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Pimp your home for LESS thanks to these brilliant Black Friday bargains

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Whether you rent your place or own it, there’s nothing better than trawling online for must-have gadgets and fixtures for your home.

From the swankiest kitchen gadgets to sparkling new TVs, the list of things we love to splash out on for our homes is neverending – if only our finances were too!

Luckily for us, it’s that time of year where we can bag ourselves a few bargains and tick some items off our lists, all thanks to Black Friday.

Whatever it is you’ve got your eye on – from swanky coffee machines to the latest laptops – you can find some of the best deals of the season at AO.

Here are some of the top offers you can bag at AO this Black Friday.

LAPTOPS

One of the many, many reasons to love Black Friday is for the amazing reductions on computers and laptops.

Take this Lenovo IdeaPad Laptop in Platinum Grey, its lightweight design means its easy to carry around, and thanks to its 5 hours of battery life, you can even leave the charger at home as you’re out and about.

And thanks to its 8GB of RAM, you can multitask without slow loading speeds, making it perfect for streaming movies on.

Grab the Lenovo this Black Friday and you’ll save £130 – it was £479, now £349.

AO laptop

 

There are some sweet deals for gamers, too.

Gaming laptops, like this Acer Nitro 5 are available from just £499 in AO’s Black Friday sale.

This particular model has dedicated Radeon RX 560X 4GB graphics for some truly epic and immersive gaming.

Plus, thanks to its Ryzen 5 quad core processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, you can experience seamless play – whether you’re battling monsters or flying through galaxies far, far away.

The Acer Nitro laptop, was £699, now £499.

Acer Nitro Gaming Laptop

DISHWASHERS

It’s a great time of year for deals on dishwashers – and getting a decent one will give you more time to spend with the family and less time cleaning the dishes.

Machines like this Bosch Series 4 (normally £499) are ideal for medium-sized households and can tackle all manner of festive leftovers.

Bosch Series 4 Dishwasher

It’s cheap to run too, thanks to its A++ energy rating, which means it can do a perfect clean without costing you the earth.

This particular model also has a clever DosageAssist function, which helps to evenly and powerfully disperse detergent so that you’re left with a spotless finish.

You can buy this Bosch dishwasher in AO’s Black Friday sale this year, was £499 now £449.

COFFEE MACHINES

Tassimo Coffee Machine
Tassimo Coffee Machine

For many of us, it’s impossible to function without coffee. But buying that first morning cuppa on your way into the office every morning can really start to add up.

That is where a personal coffee machine comes in.

The Tassimo by Bosch Happy Coffee Machine is a nifty, stylish device which enables you to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home.

Simply pop in a compatible Tassimo T disc and you can enjoy lattes, espressos and decadent hot chocolates whenever you please.

Especially for Black Friday, you can get a Tassimo coffee machine from £35. This machine was £40, now £35.

TVsSamsung Smart 4K Ultra HD TV

As the days get colder and the nights draw in, there’s nothing quite like snuggling down at home to watch a good film – and having a decent TV to do this with is essential.

A Samsung Smart 4K Ultra HD TV offers crystal clarity and unbelievable sharpness for life-like viewing, paired with dynamic HDR10+ to deliver breathtakingly vivid colour.

Its smart features are Alexa compatible, so you can change channels using your voice, and you can access catch-up TV, apps and streaming services, meaning the world of film and more is your oyster.

Treat yourself to the Samsung Smart 4K Ultra HD TV Set this Black Friday, was £649, now £599.

Bag yourself a bargain this Black Friday!

Discover more amazing Black Friday deals at ao.com.


The best Christmas afternoon teas to try in London

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festive afternoon teas in London
All the festive afternoon teas to try in London this Christmas. (Picture: Taj Hotel / Brigit’s Bakery / The Rubens)

The chill is setting in, the décor is getting a whole lot sparklier and the speakers seem to be wired to only play Mariah Carey.

These three vital clues mean it’s festive season, so it’s now socially acceptable to dedicate an entire afternoon to nibbling mini sandwiches and gulping down mulled wine in some of the city’s most picturesque venues.

Here’s our pick of the best Christmas afternoon teas in London.

For music

The Corinthia, Westminster

You’ll feel revitalised and ready for the busy holiday season after treating yourself The Corinthia’s champagne packages and kicking back to the hotel pianist tickling the ivories.

The festive afternoon tea is guaranteed to fill you up with an array of finger sandwiches including poached salmon, roast turkey and cranberry, and salt beef, horseradish cream and watercress.

The luxury hotel also offers tasty vegetarian options including earthy truffle egg mayonnaise on malted granary bread and cucumber, radish and cream cheese.

festive afternoon tea
Luxury hotel The Corinthia offers a festive afternoon tea in Westminster. (Picture: The Corinthia)

If you’ve got space in that festive belly of yours, go to town on the chestnut and rum tartlets, spiced pineapple eclairs and The Corinthia’s housemade marshmallows

£60 per person. £70-£80 with a glass of champagne.

For doggos

The Egerton House Hotel, Knightsbridge

doggy afternoon tea
The Egerton House Hotel’s doggy afternoon tea is on this Christmas. (Picture: Egerton House Hotel)

It doesn’t feel particularly festive to leave your pooch alone at home, does it? Wave that leash or wrangle that doggo into a Christmas-themed carrier, because you’re headed to The Egerton House Hotel.

The Knightsbridge establishment offers a doggy afternoon tea featuring ‘bowl-licking’ chicken and beef meatloaf, homemade dog biscuit ice-cream and ‘Pawsecco’ in rose or white.

For the human in your canine’s life, there’s also a festive spread of homemade cakes, fresh sandwiches and home-baked scones with clotted cream and preserves.

£65.00 per person. £25.00 per dog. £6.00 for a glass of pawsecco.

For views

TĪNG at The Shangri-La Hotel,  London Bridge

Christmas afternoon tea
The picture-perfect festive spread at TĪNG at The Shangri-La Hotel. (Picture: Shangri-La)

To reflect on the year that was, you’ll need to get some perspective. Considering its Level 35 spot in The Shard, TĪNG should get you there.

Take in the 360-degree views over turkey and cranberry sandwiches followed by mulled wine pear compote and passion fruit and cardamom mousse.

If you know your brews, the restaurant also offers more than 30 varieties of tea including white apricot with marigold flowers, China milky oolong and the Shangri-La’s signature afternoon blend.

£68 per person. £78 with a glass of champagne.

For vegans

Brigit’s Bakery, Covent Garden

Brigit's Bakery afternoon tea
The colourful spread offered at Brigit’s Bakery this November and December. (Picture: Brigit’s Bakery)

A festive afternoon tea needn’t be all about the beef and horseradish sandwiches.

For a tasty plant-based alternative, Brigit’s Bakery has you covered with vegan offerings including quinoa verrine and mixed roasted vegetables on ciabatta, plus an assortment of homemade cakes and tarts including vanilla pannacotta and lemon drizzle slice.

Brigit's Bakery bus
Brigit’s Bakery will be lighting up the streets this Christmas. (Picture: Brigit’s Bakery)

The plant-based treats aren’t even the star of the bakery’s festive offerings. Brigit’s is known for its impressive set of wheels.

The afternoon tours take place on a double-decker bus that cruises through the Christmas light displays on Regent’s Street.

From £45 per person.

For Indian cuisine

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, Westminster

Taj 51's Indian high tea
The spiced treats rolled out at Taj 51’s Christmas afternoon tea. (Picture: Taj 51)

If cucumber sandwiches and scones aren’t enough to stoke the festive fire in you, indulge in something spicier.

The almost entirely vegetarian afternoon tea at Taj 51 boasts a selection of Indian fusion delights including curried egg scrolls, spiced potato toasts with fig chutney, and sweet shots of salted caramel lassi with chikki toffee crunch.

If you’ve been nice this year, you can wrap up the afternoon tea with a naughty selection of desserts.

There are cardamon srikhand tarts, gold leaf Gulab Jamun and macaroons flavoured like Gajar Halwa, a rich carrot-based pudding.

£45 per person.

For mulled wine

The Rubens at the Palace, Westminster

The Rubens at the Palace’s festive afternoon tea
The Rubens at the Palace’s festive afternoon tea. (Picture: The Rubens at the Palace)

It’s winter and you’re an adult, damn it! The marshmallow is still in your court if you’d rather drink hot chocolate, but there are many other heated – and boozy – beverages on offer this season.

Check out the festive afternoon tea at The Rubens at the Palace. Your insides will be warm and your spirits high thanks to the restaurant’s unlimited mulled wine.

£55 per person. £19 for children under 12.

For the kids

Sanderson, Fitzrovia

Sanderson’s mad hatter’s tea party
Sanderson’s mad hatter’s tea party with a festive spin. (Picture: Sanderson)

Treat the little ones to a real-life Mad Hatter’s tea party featuring menus hidden within vintage books and a ‘Drink Me’ potion.

Feast on Alice in Wonderland themed-delights with a festive twist, including Queen of Hearts rose and strawberry jammy dodger and the Mad March Hare vanilla pocket watch macaroon.

