Every week, we speak to someone living with an invisible illness for our You Don’t Look Sick series.

Mesha Moinirad, 29, from Weymouth, Dorset, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2013.

Ulcerative colitis is a type of irritable bowel disease, which means that the colon and rectum become inflamed. Ulcers develop on the lining of the colon and they can bleed or produce pus.

Two years after his diagnosis, Mesha decided to have an operation to have a stoma created, where an ileostomy bag is attached. This means that his body now bypasses the large intestine and the waste is collected in the bag that sits outside his body.

Now, he works as a personal trainer and when his bag his hidden under his clothes, it is difficult to tell that anything is wrong.

He says that the way he looks often leads to judgement from other people, especially when he uses a disabled bathroom as he needs more space to change his bag.

He explains: ‘I’ve had people say things like “you don’t look sick” a lot.

‘I’ve been shouted at, tutted at and had people shake their heads for me using a disabled toilet on numerous occasions.

‘I need to use them as when having to change a bag you need more space than a standard cubicle, as well as having a bin nearby.

‘It can be very humiliating and frustrating when you feel like you have to explain yourself.’

Mesha started to experience problems when he woke up in the middle of the night in May 2013, with stomach pain.

He lost over a stone in three days but was told by three doctors that he had gastroenteritis.

Eventually, he was rushed to hospital as he was vomiting green bile and he was diagnosed with a burst appendix.

He was in a coma for three weeks, went from 11.5 stone to six stone and was given a 20% chance of survival.

When he woke up, doctors told him he would be in hospital for about six months but Mesha worked incredibly hard and left the hospital after just four weeks.

Eight months later, he was back at a healthy weight but he started to experience more health problems.

At first, he had a swollen foot and a break out of hives, but after that cleared up he started to suffer from frequent diarrhoea, which also had blood in it.

He also had a swollen, painful stomach, rapidly lost weight and he had extreme fatigue.

Mesha explains: ‘I thought it was just because of the operation but after a few months of this, I knew it had to be something more.’

It took eight months of going back and forth to the doctor before he was eventually referred for blood tests and a colonoscopy, which led to a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis.

He says: ‘When I was told what it was, there was almost a sense of relief as I was experiencing a number of symptoms.

‘I couldn’t live like a normal 23-year-old. I was going to the toilet 40+ times a day, had chronic fatigue.’

He started medication to try to control his symptoms and he tried to change his diet but nothing really worked, and he was still making around 30 trips to the toilet every day.

In 2015, he graduated from his degree in high-performance coaching and nutrition and he started working as a personal trainer, but he admits he found it even more difficult to manage his colitis alongside his work.

After four years of taking medication, he decided to opt to have a stoma and ileostomy bag fitted, which he says has completely changed his life.

It took him three months to recover from the operation, slowly building up strength again but then he returned to work and he has learnt to love life with his ileostomy bag.

Most of the time, it can’t be seen but he says that when people do see it, they think it is a negative thing, without understanding how it has helped him.

He says: ‘I’ve had people make comments or stare when I’ve been on holiday sunbathing and swimming with it on show.

‘I’ve overheard people saying “poor thing’ before”, but for me, my bag has been a life improvement.’

Although he needs to change the bag regularly and he still has some problems, it has reduced the level of pain he is in and allows him to have more ‘good days.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5N_4fklXBG/

He adds: ‘Sometimes I can be woken up in the night due to my bag leaking. This normally happens in the early hours of the morning, so can leave me tired in the daytime and if my stomach is playing up, I can feel fatigued and uncomfortable.

‘My bag has leaked at work when I’ve been with a client and I’ve had to run off to change it, disrupting my day and sometimes embarrassment.

‘The worst was when it went on the motorway when I was on the way to a wedding – all over my suit!

‘On a good day, I won’t have any problems. Apart from when I have to empty it which is normally just 2-3 times, I forget it’s there. I am full of energy, love my job and am able to do whatever I like – I don’t feel disabled at all!

‘I don’t get ‘symptoms’ anymore, I just have to be more careful with what I eat as some foods can cause blockages – no nuts for me this Christmas unfortunately!’

Mesha is very active on social media and posts about training, working out and living with a bowel condition.

He has over 17,000 followers on Instagram, posts on Facebook and a blog. He wants to show how you can still achieve a lot with bowel disease or an ileostomy bag.

Since having his bag, he has completed a half marathon, a Tough Mudder and cycled 100 miles for charity.

