘solar reward’ scheme. Generate your own electricity and you could get paid 5.24p/kWh for your export***, meaning you actually get money back while helping the planet. Definitely a win-win!

Learn more about E.ON here.

BUY BATTERY STORAGE

Whether you are new to solar energy, or already have solar panels installed, battery storage is a must.

Just like the name suggests, battery storage allows you to keep hold of excess electricity generated by your solar panels so you can use it when you need it later.

This means your home will rely less on the grid, meaning your electricity bills could be cheaper and your carbon emissions most likely will be lower, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Want to know more? E.ON has lots of information on choosing a battery storage solution that’s right for you.

INSTALL AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER

To see even more benefits from your move to solar power, install an E.ON electric vehicle (EV) charger outside your home and use your greener, renewable electricity to help keep your car running – rather than polluting the air with harmful petrol or diesel fumes.

Not only is charging your car in your own driveway more convenient than waiting at a public charging point, but your charger will also be connected to your internet at home, allowing you to monitor, optimise and control your charging.

You could also qualify for a government grant of up to £500 to put towards the cost of installing a charger. If it sounds daunting then don’t worry, E.ON takes the stress out of the situation by applying on your behalf. Click here for more information.

UPGRADE YOUR BOILER

Some 55 per cent of what you spend on energy goes on heating, according to the Energy Saving Trust, which means it’s important to make sure that your boiler is working at its best.

How much money you could save each year will depend on how old and inefficient your existing boiler is and the fuel your boiler uses. The Energy Saving Trust has lots of helpful information here.

If you’re thinking about replacing your boiler, E.ON offers a no-obligation survey, carried out by a qualified expert, which will help you assess all of your options.

E.ON also has an online offer of a new boiler from £1,995***** within five working days if you have no heating and hot water******, as well as flexible payment options. More information can be found here.

INSTALL A SMART METER

Installing a smart meter is a simple way to manage the energy you use at home.

When you know exactly how much you’re spending – to the penny – in near real-time, you can make small changes to help you use less energy.

Plus, it will help with more accurate billing for your home.

E.ON are installing smart meters for their electricity and gas customers. Want one? Visit eonenergy.com/smart, and you could get a smart meter installed for free.

*According to the Energy Savings Trust

**These are example figures only. Savings are based on a south-facing property in central England with a 40-degree roof tilt and no shading, with electricity consumption of 4,900 kWh. Saving assumes fitting 14 x 305W panels and a 9.0 kWh battery and an electricity cost of 15p/kWh.

***Solar Reward incentive payment is paid on the assumption that 50% of generation is exported. Solar Reward export payments apply for the first year only. Limited to the first 500 customers. Info correct at time of launch 28th March 2019. For new installs only.

****According to engineering.com

*****The £1,995 price applies to any online Worcester 30i Combination boiler quotation with an agreed payment method before 30 September 2019.

******Installation from as little as five working days if you have no heating and no hot water, from the point you accept your quote and either make your upfront payment or accept the terms and conditions of your finance agreement. If asbestos is present these timescales may not be met.

A bride and groom decided to wear T-shirts and jeans when tying the knot, and are sharing photos to show weddings don’t need to cost loads of money to be magical.

Rebecca Maxwell, 26, and Glen Maxwell, 30, wore jeans, personalised ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ T-shirts and trainers for both their ceremony and reception.

The newlyweds bought similar personalised tops for the bridal party, best man and mother and father of the bride and asked their 40 guests to wear jeans and t-shirts too.

Rebecca and Glen got engaged back in August 2016, and quickly started planning a massive white wedding.

The more they planned, the more they realised a posh wedding just wasn’t right for them. Totting up the costs of the occasion only caused the couple stress and they were fed up of agonising over a budget instead of being excited about the romance.

One evening Glen told Rebecca: ‘We could get married in jeans and T-shirts and I’d still love you.’

Cute, right? They chose to take that idea to its natural conclusion and have a casual wedding that was all about their relationship, not spending loads of money.

They’re sharing their story to encourage other people to ditch the pressures of a big wedding and focus on having a day that’s special to them.

Rebecca, of Blyth, Northumberland, said: ‘When we were planning our wedding, we started doing everything to please other people.

‘Our guest list was getting out of hand. You feel like you have to invite people because you don’t want to upset them rather than because you want them there.

‘We had spent hours looking through Pinterest at all the dresses, cakes and decorations and you do get sucked in.

‘But at the end of the day me and Glen just really weren’t bothered about all of that.

‘I had even bought a wedding dress but after having [my daughter] Eleanor I went to try it on again and I ended up crying. It just was not what I wanted at all.’

The couple’s original wedding was planned to take place at a farm at Christmas time, set to cost them £14,000.

Instead they said their vows at the town hall in Darlington on 26 April with 40 of their closest friends and family. The ceremony cost just £250.

After doing the official wedding bit, Rebecca and Glen took their guests to Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in the Lake District for a carvery dinner costing £400.

Instead of a pricey wedding cake, they spent £35 on a selection of Morrisons cupcakes and a sheet cake with a photo of the couple printed on top.

With T-shirts and jeans for the wedding party coming in at £150, £200 spent on flowers and £70 for Rebecca’s hair and makeup, the couple’s big day cost just £1,105 in total.

Saving so much on their wedding meant Rebecca and Glen were left with £6,000 savings, which they used to treat their wedding party to a weekend at Center Parcs.

Rebecca and Glen say the lowkey day was perfect for them, as they ‘just like simple things’, preferring a night in to a posh holiday away.

‘We just love each other’s company,’ said Rebecca.

‘What was special was that we were going to join together and I was going to have the same surname as my little girl.

‘A big dress or fancy day, that all paled into insignificance.

‘I want to show other brides that if they don’t have a big budget, it doesn’t matter. They don’t have to spend a fortune or put all that pressure on themselves.

‘As long as you marry the person you love, surrounded by people you love, your day will be special.

‘Me and my husband are still married just like all those people who are in £20,000 debt.

‘I do really believe that so many people lose sight of the real reasons to get married.

‘It becomes like a big expensive show, a production for everyone else and the real reasons are lost in all that.

‘It should be about how in love you are. I don’t know anyone who gets married just because they think their partner is alright.’

MORE: Couple who met at birth celebrate their ruby wedding anniversary

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MORE: Man bumps into his doppelgänger at a wedding and they’re wearing the same outfit

Involuntarily celibate men who vent online about their frustrations with women for denying them sex are now trying to leave such ‘toxic’ communities.

Dubbed ‘incels’, they are often ridiculed and memed for their participation in what are regarded as misogynist forums — some of which have more than 100,000 followers.

Members consider the platforms a ‘haven’. But many are desperately trying to wean themselves off the ‘manosphere’ – online male communities such as on Reddit and 4chan.

Within them, contributors are mocked and bullied in the midst of support, leaving them conflicted as to whether they should stay.