£48-58 per person. £35 for children between 4-11 years old.

For extravagance

The Landmark, Marylebone

Landmark's elegant Christmas afternoon tea spread
Landmark’s elegant Christmas afternoon tea spread. (Picture: Landmark London)

While this 5-star hotel is striking with its elegant British architecture and lofty atrium, it’s hard to take the focus of its festive dessert menu which includes gingerbread mousse, cognac macaroon and a chocolate brownie with redcurrant honey.

£58 per person. Includes a glass of champagne.

For biscuits

Biscuiteers, Battersea

Biscuiteers festive afternoon tea
The dessert-connoisseurs at Biscuiteers in Clapham create a colourful festive spread. (Picture: Biscuiteers)

If you’re a simple punter and all you want for Christmas is a biccie, pay a visit to Biscuiteers in Battersea. The dessert-connoisseurs will look after you with mini versions of their most in-demand cakes and patisseries in seasonal flavours.

£30 per person.

MORE: An espresso martini bar is coming to London – with chocolate and orange or nutty flavours

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MORE: Sainsbury’s launches adorable collection of Christmas jumpers for dogs

Designated drivers can get a free Coca Cola, Diet Coke or alcohol-free Heineken at over 1,000 UK pubs throughout the Christmas period

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Coca Cola designated driver Greene King pubs drinks offer for Christmas
Get a free drink if you show your car keys (Picture: Getty)

With the Christmas party season coming up, it can be a nightmare to get a taxi home.

So when someone offers to be the designated driver, we should celebrate them.

That’s why Coca Cola and Greene King are teaming up for the 10th year to give drivers a free soft drink throughout the festive season.

Yes, the scheme has been going for a long time but for anyone who doesn’t know about it (or if you just need a reminder every year), you get a voucher for buy one drink, get one free drink when you show your keys at one of 1,000 Greene King pubs across the UK.

For the first time, Heineken has joined the scheme to give away alcohol-free beer too.

The companies want to encourage people not to drink and drive by offering them a drink that helps them feel included in the festivities.

Phil Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Greene King, said: ‘As a leading pub company, we have an important role to play in helping to promote responsible drinking and we have given away around a quarter of a million free Coca-Cola products over the past decade as part of the Designated Driver campaign.’

Paul Robertson, Associate Director, On-Premise at Coca-Cola European Partners GB, said: ‘We’d like to thank Greene King for partnering with us for the last 10 years on the Designated Driver campaign and continuing to evolve the platform to ensure it remains relevant to today’s consumers.

‘Greene King should be applauded for its continued leadership in helping to promote responsible drinking and embracing the role soft drinks can play across its estate, especially on the lead up to Christmas. Here’s to another 10 years of partnership.’

The offer is available at Greene King pubs across the UK, including Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer and Farmhouse Inns from now until 1 January 2020.

Show your car keys at the bar and buy a Heineken 0.0, any 330ml bottle of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or 275ml Appletiser to get a voucher for your next purchase.

MORE: The best Christmas afternoon teas to try in London

MORE: How to talk to a partner about debt

Debt Diaries: I get daily threats collecting people’s debt

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Illustration of a debt collector knocking at someone's door
We usually work alone, unless we are aware of any threats or vulnerability in advance (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Six years ago, after serving with the Royal Marines for seven years, I became a certificated enforcement agent. You might be more familiar with the term ‘bailiff’, which was the job title until new regulations were introduced in 2014.

My job is to enforce High Court writs of control. A creditor can go to court and get a county court judgment (CCJ) against anyone who owes them money and if they still don’t pay, the creditor gets the writ, which is the court document that gives me the authority to enforce it.

The role is suited to the soft skills I picked up in the forces such as organisation, routine and structure. When you leave the Armed Forces, it can be tough to find work and a lot of enforcement agents are ex-military.

My days start early. Regulations state that we can only visit the debtor’s premises between 6am and 9pm, so I’m up and out of the door by 5.30am. Debtors are served notice of enforcement, which gives them seven days to pay – if they don’t reply or pay the amount in full, they will get a visit.

I take an inventory of the goods and provide a valuation so I can take control of enough goods to meet the value of the debt. But goods are released back to the debtor once they’ve paid off what they owe. If they can’t – or won’t – pay then the goods may be sold at auction.

We usually work alone, unless we are aware of any threats or vulnerability in advance.

For instance, a debtor recently called to tell us that she would prefer to deal with a female enforcement agent, a request we were able to fulfil.

After 9am, I visit commercial premises if the debt relates to a business. This can be anything from a scrap yard to an antiques shop or a takeaway. At least once a week, I get locked in somewhere by the debtor. The first time it happened, I admit I was nervous – I didn’t know what was going on or how I would get out.

These days I have to call the police so they can help me out. Thankfully they are very quick to respond and we also have body-worn cameras so I feel a lot safer.

Later in my day, I’ll chat to my team and resolve any issues or prioritise threats of violence that they’ve received before flagging these to the police. You never know how serious someone is so you can’t be too careful.

People haven’t always had the best experiences with people in my line of work – perhaps that’s why debtors are often under the misconception that we are big burly men who will try to get a foot in the door.

I receive low level threats daily but it’s when weapons are mentioned that I report it. For instance, a bloke once told me that he’d stab me in the liver if I came round again. Another time I was threatened with a crossbow.

I also had a case where a debtor threatened my family. I would receive daily calls from him and I won’t repeat what he was saying but it was horrific. The police ended up taking my phone and dealing with the situation.

Fortunately, the skills I was equipped with in the Marines mean I am mentally strong enough to switch off and not take things personally. I don’t get wound up easily, which is a good trait to have in this job.

People haven’t always had the best experiences with people in my line of work – perhaps that’s why debtors are often under the misconception that we are big burly men who will try to get a foot in the door.

That’s not the case. We are professional, polite and qualified, and just like everyone else we have a job to do.

Debtors tend to be less happy if they have assets that are valuable or rare. For instance, we’ve taken some high value cars – no one wants to see their pride and joy towed away.

Whether I’m visiting a high-rise flat or a mansion, I’ll risk-assess each person’s individual situation for anything that could affect their ability to pay back the debt.

If we see signs of physical disability or if the debtor is elderly or has mental health issues, we’ll gather as much evidence as possible so we can inform the creditor, take advice from the relevant agencies and agree the next steps. The National Standards insist that the enforcement agency and the creditor have to agree procedures for dealing with such situations.

We take an inventory of assets if items do need to be removed and if the debtor can’t repay what they owe, we will sit down with them and go through their finances, helping them to fill out a form outlining their income and expenditure.

This information will then be used to help suggest an affordable short-term payment arrangement. A writ is valid for 12 months, so we can always re-attend within that time-frame to see if their circumstances have changed.

Debt affects all ages and all social classes, it doesn’t discriminate.

My best advice for people who get into debt, is to not bury your head in the sand – face the problem and engage with whoever or whatever you owe money to.

You’re accruing daily interest and fees increase as the case progresses to the next stage, so it’s in your best interest to provide payment in full or come to an arrangement.

If it’s in the hands of an enforcement agent, explain your personal circumstances – it’s only if you don’t communicate that we visit your property.

Honesty is key too, as debtors lie on a daily basis to try and get out of paying.

I was recently at a debtor’s property, who explained he was in the army and that he was due to leave the country. Because of my own background I quickly determined that this wasn’t the case.

I love that I can manage my own day and it’s great that I’m just trusted to do my job but the early mornings are the worst, especially in winter when the weather is bad.

I’ve got paperwork, a body-worn camera and a phone to keep dry so the other agents laugh at me because I always have an umbrella.

Tommy is a certificated enforcement agent with The Sheriffs Office

Debt Month

This article is part of a month-long focus in November all about debt.

Scary word, we know, but we're hoping if we tackle this head on we'll be able to reduce the shame around money struggles and help everyone improve their understanding of their finances.

Throughout November we'll be publishing first-person accounts of debt, features, advice, and explainers. You can read everything from the month on the Debt Month tag.

If you have a story to share, a topic you want us to cover, or a question that needs answering, get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

 

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MORE: Why we’re talking about debt this month

Mum creates genius hack for affordable Christmas tree that kids can’t knock over

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Before and after photo of the Christmas tree which is attached the wall and can't be knocked down
Now that’s an inventive solution (Picture: Facebook)

If you have children or a rowdy pet, you might know the pain of finding a safe spot in the house where the Christmas tree won’t fall over, with expensive baubles breaking all over the floor.

One savvy mum has created a genius hack that will ensure the tree stays in place throughout the holiday season, and it’s super stylish too.

Please welcome what will surely become this year’s biggest trend: the wall tree.

The inventive solution, is made up of minimal decoration, and doesn’t even require an actual Christmas tree – meaning it’s super affordable.

So, how did she design her masterpiece?

She started by sourcing two pieces of wood to use for the frame, which were tied to the wall, before applying a fake fir branch across each side.