He explains: ‘My coping mechanism has always been putting pen to paper and that’s why I started blogging.

‘My online platform has allowed me to engage with a community of others that have IBD, other types of invisible disabilities and those like myself with a bag.

‘Talking openly about these conditions really helps. Knowing that there are others that have been or are going through the same thing can be a huge comfort, not just through giving or receiving advice but having that mutual understanding.’

Although Mesha feels that it’s great that more people are being open about their conditions through the internet, he feels that more needs to be done to help people understand what it is like to live with an invisible illness.

‘I think we are going in the right direction,’ he says. ‘There is more awareness than ever before, but I think it needs more attention from the government and the health sector.

‘There are so many illnesses that aren’t rare, that people know nothing about and that are having a huge impact on people’s lives.

‘I speak to people all the time that have invisible disabilities and are scrutinized by their employers for having to take time off or have special arrangements made, yet it seems simpler and more inclusive in some ways for those that have disabilities you can see.’

MORE: You Don’t Look Sick: ‘My doctor said my symptoms were just the after-effects of having children’

MORE: You Don’t Look Sick: ‘People think I’m too young to be disabled’

MORE: You Don’t Look Sick: ‘I won’t let haemophilia define me as a person’

MORE: You Don’t Look Sick: ‘My bowel twisted and died inside me – the doctor had no idea how I was still alive’

MORE: You Don’t Look Sick: ‘You might think I look better but I still feel horrible every day’

Tired of having meal deals for lunch?

Next week, skip the tuna and cucumber sandwich and treat yourself to burger and chips instead.

The best part? You can have it all for free.

To celebrate the opening of its new restaurant, Five Guys is giving away complimentary meals on Monday 9 December.

The deal is available at the St Paul’s venue, which is the 100th site from the fast food chain, and customers can pop in to grab grub from the early morning until late evening.

Swing by between 8am to 10.30am if you fancy trying the brand’s new breakfast sandwich, stuffed with eggs and bacon.

Or, if you’d rather wait for meaty goodness, pop in anytime from 10.30am to 11pm and make your very own burger with all the extras your heart desires: ham, pickles, cheese, bacon or even just go plain, if that’s your jam.

Still hungry? Add a side of fries and a drink (also free).

If you’re one of the first 500 customers, you can get your hands on some brand merchandise like hats and umbrellas, too.

But wait, the good news isn’t over yet.

On the very same day, over in Liverpool Street, there’s another event happening that includes free food.

Patty & Bun is back in east London and handing out buns to the first 500 diners to swing by its new site.

If meat isn’t your thing, don’t worry – The Veggie Dig will be available and it’s suitable for vegetarians.

Time your visits well and you could make 9 December a burger extravaganza, and save some cash towards Christmas presents.

More of a pizza person or vegan?

Skip the burger queue and hold out for the Domino’s vegan pizza launch.

The brand has finally confirmed rumours that there will be a plant-based option released soon, though no date has been set in the diary just yet.

MORE: A vegan Domino’s pizza is coming soon

MORE: How to get your hands on KFC and Burger King Christmas baubles

MORE: Bakery launches UK’s first insect bread – each loaf is made with 336 crickets

As a mother, when you first have your precious bundle of life handed to you at the hospital, you don’t think what if… what if my child turns out to be gay?

At that moment, they just belong to your heart and your instinct is to protect them forever.

My second son Matthew was such a beautiful looking baby with big blue eyes and angelic blonde hair, but everyone used to tell me that he looked like a girl.

As he grew older, my son loved to play with dolls and always hung out with the girls in the playground – he was never short of female friends.

Call it a mother’s instinct, but I knew from an early age that he would one day tell me that he was gay. I didn’t mind at all. He was my son – a lovely and kind boy with a caring nature, one that now comes through in his day-to-day job as a mental health nurse.

It was a different story when my daughter Beth arrived.

She was the first girl to be born in our family for 31 years, and I was so excited.

At last, I could buy dresses, patent shoes and lovely hair accessories – but little did I know that my little girl would end up loving dungarees, jeans and leggings.

The shoes became trainers, and the hair bunches and plaits that I did were pulled out by the time we arrived at school. The only time I could get her in a dress or a skirt was when she was forced to wear the mandatory school uniform.

We are a very open dialogue family and there isn’t anything we can’t talk about with each other  – but I won’t lie, when she first came out to me, it was hard to hear.