Anton*, who has been a part of the community for some time, tells us: ‘This place was a heaven for me in the first few months, but then it slowly became an inescapable hell’.

He started going into these forums because he felt undesirable as a short black man (height is an issue which comes up time and again among incel forums).

According to incels, at the top of society are Chads and Staceys – conventionally attractive men and women. Then you have incels belonging to subgroups such as ‘ricecells’ (east Asian incels), ‘currycells’ (Indian) and black incels, who sit at the bottom of the hierarchy.

Members constantly remind themselves and each other that they are unworthy of female attention because ‘women just prefer Chads’, meaning they’re all in the same boat.

Anton tells Metro.co.uk he is tired of the pseudo camaraderie which he feels doesn’t translate to real life.

He says: ‘I’m trying to wean myself off of inceldom communities but it’s so hard when you’ve basically conditioned yourself to think that you’re a part of a community, even when over half of that community is basically an alt-right haven that would try to shoot you in the event of a mass shooting.’

Since chatting to us, Anton has deleted his Reddit profile and left an incel subreddit.

He explained that his departure was because of the constant self-deprecation present: ‘It’s a pretty toxic community, like all online communities, if you stay in long enough.

‘I don’t have much in common with other incels in these communities because I’m black, progressive and short.

‘The cycle of self-deprecation, self-loathing and hate towards women is draining and counterproductive to one’s personal wellbeing.’

Like others, Anton entered men’s rights spaces because he hadn’t been successful with women.

Incels generally foster hateful views on those who deny them sex. The community provides these men with easy explanations of why they are being rejected, positioning women as the enemy to uphold a ‘we’re all in this together’ attitude.

Incel communities are a place where men who are rejected finally feel like they belong.

One 23-year-old man tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Honestly, this group saved me from the brink of insanity. As the only virgin, relationshipless guy I know in real life I began to feel completely alienated.

‘Then I found a group which I could relate to – funny memes, actual scientific research into what matters in sexual attraction and friendly support when someone gets rejected or treated poorly by a girl or group of girls.

‘However, I do see the reason that some incels would want to or feel like they have to leave. [Some things] incels do or say is wrong or radical or even untrue.’

Another self-identifying incel tells us: ‘It gives us a place and identity to speak with other like-minded people and share experiences, ideas, possible solutions.

‘As an incel, there tend to be very few people around you that relate. Everyone I know has been in many relationships.

‘It feels extremely lonely, and being part of the community makes me feel not alone in my struggles.’

Josh, also in his 20s, tells us: ‘There are no pros to being incel. Like there are no pros to having DNA destined for cancer.’

And Rob says: ‘The community can be too much — too abusive, too self-deprecating. Just too much.’

When incel groups cause more harm than healing, it can be difficult for these men to simply log out and go about their lives. Many feel that inceldom has been bestowed upon them and is an inescapable part of who they are.

Dev says: ‘Nobody wants to be an incel, it’s not like we can choose.’

Some of these men can’t help look past the ‘involuntary’ aspect of being an incel, believing that at their very core, they are incels and there is no room for mobility.

The space is marred with conflicting sentiments: some of it is masochistic — poking fun at themselves and their own shortcomings — and the other aspect is vilifying conventionally attractive people, so-called ‘Chads’ and ‘Staceys’.

Posts floating around one of the incel subreddit reads: ‘Nothing will ever change, you’ll be here, alone in your room and no one will ever care for you or your struggles because you are worthless.’

A major obstacle to men getting off these sites is that those who embrace the concept of incels will sometimes sabotage their own chances with women, all while other incels egg them on.

One post reads: ‘A girl from a 12th-grade school project texted me three years later.

‘This is literally the first time ANY girl has sent me a text for personal issues and definitely the first time a girl has at least cared about me a bit. Maybe she’s faking it though.’

This sentiment is reflected in many other posts, with women’s motives for showing interest often met with suspicion and questioned by other members of the group.

It makes sense that these spaces that once felt like home begin to feel like prisons, trapping incels in a perpetual cycle of rejection, self-loathing, and hatred for those outside the community.

But is there a way out?

Research Fellow from the Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism Dr Rakib Ehsan says hateful incels who turn to the manosphere can be de-radicalised much in the same way as religious extremists.

He tells us: ‘The dark incel subculture on the web tells a general story of young men who are socially isolated and consumed by an overwhelming feeling of rejection — particularly in a romantic sense.

‘A starting point would be providing such young men with a greater sense of “real-life” belonging and encouraging them to adopt a more optimistic and hopeful mindset which is based on personal responsibility and economic self-sufficiency.

‘And, in a way, that actually makes them more “marketable” in a dating sense.

‘Physical exercise can help positive wellbeing but can also have a positive impact on appearance self-perceptions.’

This sentiment chimes with the views of psychologist and author Jonathan Hoban, who thinks help needs to come from government level in the form of funding arts to help wean men off the manosphere and ‘channel’ their ‘frustrations’ more constructively.

He says: ‘They feel lost, angry and unwanted by society, and overall let down. Millions of pounds that were used to fund youth clubs, mentorships, schemes and positive environments/communities have pretty much all gone.

‘It was here that we used to be able to capture, train and channel in a positive way any frustrations, anger and difficult emotions into something worthwhile and positive like sport, cooking, music etc.’

Former incels say they managed to wean themselves off the groups by involving themselves in activities ranging from socialising in real life to talking it out.

Just as the internet is home to hateful groups promoting abuse, there are helpful sites encouraging followers to seek help.

Other suggestions include going to a therapist, starting a new hobby and arranging to meet up with those in a similar position.

A good start might be to simply press the ‘leave’ button.

*Names have been changed.

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Cat parents, we’ve found another way for you to spend all your money on your furry pal.

Lawlor Cat Hotel is a cattery that’s far fancier than the usual, providing cats with a five-star stay and luxurious treats.

It’s located in the heart of the Essex countryside, to give kitties a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, and is made up of two houses – the Coach House and the Lodge – with 23 suites for feline guests.

Each suite has all the posh bits your cat would demand. There are floor-to-ceiling windows so they can watch the world go by, a sofa, a bunk bed, a litter tray, and flowers in plastic milk bottles for decoration.

Food-wise, the options are far more exciting than standard kibble.

For £3 a dish, owners can order their cats smoked salmon, Dublin Bay king prawn, or cream cheese and caviar canapes at the fish bar, or they can take their pick from delicious meals prepared in the restaurant, including griddles seabass, sauteed tiger prawns, and bacon-wrapped monkfish.

If your cat is really fancy, they can even tuck into a portion of beluga caviar for around £3.50 per gram – or £160 for 50g.

Once your cat is done lounging around and eating food far better than what you’re eating at home, they can head along to the hotel spa, where de-matting and grooming costs £45, a lion cut costs £85, or a Brazilian hygiene clip is £65.