Mum creates genius budget Christmas tree that kids can't knock over From Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/251305398892620/?ref=nf_target&fref=nf Taken from Sun as its a private group: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/10365216/fake-christmas-tree-decoration-cant-knock-over-cheap/
You don’t need to clean up any pine needles either (Picture: Facebook)

No tree is complete without festive decor, so the mum added some fairy lights and a glowing star at the top.

Photos of the tree were originally shared by the mum on her Facebook page, where she captioned it ‘Idea, for mommies who have a toddler.’

The post has since racked up 3,600 likes and been shared 114,000 times – people are loving the nifty hack.

It later ended up on the Hinch Army House Decoration Inspiration and Tips, where other mums also raved about the quirky idea.

One woman applauded the fact it doesn’t take up space in the home: ‘This is a fantastic idea for people who don’t have space for a tree… in fact, it’s just a great idea full stop.’

‘I love this idea’, said someone else.

Another fan said: ‘How cute is this.’

‘I’ve found a good tree that’s suitable for cats,’ commented another person.

One woman said she would use white tinsel instead, but why stop at one colour?

You could get several different fir shades and have one for each week of December.

Or put a tree up in every room to have a really jolly holiday season.

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When my husband almost died from antibiotic resistance, I found a way to save his life

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Steff and Tom
My husband’s case has been described as a watershed moment that revitalised phage therapy in the West (Picture: Steffanie Strathdee)

The global superbug crisis isn’t on everyone’s radar like climate change is, but my family is trying to change that.

I am an infectious disease epidemiologist, yet my experience with antimicrobial resistance was intensely personal. While my husband and I were on vacation in Egypt in 2015, he became infected with a rare bacteria I hadn’t seen since my petri plates in college back in the 1980s. It infected an abscess in his abdomen and threatened to take his life.

By the time he was transported by air ambulance to an ICU back home in California, his bacteria had become resistant to all antibiotics. When I suddenly realised that he was going to die, I was shocked and terrified. I decided to do my own research, and found a paper on a 100-year-old cure that is barely used anymore – bacteriophage therapy.

Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that prey upon bacteria, curing infections. They were commonly used in the 1920s and 30s, especially in the former Soviet Union. However, after penicillin was introduced in 1942, phage therapy was largely abandoned in the West.

Most of the physicians treating my husband had never heard of phage therapy when I proposed treating him with it after he had been hospitalised for several months in early 2016.

Although it is the standard of care in the former Soviet Union and parts of Eastern Europe, it is considered experimental by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its European counterparts because clinical trials had not been done to show that it worked.

I connected with a global network of phage researchers across the world, and Texas A&M University turned their lab into a command centre. They offered to undergo a phage hunt to find some to match to my husband’s bacterial isolate.

Within three weeks, they and researchers from the US Navy had each prepared a phage cocktail active against Tom’s strain. After paperwork was submitted to the FDA, they gave emergency approval to administer phage for ‘compassionate use’. We began the treatment. A few days later, he woke from a deep coma and began his long recovery.

My husband’s case has been described as a watershed moment that revitalised phage therapy in the West. We used to consider our ordeal as the worst experience we could ever have, but now we realise we were privileged to have been able to leverage the resources we had to save his life.

Steffanie and Tom
Tom has had a near complete return to health, but the real impact of his case has been to see how it has influenced others (Picture: Steffanie Strathdee)

Tom and I decided to write a book about our story, with the hope that it will educate others about the superbug crisis, and will ensure that phage therapy isn’t forgotten for another 100 years. Tom has had a near complete return to health, but the real impact of his case has been to see how it has influenced others.

When Tom’s case became public, his doctors and I began receiving requests for phage therapy from all over the world. We were able to help some and others sought treatment from Georgia, Poland and Belgium. Some died before phages could reach them.

In response to these requests, my colleagues and I founded a non-profit centre to conduct clinical trials on phage therapy while helping patients with superbug infections obtain phage therapy if they are no longer responding to antibiotics.

The pharmaceutical industry has viewed phage therapy with scepticism until recently, in part because phages are naturally occurring organisms that were not easy to patent.

However, a 2019 report of the first genetically modified phage to successfully treat a young teen with a drug resistant infection may change that, especially since her bacterium is a cousin to tuberculosis – the biggest bacterial killer in the world.

Looking ahead, the use of genetically modified and synthetic phages that are more easily patented, as well as the developments of phage banks, may prompt a new era of antimicrobial therapy that could offer personalised phage therapy on demand. While phage therapy is unlikely to ever replace antibiotics, it deserves to be rigorously evaluated in clinical trials.

Mother nature gave us a green alternative to antibiotics. With an estimated 10 million trillion trillion phages on the planet, the supply of phage is almost infinite, and due to evolution, is ever expanding.

The US National Institute of Health is now funding phage research and clinical trials for the first time, and new start-up companies have begun working in this space.

Meanwhile, we are still working to develop a phage library that could be used to match phage to bacterial infections more easily, mounting a revolution on superbugs’ evolution – which offers huge hope for the future.

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Woman flew 500 miles to lose her virginity to a couple – and now they’re all in a polyamorous relationship

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Gabrielle with Jacob and Megan and Gabby kissing Megan with Jacob behind them
Gabrielle with Jacob and Megan (Picture: PA Real Life)

Gabrielle Reese was 18 and decided she was ready to lose her virginity.

She had met someone online and after chatting for three months, she wanted to meet up.

But it wasn’t just one person she had fallen for – Gabrielle had been chatting to Jacob Boswell, now 45, and his girlfriend Megan Muirhead, now 45.

She met them through a sugar daddy website and now she was preparing to fly 500 miles to meet them – and start a sexual relationship with them both.

But three years on, all of them are happily together as a polyamorous throuple.

Recalling their first encounter, Gabrielle, now 21, explained: ‘The whole thing was exciting and new. We all clicked very fast and there was a lot of chemistry – we were all involved that first night.

‘There were positives. Jacob and Megan are both older, while I had no experience.

‘Losing my virginity to a guy and a girl, being bisexual, I got to experience all aspects of my sexuality, too. Girls are soft, delicate and nurturing, while men are more dominant.

‘I’d never thought that much about how I would lose my virginity, but I guess it wasn’t what I predicted. I don’t have any regrets though.’

Gabrielle says she had always fancied older guys and she didn’t have any romantic relationships with guys her age as a teenager.

So, after turning 18, she joined a sugar daddy website, matching younger women with older men and, in October 2016, found software developers Jacob and Megan – deciding to fly out and meet them a few days before her 19th birthday.

The 'throuple' live in Utah, USA (PA Real Life/Collect)
The throuple live in Utah, USA (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)

She told her parents data analyst Don, 46, who is only a year older than Jacob, and sales associate Kathea, 44 – but they weren’t happy with her decision.

She said: ‘I was very, very honest.

‘Growing up, I’d warned my parents I wanted to marry someone their age, but  I think they thought I was joking.

‘I’ve always known I liked older guys – and girls too – so when I saw on Jacob’s website profile that he had a girlfriend, too, he checked all the boxes.

‘But I told my parents I was flying from Idaho to Utah for a first date with a couple I’d only Facetimed once before, so I do understand why they were concerned.’

With Megan at work when she arrived, she spent the day with Jacob before meeting her that evening.

When she arrived in Utah after her hour-long flight, Gabrielle spent the first day with Jacob, moving on to become a “throuple” that night and the following day.

She said: ‘Jacob and I went to their house and hung out, watching TV and got dinner.

‘It was all very normal and that’s what we did when Megan finished work too.

‘After spending our first night together Megan told me she loved me and she wanted me to move in – I was like, “Who knows?”

‘That first night I lost my virginity. I was nervous about the whole experience – but in a good way. The nerves were worth it.

Gabby, Jacob and Megan (PA Real Life/Collect)
They have been together for three years (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)

‘I knew that I wanted to do it. I don’t think I could have had a better experience for my first time – it was so intimate and perfect.’

Two days later, she went home but all three of them were constantly texting and wanted her to come back.

‘I asked if they had been serious and they said they were 100% up for me moving in,’ she continued. ‘A month later that’s just what I did.

‘This was my first ever relationship, I was moving in after meeting them once, and being invited straight into a shared bedroom – it was a huge adjustment.

‘It did feel weird at times, but I think anyone’s first relationship does, and at the same time, somehow it just worked.’

While the “triad” enjoy a healthy love life, Gabrielle is conscious of outsiders ridiculing their relationship and making out it is purely sexual.

‘I’ve never had anyone say anything negative to my face, but you can see it in their faces as soon as they find out,” she said.

‘People tend to sexualise it and ask a lot of invasive questions that they would not ask anyone else.

“They ask how it works and whether we are happy – like they have a right to know.

‘But with any relationship there’s problems and the only difference is we have one extra person.

‘An extra person requires extra passion, extra patience and extra compassion – of course, we have ups and downs.’

Despite her love for Megan and Jacob, several months ago, Gabrielle decided to move to a small apartment nearby to get some independence.

She said. ‘I was so young when I moved out here that I hadn’t really seen very much of life.

‘But we’re coming up for three years as a triad now and we’re completely solid.

‘My family know how happy I am now and they’ve come to accept our relationship.’

Looking to the future, Gabrielle is keen at some point to start a family and although they can’t legally marry, they would like to have a ceremony.