I still wanted this little girl who was into makeup and nails, and would wear pretty dresses.

At first, I described it as a ‘phase she was going through’, but as time went on I realised that ‘this’ wasn’t going to go away. I had to accept Beth for who she is. After all, I accepted her brother – so what was the difference?

Now when people ask me how I feel about having two children who are gay, my answer is: I love it. Our children do not get a choice when it comes to their sexuality, and I am proud to live in a rainbow house – life is never dull.

So I was saddened to see recent research that revealed 25 per cent of adults wouldn’t be proud to have an LGBT child. A gay child is no different to any other child – they just need family support and acceptance of their gender.

Once they have that, dealing with society and negative views is a lot easier.

When Beth told us about Christian Gay – her drag persona – I realised quickly it was the best thing to ever happen to her, and as a family it cemented our bond. We all love drag and personally, I love the queens.

When Beth entered competitions we all helped in critiquing her performance and putting together her costumes. I am so proud to see Christian Gay grow.

Just as mental health promotes the message that ‘It’s OK not to be OK’, well, it’s also OK to be gay – stand strong.

Both of my kids worked hard at school, then worked hard at university, and now they are both doing what they love. Why wouldn’t I be proud of them?

Please don’t disown your children for being gay.

Support them in any way you can and remember that they are still the same precious bundle of life that was handed to you all those years ago, that little life that as a parent you were contracted to care for.

Life is too short not to be proud of your children.

MORE: I am so incredibly proud to be the mother of my trans son

MORE: One in four adults ‘would not feel proud to have a gay child'

MORE: I became a better athlete after I came out as gay

The internet becomes a happy place when we spot cake fails, particularly phallic ones intended for childrens’ birthday parties (this is just who we are as a human race, OK?).

Occasionally, we come across baked creations that don’t look like traditional desserts.

Other times, cakes are made to look like raw food and the results are unsettling: like this raw turkey design, made in honour of Thanksgiving.

It is the work of British baker Sarah Hardy, the founder of the confectionery shop, The Edible Museum, which sells equally disturbing – albeit masterful – creations.

The 49-year-old has divided Instagram followers with her latest offering, which was made complete with fake blood.

She insists that the orange and rum spiced cake, iced with a marzipan ‘skin’, actually tasted delicious.

As tasty as it may have been, some followers branded it ‘disgusting’ and ‘gross’, although most appreciated her craftsmanship.

Would you be brave enough to try it?

The realistic poultry-inspired look was too much for one person, who wrote: ‘This is utterly disgusting.

‘Why would anyone want to eat a cake that looks like a raw turkey?’.

Meanwhile, someone else was conflicted: ‘Art but gross at the same time’, but another person marvelled at it, saying ‘Truly amazing. Such great work. Wow!’.

‘Wow, you got the skin down,’ commented one person.

‘I have to say, this is impressive craftsmanship. I almost want to prank someone with it.’

It took Sarah three days to put it all together and the cake even featured a string to tie the turkey ‘legs’ together.

She initially debuted the cake a few years ago and decided to bring it back, now offering the recipe online for brave bakers willing to try it.

‘It isn’t supposed to be for everyone – its a niche thing!,’ Sarah told Femail.

‘It’s funny how many people are revolted by it. I just find it funny.

‘I am often asked why I didn’t make it look like it was cooked – but where is the fun in making something tasty look like something tasty? I rather like that it is both repulsive and attractive.’

‘Although it looks rather unpalatable, it is made with a citrus drizzle sponge and basted in a zesty syrup.

‘That and the marzipan mean it is rather tastier than it looks.’

We’re not fully convinced.

MORE: Bride orders dog-themed wedding cake, ends up with one that looks like a ‘dead porcupine’

MORE: Bride heartbroken when peacock wedding cake she ordered looks like a ‘lopsided turkey with leprosy’

MORE: Bakery has best response to people who think their geode cake looks like a vagina

It’s the first day of December, which means it’s officially time to get in the jolly spirit.

To help you on your way, we’ve put together a list of the best Christmas events happening next week.

From making snowmen cocktails to watching The Holiday in a pop-up cinema and visiting festive markets, there’s no shortage of seasonal experiences in the capital.

Just don’t have so much fun that you forget to sort out the Christmas shopping.

Go on the Winter Bar Bus to see all the Christmas lights

Haven’t had a chance to check out the capital’s many Christmas light installations yet?

Grab yourself a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine and hop on board the Winter Bar Bus.