Owners with separation anxiety can also pay £5 a day to check in with their cat while they’re away, thanks to CCTV installed in every suite.

The luxurious hotel is the creation of Jane Lawlor, 48, who, along with manager Kim Wooding, cleans each suite in the morning and checksw the rooms around lunchtime, then spending a minimum of 10 minutes with each cat guest to ‘make sure they’re happy and cared for’.

Jane first bought a house in Brentwood, Essex, and converted the outhouse on the plot into the Coach House, with eight suites.

She then had a second, larger cattery built next to the original; The Lodge, containing 15 suites.

Jane, who owns two cats, two dogs, and two horses, said the cattery ‘started as a get-away for local cats, but now attracts cat owners within a 30 mile radius’.

She added that Lawlor Cat Hotel even hires a ‘limo service’ – a Mercedes Saloon – to chauffeur city cats out to the countryside.

Suites costs between £20 and £25 per day, with a minimum three-day stay.

Jane said: ‘I worked in banking for a time, and qualified as an accountant too.

‘But I left that when I was 30 and went on to set up Lawlor Cat Hotel three years ago, which has been a dream come true.

‘I am truly blessed to work with such fantastic animals.’

Kim said they’ve been at maximum capacity in August, Christmas, and Easter, with a 12 person plus waiting list already for this year and next at those times.

She said: ‘People who love their cats love to come to this cattery because word has gotten out that we provide a luxury service.

‘Catteries tend to be outdoor cages at the back of someone’s garden.

‘I wouldn’t ever put my cat in an outdoor cage, so why should anyone else?’

‘We strive to be a home from home for these wonderful pets – a ‘home comforts’ place.’

MORE: Kitten abandoned by owners after falling from window finally has forever home

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We all know staying active is the key to good health, but it’s hard to be on the move when your job involves sitting in front of a computer for hours on end.

A study last year revealed that the majority (81%) of UK office workers spend between four to nine hours sat at a desk every day.

Almost half (45%) said they sit at their desk for six to nine hours, and the same amount feel that their employers don’t provide them with the right equipment to feel comfortable at their desks.

This is particularly worrying as another study has shown that prolonged periods of inactivity can lead to early death.

Now, I don’t know about you but I don’t think my job is worth dying for. Sorry, employers.

We’re advised to get up and move around every half hour but that’s easier said than done when you’ve got loads to do and your boss is watching you like a hawk.

So, what if using fitness equipment at your desk is the key to staying healthy at work?

Forget the gimmick of treadmill desks – we gave discreet, affordable equipment a go to see if it could keep us mobile while we’re glued to our screens.

Wobble balance cushion, Mirafit, £6.95

This is used to improve balance, stability and agility during workouts, but is also handy to use as a posture cushion for your desk chair.

‘Sitting on a balance cushion at work can be a good option to improve core stability and encourage optimal posture,’ says high performance and productivity consultant, Abigail Ireland.

‘However, it’s important to build up to longer periods of time slowly and not use the cushion for excessively long durations, as this may cause more damage than good.

‘Surprisingly, your body can become very skilled at balancing adequately with a poor posture so it’s important to be mindful of this!’

My core is pretty weak compared to the rest of my body so I really like this as a reminder to sit up straight and engage my core. It gets a bit uncomfortable to sit on after a while, partly due to the little spikes in it, so it’s definitely one to use intermittently.

The spikes are also rather unpleasant to sit on with bare skin, so bear this in mind if you’re wearing shorter clothing on the bottom half.

Loop resistance band set, Smug, £15

This set of five bands is great for doing discreet glute exercises at your desk.

‘Our glutes are generally under-active and underdeveloped thanks to excessive sitting, but with bands you can help change that,’ explains Wendy Goldthorp, women’s health coach and trainer at The FIT Movement Limited.

‘Looped bands placed below the knees are ideal for abduction exercises – where you open and close your knees against the band, keeping feet still – to help build glute strength.’

She advises choosing a band resistance that challenges you, otherwise you won’t see results.

This set has five different strengths so you can switch it up, and comes in a cute canvas bag that makes it easy to stash in your desk drawer.

I find doing abduction exercises while I work helps me sit up straight, and aids concentration.

While you won’t win Rear of the Year just from using them at your desk, they’re definitely worth investing in as an addition to your regular workout routine.

Weighted 1lb bangles, Bala, $49 (£40) for two

These chic as hell wrist weight bangles come in a variety of colours and can also be used on your ankles, so I popped them on while working, for some chair exercises.

Try seated leg raises while sitting at your desk – sit up straight with legs at 90 degree angles, both feet on the floor. Engage your core, lift one leg up and slowly lower it. Repeat on the other side.

The weights add resistance, so use strength and not momentum to lift your legs, otherwise you render the exercise pointless.

You can of course, do standing exercises using the weights on your wrists and ankles, but unless you work for one of those ‘I’m not a regular employer, I’m a cool employer’ companies that gives you free food and has a slide in the atrium, that will probably be frowned upon.

Walking with ankle weights can also be beneficial as it forces your body to work harder and adapt to the extra weight. However a few trips to the water cooler and the loo in a day probably won’t make much difference, let’s be real.

Obviously you will look like a total wally if you wear these at work and they’re not hidden by trousers or a long skirt.

‘Ankle weights can be used as an effective, additional piece of kit to enhance your strength training and provide additional resistance for working glutes and legs,’ Wendy tells Metro.co.uk.

‘If you’re using these in a work environment, you’ll want to ensure that you’re in flat shoes, ideally trainers – sorry no heels.

‘However, simply wearing them at your desk won’t provide any noticeable benefit. You need to be moving around the office on a regular basis for any gains, or standing up from behind your desk to perform lower body exercises.

‘I recommend against wearing them all day as ankle weights change your natural walking gait, and there is a risk of muscle strain or injury to ankle or knee joints.’

To be honest, I don’t find wearing these at work that beneficial, so I’ll give them a miss in the office, but I’ll definitely be adding them to my fitness routine to add resistance in pilates workouts.

Swiss ball, Decathlon, £5.99

Gym balls aren’t just reserved for studio workouts – you can try using one instead of your desk chair.

‘Chairs don’t require any muscle activation – instead they do the work to support you which results in decreased core strength,’ says Wendy.

‘A gym ball means your muscles need to constantly micro adjust to maintain balance.

‘They can also be used for lower back and pelvis mobilisation while seated. Maintaining good posture is key to avoid discomfort.

‘However, you may currently lack the necessary core strength to support your upper body and this may cause issues.

‘Opinions differ whether swapping out your chair for a gym ball is better for you.’

If you want to give it a go, make sure you choose one that’s the right height – your foot should be flat on the floor with your legs at a 90 degree angle.

I find using a gym ball as a chair quite distracting due to all the wobbling – I much prefer the more discreet stability cushion. Having said this, you can definitely feel your core switching on so if you have the ability to wobble and type, give it a go.