Gabrielle says she is ‘monogamous with two partners’ but is open to the idea of opening up their relationship.

‘It’s not 100 per cent a closed relationship and if someone ever wants to do that we’ll sit down and discuss it, but it’s definitely not something any of us could, or would, do on a whim,’  she said.

Meanwhile, Jacob is keen to extol the virtues of polyamory – where people enjoy intimate relationships with more than one partner.

Gabby, Megan and Jacob (PA Real Life/Collect)
Gabby, Megan and Jacob (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)

He said: ‘Being poly is an amazing emotional challenge and, like everything else difficult, it’s incredibly rewarding when it works out.

‘You’ve just got to keep working on this incredible, beautiful ride.

‘I definitely get more of a reaction from people about the age gap than being poly, though.

“When people hear I have two girlfriends they always go, “Well done” but when they hear about the age gap they imply it’s not ok, as if I am cradle snatching.

‘It’s very demeaning, as Gabrielle is smart, brilliant and intelligent – she doesn’t need saving. Give her some credit, please.’

Megan, who has been in a relationship with Jacob for 11 years, explained that while the couple experimented with dating other women, Gabby was the first to come into their relationship to form a triad.

She said: ‘I don’t share our relationship status with that many people so I can’t speak for what other people think about us all too much.

‘Jacob and I are almost 15 years apart but people don’t have an issue with the age or the polyamory separately – they seem shocked by the whole package.

‘Although I didn’t lose my virginity to Jacob I guess you could say in a way, we all lost our throuple virginity together.’

MORE: Couple with 23-year age gap launch dating app for others who want older or younger lovers

MORE: Woman, 25, hid 30-year age gap with her partner from her parents until she was in labour with his son

Teenage author tackles HIV stigma in debut novel: ‘There has to be space for more black narratives’

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Camryn Garrett
‘When black authors write, there is this extra pressure to represent an entire community’ (Picture: Camryn Garrett)

Camryn Garrett is the teenage author poised to shake up the world of young adult fiction, and her debut novel doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics.

The 19-year-old is intimidatingly accomplished for someone so young. In less than two decades on the planet, she has already written for TIME Magazine, Huffington Post and MTV, been named as one of Vogue’s 21 under 21, and secured her first book deal.

But youth is just one thing she has on her side. Camryn also has a fierce work ethic, boundless curiosity and speaks about the things she’s interested in with the confidence and eloquence of someone much older.

But there are moments when her teenageness slips out.

‘Do you remember that really old movie Almost Famous that came out in the year 2000?’ She asks with a wry grin. She’s joking because she knows comments like these trigger a barrage of eye-rolling and exasperated sighs in her older peers.

But the year 2000 really is ancient history for Camryn, that was the year she was born.

‘I have to stop saying things like that at author events, because whenever I do I just feel every head in the room turn towards me,’ she adds, laughing.

A native New Yorker, Camryn is in London for just a couple of days to promote her book, and her schedule is packed. But she doesn’t seem jet-lagged, in fact she is bursting with energy and enthusiasm. Ah, youth.

‘I love writing,’ Camryn tells us.

‘I feel off when I don’t write for too long – it’s like a draw for me that I can’t ignore. The process of writing this book was so enjoyable because I was writing about things that I care about, things that I’m so interested in.’

Her debut Full Disclosure, is about a dark-skinned black teen girl who was born HIV-positive and is grappling with keeping her secret while navigating the normal things that come with teenage life. Unsurprisingly, she has lots of questions about sex.

Camryn says she was drawn to this topic because it is still surrounded by so much stigma and taboo, and it was her own ignorance about HIV that shocked her into finding out everything she could.

‘I was really, really into Angelina Jolie – I mean… who isn’t? People Magazine used to have their archives online and I would just read, like every single cover story,’ she says.

‘There were stories about Angelina adopting her children; they thought her daughter had HIV when she first adopted her, because she got really sick.

‘And I didn’t know anything back then – I just thought “If your daughter has HIV – she’s going to die. Why would you do that to yourself?” But Angelina seemed so chill about it, and I just didn’t get it.’

Camryn started doing more research around HIV and adoption and found that a lot of couples adopted children who had the virus, and that it didn’t seem to be a major issue for them. The children would be on medication and the only time it could be a problem is if they had to disclose that they had HIV to a partner before having sex.

Camryn Garrett
‘There has to be space for more of us, because our stories aren’t homogeneous’ (Picture: Camryn Garrett)

‘A lot of these parents were really religious and they assumed their child wouldn’t be having sex until they were married, so it wouldn’t be an issue. But I can’t imagine that that is how it always works out.’

As a teen writing about teens, Carmyn’s voice has an irresistible authority. She’s able to bring to life what it means to navigate sexuality and sexual health as a teenager, without tainting the narrative with adult experience. That comes through in the vulnerability and vibrancy of her lead character, Simone.

Being a teenager in this position is not without its challenges, but it has also given Carmyn her edge and allowed her the space to grow and develop that many older writers will never have.

‘It has meant that I could focus on my craft and improving my skills, rather than getting bogged down in the intricacies of publishing – who is my target audience, where is it going to sell, that kind of thing,’ says Camryn.

‘I also don’t have to think about bills or a job or fitting my writing in around that, so in that way I’ve been really lucky.’

When Camryn landed her book deal she didn’t tell anyone at school about it – she isn’t a fan of the spotlight. But one of her teachers got wind of the news and put it up on boards around the school so soon, everyone knew.

But she needn’t have worried, the reaction from her schoolmates was overwhelmingly positive.

‘I already had this reputation from a young age that I was an author, that I was going to be a writer,’ explains Camryn. ‘So when I got by book deal, it kind of made sense, and everyone was so nice about it – they were all incredibly supportive.

‘My school was all about sports. Everyone was into sports, that’s what it was all about for most people. But I really wasn’t. But I knew I liked writing, so I decided to send the same amount of time and energy on my writing that other people were spending on sport.

‘That’s how I got it done, and how it became such a habit. School would finish at 2pm; I would do my homework but because I always stayed up late I would just have so many hours to fill, so I would write.’

Camryn knows where she’s heading. Her second book is already in the editing process and she isn’t short of ideas for the future either.

When it comes to her inspirations, she sites Angie Thomas – author of smash hit The Hate U Give, that was also turned into a film last year. But she says the publishing world is still lacking in narratives for and about black teenagers.

‘The first book that I wrote when I was 15 didn’t sell, and publishers said it was too close to The Hate U Give – which I couldn’t see at all,’ says Camryn. ‘Other than the fact it was about a black girl dealing with racism, the stories aren’t similar.

The cover of Full Disclosure
‘I want people to use this book as a starting point for treating other people how they would want to be treated themselves’ (Picture: Camryn Garrett)

‘I can’t speak for Angie, but I’m sure she doesn’t want to be in the position where she is the only one who can tell these stories, and then there being push-back from other authors who want to be in that space.’

Camryn says she hates the idea that there is only room for one author writing stories about black lives. She says the only way to create truly meaningful representation is to allow more voices into that arena.

‘There has to be space for more of us, because our stories aren’t homogeneous,’ she says.

‘White authors are seen as individuals. When a white author writes a character, they’re seen as just that – a character. When black authors write, there is this extra pressure to represent an entire community.

‘I feel it myself. Although it is definitely self-inflicted, no one is actually coming up to me demanding I represent the black community in certain ways – but I put that pressure on myself.’

Camryn feels this pressure every time she writes a new character. What skin tone should they have? What kind of romantic relationship? How about their relationship with their family? She feels that the choices she makes will always carry greater significance than if she were white.

‘If I write a black character who has a difficult relationship with their family, am I making a wider comment about black families in general? Even if that’s something I’ve experienced myself?’

It’s a minefield. The answer, says Camryn, is more black authors, and the normalisation of different stories.

Camryn says black writers are so often tied to limited narratives – stories about struggle, racism, police brutality. Camryn believes these stories are really important and doesn’t think we should stop telling them, but she also thinks black writers have more to offer as well.

‘There’s only so many of these stories that I can actually read without feeling really depressed,’ she tells us. ‘I love romance, I want to see more romantic novels with black characters at the heart. We all have more than one story.’

Camryn’s hope for her debut novel is to shine a light on the realities of living with HIV and to start to unpick some of the stigma that still exists. There are so few stories that depict living with HIV in contemporary America and Camryn hopes her work will help to fill that gap in knowledge.

‘There is so much ignorance,’ explains Camryn.

‘I also want people to use this book as a starting point for treating other people how they would want to be treated themselves. I know that is such a cliché, but I think if there was one takeaway I hope people get from this novel, it would be that.

‘If we can get younger people to behave more compassionately and think about others with more kindness, I think that’s the best thing we can hope for.’

MORE: Mum writes diverse children’s books so her daughter can read about little girls who look like her

MORE: Book series explores black British culture from Afrobeats to plantain

MORE: Mixed Up: ‘Being mixed-race is the loneliest group – no one can ever truly reflect our experiences’


Logo nail art is the latest manicure trend taking over Instagram

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chanel and gucci shops and a women's nails
Designer digits are set to be big (Picture: Getty)

Designer products can often set your bank balance back a hefty sum, but a new nail art trend offers a brand’s signature label – without the price tag.