Sit on the upper deck, which doesn’t have a roof, and cuddle up under a blanket while watching the twinkling lights and listening to classic festive tunes.

Tickets start from £25 and there are lots of dates to choose from, including three next week.

Listen to Christmas carols in Bishopsgate

Looking for traditional festive feels?

Have a low-key but lovely evening at St Botolph’s church, Bishopsgate, where the Côr Dinas Welsh Choir will sing classic carols by candlelight.

In the spirit of the season, organisers are raising funds for a charity called Magic Breakfast, which ‘aims to end hunger as a barrier to education in UK schools through the provision of healthy breakfasts to vulnerable children’.

It’s a family-friendly event and kids under 16 go for free, while remaining tickets cost £10 – but the price includes a mince pie and a mulled wine or soft drink.

Sip on seasonal chocolate cocktails

The Cocktail Club has returned for yet another season, and this year it’s all about chocolate.

You get a Chocolate Chocotini on arrival, but there’s plenty for cacao-based creations to choose from with flavours including mint, salted caramel and gingerbread on the menu. Not a cocktail person? Grab a chocolate beer or wine instead.

Once the sugar coma hits, head home and watch a Christmas film.

Tickets cost £9 (and that includes your welcome tipple).

Eat, drink and be merry at Winter Wonderland

If you haven’t been before to Winter Wonderland before, here’s the drill.

Go on a weekday to avoid the tourists, eat your bodyweight in Bratwurst and spend far too much money on thrilling rides and mulled wine.

Entry is free, food and attractions are not.

The fairground is open from 10am to 10pm every day.

Have a festive brunch at Winterland

If the crowds at Winter Wonderland don’t appeal, head to Winterland’s Alpine Lodge in Fulham.

The word brunch might be stretching it a bit – it’s really just a bottle of prosecco and a camembert cheese for two – but there are lots of food traders inside, should you want more festive snacks.

Be prepared to fork out a fair bit of cash for tickets though, it’s £50 for two people.

Catch The Holiday at a pop-up cinema

To have a truly magical cinema experience this season, visit Winter Night Garden in Wandsworth.

Guest have to walk through a Narnia-inspired wardrobe and a garden with twinkling lights and greenery before they get inside and slouch down on bean bags in front of the big screen.

Tickets for this cinema pop-up are nearly sold out, but there are still a few tickets left for a showing next week.

It’s a good one: The Holiday, screening on Thursday at 8.30pm.

Have yourself a Dickensian Christmas

OK, we’re cheating with this one, before tickets for this week are already sold out – but there are still some available for 19 and 20 December.

It’s basically a big dinner party experience but with a Dickensian theme, with a three-course meal and performances by acrobats and dancers, followed by a night of dancing.

After dinner, guests also have the change to try their luck on various casino tables.

Tickets are decently priced at £118.80, given what you get for your dough.

Swing by a zero waste Christmas market

The Zero Waste Christmas Market is officially back, with sustainable shopping and seminars.

This year, the event is twice its normal size, with each brand featured at the market carefully vetted to make sure it is committed to helping the environment – so you can feel good about any purchases you make.

As for the fun activities, join a workshop to make your own crackers, design wreaths from natural materials or take part in Leafage’s Terrarium Making Class.

Tickets cost £6.50, plus a small booking fee.

Go ice skating on a rooftop

Do you dare ice skate on a rooftop?

Channel your inner daredevil and head to Bar Elba – the rooftop venue in Waterloo has set up an ice rink.

If the idea of skating several floors above the ground fills you with dread, just copy up under a blanket with a mulled wine on the terrace.

The skating is free, but reserve a spot before you head over.

MORE: Tatler reveals the festive items you need to prove you’re fancy

MORE: Six tips from a memory champion to remember names at your Christmas party

MORE: How to save money and perk up your old winter clothes instead of buying more

H&M has decided to trial a new initiative in hopes that it will help reverse some of the environmental effects of fast fashion.

After coming under criticism for its contribution to waste and pollution in the past, the retail giant is now testing a rental option.

The project will allow select shoppers to rent clothes and return them within a selected time frame.

That doesn’t mean you can borrow as many items as you want – H&M is capping the service at 50 garments a month, after which time you can return the clothes or pay to keep them for good.

At the moment, however, the deal is only available at the Swedish retailer’s flagship store in Stockholm, where shoppers can spend a total of 350 kronor (£29.36) a week.