However, if you work in an office, your colleagues probably won’t appreciate this rolling all over the place when you nip to make a cup of tea.

Opti mini bike, Argos, £39.99

‘Using an under desk mini bike is a great way to incorporate more movement into an otherwise sedentary lifestyle,’ says Abigail.

‘It’s important to watch your posture or excessive use could cause more damage than good. Cycling is low impact so suitable for most people, and this mini bike is great for those with knee / other injuries that prevent more vigorous activity.

‘The legs also contain the body’s biggest muscles, so movement is perfect for getting the heart rate up and getting the blood flowing.

‘For a deskbound individual, this machine does provide an alternative to being completely sedentary, but I would never see this as a substitute for a proper workout when you can really invest 100% effort and work up a sweat.’

The machine has a display that tells you time, distance and calories burned – it took me 70 seconds to burn 10 calories pedalling full pelt at a medium resistance.

I definitely feel the burn in my legs when I use this for a short period on a high resistance.

This bike would be perfect for stashing under your desk if only it was quieter – it’s just a bit too noisy to use in a silent office, but you can probably get away with it if you work somewhere that plays music.

While it’s a bit distracting to be pedalling and typing at the same time, it’s a good thing to do while reading or making a phone call.

I’ve also found it’s a really good stress reliever when I can’t concentrate – I take a quick break and pedal as fast as I can.

I work from home so have been using it while on the gym ball, which definitely isn’t recommended from a health and safety perspective (I’m not liable if you hurt yourself, punks) but it’s a pretty fun way to take a break and burn off some steam.

Strong Grip hand exerciser, Fitness Mad, £5.49 each

These specially formulated thermo-plastic eggs come in three different strengths and can be used in one hand while you scroll or think, and help strengthen grip, wrists and forearms.

‘Studies also show that grip strength is positively correlated to heart health and, although this is more likely to be a result of overall fitness, it’s a useful indicator to know about,’ says Abigail.

‘It also has the added benefits of a stress ball, so it’s great for releasing physical and mental tension that builds up during the day.’

I don’t usually give much thought to my grip so this is quite a handy thing to have on my desk to use absentmindedly while I concentrate on reading, as I probably wouldn’t bother otherwise.

Like Abigail says, it really is great for trying to relieve anxiety throughout the day, coupled with breathing exercises, and these can be done discreetly at your desk.

With all of these pieces of equipment, the key is using them as a bonus to your regular exercise routine

‘I’m a big believer in being entirely focused on the task at hand instead of multitasking,’ says Abigail.

‘This extends to exercise too. If you want to work out, it’s best when you put your mind, body and soul fully into it. Give it 100%.

‘Unitasking also means you can complete an activity more quickly than if you try to multitask, therefore freeing up time to invest more intentionally in a proper exercise regime.

‘For example, using a treadmill desk whilst trying to concentrate on writing an important document means you do neither particularly well.

‘The mind-muscle connection is powerful, and the more attention you pay to the muscles you are moving, the more effectively and accurately you will use them.’

You’re not going to get fit by doing a few resistance exercises at your desk, but you will likely notice an increase in energy and concentration if you make an effort to move your body more – however you decide to do it.

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Sophie K is a DJ and breakfast show presenter at Kerrang! Radio with Ugandan, British and Polish heritage. She says progressing as a woman of colour in the rock world hasn’t been easy.

‘My mother was from Uganda and was spotted by somebody from the fashion industry who brought her over to the UK,’ explains Sophie.

‘She had a totally unusual look for the time in this country, and brought an androgyny that the catwalks didn’t really have.

‘My father, who was half Polish and half British, is from Huddersfield. He moved down to London to further his education and my parents met at a party.

‘They would often get racist abuse thrown at them, especially since people often couldn’t tell what gender my mother was.

‘My mum used to say “f*** ’em”, she wasn’t someone who got angry about racism. I think it was so normal for her that she just had to pretend she didn’t care for her own sanity.’

Self-acceptance for Sophie took some time. Sparked by a feeling of alienation from both sides of her family, these emotions manifested as a kind of self-disgust. Luckily that didn’t last.

‘As a child I hated my skin,’ she tells us.

‘Some days I would pray that I could be black, that maybe then it would make me lovable to my black family. On other days I would pray to be white so that I could belong with my British family and not always feel like the outsider. All I ever wanted was to belong.

‘However in 2019, well, I love it!

‘We are all a mix of our parents, mine just happened to have different skin colours. Being mixed represents a union between races, being mixed represents me and the complex history I have had on this planet.

‘I have a big black ass and curly, wavy hair. Being mixed-race to me, is being whatever the hell you identify with and not letting people put you in the “other” box because they feel you don’t belong in their heritage.’

Never has Sophie felt this sense of otherness more keenly than in the professional sphere. She loves the world of rock and feels firmly as though she belongs as part of this music-loving family, but she also felt that breaking into this scene was made exponentially harder because she didn’t look like everyone else.

‘The people who hold the keys to jobs in this world are not usually that open,’ explains Sophie.

‘Being a woman is hard in rock, but a woman of colour?! Let’s just say I didn’t get to where I am through luck, nepotism or listening when someone said no. I had to fight damn hard to get here and that makes me so proud.

‘At Download Festival in 2014, a young black girl ran up to me and asked for a hug. She said, “I didn’t expect anyone here to look like me,” and, damn that cut me deep.

‘It fuelled me, people need to feel they belong whatever their gender, race, orientation. That is so important to me.’

Contrary to outdated beliefs, black and mixed-race people are multi-faceted and can have a multitude of interests and passions outside of stereotypical norms. Sophie says she wants people to understand this multiplicity and not make snap assumptions purely because she doesn’t fit the typical mould of a rock fan.

‘I go to gigs and I see so many black and mixed faces, I nearly hugged a black goth stranger the other day because I was so excited,’ says Sophie.

‘We are people like anyone else, if white people love hip hop why the hell can’t we love rock?!

‘We are constantly being put in a box and I feel like my choices are limited by the representations we see on screen. Yes, there is more representation now, but it’s through a white lens. I am offered the choice of looking like a girl in a hip hop video, an arty African queen or in street wear, all are awesome – but they are not me.

Sophie thinks it’s important to show the next generation that they can be anything they want: ‘If you want to be a geek, you do you! If you are cute and arty you don’t have to look like Zooey Deschanel.

‘To achieve true equality as people of colour, we have to stop being seen as stereotypes. It isn’t only white people who have complexity and nuance to their personalities, and this needs to be shown. Especially for darker skinned women! Don’t get me started on that.’

Sophie grew up in a small flat in Camberwell. She moved to Uganda with her parents when she was 10 as the wanted to start a business. Her memories of that time are pretty traumatic.

‘I hated it!’ she says. ‘My mother was an alcoholic and because she was quite abusive towards me, her family were even worse.