Logo nail art is the latest nail trend sweeping across our Instagram feeds.

That’s right, the logos of famous fashion houses are being painted onto nails, for DIY designer looks.

Some of the most popular designs used in this new makeshift trend include the iconic interlocking Cs for Chanel, as well as the letters ‘L’ and ‘V’ for luxury retailer Louis Vuitton.

The bold red and white colours of US brand Supreme have also proved popular, alongside Tommy Hilfiger, Fendi and Balenciaga.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B211KVRgFh5/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzb8BU8gGS1/

 

In terms of the nail art itself, the designs vary.

Some have opted for an all-over uniform look, whereas others have changed the design from digit to digit.  Some people have even gone with a different brand on each finger – or even hand.

There are negative space designs, accent nails and 3D effects. Basically, anything goes when it comes to incorporating the logos.

What’s more, the new nail art trend is not limited to high-end fashion labels, as a number of sports brands and famous food companies have become the inspiration for looks, too.

Nike and Adidas appear to be the big hitters, in terms of sportswear logos.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hw4gfhYXI/

When it comes to food, we all have our favourite outlets and everyday brands, and some beauty lovers have dedicated their nail art to their go-to restaurants.

McDonald’s is a popular logo – perhaps due to its vibrant red and yellow colour scheme and recognisable golden arches.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWIf6khBkue/

Others have got imaginative with well-known food brands, with intricate designs of Sriracha sauce and Tabasco bottles.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByoA6Z6AGzD/

Top marks for creativity.

For more logo nail art inspiration, simply search #logonails on Instagram.

MORE: Nike releases range of shoes for doctors and nurses to keep them comfortable during long shifts

MORE: Sainsbury’s launches adorable collection of Christmas jumpers for dogs

MORE: Designer creates reversible wedding dress to give brides options on their big day

‘Britain’s fattest cat’ put on a diet after shocking rescue centre staff with her size

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PIC BY CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Paisley the cat at National Cat Adoption Centre, in Hayward Heath, Sussex. Pic Taken 14/11/2019 ) - A cat dubbed Britains fattest has been put on a diet after she shocked rescue centre staff with her massive size. Four-year-old Paisley topped the scales at a whopping 1st 7lb, more than double the healthy 8lb weight for a cat. The tubby tabby has been put on to a strict diet in an effort to help her shed the pounds after her owner couldnt cope with her anymore. Paisley is so large that he has to be helped to clean herself by staff at the Cats Protections National Cat Adoption Centre in Hayward Heath, Sussex. - SEE CATERS COPY
Paisley weighed more than double what a healthy cat should weigh at her heaviest (Picture: Caters News Agency)

A cat dubbed Britain’s fattest has been put on a diet after she shocked rescue centre staff with just how big she was.

At 1st 7lb, four-year-old Paisley weighed in at more than double the healthy 8lb weight for a cat.

Now, the cuddly kitty has been put on to a strict diet to help her shed the pounds after her owner couldn’t cope with her anymore.

Paisley is so big that she has to be helped to clean herself by staff at the Cats Protection’s National Cat Adoption Centre in West Sussex.

‘When I saw Paisley I thought. “oh my goodness”. It took my breath away. She’s the fattest cat I’ve ever seen,’ says Tania Marsh, deputy manager of the rescue centre.

‘I’ve been with Cats Protection for 13 years and we get some cats on the larger side sometimes but nothing of this extent.’

Staff at the centre believe that Paisley’s massive bulk is due to being overfed by her previous owner.

Tania added that Paisley hadn’t had enough opportunity to get much exercise which, combined with her poor diet, caused her weight to sky rocket.

PIC BY CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Paisley the cat at National Cat Adoption Centre, in Hayward Heath, Sussex. Pic Taken 14/11/2019 ) - A cat dubbed Britains fattest has been put on a diet after she shocked rescue centre staff with her massive size. Four-year-old Paisley topped the scales at a whopping 1st 7lb, more than double the healthy 8lb weight for a cat. The tubby tabby has been put on to a strict diet in an effort to help her shed the pounds after her owner couldnt cope with her anymore. Paisley is so large that he has to be helped to clean herself by staff at the Cats Protections National Cat Adoption Centre in Hayward Heath, Sussex. - SEE CATERS COPY
‘She can’t move around properly to clean herself so we have to help her do it’ (Picture: Caters News Agency)

Her former owners gave her up for adoption on 17 October, and Paisley has already found a new owner who she’ll be moving in with soon.

‘We can only put it down to the quantity of food she was given,’ says Tania.

‘She’s lovely, she’s very loving and interactive. She’s such a dear little cat so it’s sad to see her the weight that she is.

‘Paisley likes to sit on your lap but she really struggles to be as active as she should be.

‘She can’t move around properly to clean herself so we have to help her do it.’

Paisley is now on a vet-prescribed diet to help her slim down in a controlled way and it’s already working – her weight has dropped to 1st 6lb.

Tania said that despite the progress Paisley has made, she’s still at risk of developing diabetes.

‘There are so many health risks that are coming her way because of her weight such as diabetes and heart problems.’

When Paisley goes to her new home she’ll have to maintain the diet, no treats are allowed.

‘The cat food is specially formulated to have less calories and it allows them to feel fuller for longer so they don’t feel hungry all the time.

‘Regular checks with the vet will also be needed, we need to make sure she doesn’t lose weight too quickly otherwise she could develop a fatty liver.’

Tania added that the best way to keep cats healthy is to avoid over feeding them on treats and other snacks – as well as give them lots of love and attention.

‘My advice would be to feed your cats twice a day. Limit the treats and tidbits in between and if you do give them to your cat then modify their meal size accordingly.

‘Interact with them and move with them as much as possible.

‘If you’re not seeing that natural waist line when you look down at them than you should be able to feel it as you’re gently stroking them. If you can’t feel their ribs you need to think about helping them slim down.’

MORE: Logo nail art is the latest manicure trend taking over Instagram

MORE: Teenage author tackles HIV stigma in debut novel: ‘There has to be space for more black narratives’

MORE: When my husband almost died from antibiotic resistance, I found a way to save his life

Aldi releases Friends-themed collection and we couldn’t BE more excited

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Split image of Aldi's new Friends range of a duvet set and pillows, with the Friends cast on the other side
So you can have a sleepover with your five best pals (Picture: Aldi)

Christmas might be 36 days away, but Friends fans are already getting lots of presents from Santa.

Last week, Hollywood Reporter reported that a reunion might finally be on the cards, courtesy of HBO Max, and now Aldi has released a brand new collection of interior products themed after the popular show.

Add some Friends touches throughout your home by decorating it with three duvet set designs, as well as cups, mugs and three types of pillows.

Remember that episode where Phoebe tries to seduce Chandler in order to get him to admit that he’s sleeping with Monica?

Hardcore fans will recognise the line ‘They don’t know that we know they know we know’, scribbled onto one of the cushions.

Meanwhile, you can cosy up in bed with your very own Friends duvet set – designed in a pattern that features the show’s logo – or get yourself some Central Perk merchandise.

There’s a cute cup, as well as a pillow, but no Gunther references, sadly.

Central Perk-themed cup from the new Friends collection in Aldi
The infamous coffee house (Picture: Aldi)

In addition to bedroom products, the collection also includes two pyjama sets – perfect to wear during a binge-watch.

It includes a white t-shirt with the words ‘I’d rather be watching Friends’ on it, paired with cosy grey bottoms decorated with the logo.

Then all you need is a cheesy pizza, a meaty sandwich with pickles (Joey would be proud) and five pals, and you’ve got your very own Friends flat.

The limited-edition collection will launch on 21 November, but if you can’t wait until then, there’s also the option to pre-order it now.

One of the pyjama sets from Aldi, laid out on the floor next to a cup of coffee and two bagels smeared with cream cheese
The cosy PJs will set you back an affordable £8.99 (Picture: Aldi)

Prices range from £4.99 for the cups, £5.99 for cushions and double duvet sets for £14.99.

The cosy PJs will set you back an affordable £8.99.

‘Take a trip down memory lane with Aldi’s gifting range that pays homage to one of the most iconic 90s tv series,’ the supermarket said.

‘They’re also the perfect stocking filler or secret Santa gift.’

If you’re planning to travel this Christmas, it might be worth swinging by B&M as well, to pick up a Friends travel mug and a hairbrush (to avoid the Monica ‘humidity hair’).

Just don’t forget to make sure the plane has all of its phalanges before you board.

MORE: Converted farm wins House of the Year 2019 – and it cost just £335,000 to build

MORE: Woman updates old-fashioned kitchen for just £80 using £5 marble wrap from B&Q

MORE: Mum transforms kitchen cabinets, tiles and worktops for £200

Sainsbury’s is getting Lindt Lindor pick and mix stands

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Sainsbury's is getting Lindt Lindor pick and mix stands. This is the range of flavours available.
This looks amazing (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK)

At Christmas times, there’s plenty of chocolate to choose from.