The decision comes after Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie opted for the same strategy, tapping into a market that was worth $1billion in 2018, according to Bloomberg.

Free People and Banana Republic also have a similar service called Style Passport.

If successful after three months, H&M may roll out the offer to its other branches around the world.

Soon you might be able to borrow clothes when you need them without feeling too bad about the environmental cost of fast fashion.

H&M’s service follows a United Nations report, which revealed that the fashion industry is the second greatest polluter of local freshwater in the world and it is also responsible for 10% of the carbon footprint of the world.

The green new rental choice won’t just be open to the average shopper or tourist visiting the store – people hoping to take advantage of it will also need be members of the brand’s loyalty programme.

There are other perks to joining, as the flagship store also offers repair services, a coffee shop and a beauty bar.

‘We have a huge belief in rental, but we still want to test and learn quite a lot and do tweaks and changes,’ Daniel Claesson, H&M’s head of business development, said in a presentation at the flagship.

MORE: Slow fashion: How changing the way we buy clothes could save the planet

MORE: I made a 16th century shirt and it taught me about the crisis of fast fashion

MORE: Fast fashion is so entrenched we’re shocked when a royal rewears a dress

Earlier this year, Benjamin Altmejd, 25, told his girlfriend of three years Nastia Cloutier, 22, that he wanted to dress as a woman.

Now the couple enjoy his cross-dressing and even go out on dates together, dressed as women.

The pair both work in creative fields as artists and photographers, and are used to breaking boundaries in their respective crafts.

So, when Benjamin wanted to wear makeup and women’s clothes, Nastia was accepting of it and came up with an alter ego of her own.

The Canadian couple – who have named their characters Alaska and Katya respectively – first began enjoying the fantasy at home, but now go on dates in public and stay in hotel rooms.

‘I’d been thinking about doing it for a while but I never had the guts,’ said Benjamin.

‘I was too scared to open myself about it.

‘As a partner, [Nastia] is the most supportive person I’ve ever had in my life. She’s the first person I’ve ever really been myself with, I can tell her anything, she’s not going to judge me.’

Nastia added: ‘When he’s Alaska, he’s like on top of the world and he’s not sorry for being there.

‘Alaska and Katya is a way for us to be ourselves 100% without being afraid of what people are going to think about it.

‘When we’re both dressed up, we’re not vulnerable anymore, because we’re living a fantasy.’

The couple have since come out to their families, who have been mostly supportive.

Ben claims that his dad even shows photographs of Alaska to his friends and encourages him to post more. Sadly, Nastia’s family hasn’t been as accepting.

While the pair have debuted their alter egos in public, this has always been in LGBTQ+ friendly venues where safety was not a concern.

However, on their first official dinner date as two women, the couple ventured out into town, away from their usual safe spaces.

To their disappointment, they did not receive the reaction they were hoping for.

While leaving the house, people shouted names at them in the street.

‘People will follow you in cars or people will call up names. And then they realise that Ben is a man and then it would go even further.’

Ben added: ‘Some people are still going to be closed-minded and you can’t change them.’

Despite the judgment they face from the public, the couple continue to celebrate their love for each other and for cross-dressing.

Nastia said: ‘No matter if Ben is Ben or Alaska, no matter how he’s dressed and who he is, the person I fell in love with three years ago is always there.

‘If you’re with someone in life that doesn’t allow you to be you, then you’re not meant to be with that person.’

MORE: Couple dress up as their favourite movie characters for brilliant engagement photo series

MORE: Couple get married and pose for incredible photos in rundown buildings on a deserted island

Christmas brings out the best in people.

A charity in Plymouth is asking people to help families in crisis during the holiday season by donating food as part of a ‘reverse calendar’ initiative.

As of today (1 December), donation points will be opened across the city, where people can drop off edible goods of all kinds.

At the end of each day, the food will be collected by Provide Devon and handed out to families who might otherwise not have a meal to enjoy this month.

Those who wish to donate can by swing by libraries, most Co-op stores in Plymouth and local businesses, which are acting as donation points.

‘We are like an ambulance service for families forced to go hungry, working with official services like the NHS who identify people in crisis,’ charity manager, Ayesha Cross, tells Plymouth Live.

‘They contact and we then deliver a package of food as soon as possible, including other essentials such as toiletries where we can.

‘The people we help have fallen into crisis due to circumstances out of their control. They might have suffered an injury, lost a job, become homeless or fled domestic violence.