‘I was treated like an outcast and regularly mocked in a language I didn’t speak. By contrast, my grandmother on my dad’s side was kind and loving, so at 16 I moved back to the UK.

‘I identify with different qualities of both sides of my heritage. I guess I’m more British because this is my home – from the food to the humour to all the rain! I love being English.

‘I would say I identify more with African blackness rather than being Ugandan. It was too different from the UK for me. However I need to chat with an African if I want someone to identify with fitting these thighs and bum into a pair of high street jeans made for European women.’

Sophie has experienced racism, as most people of colour in the UK will have at some point in their lives. Sophie’s strongest memories of experiencing direct hostility come from her childhood.

‘I remember getting shouted at when I was in the supermarket by a cashier. I was told to stop “harassing the nice family”, but it was my own family’ says Sophie.

‘I was told I should “get back and mind my own business”. My grandma didn’t hear because she was a bit deaf, so I just stood back and cried when I got home.

‘A lot of racism has come from people with darker skin than mine. However as I’m older I have learnt to process that as inherited colourism that is ingrained in society.

‘We are taught to hate each other so we don’t band together and focus on the real racism problem.

‘With white people it has been more institutional. Even down to the fact that I got screwed over when buying my flat due to racism. Although, I have been pinned by the neck in a shop while they checked to see if I had stolen any clothes because I was trying on a dress from the designer range.’

As difficult as racism is to experience, in any form, Sophie says one of the hardest things is when people question the legitimacy of what actually happened.

‘The hardest thing about racism is that non-black people gaslight you,’ she explains.

‘You know what happened, you know where it came from, but people say things like, “no, you are just looking for it”. I am so thankful for my black friends who accept me as part of the rainbow of black women.’

This acceptance from other black women is particularly important for Sophie. She is acutely aware of the damaging effects that colourism has on black communities in this country, and thinks it’s vitally important to acknowledge and understand light skin privilege.

‘I am aware of my privilege and to me it is important to champion black women and support them within the industries I work in.

‘I loved my mum and thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, so when I see black women I think they are so strong and beautiful, whether they are skinny or “thicc”, have natural hair, are tall or short. I probably don’t have that lenience with other races if i’m completely honest.

‘The hardest thing for me was often the hatred that I was treated with.

‘I remember in Manchester a girl attacked me and my mixed friend in a club because “we thought we were too nice”. I wish I could sit that girl down and say actually I was crippled with self hatred and doubt because I didn’t belong.

‘I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to have my own race struggles because I was always “lucky”. All the while white people were calling me black and black people were calling me white.

‘Our day-to-day struggles are closer to black heritage than they are to white, and yet the truth of our struggles are often seen as not having any value.’

Sophie loves being mixed and sees it as an integral part of who she is: ‘I love that being mixed has given me deeper empathy for the world and the inequality within it.

‘I love that I am mixed in a time where I can be who I want to be and I love that I came from a black woman.’

Mixed Up

Mixed Up is our weekly series that gets to the heart of what it means to be mixed-race in the UK today.

Going beyond discussions of divided identity, this series takes a look at the unique joys, privileges and complexities that come with being mixed-race - across of variety of different contexts.

The mixed-race population is the UK's fastest-growing ethnic group, and yet there is still so much more to understand about the varied lived experiences of individuals within this hugely heterogenous group.

Each week we speak to the people who know exactly how it feels to navigate this inbetween space.

Sex workers face lots of challenges – criminalisation, violence, and stigma. Not many people are looking out for them.

But a former chef, Nikeisah Newton, wanted to make sure that they were at least getting a healthy meal.

The 38-year-old from Oregon, US, started a food delivery service named Meals 4 Heels catering for strippers, bouncers and dominatrixes in need of a home-cooked supper late at night.

The idea came to Nikeisah when she made a meal for her friend who works as a stripper.

Her homecooked goodness was a hit not only with her friend but the women she worked with at the club.

With most restaurants closed so late at night plus strip joints offering unhealthy options such as wings and fries, Nikeisah saw a gap in the market.

She’s now made a business out of delivering healthy meals to sex workers in Portland, known as America’s ‘strip club city’ as it has the most clubs per capita in the country.

She said: ‘If strippers eat my meals, they are not going to be left hungry. They will be able to work, climb the pole, swing around and not feel bloated or gassy.

‘The menus at the clubs are designed for men and are full of heavy dishes like wings and fries.’

Nikeisah wonders why it’s taken so long for someone to come up with the concept.

She added: ‘I have so many friends who are bouncers and dominatrixes, sex workers and dancers. Sex work is stigmatised and looked down upon and demonised.

‘But I look at the humanity in sex workers, seeing them as humans not just something for your needs.

‘The dancers can’t leave the club to get food and in some clubs they let the cook go early to save money. Nothing is geared towards the women who work there.’

Nikeisah offers four healthy bowls named ‘I Like To Cha Cha’, ‘Gettin That Paper’ (The GTP), ‘Verbal Tipper’ and ‘Fregan Vegan’. Each bowl costs $15 (£12.13) and doesn’t include a tip.

In one week she takes about 20 orders from sex workers.

Nikeisah’s business is still new and she runs it all by herself.

She said: ‘It is a black-owned, female-powered business. This is a one-woman army. I get stress, I get anxiety but I am also elated with joy and I cry.’

Every weekend, she works until 3:30 am, delivering the meals to clubs.

Journalist Julie Flores, 28, who dances on the side, has been ordering Meals 4 Heels bowls for the last three months.

She said: ‘Before Meals 4 Heels, I ate hummus, wings and nachos because they were the only thing available at that time of night. But when you are eating bad food, you really feel it.

‘It matters what you are putting into your body – this is a very physical job’.

Nikeisah added that she hopes to take the service country-wide as it’s so important to take care of these workers.

‘If you are not taking care of sex workers, you are not taking care of black women. If you are not taking care of sex workers, you are not taking care of trans women.

‘We have to stand together.’

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Imagine a world where couples no longer got down and did the dirty. A world where we each stayed inside our own cubicles, VR headsets firmly on, headphones blaring while being quietly pleasured by an electronic, AI-powered sex toy.

This could be the future. At least, if one San Francisco-based tech company has anything to do with it.

Say hello to the VirtualMate system.

‘VirtialMate is real-time interaction with a life-like virtual character,’ Jeff Dillon, the company’s CEO and co-founder tells Metro.co.uk.

Essentially, there are two parts to this adult-only system: a VR headset, through which men can watch digital recreations of real porn stars, and an electronic sex toy that moves in time with the action in the videos. Jeff says that this combination will offer users the ‘ultimate sensory experience’.

‘Real-time is the key here as all other attempts at this market are with pre-recorded content or a live cam model,’ Jeff explains. ‘With the advancements in AI our system will know the user’s name, habits, likes and dislikes.

