When you press your nails together, do you see a tiny diamond-shaped window of light?

The test is used to check for the early warning signs of lung cancer.

The idea is that if you don’t have the ‘diamond gap’, you could have finger clubbing, which can be a symptom of the condition.

According to Cancer Research, finger clubbing happens in 35% of people with non-small cell lung cancer, and 4% of those with small cell lung cancer.

Finger clubbing means the base of the nail bed softens and the skin next to the nail becomes shiny.

The ends of the fingers might also get larger.

But one of the easiest ways of spotting it is looking for curved nails from the side, which is where the ‘diamond gap’ test comes in.

If you put your hands up in front of you and push the tips of your index fingers against each other, then bend the tops of your fingers so the nails touch.

If there is a small diamond shape, it is called Schamroth’s window and the nails are not clubbed.

Last year, Jean Taylor revealed that she discovered she had lung cancer after her daughter became concerned about her curved nails.

Of course, not having the window does not mean you definitely have lung cancer but if you think your nails are clubbed, speak to your doctor.

Other symptoms of lung cancer include a cough that doesn’t go away after two or three weeks and gets worse; recurrent chest infections; coughing up blood; pain when breathing or coughing; breathlessness; ack of energy; loss of appetite; unexplained weight loss.

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When your wedding is over, you want lots of pictures to remind you of your big day.

But would you trust your professional photographer to ditch the fancy camera and capture everything on a smartphone?

One couple did just that and the photographs are stunning.

Holly Eeles, 26, and James Sherris, 34, had a classic winter wedding for 70 guests in the Lake District – and photographer Ian Weldon used a P30 Pro smartphone from Huawei to snap everything.

He said: ‘In most instances, photographers would have at least two cameras, multiple lenses, and lighting equipment.

‘But having shot Holly and James’s wedding exclusively on the P30 Pro, I can safely say it is also possible to capture an entire wedding on a smartphone.

‘My usual photography style is capturing candid moments, and using a mobile allowed me to move around and capture moments that would have been more difficult if using a traditional DSLR.”

Holly and James said: ‘We were nervous about swapping a professional camera for a smartphone to capture our wedding.

‘But we were totally blown away by the quality of the photos – we couldn’t be happier with how they turned out.

‘Being photographed by a smartphone also felt so natural.

‘We barely even noticed Ian was there, capturing so many of the small, candid moments which are so special to look back on.’

It follows research by Huawei that showed 35% of married Brits have regrets about how their traditional wedding photos turned out and 39% said they preferred images taken by guests on smartphones.

Justin Costello, from Huawei UK & Ireland, said: ‘What better way to showcase the photography capabilities of our P30 Pro than put it to the ultimate test – a real life wedding.

‘The resulting images are a testament to the handset’s revolutionary technology and Leica Quad Camera System, that allows you to capture every detail and colour of life’s most precious moments.’

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You’ve probably seen all the reminders to register to vote (deadline is tonight, get registering, people). But one man is spreading the message via somewhat unorthodox means – dating apps.

Independent advertising agency employee Raafaye Ali is targeting Muslim women on dating apps such as Minder and Bumble to remind them to register.

The 29-year-old has been sliding into the DMs of different people on various apps to make sure this demographic doesn’t miss out.

And where he is met with voter apathy, Raafaye has tried to present facts and stats to get his matches to think otherwise.

The West Londoner feels it’s especially important for Muslim women to vote and engage in politics if they aren’t already as their absence can have serious consequences.

‘I was concerned about the fact there were large Muslim communities who can make a huge difference,’ Raafaye explained to Metro.co.uk

‘The idea came about because I wondered how can you reach people outside of your bubble, who are far more willing to have a real conversation.

‘I work in the creative industry where there aren’t many ethnic minorities so the likelihood of me connecting with Muslims to talk about politics is unlikely.

‘I thought how could I connect with my community and get them to consider voting?’

And thus the dating app idea was born.

He added that apathetic citizens may not be aware of how political their daily lives are, citing that we’re born through accessible healthcare, have access to education and so on.

Talking to the Muslim platform Amaliah, Raafaye added that he has ways to make politics appealing to the otherwise indifferent.

‘The ones who say they aren’t political I just try to make it as relatable as possible, show how it fundamentally shapes so many aspects of their life to hopefully make them reconsider how they do have opinions and those opinions are worthy.

‘I do a lot of editorial illustration which is about explaining something through a visual image to make it ready to talk about, terminology and jargon really switches people off so it’s so important to make sure it’s accessible and why not on a dating app where you naturally more likely to talk to someone rather than a stranger on the tube.’

So unless you want Raafaye to slide into your DMs, don’t forget to register to vote.

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As a disabled woman, I’ve sadly become somewhat immune to overt forms of aggression and discrimination.

I almost expect the lift to be out of service whilst shopping. I also acknowledge that my work prospects are diminished in comparison to my non-disabled peers, and that it’s highly likely I will be abandoned on a train without a ramp because assistance has ‘forgotten’ about me.

Having regularly faced these obstacles over the years I’ve learnt to navigate through them, in my own way. That’s not to say they don’t enrage and frustrate me to the point where I want to scream, of course. I do most of my shopping online nowadays to avoid any inaccessibility on the high street, and I work freelance, thus creating my own job opportunities. This has helped me regain some autonomy over my life.

Other forms of aggression, however, I’ve yet to figure out how to manage quite so well. I’m talking about those subtle negative acts or comments I experience daily.

For example, there’s the countless times I’ve been referred to as ‘inspirational’ simply for existing. There’s the constant patting of my head, or high-fives from people that feel awkward around my disability.

And, of course, patronising comments like ‘now, don’t go speeding’ (referring to my wheelchair), or the ‘do you live alone?’ question, often followed by a shocked face when I answer ‘yes’.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Xd_BqFbPH/

Then there’s the receptionist not standing up when she addresses me from behind a desk that is far too high for me to see over, or the flyer distributor promoting a gym who ignores me because they assume that disabled people don’t keep fit.

The most recent example of this occurred when I took my kitten to the vet. The vet asked if I was capable of signing the consent form for her operation, because presumably being in a wheelchair means I cannot write. 

I’ve often had medical professionals talk to my PA (personal assistant) rather than me, even though it’s me that is going to be having the procedure.

These are all acts that are often referred to as ‘microaggressions’.