Sure some love a Quality Street, others like tucking into a box of Heroes, but the ultimate indulgence has got to be a box of Lindt Lindor.

The truffle chocolate encased in the rich Swiss chocolate is quite a treat.

And now it comes in lots of flavours including milk, dark. mint, orange and strawberry and cream.

So for those of you who can’t choose a favourite, Sainsbury’s is introducing Lindt Lindor pick and mix stands in 72 stores.

Five stores have been trialling the stands this year and they’ve been so successful, they are rolling it out in 67 more on 2 December.

They haven’t revealed which ones will have the stands yet so keep an eye out for them popping up in your local.

Sainsbury's is getting Lindt Lindor pick and mix stands. This shows the cost of the boxes - eight for £3, 14 for £5 and 29 for £10
There’s different sizes for different budgets (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK )

You can get eight balls for £3, 14 for £5 or 28 balls for £10.

It is pricer than a standard box as a 200g usually contains about 16 balls and cost around £4.

Of course, this option means you can choose the perfect mix of your own flavours.

Sounds like a great gift for Christmas – or just a treat to get you through the shopping for the big day.

If there isn’t a stand near you, you can create a pick and mix box on the Lindt shop online.

Prices range from £12 for a 400g bag to £45 for a 1500g box.

They do have 27 options to choose from including winter milk and white truffles but remember you’ll also have to pay shipping, which is £3.95.

MORE: ‘Britain’s fattest cat’ put on a diet after shocking rescue centre staff with her size

MORE: Aldi releases Friends-themed collection and we couldn’t BE more excited

A Dubai bar is giving women free drinks based on their weight

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person on scales and somone pouring drinks
The more women weigh, the more drinks they can get (Picture: iStockphoto/Kesu)

Fusion Club in Dubai has gone viral due to a very unusual happy hour offer.

The bar, located at the four-star Cassells Al Barsha Hotel, has introduced a promotion which offers women free drinks based on how much they weigh.

The more they weigh, the more free drinks they can receive.

A woman can either weigh herself on a scale near the entrance to the bar, or write her weight on a slip of paper and give it to the barman.

One kilogram is equal to one United Arab Emirati Dirhams (AED). So, for example, if a woman weighs 60kg, she would get free drinks to the worth of 60 AED – which equates to around £12.60. The deal applies for all drinks.

The bar says the offer is designed to show that ‘it’s good to gain weight’ – a motto that is splashed across the posters for the promotion, too.

Vice president, Mr Baburaj, told Metro, ‘We believe in being different than the rest of the night Clubs and hotels in making our guests delighted. We wanted the ladies to surprise their partners and friends that it’s good to gain weight.

‘We have different promotions at Fusion Club every month, which are often “crazy” and unique and are enjoyed by both men and women. ‘

He added, ‘Dubai is a city for entertainment and fun.

‘We never ask any women to check their weight, we trust them and just serve whatever number they wrote on the paper without asking any questions and therefore we don’t see any reason to feel having bad intention about the offer’

But the happy hour offer has attracted a mixed response from Dubai residents, with some claiming that the deal promotes obesity.

One said on Twitter: ‘This is just stupid, and FYI it promotes fat gain and obesity… like the fatter you are the more we’ll allow you to consume empty calories which, in turn, will make you… even fatter?’

But the bar says the deal has been met with a positive reaction, so much so that it has led to an extension.

The promotion was due to end in August, but has since been extended to run until December.

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MORE: New research reveals the best and worst drinks to order during a flight

MORE: Helpful website tells you the most efficient way to drink in Wetherspoon’s

Legendary McDonald’s worker reveals he put 11 McNuggets in every 10-piece for years

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illustration of McDonald's nuggets
A McLegend (Credit: McDonald’s)

A McDonald’s worker has been dubbed the ‘Robin Hood of McNuggets’ following a recent revelation.

Cody Bondarchuk worked in McDonald’s for two-and-a-half years but has only just come clean about something he used to do during his shifts.

Cody, from Alberta in Canada, took to Twitter to share a secret he had kept with him for the length of his employment.

He revealed that he sneaked an extra chicken nugget into every 10-piece, for the entire time he had worked there.

He said: ‘I worked at McDonald’s for two-and-a-half-years and I put 11 nuggets in almost every 10-piece I made.’

Naturally, Cody’s tweet has attracted all kinds of praise and has racked up 78,000 retweets and more than 887,000 likes, since it was posted yesterday.

Social media users have been quick to comment on Cody’s confession.

One simply said: ‘Not all heroes wear capes, just name tags’

While another replied: ‘You are an everyday hero. It’s these little things that can give people a lift!’

Someone else joked: ‘Are you working at a bank now and if so which branch?’

Another asked if any customers had realised what Cody had done for them.

The former employee responded: ‘The location was mostly drive-thru so not that I can remember, but I’d like to imagine they went home, saw the extra nug, and smiled a little,’

In a reply on Twitter, Cody said that he had calculated that he owed Ronald McDonald roughly ‘about $1,600.’

What a legend.

The news comes after the fast food giant announced last week that it would be extending its breakfast opening hours by half an hour – starting this Wednesday.

MORE: McDonald’s is extending its breakfast opening hours – starting next week

MORE: An espresso martini bar is coming to London – with chocolate and orange or nutty flavours

MORE: You can get a Boots meal deal for £1.99 this week

The best NYE parties to celebrate the end of 2019

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Fireworks over Tower Bridge in London on New Year's Eve
Celebrate the end of 2019 in style (Picture: Getty)

It’s been a tough year (Brexit, we’re looking at you) but that’s all the more reason to celebrate the end of 2019 in style.

From the decadent and expensive to the affordable and quirky, there’s something for everyone.

We know you’re probably busy planning for Christmas right now, but the best parties sell out quickly.

To help you on your way, we’ve put together a list of our five favourite events (and one of them costs as little as £3 per person).

The quirky one

A photo from a NYC-themed New Year's Eve party at Battersea Evolution
It’s almost like being in Times Square (Picture: Design My Night/Battersea Evolution)

Do you dream of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square, while watching the infamous ball drop at midnight?

This party may well be the second best thing, hosted this side of the pond.

Battersea Evolution, the event venue in the middle of Battersea Park, will be transformed into a NYC mecca, complete with a fake subway and a yellow cab parked in the middle of the room.

The fun starts from the moment you walk through the private entrance, decorated with snow-topped trees and twinkling lights, as bell hops guide you through the lobby.

Don’t be surprised if you smell roasted chestnuts in the air.

As for the entertainment, there will be a 12ft circular stage with acts performing throughout the night, as well as a DJ on the decks.

Where: Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park

Ticket price: £190 (includes unlimited house wine, beer, cider and soft drinks)

The luxurious one

Fireworks over a bridge in London during New Year's Eve
The best view of the London fireworks can be seen from Sky Bar (Picture: Sky Bar)

Be prepared to splash the cash if you want to celebrate at Sky Bar, but rest assured – it’s worth it.

The party is hosted across two floors with different themes.

Don your finest, glittering outfit as you head to the 28th floor, where it’s ‘Cabaret Extravaganza’, with a spin on Moulin Rouge, featuring ‘seductive burlesque showgirls’ and a ‘cheeky boylesque performer’.

On the 29th floor, enjoy ‘Decadence Defined’ with food stalls serving luxury dishes and three bars with unlimited booze flowing throughout the night (included in the ticket price).

At midnight, ring in the New Year on the outdoor heated viewing platform, while sipping on complimentary Dom Perignon and getting a prime view of the capital’s fireworks.

The party will run for 12 hours, starting at 6pm, but if you need a break, there’s a 300-seat cinema at your disposal with complimentary truffle popcorn.

Each guest will also get a survival kit goodie bag for the dreaded New Year’s Day hangover.

Where: Sky Bar, Millbank

Ticket price: £220-£650

The fancy dress one

People dressed in 1920s clothes in a speakeasy venue
Time to get the flapper dress out (Picture: The Candlelight Club)

True to its 1920s theme, The Candlelight Club pop-up party will be held in a secret location in Central London.

It will be a low-key but busy evening, complete with live jazz music, cabaret variety shows, burlesque, acrobatics and fortune tellers.

The venue will also be completely lit by candles, so you can loosen those inhibitions.

Sure, your flapper dress might catch on fire, but what’s a speakeasy visit without some potential danger?

Get a cheap entry ticket for drinks and dancing or add on a three-course menu for a few extra pounds. You can also reserve a table if you’re going with a big group.

Gatsby would approve.

Where: The Candlelight Club, secret location

Ticket price: £25-£150

The super cheap one

A room at the Star of Bethnal Green pub
The boozer is hosting a ‘house party of epic proportions’ (Picture: Design My Night/The Star of Bethnal Green

New Year’s Eve is known for being one of the most expensive nights of the year, but it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re not bothered about the glitz and glam, and just want a really good night out in a decent venue with a ticket price that won’t have you eating noodles all of January, here you go.