‘What is real and what isn’t will be indistinguishable.’

VirtualMate users can expect to see a familiar face or two. Famous adult stars including Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick will be featured as part of the immersive experience. The digital renderings of the women are based on their golden eras and many modern-day performers have also come on board to lend their likeness.

While guys are fully immersed in their VR sexual fantasies, their penises will be fully immersed in something called the ‘Core’. Think of it like an AI-powered fleshlight with sensors that know the user’s depth, speed and rhythm.

So far, so life-like. But aside from all that sensual movement, the Bluetooth-connected toy has yet another feature that makes it feel like the real thing. It heats up in an instant. Neat.

‘Having a warm body temperature sex toy is a night and day difference,’ says Jeff. ‘It’s what makes it feel real.

‘Traditional warming methods are cumbersome and not effective at retaining heat for ten minutes as most people just soaked their toy in hot water. Not partial. We came up with a self-warming system that warms the core with a flick of a switch.’

Okay, let’s deal with the elephant in the room.

If men are sticking their dicks in a self-warming core and watching real-time renderings of porn stars via VR, where does that leave the rest of us? Could this futuristic sex toy be a replacement for real-life sexual intimacy?

Jeff certainly hopes so.

‘Traditional intimacy isn’t for everyone,’ he tells us. ‘It is broken and not getting any better, but until now it was hard to replace the real thing so for people who have intimacy issues it became a big point of frustration and depression.

‘This system will help some people get over intimacy issues so they are comfortable interacting with a partner in an intimate setting.

‘Just using this as a training add could be huge for people. We will hope to help people who struggle with traditional intimacy as well as train others to help them perform better.’

It doesn’t end there. Dillion also claims that the toy will help prevent climate change. Yes, you read that correctly. Because — of course — fewer people having actual sex, the fewer babies will be born around the world. Sound logic there.

‘If you look at this from a sustainability perspective reducing the birth-rate will help climate change and long term sustainability,’ he says. ‘So there is that.’

Think that the VirtualMate will make the perfect gift this year? The official crowdfunding for adult-only system launches on Indiegogo.com this week. If all goes well, some lucky British guys may find a sexy surprise in their stocking this year.

‘We will ship to the UK from day one which is targeted for 1 December,’ says Jeff. ‘Just in time for the holidays.’

Oh, and don’t worry ladies. Next year, Dillion says the company plans to cater to women with the VirtualMate for Females.

While he didn’t give any details of how the women-friendly system would look, we can use our imagination. The mind boggles.

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Do you know how many things you have? I don’t. But I do know that since I started owning less, my life has felt simpler (and my house is tidier).

My old flat was full of useless ornaments, I had way too many shoes and I had loads of old clothes in my closet that I had convinced myself I would totally wear some day, even if I hadn’t for years.

When I moved to the UK a few years ago I had a proper clear out. I gave away most of my clothes and furniture and whittled it down to things I felt I really needed, along with a handful of sentimental items.

In the end, all my worldly belongings fit neatly into one suitcase. It was one of the most freeing experiences ever.

What irks me, however, is that minimalism is now being sold to us as a hot new trend.

This recent surge started with Marie Kondo, telling people to only keep things that bring them joy. Which was great – because for me, ironically, there is nothing that brings me joy like throwing away things I don’t need.

But with the rise of the Marie Kondo effect and minimalism, there are now countless books you can buy about how to streamline your life. You can follow minimalism influencers. You can even hire a minimalism life coach.

Capitalism is so ingrained into our society that even the idea of owning less has become a commodity.

It’s become another temporary trend – one that although it preaches buying and owning less, will actually go on to create significant waste.

To achieve #minimalismgoals, people are going to throw out perfectly good objects and buy new ones in the hopes they may match their new pared back lifestyles.

I have been guilty of this myself. The other day my partner bought six champagne flutes and I immediately put two of them in a giveaway box because we didn’t ‘need’ them.

The textile industry alone is responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, making it the world’s second biggest industrial polluter. It’s estimated that £140million worth (around 350,000 tonnes) of used clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year.

It’s obvious to me that the way we are consuming now is completely unsustainable. We are completely disregarding the devastating effects modern consumerism and production has on the planet.

On the whole we’ve still become so complacent and removed from how things are made that we look the other way when brands destroy perfectly good clothing so it can’t be sold at a lower price later on. We don’t really need all this stuff.

In my case I tend to donate items that I don’t need to charity shops, which is something we should all do more of, but even that doesn’t fully outweigh the footprint of buying the item in the first place.

Due to fast fashion and how disposable clothing has become, sustainable fashion advocates have suggested that even this is not good enough. Charity shop donations often go to developing countries where they undercut local businesses and people treat charity shops as a ‘dumping ground.’

However, if you do commit to a long term plan of minimalism and sustainability, choosing not to buy in the first place, the impact on the planet and yourself, could be wonderful.

You don’t need to subscribe to the minimalism ‘trend’ to implement it in your day to day. You don’t need to buy books on it, re-decorate your house or revamp your wardrobe so it fits into your ideal of what minimalism is supposed to be.

Instead, it’s a lesson for all of us in being aware of what we’re buying and why we’re buying it.

Owning less has definitely made my life simpler and easier. It’s made me appreciate the things that I have better.

Instead of treating myself to the newest trend or fashion item, I treat myself by spending time with friends and family, on experiences and creating memories.

Because in the end, all of these material things won’t really matter. I’m not going to look back on my life when I grow old and think about all those amazing items I’ve accumulated.

I’m going to think of how I’ve spent time with my loved ones, and all the wonderful memories we’ve created together. You can’t take it all with you, so be sure you’re responsible and aware of what you own.

Invest in more happiness. There can never be enough of happiness.

American travellers Kelly and Kody, who post on Instagram under their account Positravelty, are not new to controversy.

The influencer couple regularly posts stunning shots of themselves on their travels.

In the past, however, they’ve received criticism over their ‘dangerous’ pictures, such as one where they can be seen kissing at the edge of a mountain-high infinity pool.

Not scared of heights, Kelly and Kody have been pictured once again, dangling at the edge of high terrains.

The couple has been called ‘attention-seeking’ for hanging off the edge of a cliff in the Humantay Lagoon in Peru.

In the risky image, Kody can be seen sitting on the corner of a cliff while holding his girlfriend with his hands as she dangles off the side.

Though they’ve received more than 1,000 comments on their Instagram post, some of which have been critical, the couple is only focusing on the positive.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, they said: ‘We absolutely love this photo from our adventures in Peru, and we are so thankful for all the positive messages we have received.’

Kelly and Kody, who are currently travelling through the Dominican Republic, regularly post high-risk travel pics with inspirational captions.

They captioned the lagoon image with: ‘We urge you to take a chance, to push past barriers of negativity and oppression of self-fulfillment and paint the picture of who you want to be.