Simply put, microaggressions are daily reminders of common oppression and negative stereotypes  which over time can chip away at an individual and can become internalised.

Dr Amy Kavanagh, who is visually impaired, expresses her experience of microaggressions as unwanted touching or ‘forced help’, along with a patronising tone of voice or pitying language. ‘I even have people coo at me or pet me when they talk to me,’ she says. ‘They’ll keep rubbing my arm when they talk to me, or talk to me loud and slow like I’m a child’.

The trouble is, these microaggressions don’t necessarily come from a place of malice. Rather, it’s a place of ignorance. Many people are unaware that they are being ableist, which makes it very difficult for the recipient to challenge. 

The one time I challenged someone, I ended up somehow feeling bad. A doctor’s surgery receptionist repeatedly ignored me and spoke to my PA, so in frustration, I said rather abruptly, ‘I’m the patient, you need to speak to me!’

This resulted in the lengthy queue of people behind me suddenly going dead quiet. All eyes were on me, except for those of the receptionist, who didn’t know where to look. My intention wasn’t to embarrass him, but his actions had made me feel so inferior. 

Disabled people aren’t on this earth for the rest of society’s personal development

I appreciate it’s going to take society time to undo years of indoctrination. Negative stereotypes towards those with disabilities have been deeply embedded, but if we do indeed live in a ‘woke’ world, then ignorance is no longer a valid reason to have these outdated and harmful views towards disabled people.

I would never discourage healthy curiosity and eagerness to learn about how others live, but disabled people aren’t on this earth for the rest of society’s personal development. 

There are ways to explore your curiosity without causing offence. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask someone how they can drive a car if they are disabled if you’re unaware of the fact that cars can be modified – but don’t then end the conversation by saying, ‘Bless, good for you!’

My advice is simply this: if you wouldn’t say or do it to a stranger on the street, then why say or do it to someone with a disability?

Show empathy and compassion. Simply put, how would you feel if your doctor, teacher, or cashier didn’t even acknowledge your existence, instead choosing to speak only to your friend or partner? 

How would you feel if you heard a stranger saying they would rather be dead than live your life? 

Living life while being constantly bombarded by these microaggressions chips slowly away at self-esteem and confidence.

It’s important to remember that in fact, we are all guilty of microaggressions, no matter who we are. We can only continuously learn about and from others who share different life experiences from our own in order to avoid these unintentional yet potentially harmful interactions.

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Mum Melissa Ostroth practices natural term weaning, meaning she lets her children decide when they want to stop breastfeeding.

For the lactation consultant from Ohio, that means her two toddlers, four-year-old Emilia and two-year-old Wrenly still choose to be breastfed.

Melisssa always knew she would breastfeed her children after seeing her own mother do so with her brothers during childhood – but sadly, not everyone likes the concept.

In fact, Melissa has received some horrible messages on her Instagram where she shares her parenting journey.

She’s even received death threats after choosing over the last five years.

She has had just one three-month break while she was pregnant with Wrenly as Emilia didn’t like the taste of the colostrum that forms before breast milk is produced.

Since that short hiatus, Melissa now breastfeeds on demand, which can be anywhere between six to 10 times per day.

She hopes to be an inspiration to other mums to show them that they shouldn’t feel ashamed of breastfeeding their children past the age of one year.

She explained: ‘Breastmilk provides all the immunoglobulins the immune system takes to develop, which takes around five years.

‘Why? Because we were designed to continue breastfeeding past infancy. Aside from health benefits, breastfeeding is more than just food. It is comfort, a natural anti-anxiety, a sleep aid, natural anxiety, and a bonding love.’

Revealing how she prefers extended breastfeeding has meant she has received both positive and negative feedback on social media.

She added: ‘I receive many negative comments, even death threats and requests that I kill myself. The internet can be rough, but the positives keep me going.

‘In today’s society it seems the majority are uneducated and do not understand natural term weaning, although we’ve been doing this since the beginning of time.

‘Society has a tendency to sexualise extended breastfeeding or have the idea that it’s all for the mother’s own benefit.’

Melissa is dedicated to practicing natural term weaning but said breastfeeding a toddler is a new challenge.

‘Some (like mine) will want to continue to breastfeed every two to three hours. Although these sessions tend to be shorter, they tend to be rougher and the child is more easily distracted,’ she said.

‘Just like any child they will also want to nurse at inconvenient times, they just happen to be much bigger and vocal. With an older child, you usually have to instil boundaries which can be hard.

‘There are so many opinions surrounding natural term weaning. Many mothers hide the fact they are still breastfeeding.

‘I want mothers to know they are not alone, to remind them of the benefits, why they should feel comfortable to continue to breastfeed and give them some answers they can tell others who ask them about it.

‘It’s ok to want to continue to breastfeed past infancy,’ she adds.

‘It’s not taboo, it’s not unnatural, and it’s not selfish. Our child still has a need and we are responding to that.’

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Unplanned pregnancies can be scary. Especially when it comes to telling your partner.

It can be hard if you’ve never spoken about it happening, and therefore you have no idea how they’ll react.

And even harder if you already know the answer – but it’s not the answer that you want.

The best outcome you could possibly wish for is a supportive partner who will be there for you no matter what – but sadly that’s not always the case.

We spoke to six women about how their partners reacted to their unplanned pregnancies – and here’s what they said.

My partner left me

‘When I told my partner I was expecting a second baby soon after the first, they left me, and haven’t had anything to do with my babies since.

‘They never paid anything, haven’t met them, and I struggled because I couldn’t understand why he couldn’t love my children.

‘I felt lonely, scared and upset – as if I was being accused of doing something wrong.’

My baby was the result of an affair with a married man

‘My second daughter was a surprise. She was the result of an affair with a married man.

‘I called him, and he flipped out and started telling people I had a revolving door, I slept around and that the baby wasn’t his.

‘So I called his wife. He still doesn’t know that it was me that called her.

‘It took three years to get the paternity test to prove he was the dad. My daughter is 24 now, and they do have a relationship.’

We were just friends

‘My first pregnancy was unplanned and I wasn’t dating the guy. We were friends, so I told him I was pregnant upon finding out and he said: “Well that sucks”, and walked out.

‘I only heard from him a year and a half later when I sued him for child support.

‘My baby is almost nine now. He and his dad are friends, but there is no parent-child bond at all.’