The Star of Bethnal Green is transforming itself from local boozer to a ‘house party of epic proportions’ with ‘booze, beds, beer baths and kitchen seshes’.

Dubbed, ‘New Year, Who Dis?’, the bar will be stocked with nostalgic drinks to take you back to your student years with Smirnoff Ice, Hooch and WKD blue on offer.

Meanwhile U OK HUN? drag trash queens will supply the tunes.

Where: The Star of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green

Ticket price: £3-£10

The cool one

New Year's Eve at the Natural History Museum in London
Dance under Hope the blue whale (Picture: The Natural History Museum/Design My Night)

Ever dreamed of roaming a museum at night? Here’s your chance.

The theme for the National History Museum’s bash in 2019 is ‘Creatures of the Night’, with ‘wild activities’ planned for party-goers.

Make nocturnal animal masks and explore the galleries while you sip on cocktails, break out the moves on the dance floor to a Massaoke band and listen to the DJ spin tunes all night long.

You could also play musical bingo or cover yourself in UV body paint and dance under the huge, man-made moon in the silent disco room.

Where: The Natural History Museum, South Kensington

Ticket price: £99, with concessions for members (£89)

The chilled one

Mr Fogg's in London
Less rave, more classy drinks night (Picture: Mr Fogg’s Residence)

If an all-night rave doesn’t appeal, why not indulge in sumptuous cocktails at a decadent gin parlour?

It’ll still be a party, but the kind where you won’t be rolling around on the floor at midnight.

Have two Hendrick’s gin cocktails – included in the ticket price – dig into some petits fours and let yourself be entertained by the venue’s very own magician.

At midnight, guests are treated to a complimentary glass of Moët & Chandon champagne.

Once you’re feeling merry and more inclined to let loose, you could always pop downstairs and continue the party in Fanny & Fogg’s.

Where: Mr Fogg’s Gin Parlour, Covent Garden

Ticket price£55

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MORE: Designated drivers can get a free Coca Cola, Diet Coke or alcohol-free Heineken at over 1,000 UK pubs throughout the Christmas period


You can now get glow-in-the-dark Christmas bedding

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Glow in the dark Christmas sheets from Terrys Fabrics
It glows! (Picture: Terrys Fabrics)

Christmas is just around the corner, which means it’s time to pick up your annual decorations (if you’re not going to reuse the ones from last year).

Beyond the usual tree, wreaths and twinkling lights, why not get something festive for the kids’ bedroom this year?

Terrys Fabrics has released a Christmas duvet set with a jolly design of a winter village, covered in snow and with Father Christmas flying up above.

Sure, it’s pretty, but there’s a special twist that makes it absolutely magical – and one that children will love.

When you turn the lights off, the bedding will light up: it glows in the dark.

‘Children will adore this traditional Christmas style duvet set with deep blues, snow falling, Santa’s sleigh flying through the air and Christmas tree,’ the description on the website reads.

‘This fun bedding set has matching pillowcases, the duvet will be the talk amongst friends with its glow in the dark motifs.’

It’s also the perfect way to help children who are afraid of the dark to give up their night light.

While the product is aimed at a younger audience, there’s nothing stopping you from buying it for that friend or family member who loves Christmas.

At the affordable price of £18.99 for a double set, it could even be a gift for the secret Santa round at the office.

The single is a bit cheaper, at £12.99 but both options come with two pillowcases.

Shoppers love the item, with five-star reviews across the board (though there are only three reviews, so take the recommendations with a pinch of salt).

In other news, if you haven’t bought your Christmas tree yet and dread the mess from the pine needles, try this genius hack.

A mum created a super cheap tree with the help of two pieces of wood and fake fir, and then attached it to her wall.

Not only will it save her from having to clean up after the holidays, but the kids won’t knock it over when playing, either.

MORE: The best NYE parties to celebrate the end of 2019

MORE: Mum creates genius hack for affordable Christmas tree that kids can’t knock over

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Crystals and meditation: The hottest holistic trends for 2020

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Multiple semi precious gemstones on wooden board
Working with crystals is meant to intensify your intentions (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

2019 has been the year of wellness. We now realise that health is so much more than simply going to the gym a few times every week – we take a much more holistic approach.

That means looking at our health in terms of the whole package; from our physical fitness, to our diet, stress levels and state of mind.

So what are going to be the big holistic trends next year? Will we still be obsessed with all things mindfulness? What about our love-affair with meditation?

We asked the specialist Claire Taylor from at health advisory brand Civilized Health to reveal what the popular wellness activities are likely to be in 2020.

Crystal healing 

Celebrities such as Adele, Katy Perry, Victoria Beckham and Miranda Kerr have all spoken of their love of crystal healing.

Their rise in popularity is confirmed as the term ‘crystal healing’ has seen a 263 per cent uplift in worldwide Google searches within the last year.

The popularity of crystals is soaring. People who work with crystals believe that the stones hold a line of frequency that emit vibrations. Working with specific crystals will see that your body realigns in order to match the vibrations of the crystal.

Working with crystals that match your personal goals (for instance career, love or wealth) will intensify your intention and ensure that your intention evolves into a reality.

If crystal healing is something that you would like to adopt into your everyday routine, I recommend carving out some time in order to establish what your goals are in each area of your life.

Then, commit to researching which crystals align with your intentions for instance, Rose Quartz can encourage peace and healing whereas Citrine emits wealth and prosperity.

Carry the crystal along with your intention and use it as a tool to focus and realign your energy.

I predict that 2020 will also see a rise in people working with the earth’s moon cycles and aligning their crystal work with these phases.

Acupressure mats 

Acupressure mat
The mats can erase tension and ignite a deep sense of relaxation (Picture: Yogi Bare)

I am, personally, a huge advocate for acupressure mats and general interest in the product is growing.

‘Acupressure mat UK’ has received a 294 per cent rise in Google searches in the last year alone.

The acupressure mat is essentially a sheet that holds tiny plastic ‘spikes’ that replicate the needles used within the practice of acupuncture.

The mats can erase tension and ignite a deep sense of relaxation. They are especially popular with those who experience aches and pains in their back and the ever-growing situation of tech neck.

Laying on the mat for a short time can provide the same remedies as acupuncture, without the use of needles. I strongly recommend wearing clothing when using the mat for the first few times as it can be painful.

Initially, lay on the mat for a total of five minutes at a time. Once this becomes less painful, increase the time spent on the mat until you reach a maximum of 30 minutes.

Do not be afraid to use the mat multiple times throughout the day instead of in one block.

Meditation 

Mature woman sitting cross-legged on couch with eyes closed, meditating at home
Meditation requires participants to focus on breathing and focus (Picture: Getty)

The past year has seen an undeniable rise in mindfulness and breathing apps alike.

Many of us live in a fast-paced environment where we are striving for success in our perspective fields whist attempting to achieve the somewhat allusive work life balance. It is therefore no surprise that ‘meditation’ has seen a 136 per cent rise in Google searches.

Many believe that practicing meditation means that you have to dedicate endless hours to sitting in a room in silence. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The beauty of meditation is that it can be practiced anytime, anywhere.

Meditation reduces cortisol levels in the brain, which lowers stress levels and anxiety. Migraine sufferers also report that meditation eases and, in some instances, prevents symptoms.

Meditation requires participants to focus on breathing and focus. The mind is likely to wander. Instead of aiming to prevent this, notice where your thoughts go and retrieve focus back to your centre.

With practice, your mind will wander less and less.

We are often so focused on getting through the day that we rarely stop in order to reflect on how we feel. Practicing meditation in short spurts throughout the day presents the opportunity to asses how you feel and disperse of negative energy and improve concentration.

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Nearly 20% of people in the UK are walking around with a smashed phone, says study

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smashed phone screens
A familiar sight (Picture: Getty)

Anyone who has owned a smartphone will know the pain of dropping it and watching the screen shatter into a thousand pieces.

But new research has found that a fifth of the 1,071 people surveyed have a cracked screen.

The survey, carried out by Protect Your Bubble, found that one in six had a screen so cracked that they struggled to read on it.

Half of those with severely cracked screens also admitted that it hurt for them to touch their screen – due to glass splinters.

Ouch.

There were some interesting findings, in terms of age, too.

According to the data, 16-24 year-olds were three times more likely to drop their phones than over 55s.

It also found that men were more likely to get their phones fixed within the first week of breaking it – 40% of men said they would do so, compared to just 31% of women.

What’s more, being drunk often plays a role in phone damage – with 8% confessing they dropped their phone whilst they were drinking.

This rises to 17% amongst 25-34 year-olds.

James Brown, director of gadget insurance provider at Protect Your Bubble, said: ‘Considering that the smartphone has become such a huge part of our everyday life, and the workhorse of the gadget world, it’s surprising that so many of us are happy to soldier on with cracked screens that are barely readable and in many cases painful to touch.

‘Maybe an obstructed view is not such an issue when texting or calling, but we also use our smartphones for day-to-day tasks such as paying bills, bank account transfers, online shopping and in car sat navs, when a clear view may be more critical.’

six million people in the UK are walking around with a smashed phone
Does this resemble your phone? (Picture: Getty)

Phone protection

The study also found that more than half (52%) said they spent less than a tenner on a phone case, and a third said they spent less than £5.