‘Never let yourself be beat down for living your life by those too afraid to live their own. There is a difference between risking your life and taking a risk at having one. We know which side we would rather be on, do you?’

Some of their 170,000-strong fans weren’t too impressed.

One of them wrote: ‘What if she slipped and died? Would you still be calling her brave? Think about what you’re trying to influence here guys.’

Another asked: ‘Why is he always dangling you over the edge?’

One person asked the couple to revaluate their antics: ‘You really don’t understand the power you hold, do you?’ they asked.

‘You will encourage others who don’t know how to play with perspective, and someone will kill themselves by accident trying to emulate you. You’re an influencer. You influence. The clue is in the title.’

Others weren’t offended, with one saying: ‘I’m back looking at the photo people are getting mad about now, and just want to say that your photos are beautiful and thank you for sharing them with us.’

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A British clothing company has been slated online for selling south Asian salwar kameezes – a dress with trousers and a matching scarf – as ‘vintage Boho dresses’.

Thrifted.com, which started as University sideline business and now operates worldwide as a top ASOS seller, has been criticised for appropriating the cultural fashion staple.

The brand offers a range of salwar kameez tops in a range of different styles, all with the same description, retailing at £29.29.

But each outfit didn’t come with a dupatta or trousers (salwar) as is required with the Asian attire.

One Twitter user shared the image saying: ‘vintage Boho dress????? girl u got on a damn kameez with no salwar’.

After the tweet was shared on Instagram page Desi Couture Official, 400 comments poured in echoing a similar sentiment.

One wrote: ‘The appropriation is real,’ while another said: ‘Culture appropriation at it’s best. Isn’t capitalism great? ‘

Since the backlash, Thrifted has taken down all the dresses which they had bought second hand.

vintage boho dress????? girl u got on a damn kameez with no salwar…… pic.twitter.com/9qJBWfPCMd

— diya (@dxya_d) September 7, 2019

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, a spokesperson said: ‘Thrifted.com purchased a bulk mix of vintage/secondhand dresses from a supplier who had labelled them as “boho”.

‘They were then listed on the website under this name. It was brought to the customer service team’s attention that not all of these secondhand dresses were actually boho dresses.

‘Some were, in fact, south Asian salwar kameezes. All of these items were then removed from our website. We apologise for any offence caused. We are updating our stock checking system as a result.’

Though it’s now been taken down, users on social media were disturbed that the sellers weren’t informed about the items’ cultural significance.

Others said there was a double standard. They wrote: ‘When we wear it, it’s unacceptable. When they wear it, it’s fashion?’

Another person wrote: ‘Ah so that’s what happened to all the shalwar kameez that you send off in the charity donation bags…they become recycled into these. And the trousers are sold separately in the next season’.

Many joked about the lack of trousers: ‘Probably selling the salwar separately, as “vintage Boho harem pants”.’

Another added: ‘I can hear all the aunties yelling at me to put my bottoms on’.

What are your thoughts?

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We don’t often think of Nando’s as a lunch break option.

Maybe that’s just us. Their halloumi sticks and chicken thighs have always felt like they should be a treat for dinner, not hastily scarfed down in place of a Boots meal deal.

Nando’s is trying to change that preconception by introducing a special lunch menu, to tempt us all away from our desks and get us eating chicken at all hours of the day.

The special lunchtime menu is available as a trial from opening until 3pm, offering dishes for just £5.95.

You can take your pick from the brand’s new PERi-PERi Rice Bowl (chicken fillet pieces, spicy rice, chargrilled peppers, spinach, dressed corn, and a touch of heat) or customisable favourites, including 1/4 chicken and a side, three wings and a side, caesar salad, or veggie cataplana – all priced at £5.95.

Yes, that might be pricier than your average sandwich, but you’ll get some items a little cheaper than usual if you get them at lunch.

Ordering a quarter chicken with chips, for example, would usually cost you £6.70, saving you 75p if you head down at lunchtime instead of dinner.

Getting a caesar salad, meanwhile, would usually cost you £7, saving you £1.05 if you get it for lunch (although why you’d get a salad instead of chicken and chips is beyond our understanding).

Before you ditch your batch-cooked chilli and change your lunch plans, be warned that this menu is currently a trial, running from 10 September to 2 December, at select stores. Make sure your local Nando’s is participating before you head over.

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It’s hard to get some proper rest on a longhaul flight, especially if you’re not lucky enough to be able to fly first class.

It’s even harder when you’re a parent trying to get a toddler to drift off to dreamland.

One mum stumbled upon a simple trick to making things easier.

Jaimie Anastas paired an inflatable pillow with a pet bed to create a makeshift bed for her daughter, Mila, to sleep comfortably.

Jaimie shared the hack to help other parents struggling to keep their babies comfy and relaxed while travelling, and has been flooded with gratitude over on Facebook.

She wrote: ‘What do you get when you add Plane Pal (Hiding under the pillow) and a $5 Kmart pets bed to you carry on? You get a very happy baby! Total parent win!’

The Plane Pal is an inflatable pillow that works to extend seats in cars and on buses, trains, and planes, allowing kids to rest their feet or lie back and snooze.

Each one costs £61.99, is folded in its own carry bag, and comes with a hand-held pump for easy inflation. Parents can simply unroll the pillow, pump it up, then attach it to the plane seat to make the area more comfortable, filling the space between the child’s chair and the one in front.

It’s a handy tool for parents whose kids struggle with travelling, created by Sam Cardone, a mother-of-three from Australia.

Sam writes on her website: ‘As a mother of 3 who loves travel, I wanted to create a product that would help families reduce the stress associated with travel.

‘Technology has given us so many more ways to entertain our children while in transit, but little has been done to improve the comfort of families travelling with children.

‘Travel with kids can be very stressful! I have been that mother desperately rocking a screaming child whilst pacing the aisle.

‘I have also been the mother pinned under twin sleeping toddlers for 6 hours straight, with dead legs and a desperate need to visit the bathroom. I am not sure which was worse…

‘Plane Pal solves both dilemmas. Now your child can stretch out and fall asleep or simply relax, without their legs dangling. And you can enjoy having your lap and your arms to yourself.’

Throwing a pet bed into the mix helps to make things even cosier, giving young children a pillow to rest their head. If you don’t fancy heading to a pet store, you can get similar results with a mini pillow or a folded baby blanket.

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Model Daisy-May Demetre, nine, may one day be a household name.

She’s a double amputee who has worked major runways, alongside acting as an ambassador for luxury childrenswear label Lulu et Gigi.

Daisy-May has just added walking at New York Fashion Week to her impressive list of achievements, which includes London Kids’ Fashion Week and advertising for River Island.

She was born with fibular hemimelia, a birth defect where part or all of the fibular bone is missing. With both her balance and mobility affected, her parents decided the best option was for her to have below-the-knee amputations.