I was on the pill and using condoms

‘I had a really strong feeling I was pregnant, but it happened while on the pill and using condoms – so I convinced myself I was being silly and that there was such a slim chance, there was no way… but my body felt different.

‘So I took my pill break and waited for the withdrawal blood, but it never came.

‘I took a test 24 hours after my period was meant to come, and saw 2-3 weeks pregnant flashing on the test.

‘I wasn’t surprised, because deep down I knew, but I was shocked given the number of precautions I take. I knew immediately I wasn’t going to go through with the pregnancy, as I’d discussed this a lot with my partner.

‘Telling him was okay. We were both shocked, but because we’d had that conversation and open communication, it was more about chatting about the emotional aspect of it, rather than the practical.

‘After a couple of lengthy & heavy conversations about how we felt now that I was pregnant, rather than just talking about it hypothetically, we decided to not go through with it as we’d always planned.

‘It was much harder for me to make that decision than I thought it would be – only because when it’s a hypothetical, it seems easy.

‘But when it’s happening, your hormones are all over the place and you’re so emotionally invested in your partner… It made it a much more emotionally difficult decision to make than I expected.

‘But it was 100% the right thing to do in my situation, and I don’t regret it at all.’

My partner was over the moon

‘My partner was over the moon when I told him. He was with his son when I found out and I called him because I was a wreck.

‘He said he’ll be home as soon as he can. I was crying sat on the bed because we’d discussed we’d wait until we’d bought a house so I didn’t think he’d be happy, but he held my hands with tears telling me I’m ruining the moment because he was happy.

‘He was amazing throughout my pregnancy, except for turning up hungover for the 12-week scan. My mental health was really bad during my pregnancy but he was there for me.

‘I was also on bed rest for three weeks towards the end due to complications. He visited me every day, bless him.

‘I had to have therapy sessions and he knew they would wipe me out and put me on edge. He had a little self-care routine ready for me when I got home, which was sweet.’

He went white and threw up

‘My pregnancy was completely unplanned. I was originally told I couldn’t have children naturally due to previous abdominal surgeries, and so I expected to go through IVF in the future and focus on my career instead.

‘But six months into a new relationship, I fell pregnant. Neither of us was expecting it to happen and were both shocked.

‘I’d only taken the test because I was a week late on my period, and my boobs had been hurting. My periods were pretty irregular anyway so I wasn’t too worried but decided to do one – expecting to see a negative result. However a big fat positive showed up within five seconds.

‘I didn’t know what to do so I just called my partner to come upstairs while I was still sat on the toilet and passed him the test. He went white and threw up.

‘At first, he was adamant he didn’t want to keep the baby because he felt he wasn’t ready, but he was supportive of me and said he would be there for me whatever I decided.

‘I decided to keep the baby, and I am so glad that I did. Four months later and we are expecting a little boy, who we are both absolutely in love with – and the dad is so glad I didn’t decide to get an abortion.’

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This humble fish and chip shop in York attracts a lot of visitors -, particularly from China.

Coach parties of tourists arrive weekly and the shop has had lots of coverage in Chinese media.

Now, Scotts Fish and Chips is opening another branch – in Chengdu, China.

The idea came about after Chinese businessman, Jimmy Yu, approached the shop’s owner, Tony Webster, about opening the new branch, where the food would be made to the original shop’s own recipe.

Tony attended the official opening in Chengdu over the weekend and said he was ‘genuinely surprised’ at how good the fish and chips was.

‘I was worried before I arrived but they are very, very good,’ he said. ‘The one thing from the beginning with Jimmy Yu, he wanted to be authentic.

‘You have to tweak the menu and the flavours to the local taste – so they have Sichuan sauce, for example, as well as ketchup – but the core product has to be the authentic fish and chips and they’ve done a bloody good job on that.’

The shop started attracting tourists when Tony translated his menu into Mandarin and established a presence on Chinese social media.

Soon, coach parties of tourists from China started arriving to eat there and he gained coverage in Chinese media.

Jimmy approached Tony about the proposal last December, and since then, they worked out a licensing agreement which saw Scotts’ first Chinese branch open less than a year later – with the potential of more to follow.

‘They are looking to roll it out across China with already talk of two or three more sites next year,” Tony said. “We’ve met the investors and had dinner, and they’re really excited. You never know, but it could be the start of a good partnership.’

Although the locals seem to be enjoying the food, there have thought about a few adjustments.

‘One of the things we’ve found in the UK and they’re finding here is the portion is too big,” Tony said. “I was talking to some customers on Saturday and there were two ladies sharing one portion, so they’re going to start doing a small portion.

‘They’re in veg oil at the minute but I’ve had words with them at the weekend to say, “look, you need to try and find some beef dripping out here”.’

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The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in this Leicestershire village.

Residents of Kegworth have been delighted by the appearance of wrapped Christmas presents, left by a secret Santa, dotted randomly throughout the village.

And they have taken to a local Facebook page to share pictures of the presents they have found and messages of gratitude for their mystery gifter.

The labels on the gifts are all signed off from ‘Kegworth’s Secret Santa’.

Josh Connor who wrote in a post that he had not been well recently, and that times had been ‘difficult’, so when he came across a small gift placed in Whatton Road he was over the moon.

He said he thinks the secret Santa might be a group of people rather than just one, but he can’t know for sure. One thing he does know though, is that whoever it is is proving that there is good in the world.

Lorrae Sunley found a gift on Derby Road, on a bench near the local chippy.

‘Thank you to the secret Santa me and my mum and son found this just near the chippy on the bench,’ she wrote after sharing a picture of the gift on Facebook. ‘Made a little boy very happy. What a lovely thing you are doing who ever you are.’

Ellie Fox, 22, found her present – which was a wrapped chocolate reindeer – on top of a wall while on her break at work.

‘I was on my lunch break at work and found it on the wall at first I thought someone had dropped a gift and then I read the tag and it was a random act of kindness for someone to find.

‘I went back to work and told all my colleagues about it and everyone agreed it was a lovely thing for someone to do, warmed our hearts.’

No one’s sure if the generous individual will continue leaving presents out all the way up until Christmas day, but the locals certainly hope so.

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If you need to earn a little extra cash for Christmas, this sounds like a great gig.

Instead of accidentally spending the money you set aside for Christmas presents on mulled wine, you could actually earn money for visiting Christmas markets.