Figures which seem somewhat surprising considering how much smartphones are worth.

When it comes to repairs, taking out insurance is the best way to cut the costs. Many companies cover left and loss, too.

Applying a clear screen protector is also another great way to help minimise damage.

What to do if a phone smashes?

Most insurance companies offer screen repairs for accidental damage.

Otherwise, there are plenty of shops which offer one-off screen repairs. Prices tend to vary depending on the model.

It’s also worth making sure that the repair – carried out by either an insurer or a retailer – will not invalidate your phone’s warranty.

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You can now get paid to eat Christmas afternoon tea in the Lake District

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Festive afternoon tea at The Daffodil in Grasmere
(Picture: The Daffodil)

If you love Christmas and fancy scoring some extra cash ahead of December, then you’re in luck.

There’s a new job up for grabs, and it involves stuffing your face full of savoury and sweet treats themed after the festive holiday.

The Daffodil hotel in Lake District is offering the chance for one person to become to become a taste tester for its luxury festive afternoon tea.

Not only will you get paid £100 to eat and drink, but you’ll also get a complimentary night’s stay in the hotel for yourself and a plus one, complete with stunning views of the lake.

As part of the trip, you and your guest will also have access to the hotel’s spa and have the chance to potter about the village of Grasmere.

There’s only one small catch – you’ll have to pay for the journey to the Lake District yourself.

But then again, you could consider this a mini holiday and use the money that you’ll make towards the flight, right?

Once your visit is over, you’ll have to give a detailed account of the afternoon tea to the pastry chef, and the menu sounds pretty delicious.

Feast on turkey and bacon sliders, brie and cranberry tarts and chicken parfait liver cones, before indulging in serrano and cream cheese mille-feuille and beetroot and goat’s cheese scones.

As for the sweet side of the dishes, there’s red velvet and peppermint whoopie pies, roasted cashew and mandarin financiers, a chocolate and pistacho Christmas tree, a coconut snowman and more.

No afternoon tea is complete without a cuppa and some bubbly, both of which are included in your experience.

So, how can you score this dream gig?

No need to write a cover letter on how you are a scone master or cake fiend, all you have to do is fill in the application on the hotel’s website by 22 November.

The winner will be picked at random and announced on 25 November.

If you don’t get the job, you could always take inspiration from the menu and make your very own afternoon tea at home.

MORE: Mum creates genius hack for affordable Christmas tree that kids can’t knock over

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Couple quit jobs, sell house and spend £65,000 on round the world trip with their kids

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***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***(L-R) Andre, 45, Rico, 12, Tiana-Mae,10, and Becky, 44, outside the home they sold in Cape Town to fund their trip. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
The family when their house was sold (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

With a job as a stock market trader, Andre Baldeo, 45, was making a good wage and he thought he was happy.

But when he realised he was just trapped in the daily grind, he decided to uproot his whole family and travel the world.

In a bid to show kids, Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, ten, there was ‘more to life than suburbia’, he convinced wife Becky, 44, to quit their jobs and sell their house.

They sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.

They travelled 51,000 miles across 13 countries in South America and Asia, visiting 48 cities, staying in hotels, youth hostels and jungle lodges.

They swapped days at school and work for stints conserving turtles, working on farms and even football coaching, ‘home-schooling’ the kids along the way.

Now back home they are unemployed and living in rented accommodation – but said the £65,000 trip was worth every penny.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***(L-R) Andre, 45, Rico, 12, Becky, 44, and Tiana-Mae,10, at Machu Pichu, June 2019. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Andre, Rico, Becky and Tiana-Mae,10, at Machu Pichu, June 2019 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

Andre, from Enfield, north London, said: ‘It was time for a change and I rehashed one of my life long dreams to Becky – to travel the world and experience as much as we could as a family of four.

‘It really hit home how we have to make the most of our lives.

‘Working long hours stuck in front of six monitor screens, studying graphs and looking at news can become very lonely and extremely depressing. It became suffocating.

‘It was completely life-changing and incredibly inspiring but it was the scariest thing I’ve ever had to do.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***(L-R) Becky, 44, homeschooling Rico, 12, in the Philippines, June 2018. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Becky homeschooling Rico in the Philippines, June 2018 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

‘We broke down all the security we had at home and gave up everything.

‘I do feel proud to have done it and it is the best £65,000 I have ever spent.

‘We now have the most amazing memories to keep forever and nothing will change that.

‘I gave up our family home and I don’t regret it for a second.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19*** Rico, 12, parasailing in Colombia, April 2019. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Rico parasailing in Colombia, April 2019 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

‘It was the trip of a lifetime and coming back home has been very strange. It’s going to take a while for us to get used to normal life again.

‘I know when on my deathbed, I’ll have a head full of amazing experiences and memories and won’t have any regrets to what we sacrificed to make them happen.’

Andre and Becky met in London, where he was working as a trader and Becky as a PA.

They moved to Cape Town in South Africa, where Becky was from in 2007.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19*** (Top) Rico,12. (Bottom L-R) Becky, 44, Andre, 45, and Tiana-Mae, 10. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Rico, (Bottom L-R) Becky, Andre and Tiana-Mae (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

Rico and Tiana-Mae came along and the family had a comfortable lifestyle with Andre earning around £35,000 a year.

But in September 2016, Andre said he realised he was sick of this rut and he started to think about making a change.

He finally decided to change his life when he heard a close friend in the UK who had a brain tumour had been given a matter of weeks to live.

During 18 months of planning, they sold their Cape Town home and put all their belongings into storage.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19*** (L-R) Andre Baldeo, 45, with daughter Tiana-Mae, 10, in front, Rico, 12, and Becky, 44, in Huacachina, Peru, May 2019. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
The family in Huacachina, Peru, May 2019 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

When they set off, they had no idea how long it would last but they started with a one-way flight to Sarawak, in Borneo, in April 2018.

Andre said they planned their route as they went along, including trips to Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

‘Another volunteering opportunity arose in Japan, this time for me to dust of my boots and help to coach football at an academy”, said Andre.

‘We lived with a Japanese family who had three small children.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***(L-R) Becky, 44, takes Tiana-Mae, 10, for a ride in Pai, Thailand, November 2018. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Becky takes Tiana-Mae for a ride in Pai, Thailand, November 2018 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

‘Food and board were provided in exchange for our help – me coaching football, and Becky helping around the house.

‘Christmas was spent in Tokyo with an old friend of mine and his family, from my home town Enfield, North London.’

In February the family flew to Colombia and spent five weeks working at a foundation with local children.

After two months they flew to Ecuador for three weeks walking up volcanoes, exploring the Amazon and hiking in the Andes.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***(L-R) Andre, 45, and Becky, 44, at the Carnaval de Santa Marta in Colombia, March 2019. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Andre and Becky, 44, at the Carnaval de Santa Marta in Colombia, March 2019 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

The last leg of the journey took the Baldeo’s down the eastern side of South America with visits to Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

Their last calling point was San Jose, in Costa Rica, where they boarded a plane back home, arriving back in Cape Town on October 29.

The family had an amazing time but Andrew says it wasn’t always easy.

He said: ‘A lot of people think that this way of life is glamorous and essentially a glorified holiday.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19***Andre, 45, on the Death Road in Bolivia, June 2019. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
Andre on the Death Road in Bolivia, June 2019 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

‘It is very difficult being together, just the four of us 24/7. No one gets any personal space at all.

‘My guilty pleasure when we packed our rucksacks to come away was my running shoes, so thankfully I got away for some time alone a few times a week.

‘Becky’s guilty pleasure was her hair straighteners – but she has only used them once.

***EMBARGOED UNTIL 2PM 17/11/19*** (L-R) Rico, 12, Becky, 44, Andre, 45, and Tiana-Mae, 10, leaving Cape Town, April 2018. Andre Baldeo, 45, and his wife Becky, 44, gave up the rat race, sold their ?350,000 home, and took their two kids Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, on a 51,000 miles, 13 country world travel tour. See SWNS story SWOCtravel. A couple bored of the ?9-5 working life rut? quit their jobs and sold their ?350,000 family home to travel the world with their young kids. Stock market trader Andre Baldeo, 45, was happy and healthy but realised he was simply "going through the motions" rather than living life to the full. In a bid to show kids , Rico, 12, and Tiana-Mae, 10, there was "more to life than suburbia", he convinced wife Becky, 44, to uproot the entire family. They both quit their jobs, sold their belongings and bought a one-way ticket for an 18-month trip of a lifetime.
The family leaving Cape Town, April 2018 (Picture: Andre Baldeo /SWNS.COM)

‘To be honest living out of bags, having cold showers, long bus journeys and constantly moving and not having familiar surroundings got draining.

‘But the amazing experiences that we had to cancel out the negatives.

‘We realised we were coming towards the end after about a year and four months.

‘We were getting very tired and planned our way back home.’

MORE: You can now get paid to eat Christmas afternoon tea in the Lake District

MORE: Crystals and meditation: The hottest holistic trends for 2020

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