‘They may not be able to feed their children, let along themselves.’

She added: ‘Nobody should be forced to go hungry, least of all at Christmas when demand for our services is often at its highest.’

‘Please, please donate food if you can to our reverse advent calendar. The donation points will be in obvious places at shops across Plymouth and by donating you will be making a real difference to a family’s life this Christmas.’

The crisis parcels will usually include items such as milk, cheese and bread, as well as fruits and vegetables, tinned products and some toiletries.

Trusted organisations – or, referral agents – will also get in touch with Provide Devon and tell them of any families they believe are struggling, and the charity then aims to provide a parcel within 24 hours.

‘We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our supporters across Plymouth this year,’ Ayesha said.

‘Without you too many families would be forced to go hungry.

‘Sadly though we are in constant need of support and I’d urge everyone reading this to consider whether you can spare anything at all to help those in crisis.’

The initiative is welcomed, especially when you consider that food banks in the UK handed out a record-breaking number of emergency parcels in the past six months.

And if people don’t have time to drop off food, there is also the option to donate money directly to the charity on its website.

MORE: Christmas events to get you in the festive spirit during the first week of December

MORE: The best Christmas markets for 2019 so you can get your festive trinkets

MORE: The best personalised gifts for Christmas 2019

Last year, Eileen Pearsall from Bear, Delaware, decided to do something a little different with her Christmas tree.

Instead of a traditional design, she ordered a black mannequin and built the tree around the doll, in the shape of a dress.

The inventive decorations have become a big hit, and the 52-year-old has since created three new versions with photos being shared over 90,000 times online – which Eileen finds ‘quite exciting’.

Although they are undoubtedly beautiful – and festive – there is a deeper meaning behind the trees.

‘Over here in the US, #blackgirlsrock was just starting to grow on social media,’ Eileen tells Metro.co.uk.

‘So, last year I wanted to inspire our African American girls. I wanted to show the beauty of the deep melanin skin.’

But there is another reason why Eileen decided to embark on the project, and it’s a much more personal one.

She was diagnosed with cancer in December 2018, but is now cancer free – and this was her way of showing her appreciation for life.

‘I had also just finished breast cancer treatment and was feeling so blessed,’ Eileen added.

‘My ultimate goal was to inspire everyone; especially my Angel tree. I was really just feeling the blessing of being cancer free this year.’

The designs can take over three to four hours to make, but she tells us that the Angel tree took the longest, because it was important to get the wings just right.

Eileen said: ‘When I originally bought the wings, they looked horrible, so then I bought 300 feathers to add to them.’

Although the mannequin trees were initially created for her own home, they are now so in demand that Eileen is making money out of her hobby.

‘They’re not too expensive to make,’ she said.

‘I have done regular trees for friends and have a couple of buyers.’

Eileen, who works as an anti-money laundering investigator, found the attention a ‘little overwhelming’ at first and says the main reaction from the public has been that ‘everyone wants one’.

This year’s Christmas angel mannequin has received over 5,000 likes on Facebook and has been shared over 25,000 times, with people eager to get their hands on it.

‘Where can i get this tree?!,’ commented one person.

Someone else wrote: ‘This is so beautiful, I love it.’

‘I need that tree,’ said another person.

Others simply commented with ‘beautiful’ and one admirer of her art wished Eileen a happy Christmas.

She’ll be spending the festive season with her family – and her special angel, of course.

MORE: How to save money and perk up your old winter clothes instead of buying more

MORE: Christmas events to get you in the festive spirit during the first week of December

MORE: Six tips from a memory champion to remember names at your Christmas party

Two photographers loved snapping pics of chickens so much that they decided to make a book with the footage.

The snappers, Moreno and Matteo, are now back to show a little more chicken love, this time photographing coupled up roosters and hens.

What they have come up with is a beautiful selection of loved up chickens, showing the diversity of the species.

‘This work is a tribute to love and diversity because you know, love is love,’ Moreno told Metro.co.uk.

‘No matter who and no matter how. Just look at them.

‘They are beautiful and look like real couples in life. And they know it.’

Now the photographers have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a sequel, also focused on chicken couples.

Moreno added: ‘We have a certain familiarity with interacting with these animals, I would say that they are excellent models, patient, silent and narcissistic as required.

‘This is the result of the work of about six months.

‘The most complex thing was to find aesthetic and behavioral compatibility.

‘Among the couples you see, there are also animals of the same sex, different dimensions, and origins from very distant latitudes.