Online exhibition platform ExpoCart.com is hiring someone as a Christmas Fair Tester – and you will be paid £50 an hour to do it.

You will need to travel around the UK, reviewing Christmas markets in England, Wales and Scotland.

All your travel expenses will be covered and you can even bring a friend with you to each one.

You need to be available to visit at least 10 markets between 6 and 24 December.

The role is open to any member of the public, as long as they are over the age of 18 years old, have a full UK driving license and a passion for all things Christmas-related.

You will be paid to attend each market for one hour and get spending money as well. Accommodation won’t be covered if you decide to stay overnight, though.

The successful candidate must be available to attend a different market up to three times a week, so the job role is perfect for students, retirees, unemployed people or those currently on leave from a full-time position.

The role will be open this week and they hope to choose the tester next week.

Jasmine Eilfield, co-founder and CPO of ExpoCart, said: ‘Christmas markets are one of the most popular attractions in the country, with thousands of people visiting them every day throughout the festive period.

‘So, with our upcoming expansion into the consumer markets and fairs sector, we decided to take advantage of all of the fairs currently running, and do some market research of our own.

‘Obviously we know this is a dream job for a lot of people, so we’re expecting a lot of applications. We’re excited to pick our Christmas Fair Tester and get them enjoying all of the Christmas fairs the UK has to offer!’

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We love a gift guide – particularly when it comes to buying for nans or dads or other impossible-to-buy-for family and friends.

Plus, it’s always handy to deviate from the classic book/bath bomb/book buying schedule that can easily become a habit.

When it comes to Goop’s annual gift guides, however, things get even crazier.

Fair play to the Goop team, they do acknowledge that many of the items in their guide are ridiculous – even devoting a full section to the fact.

But, heading through the lists of (as expected) supplements and facial oils, there are some extra-wild things to behold. We’ve compiled them here.

£54 salt

While this is a beautiful salt I’m sure, that is quite a hefty price tag.

Allegedly this one ‘adds mouth-watering salinity and texture’. That’ll be salt, then.

For £54, I could get 54 tubs of Himalayan sea salt from Poundland, so I’d really be banking a lot on the salinity of this stuff.

£80 crystal water bottle

A lot more people than ever before are using crystals for healing and general wellbeing.

That has extended to trying to infuse these crystals’ energy into everything from cleaning products to the very water we drink.

This smoky quartz one is apparently ideal for warding off bad vibes and cultivating serenity. Thank goodness really, I failed my last vibe check and didn’t feel very serene about it.

£65 massage bar

Damn Goop. Back at it again with the crystals.

This time, the shiny stones are set inside something called an ‘atelier bar’, which is a fancy name for a massage oil in solid form.

The ones without the crystals are £35, so if you’re not too bothered about the adult Kinder Egg element to this, you should opt for the cheaper version.

£33 toilet paper

How would you feel if someone handed you 24 rolls of toilet paper for Christmas?

Would you feel affronted that you spent hours in a hellish shopping mall looking for the perfect piece of jewellery for them, while all they could muster for you was knowing that you have human bodily functions? Or happy that they know you care about the planet and your A E S T H E T I C, and as a result want the best in recyclable bamboo loo roll?

Hopefully it’s the latter, because they’ve just spent £33 on those rolls.

£220 toilet footrest

Sadly not for sale in the UK, this addition to the gift guide does prove that team Goop have an obsession with what’s going on in your bathrooms.

Toilet stools are actually a good option for most people, as they allow you to sit in a better position to keep things flowing naturally.

Is £220 too high a price to pay for good digestive health? Who’s to say.

£250 ‘luxury’ fire extinguisher

Not sure about you, but the first thing we think of when we’re extinguishing fire is ‘is this chic enough?’

If the answer is no, we simply give up to avoid losing cool points.

This one is made of brass and costs hundreds of pounds, so you’ll never have that problem ever again.

£16,000 caviar

At £500 per serving, there’s no way anyone can accuse you of being a bad host if you serve up this hybrid caviar on Christmas day.

The Kaluga-Huso blend helps people get around the pesky laws that mean Beluga caviar is banned in the US, with the taste and texture they need but no annoying conversations with customs.

It lasts four weeks refrigerated, so you’ll have to stick some in your turkey curry or bubble and squeak on boxing day to get your money’s worth.

£130 automatic joint roller

Now weed is legal in many parts of the US, rich people have gone mad for the stuff, and it’s now pretty aspirational to be a stoner.

Not content with rolling joints themselves – or opting for those ropey rolling machines you get at the market – they’re spending a whole lot on paraphernalia to get the perfect blunt.

Be wary of these people, for they’ll undoubtedly give you a long spiel about sativa and indica that will make you wonder how something as seemingly cool as weed could become as boring as a science lesson.

£24 carry-on cocktail kit

Goopers love to party, and what’s more white-girl-wasted than a kit that helps you have margaritas on a plane?

Crack out the rimming salt and mini bar spoon on your Ryanair flight to Alicante and watch your new-found mates pour in from the seats nearby.

It beats a flat beer that costs £20 anyway.

£28 floral rolling papers

Nothing proves my point that rich people love weed now more than gentrified Rizlas.

A message on the site reads: ‘This product is intended for use with legal smoking herbs only. The buyer is solely responsible for knowing and duly abiding by their local laws in purchasing and using this product’.

No worries Goopy gang, the people that buy these papers will have purchased a batch of oregano from a guy on the street, so the only legal concerns are whether they can take their ‘dealer’ to small claims court for false advertising.

£1,480 marble four-in-a-row game

Is it any wonder that there’s a great divide in the western world when some people are waiting for Black Friday so they can buy their kid some presents, while others splash out thousands on something that often comes free in crackers.

We jest, of course, and this is actually a stunning addition to any home, but feels extremely gauche nonetheless.

Perhaps the worst part is that it’s now sold out, meaning there are multiple people in the world who thought this was a valuable use of their cash.

Anyway; Merry Christmas, and don’t forget your matcha powder shots and vagina steaming before the big day.

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If you are looking for some special lingerie for the festive season, Felicity Hayward has just launched a new range with Playful Promises.

The plus-size model and body positivity activist has created a range of designs in over 70 bra sizes.

Bras go from A to K, while girdles, bodies, suspender belts and the disco jumpsuit are available in sizes 8 to 26.