At 18 months old, she had surgery to remove both legs.

After her operation, she was fitted with prosthetic legs. She soon learned to not only walk but run, jump and do all the things kids her age do.

Once Daisy-May is done with NYFW, she will head to Paris.

She will become the first double amputee child to walk a runway at Paris Fashion Week, according to Eni Hegedus-Buiron, the founder of Lulu et Gigi.

The child star was encouraged to get into the industry after dad Alex Demetre spotted an advert for Zebedee Management, an agency that focuses on diversity.

Proud dad Alex told CBS: ‘Daisy’s a special, unique child doing stuff all the doctors told me would never really be possible.’

Eni Hegedus-Buiron, who chose Daisy-May as a brand ambassador for the Lulu et Gigi line, said she wanted people to see that ‘beauty is not one-sided’.

She said: ‘Daisy is not different to anyone else.’

After the shoot with London Kids’ Fashion Week, Daisy-May’s parents wrote on her Instagram page: ‘To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest achievement’.

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The beauty of black women’s hair is it’s versatility.

As displayed in the recent viral DMX Challenge, black women are like beautiful chameleons and can change their entire look overnight – and wigs are a huge part of that.

But any wig-loving woman will know that maintenance is no joke. Wigs can be very expensive and a wild night on the town can seriously mess up your mane – it can be tough to get them back to their glossy best, and buying a new one every month just isn’t always feasible.

The Wig Bar London is a new wig maintenance service that could make this process really simple and affordable. You simply post your wig and you can have it returned in just 24 hours looking perfect again.

Founder Yomi Onashile had a passion for the world of hair from a young age, she turned to wigs in her 20s as she was searching for a solution to protect her damaged hair.

‘Wigs swiftly became a large part of my life, but little did I know how big a part they would play,’ explains Yomi.

‘After feeling frustration at the lack of high-quality affordable wigs on the market, I began making them myself and later, for friends and family. This demand quickly spiralled into a business and soon I was taking orders from customers I’d never met.’

Accessibility is at the heart of Yomi’s business model. She wants to make sure that women are able to access resources that make them feel beautiful and cared for, no matter where they live.

‘New wigs are fantastic and whilst they are very popular, premium quality pieces still don’t come cheap,’ she says.

‘I wanted to create something that was accessible for all, so I launched a maintenance service that increases the longevity of our customer’s favourite wigs, leaving them looking brand new but at a fraction of the cost.’

The Wig Bar London offers a range of different services that start from £70;

The Upgrade: Drop, wash & deliver. ‘The Upgrade’ service includes a shampoo, condition, detangling treatment and straight/wavy style finish. Five-day turnaround time. £70.00

The 24-Hour Service: The standard treatment, but for those in a hurry. A shampoo, condition, detangling treatment and straight/wavy style finish returned within 24 hours. £100.00.

The Colour Pop: All the standard service of a shampoo, deep condition, detangle and style, but with a custom colour applied as either a full head of colour, highlights or ombre finish. Seven-day turnaround time. £100.00.

The Glo Up: A shampoo, condition and detangling treatment on your wig as well as bleached knots, a customised hairline and a custom style/cut. Seven-day turnaround time. £165.00.

The Lace Replacement: For wigs that are balding or if the frontal/closure area has been over-plucked. This service includes lace replacement in either a 4×4” or 13×6” size and can be combined with other washing and styling services offered by the Wig Bar London. Four-day turnaround time. From £70.00.

The Deconstruction: Out with the old, in with the almost new. Your old wig is deconstructed and after being washed, conditioned and detangled, a new wig is created using the existing hair and closure supplied. This also includes a straight or wavy finish. 14-day turnaround time. £200.00.

A key element of Yomi’s business is continuing to destigmatise wigs for both existing wig-wears and women who are curious but apprehensive to try them.

The service is currently available via post in the UK, Europe and the US.

The Wig Bar London will soon introduce pop-up locations, staring with London, which will allow customers to visit the team and drop off their wigs in person at the same time as receiving a one-to-one.

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After Emma Male, 36, got married, she couldn’t bear to put away her wedding dress, never to be worn again.

So she chopped the gown up and dyed it green to transform it into something she could wear again and again.

Emma, an accounts manager and singer from Weybridge, Surrey, now calls the dress her favourite thing to wear when she performs on stage with her band.

Emma married Chris, a 36-year-old video producer, in a woodland-themed wedding in Kent in 2016.

The wedding was pretty casual and involved Emma walking through the woods in flip-flops, leaving her dress ripped and muddy.

Having paid £500 for the gown, Emma was determined for it not to go to waste.

She enlisted the help of her creative cousin, Katie, and set about transforming the piece into something she could wear again and again, chopping off the hem and soaking the fabric in green dye.

The end result is a rather lovely khaki midi dress with sheer detailing.

Emma said: ‘I wasn’t nervous, it’s better than leaving it shoved in the back of my wardrobe and I’m glad I did it now.

‘I didn’t have a big budget for the wedding so I didn’t go around loads of shops trying on dresses because I know it would have been soul-destroying.

‘I’d tried a few cheaper dresses on which were nice, but not amazing.

‘My friends Adam and Louise had opened a little boutique and they were having a sample sale so I went down.

‘It was the first designer dress I tried and as soon as I put it on I just loved it.

‘When I first saw it going into the green dye, it looked so dark. I thought ‘”Oh my god. What am I doing?”

‘But I absolutely love it. It gets so much attention but nobody recognises it from when we got married.

‘My husband does, but that’s only because I go on about it all the time.

‘It was a bloody expensive dress to just wear once.’

Did you transform your wedding dress after the big day? Or do you have another wedding story to share? Get in touch with us on MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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It has been a good few weeks for chicken lovers. Especially those who like their chicken with a bit of a kick.

McDonalds launched their Spicy Chicken McNuggets, and now KFC is getting in on the action with the return of their wildly popular ‘Daredevil’ Piri Piri Inferno Bites.

The fast food chain is bringing back their much-loved bites to restaurants across the country – and this time, they’re spicier than ever.

The news will certainly have rivals sweating – McDonalds’ new nugs faced major backlash for not being spicy enough.

The Inferno Bites will be available in three tongue tingling flavours, and the company say that they are not for the faint-hearted. So steer clear if you have sensitive taste buds.

The fieriest of them all is the Piri Piri Inferno, then with a medium heat level, the Fiery Buffalo is a good middle ground if you don’t fancy sweating uncontrollably over your food.

There is also a Sweet Chilli option for those who have to chicken out of the hotter stuff.

The bad news is that they are limited edition and are only going to be around for six weeks.

They cost from £1.99 for four – which means you can sample all three flavours without breaking the bank if you’re curious.

The announcement comes just weeks after KFC revealed that they will be trialling vegan ‘chicken’ nuggets and wings, which was welcome news for the growing numbers of people following a plant-based diet.

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