‘Unlike humans, they do not have problems (with same-sex couples) and tolerate any kind of couple.’

Here are the stunning images from the photoshoot:

You can donate to their Kickstarter page for more photos of beautiful chickens.

MORE: Bride destroys £999 wedding dress in sea and sand for ‘trash the dress’ photoshoot

MORE: Adorable rescued pit bull gets her own maternity photoshoot

MORE: Pregnant woman responds to being told to give up her dogs with a glorious photoshoot

A boyfriend who wanted to make a song and dance about his proposal did exactly that, standing on the roof of his van, outside a Tesco store, belting out an old tune.

Mike Ogden surprised his partner of two years, Gaynor Marshall, by blasting out the Stone Roses song ‘Sally Cinnamon’ from the top of his Ford Transit in an epic proposal that was weeks in the planning.

Sign-maker Mike, 48, parked up outside the Tesco superstore in Cheshire and climbed the van as his mates filmed.

Dressed in a tuxedo and armed with a karaoke speaker, he belted out the ‘Madchester’ classic to his partner before jumping down and getting on one knee.

Gobsmacked girlfriend Gaynor, 45, was led outside by her colleagues, who knew of Mike’s plan. She was filmed saying he’s ‘off his head’ as the Romeo serenaded her outside her workplace.

Mike, who gifted Gaynor a bouquet of flowers, can be heard on the video saying: ‘You are my world. You would make me the happiest man in the world if you’d be my wife forever.

‘Will you marry me?’

A teary Gaynor replied: ‘You know I will.’

Mike, who hatched the plan a few weeks earlier, said the song Sally Cinnamon had sentimental meaning for the couple, who listened to it on repeat.

He wanted to pull off a memorable proposal as the pair have always said they would have a low-key wedding.

‘We spoke about if we get married, it would just be us two on a beach somewhere, no fuss,’ he said.

‘So I thought if that’s going to be the wedding, I’ll have to make the proposal a big event.

‘I thought, why don’t I sing it from the top of my van? Then my friend who is a DJ offered to lend me a speaker.’

Mike spent a fortnight rehearsing his big performance after work and printed off a collection of pictures from the couple’s time together, that he attached to the side of his van.

Tesco worker Gaynor had no idea what Mike was up to.

She said: ‘I was totally shocked, I had no idea he was going to propose.

‘A couple of girls in work knew what was going on and they stitched me up. They pulled me away from the desk and then said there was a problem outside I needed to sort out.

‘I got out and saw Mike was standing there on top of his van and I was gobsmacked.

‘The fact it was that song was extra special because that’s our song, it means quite a lot to us.’

‘There was no chance I was going to say no, I’ve never been happier. He’s been my rock and I’d be lost without him.’

The couple have a romantic holiday booked on the Greek island of Kos next June, where Mike hopes they can get wed on the beach.

MORE: Man proposes to gilfriend with diamond ring he planted with a carrot seed three months ago

MORE: Man proposes to his girlfriend by tattooing ‘Will you marry meow?’ on his bum

MORE: Man proposes to nurse who treated him in the hospital room where they first met

It’s December, and that means the countdown to Christmas is officially on – and every day from now until the festive season we’ll be answering some of Google’s most-asked questions to help you have an even merrier Christmas.

We kick off with one of those all-important questions about Christmas trees – and this one’s aimed at those of you who favour a real tree, and might be wondering when the best time is to put it up and how to take care of it.

If you do decide to decorate your home with a real tree this year, you’ll want to make sure that it stays healthy throughout the festive season and not just be nowt but a pile of needles come Christmas Day.

But just how long can you expect your tree to last and how often will it need watering?

Here’s what you need to know…

How long do real Christmas trees last?

If you pick a healthy tree then it should last for around four-six weeks – which will see you comfortably through the festive period.

Here’s how you can tell how well a tree is doing:

• Head to the shadiest part of the farm to avoid one that has been sitting in the sunlight.
• Look for one which has green, rather than brown, needles. if you touch the branches, the needles should feel pliable and shouldn’t fall off the branches.
• If you lift the tree and drop the trunk to the ground, very few green needles should fall off.
• The type of tree can make a difference also. Non-drop trees such as the Nordmann Fir are likely to hold their look and shape for longer.

Sam Lyle, one of the people behind Christmas tree specialists Pines and Needles, said: ’30 years ago most Britons bought their tree a couple of weeks before Christmas but now many people are putting them up in November, which means it’s more important than ever to keep you looking bushy and bright.’