Felicity Hayward partnered with London-based Playful Promises, as she believes they share the same values in terms of design style, and the promotion of body positivity.

The brand creates pieces that are described as a ‘quirky, flirty and a little bit dirty’. In their main range, they offer 85 bra sizes and the only changes they make for those with bigger boobs, are strengthened bands/backs and thicker straps to ensure better support.

She said: ‘I wanted to create a lingerie range for everyone, so that no mater what your size or body type, you can be empowered to feel sexy. I’ve always loved Playful Promises for its wide size range, quirky designs and inclusive and diverse imagery, so to collaborate with them on this collection was an absolute dream.’

Emma Parker, Director of Playful Promises added: ‘We feel Felicity perfectly embodies our brand values of body confidence and self-love, and she’s helped created some fabulously sexy pieces that are designed to really give that wow factor – whatever your size.’

Prices start at £14, but there is currently 10% off the collection online.

It’s not the first time the brand has teamed up with influencers. In 2017, the range by US plus size influencer Gabi Fresh sold out in popular sizes within 24 hours.

They’ve also teamed up with plus size influencer Hunter McGrady, transgender actress Leyna Bloom and are running an on-going ‘Ageless Fashion’ campaign featuring models over 50.

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Deeba Syed is an activist, campaigner and sexual harassment lawyer. She has an Italian mum and a Pakistani dad, but she was brought up in London.

Deeba believes it’s vitally important that immigrants, like her parents, are afforded the opportunity to come to this country.

‘I think of myself as White/Asian – but I’m aware that this is an arbitrary box that I’ve been given, and I have come to identify myself using it,’ Deeba tells Metro.co.uk.

‘But it is important to me that I can identify as mixed. I’m quite light skinned and I have a Muslim name – I think it confuses people.’

Deeba hated her name when she was a child. She says it ‘othered’ her in a way that was hard to cope with while she was still coming to terms with who she was. But now, she says she’s incredibly proud of the name her parents chose for her.

‘If I didn’t have my name, people might not know that I was raised Muslim,’ she explains. ‘And that would be like a whole part of my life, a part of who I am, that would essentially be being erased. It is who I am.

‘I would never get rid of my name now. Even if I were to get married. It’s such an important way for me to celebrate my upbringing and my heritage.

‘I was brought up Muslim, and that’s really important to me – I want people to be able to recognise that immediately.’

But having a Muslim name has dealt Deeba a significant amount of discrimination too.

‘When I was trying to become a lawyer, I found it very difficult and I didn’t know why,’ she says. ‘I felt that there was a pressure to go back and get extra qualifications and get higher grades to compensate for that.

‘I would meet people in the industry who had similar academic backgrounds to me, but just seemed to be finding it so much easier.

‘It was hard to accept that I’m always just going to have this additional barrier because I have a Muslim name, and that conjures up… god-knows-what in people’s minds.’

Deeba feels that she has had to jump through more hoops than other people in order to progress at the same rate. She says it’s a common feeling for first generation kids.

‘I think all children of immigrants have it drilled into their heads that they have to work really, really hard, and that you should always feel so grateful for everything you’ve been given,’ she says.

‘Having a profession is something that I think all immigrant parents want for their kids. It’s this real symbol that you’ve made it, that you’ve become a “useful” part of this society.’

Deeba’s mum came to the UK from Italy when she was in her early 20s, she got a job working in a shop before meeting Deeba’s dad and starting a family.

‘I’m so proud of the amazing journey my parents went on to come to this country – to build a life and start in a family in a country where they didn’t even speak the language.

‘They had this fresh start at a completely new life, and this interracial marriage, which must have been so difficult for them back then. And then raising children from two completely different outlooks and backgrounds.’

Deeba’s mum is Catholic, and while bringing her kids up as a different religion to her must have been tough at times, Deeba says it was the language that was the hardest thing. She speaks Italian, while Deeba only speaks English.

‘I can’t imagine having children and speaking to them in another language,’ she tells us. ‘My mother tongue is not my mother’s tongue. I just can’t imagine it.

‘When you’re immigrants, I think you kind of expect that there is going to be a sacrifice, in order to give your kids a better life. Maybe some of your heritage is going to be lost for the sake of giving your kids something that you never had. That must’ve been really hard for both of them.

‘My parents came here when they were really young – with just a hope and a dream. It makes me so upset that the immigration rules now are changing so much that people like my parents might not get the same chance.’

Deeba says the current political landscape is a direct threat to families like hers, and she thinks the damage that could be caused by tougher immigration restrictions aren’t being acknowledged.

‘If Priti Patel gets her way, we will have a system where my dad and mum would never be able to make it into this country,’ says Deeba. ‘Which means that mixed-race kids like me won’t have a chance to contribute to this society. We can be just as valuable, and we won’t have the chance to prove that.’

Deeba says the hostility in the UK towards people from different backgrounds feels palpable at the moment. She says straddling the cross-section of being European and Muslim gives her an insight into the depth of these emotions.

‘The whole of the UK feels like it’s against my heritage right now. There is so much anti-Muslim sentiment everywhere. It’s on the news, we have people who wants to ban mosques, Muslim women in burqas are ‘letter boxes’ and ‘bank robbers’ – and that’s the Prime Minister saying that.

‘You can’t help but feel this sentiment is fed down from the absolute top. Islamophobia has become a very accepted kind of bigotry – it feels so normalised, and like it has been completely sanctioned.

‘I feel that all the time. These aren’t microaggressions for me; this is very overt, open aggression. When I was a kid I got the message that somehow being Muslim was not a good thing, and I feel it even more now in the wake of the Brexit referendum.’

Brexit has provided another layer of complicated hostility for Deeba to navigate. Now, not only is she facing Islamophobia, she also feels as though the UK is turning its back on her European roots.

‘Now, as a country, we’re also rejecting Europe. Where my mother is from,’ she says. ‘When the referendum result came in, I started crying. It felt like the country I lived in was telling the entire world that we don’t want anybody else. And that’s who I am. Being European is in my blood.

‘My mum came to this country 40 years ago, when you were able to come because of freedom of movement. Now, so many people won’t get that chance.

‘You can’t just send all those people back or pull up the drawbridge and close the door. There are kids like me who are a product of that freedom of movement who are now integrated into society so completely.’

Deeba can’t understand the idea that anyone would hate another person simply because they come from somewhere else. She looks at her parents and the incredible life they have created for themselves and can’t stand the idea that other families could be denied that opportunity.

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‘My mum’s alright, my dad’s alright, and they are hardworking people who just wanted a good life,’ says Deeba. ‘I don’t see anything wrong with that.

‘This idea that immigrants are sponging off other people is just ridiculous. These are the people who have worked the hardest.’

But she is still hopeful for the future. She thinks we have the potential to heal the damage caused by divisive politics, and she thinks it has to start with acceptance.

‘Stories like mine are a symbol of hope,’ she explains. ‘I can show people that they have nothing to fear from immigrants who want to come to this country and add to it.

‘This anti-Muslim rhetoric is so often about Muslims wanting to come here and build their own separate communities and have Sharia Law. There’s an idea that they don’t want to be part of this country – but that’s complete nonsense.

‘Now, the first generation kids of these immigrants – they are such an integral part of this country. Muslim children are a huge part of British culture now; that Desi British culture. We have added to it, we have made this country better.’

Mixed Up

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

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

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

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

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Iconic hair brand Remington is hosting its first pop-up salon in London this December so you can get your hair done and pretend you ‘woke up like this’.

You’ll be treated to a 20-minute complimentary style from one of Remington’s professional stylists at the Soho branch.

Whether you’re looking for a lunchbreak lift that’ll really make an entrance at the office party or just some you time, you can book online for a free session.

Great news if your Christmas party falls earlier in the month as the pop-up salon is open from 3-7 December.

Named The Remington Salon, it will be showcasing its new PROluxe range, offering visitors a choice of styles such as a bouncy blow-dry, curls or sleek and straight.

And to top it off, an exclusive discount will also be available in-store for anyone looking to purchase gifts for themselves or a loved one.

If you’re struggling to make it out of the office or are stuck at home, one of the stylists will be offering a one-hour ‘deliver-do’ service each day, coming direct to your door.

All you need to do is put a call out on social media during the week of the pop-up, using the #DeliverDo hashtag and tagging @RemingtonUK.

But hurry as it’s first-come, first-serve.

Can’t commit to an appointment? No problem, the Remington stylists will be taking walk-in appointments too.

That might even be better than the delivery service as the salon is seriously Insta-worthy.

The Remington Salon will be taking bookings online depending on availability.

If you’re wondering what kind of equipment they’ll be using, their PROluxe range includes rose gold straighteners, hairdryers, curling wands, curling tongs plus heated rollers.

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The UK is experiencing a loneliness epidemic.

Despite being more digitally connected than ever before, more of us are reporting that we feel alone a significant portion of the time.

And becoming a parent can make feelings of isolation even more intense.

New research, published today by Coram Family and Childcare, has found that over half (56 per cent) of parents with children under five, experience loneliness at least some of the time.

Wealth also plays a part in this – parents on the lowest incomes were much more likely to say they often feel isolated from others, than parents with higher incomes.

The study also found that the issue significantly affects more women than men, with twice as many mothers than fathers saying they often feel left out.

Younger parents aged 18-24 also felt more of a lack of companionship than parents aged 25-34.

Parents say that the time around the birth of a baby is a particular spike for loneliness – particularly if the mother or baby have health problems and are unable to get out of the house easily. But it often continues when the children are older but haven’t started school yet.

The report finds that loneliness can get worse before it gets better, improving when children reach school age. 18 per cent of parents whose youngest child is under one often feel left out, rising to 41 per cent of parents whose youngest is two.

But it falls to just 8 per cent when their youngest child is five.

‘Being a parent is a hard job and it’s even harder if you feel lonely or isolated,’ says Claire Harding, Head of Coram Family and Childcare.

‘We’re really concerned that over half of parents of young children feel lonely at least some of the time, and that it’s worse for low income parents.

‘We’re need proper investment to make sure all families can access activities for themselves and their young children, so that everyone gets the benefits of friendship and social support.’

The new research will inform Coram Family and Childcare’s new project, funded by the National Lottery Community Reaching Communities programme, to support groups of local parents to work together to combat loneliness while their child is young.

Focus groups conducted by Coram Family and Childcare with parents in five cities and towns revealed that parents felt the best way to combat loneliness and isolation is to take part in local activities with other parents.

Interestingly, more men than women said they were looking for ‘a safe space to discuss personal matters’, while more women than men wanted ‘activities where I do not have to admit I am lonely or isolated’.

Many of the parents also said that they were unable to access the kinds of activities that could have helped when they were feeling lonely.

For some parents, those activities did not exist locally or were at unsuitable times or locations, while some parents attended activities where they did not feel welcomed.

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Black Friday is only for the brave. Particularly if you plan on actually hitting the shops IRL and not searching for deals online in your PJs.

For anyone brave enough to battle through bargain-crazed crowds, Morrisons is offering to make sure you’re fully fuelled up.

The supermarket will be selling its biggest ever breakfast – and it only costs £5.

The 19-piece ‘Black Fry-day’ breakfast offers three sausages, three rashers of bacon, three hash browns, baked beans, mushrooms, two halves of tomato, two fried eggs, two slices of black pudding and two half slices of fried bread – all for just a fiver.

‘We know Black Friday shopping can take a lot out of customers and hope that this Black Fry-Day Breakfast will keep hangry-ness at bay and fuel them through the highs and lows of the big day,’ says Helen Tordoff, head of cafes at Morrisons.

‘We’re proud to offer deals our customers want and bid them happy bargain-hunting this Black Friday.’

Black Friday falls on 29 November this year – just a couple of days away – and it is the perfect chance for the nation to grab some deals before Christmas. Morrisons say they will also be slashing the prices across the store.

They will be offering a third off on all champagnes in stores from 27 November. The deal includes bubbly from Moet and Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Bollinger alongside Morrisons own brand offerings.

As well as the Black Friday champagne deal, a magnum of Prosecco Doc Spumante by Palazzo Nobile will be available for £10.

But if you’re skeptical about Black Friday deals, or not keen on immersing yourself in consumerism this festive season – there’s nothing to stop you going out for a giant breakfast anyway.

The Black Fry-Day Breakfast is available on Black Friday only, nationwide.

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A pregnant mum went to sleep with a migraine but just hours later, she woke up from a coma and discovered she had two beautiful daughters – but she was now disabled.

Carly O’Loughlin, 33, had a fit in her bathroom, 12 weeks before her due date, where husband Jon found her and immediately called an ambulance.

In the time it took for medics to arrive, Carly began ‘snoring’ which sounded unlike anything Jon had ever heard before. She was also spitting blood.

Doctors realised that Carly, from Somerset, suffered a brain haemorrhage and she had to have a premature caesarian. Her twins were born weighing under 2lbs.

Husband Jon said his new little girls were so small they looked ‘like chicken wings’.

Carly was placed in an induced coma and when she woke up 24 hours, she was told she had given birth.

She said: ‘I just have no memory of giving birth. When I came round Jon was there and told me the girls had been born.

‘I just began sobbing. I had no idea what was happening.

‘I just wanted to go home but doctors needed to find out why I have the brain haemorrhage.’

Three days after the girls were born, Carly was able to see her two newborn daughters in the NICU unit.

But when Carly went back to her hospital bed she noticed a strangle tingle in her right foot.

Medics discovered she had 100 blood clots in her leg and an eight-inch clot just 1cm away from the heart.

Carly underwent emergency surgery and spent the next six weeks in hospital but doctors were unable to find the cause.

The new mum-of-three eventually left the hospital with low mobility in one leg, using a wheelchair or a crutch for the rest of her life.

Now, three years later, she is registered disabled and with Jon as her full-time carer, Carly says she has had her ‘independence stripped away’.

Carly, who was already a mum to her son Riley, said: ‘I just feel like the worst mum in the world.

‘Not only did I not experience giving birth to my twins but I’m not the mum I thought I’d be to them.

‘I’m incredibly jealous that Jon gets to do stuff with the kids and I can’t because of how I am. I hate it.

‘To go from being incredibly independent, social person with a good job to a person who can’t even have a bath or make a sandwich for yourself is really tough.

‘Jon didn’t sign up for this when he married me. I’m just angry all the time and it really gets me upset.

‘Nobody knows what is causing this. I’m still struggling with the term disabled.’

But countless tests and hospital visits later, doctors are still baffled as to what caused the initial bleed on the brain and have left Carly without a formal diagnosis for three years.

She added: ‘I’ve been told I’ll have to have it amputated at some point. My memory has been badly affected by the bleed on the brain. I have these periods where I just zone out.

‘The most important thing for me has always been having a life with my kids. The girls are doing great and are hitting all the milestones. But doctors still don’t know why it happened in the first place or why.

‘It’s frustrating to not only be a mum to my kids but for doctors not to know why this happened. I just want others to get help.’

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We’ve seen some pretty unusual proposals but none as rad as this one.

A boyfriend who shares a love of the ocean with his girlfriend wanted to honour that and so proposed while she was surfing.

Christopher Garth, 38, had gone out surfing with his sweetheart Lauren Oiye, 32 in Queen’s Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii where they both live.

While Lauren caught a wave, Christopher expertly propped himself up on a surfboard and got on one knee.

Just as Lauren noticed her beau making the sweet gesture, to which she said yes, Christopher, unfortunately, dropped the ring into the ocean.

But the forward-thinking surfer anticipated it might happen so luckily, he purposely proposed with a decoy ring.

The real thing awaited the couple at shore where they were able to celebrate their engagement.

And a photographer stood by, capturing the sweet moment, which Lauren later shared on her Instagram.

She wrote: ‘We caught a wave together at the surf break we met at and had many of our first dates.

‘I turn back to make sure he was on the wave with me and he was on one knee with a ring box and screamed out “Lauren, I love you! Will you marry me?!”.

‘At first I thought it was a joke and then realised it clearly wasn’t.

‘I am beside myself that I get to spend the rest of my life with this man that I LOVE from the depths of my entire being, is a bigger feminist than I am, and makes me laugh every day and reminds me how simple and beautiful life is.’

Lauren added: ‘Christopher Garth, I love you and am so grateful the stars aligned and our ancestors that came before us so beautifully orchestrated this for us!

‘Here’s to a lifetime of laughter and keeping things simple and authentic!’

Congrats to the rad couple.

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With a £500 credit card bill that he knew he couldn’t pay hanging over him, Jonathan* decided to place a few bets in a bid to win some money and clear what he owed.

But soon, his debts escalated into a gambling addiction and £30,000 that he worries he will never pay off.

The 37-year-old tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I’d not done much betting before so I read up a little bit about how to do it.
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‘I thought it was worth a go because I was struggling for money. I placed a bet for £10 but through luck, I won over £400. I couldn’t believe it.

‘I think I thought that maybe I was good at it, so I just kept going, hoping I would win more, working through the £400 I’d won and then dipping into my own money.

‘I was winning some of it back but I was spending far more than I was ever winning.

‘When I didn’t win, I would go back, thinking I could win it back.’

Within a few weeks, Jonathan was gambling nearly every day and he was struggling for money more than ever.

He adds: ‘Every time I won something, I would gamble it away, thinking that I always needed to have more. I spiralled fast.’

Jonathan was signing up to site after site, as well as using high-street bookies.

No one around him had any idea about his spiralling addiction.

As he was single and living alone at the time, he says it was easy to keep it from his family.

Soon, he had run through his savings and maxed out his credit card, so he just kept borrowing money.

He adds: ‘I took out more credit cards and payday loans – whatever credit would be given to me.

‘I was in a job where I had a salary of £40,000 so I was fairly comfortable but I started just gambling away my whole salary and my bills weren’t being paid.

‘I always thought that at some point, I would win big and it would all go away. I told myself I would be able to clear it all, but it was just getting worse.’

A few years after his gambling started, Jonathan met his partner and he admits that he initially kept his problem from her, instead telling her he was being thrifty because he wanted to buy a house one day.

He says: ‘She eventually found out and agreed to stand by me but I was never honest with her about how much I owed exactly. I told her I would stop gambling and I did manage to cut down on it for a while, but never really stopped completely.

‘The more demands I got for payments, the more I felt I needed to gamble because I just didn’t know what else to do.’

Eventually, after seven years of gambling and three years with his girlfriend, she found out the true extent of his problem.
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He explains: ‘She found a bill one day and it all unravelled from there. She confronted me about it and she was devasted. She discovered I was lying about the house deposit and I owed thousands.

‘She told me I had to get help or she would leave me. She helped me get counselling and tackle my problem. It made me realise that I was just always chasing a solution but more gambling was never going to get me there.

‘I have now stopped gambling but my finances are a huge problem for us.’

Jonathan entered into an IVA to help pay off his debt. This is a legal agreement that means he agrees to pay a set amount for a set amount of time. The amount and time is agreed with his creditors.

‘It’s been tough,’ he adds. ‘I just hope that at some point I can pay this off and move on with my life. Gambling has taken so much from me and I can’t believe I let it get so out of control.’

How can you get help with gambling debt

Gambling addictions and the resulting debt can both cause a huge amount of stress both to the person in trouble and those around them.

It is important to get help for your gambling first to ensure you don’t build up any more debt.

There are dedicated gambling charities who can help, as well as debt support who can offer some help.

You can contact GamCare and speak to an advisor by calling 08088020133. You can also speak to them by web chat.

Gamblers Anonymous also offers support group meetings. You can find one near you through their website.

There is also advice for controlling the time and money you spend on gambling on the Gambling Commission website.

You can also self-exclude yourself from venues or websites where you might be tempted to gamble.
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For advice on how to start paying back your debt, speak to debt charity StepChange, the Money Advice Service or Citizens Advice.

*Jonathan’s name has been changed.

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The first Black Friday discounts have just launched online at Sainsbury’s.

Although most offers will be available instore, you can get deals on Tu clothing at the supermarket online from today, 26 December.

The deal runs right through Black Friday and the weekend and ends on Monday 2 December, giving you plenty of time to pick up some bargains.

It includes everything across the range, including outfits for women, men and kids.

You can pick up something new to wear throughout the party season or just a few extra gifts for the kids. It includes fancy dress outfits, like these ones based on Frozen 2.

Who doesn’t need some new socks?

There’s even a range of matching Christmas pyjamas for the whole family.

The offer also covers school uniform so stock up on some extra bits for your kids, if they’ve already ruined everything just a few months into the school year.

What about other offers at Sainsbury’s?

In previous years, Sainsbury’s have had deals in store but in 2018, they teamed up with Argos for Black Friday as the two brands are now under the same umbrella company.

For deals on electricals, kitchen appliances and basically anything that isn’t Tu clothing, it’s best to check what is available in your local store.

The best Tu Clothing deals at Sainsbury’s

Women

Black Metallic Stripe Velvet Skater Dress – was £20, now £15

Black Glitter Platform Heel – was £20, now £15

Burnt Orange Corduroy Long Sleeve Jumpsuit – was £32, now £24

Kids

Disney Frozen 2 Elsa Blue Costume – was £15, now £11.25

Christmas Family Red Santa Pyjamas – was from £7, now from £5.25

Purple Corduroy Pinafore Set – was £14, now £10.50

Brown Fair Isle Knitted Jumper – was £11, now £8.25

White Unisex Polo Shirts 3 Pack – was £3.50, now £2.62

Men

Charcoal Prince Of Wales Check Slim Fit Suit – Jacket was £45, now £33.75, trousers were £18, now £13.50

Pets

Christmas Navy Santa Print Dog Jumper – £14, now £10.50

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Lancashire has just launched a bid to become the City of Culture in 2025 – despite being an entire county, not a city.

The whole county is putting forward a compelling pitch for the prestigious award, and is using its 137 miles of coastline, epic castles and sweeping countryside as selling points.

Coventry will become the next City of Culture in 2021, following an announcement in 2017, and the award will likely help to boost tourism and investment in the area.

Given that today is also Lancashire Day, and at the risk of enraging everyone from Yorkshire, we thought we would take a look at all the things that make this North West county so brilliant.

Lancashire hot pot

Let’s start with a traditional, warming dish. It doesn’t get more Lancashire than a hot pot.

Traditionally cooked in a tall, earthenware pot, inside it contains mutton or lamb in a rich, savory gravy, topped with a stodgy layer of sliced potatoes. Perfection.

Epic countryside

From the rolling hills of Ribble Valley, to the green fields of Clitheroe and the idyllic village of Downham – Lanshire has a lot to offer when it comes to picturesque countryside.

Get your walking boots on and start exploring some of the many country parks. With rugged peaks and tranquil lakes, rolling hills and harsh moorland, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Blackpool

Say what you will about Blackpool – it is a national treasure.

Yes, the sea is the colour of Diet Coke, and it is overrun with drunken hen/stag parties every weekend – but there is something quintessentially British about the faded glamour of this iconic seaside town.

And the illuminations will always make us feel like excited children at Christmas.

Formby

If you’re after a slightly more low-key coastline, you can’t go wrong with Formby beach.

It has stunning sand dunes, which are perfect for picnics in summer and frosty walks in winter. There’s also a wood which is home to some of the UK’s last remaining red squirrels.

Fish and Chips

The UK’s first ever fish and chips shop opened in this part of the world.

It is believed that entrepreneur John Lees was selling fish and chips out of wooden boxes near Oldham from as early as 1863.

The weather

Hear us out. Yes, it’s rainy in Lancashire. Very rainy. It apparently rains as much as it does in the Amazon.

But a little rain never hurt anyone. In fact, the wet conditions are what makes the area so lush and green, which in turns make the livestock really healthy and robust too.

It’s also why people from Lancashire are so hardy – they’re used to just cracking on, whatever the weather.

The culture

There is a hub of famous comedians who all hail from the county; George Formby, Victoria Wood, Les Dawson, Ken Dodd and Peter Kay – who says it’s grim up north?

Shakespeare lived here, Tolkien based The Lord of the Rings on the countryside here and Lowry painted his epic works based on the industrial revolution in the area.

Famous actors who began their careers in Lancashire include Leonard Rossiter, Ian McKellan and Albert Finney.

Beer

People in Lancashire love their beer.

So much so that the county is dotted with micro-breweries in garages, out-buildings and industrial units, owned by people honing their craft.

Lancashire is also home to a host of breweries specialising in real ale, stout and blond beers.

Pies

Anyone from the north knows the importance of a good pie.

The legendary Holland’s Pies are based in the county, and butter pie (a pie filled with buttery mashed potato) was also created here.

Other culinary delights that are native to Lancashire include, Eccles cake, black pudding, Parkin and bonfire toffee. So we should all probably just move there.

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