How should you water a real Christmas tree?

The answer is that you should do it often! After getting your tree home you should place it in a bucket of water or a water-filled stand as soon as possible.

Christmas trees need a lot of water so your best bet is to mount it in a water-holding stand – and the water should not be allowed to go below the base of the tree.

You’ll need to top up the water daily in order to keep the tree looking at its best over the holiday season – a useful rule of thumb is to add a litre of water for every inch of the trunk per day (so if you have a tree with a two-inch diameter trunk it may need up to two litres of water a day).

Obviously though keep an eye on the water levels in your tree stand and top it up as needed.

Are real Christmas trees expensive?

They can be, although it depends largely on the size of the tree and where it’s from.

According to Which? the most bargainous place to bag yourself a Nordmann Fir is Morrisons, which is selling a 5ft tree for just £15 – with Homebase’s smaller version coming in at £20 and Aldi and Lidl selling a 6ft version of the same tree the same tree for £24.99.

At the other end of the scale, you can get yourself a larger version of the tree at Waitrose for around £55.

MORE: Mum transforms Christmas tree into creative new design every year for just £40

The countdown to Christmas is on, with 1 December arriving – meaning that it’s just 24 more sleeps until the big day.

As well as being a month full of food, drink, presents and festive goodwill to all, there is of course a religious significance and much of that centres around the 12 Days of Christmas.

You will of course know about the 12 days from the famous carol – but just when does it actually start and finish and what does it actually mean?

Here, as part of our series answering the most-asked festive questions on Google – answered here in a bid to give you an even merrier festive season – is what you need to know…

When does the 12 Days of Christmas start?

Although you might already be getting your tree up, contemplating a mince pie or two and generally feeling all Christmassy, you’ve still got a while to wait until the 12 Days of Christmas – also known as Twelvetide – actually begin.

That’s because they don’t actually start until Christmas Day itself, 12 December – and run until 5 January, which is day before Epiphany.

That day is known as Twelfth Night, with the following day being the day when your tree and decorations should be taken down.

All of the days have their own individual religious significance, with people celebrating a different thing on a different day (none of which have anything to do with a partridge in a pear tree).

What does each day of the 12 Days of Christmas mean?

The first day – Christmas Day, this is of course about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

The second day – known as Boxing Day in the UK, it’s known elsewhere as St Stephen’s Day, being the day of the Christian martyr St Stephen.

The third day – this celebrates St John the Apostle, author of the book of Revelation, and also the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships and authors.

The fourth day – this is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the day to remember all of the baby boys who were killed by King Herod in his search to find and kill the Baby Jesus.

The fifth day – the day when St Thomas Becket is remembered – he was the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th Century and was murdered on this day, 29 December, in 1170 for challenging the king’s authority over the church.

The sixth day – commemorates St Egwin of Worcester who died on 30 December 717. He was known as the protector of orphans and the widowed.

The seventh day – this falls on New Year’s Eve and on this day Pope Sylvester I is traditionally celebrated. Some East European countries still know the day as Silvester.

The eighth day – this coincides with New Year’s Day and celebrates Mary the Mother of Jesus.

The ninth day – this honours St Basil The Great and St Gregory Nazianzen, who were two important 4th Century Christians.

The tenth day – this is the Feast Of the Holy Name Of Jesus and marks the day Jesus was named in the Jewish Temple.

The eleventh day – this is a day to celebrate St Elizabeth Ann Seton who was the first American saint who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries. This day is also celebrated as the Feast of Saint Simon Stylites who spent 37 years living on a small platform on top of a pillar.

The twelfth day – this is known as Epiphany Eve as it is that day before 6 January – the Epiphany.

MORE: Christmas events to get you in the festive spirit during the first week of December

Prepare yourself, because a new pizza flavour has just arrived and it’s all about the festive feels.

Please welcome ‘Santa’s Little Dunker’ – a treat that we’re pretty sure Father Christmas himself would be delighted to dig into at the end of a busy night delivering gifts.

The yuletide creation has a BBQ base and is topped with everything you’d find on a Christmas table, including mozzarella cheese, pigs in blankets, pork stuffing balls with sage and onion and chargrilled brussels sprouts.

Does this sound amazing? Yes. Is there more? Yes.

The limited-edition pizza comes with a huge, fluffy Yorkshire pudding in the middle and a side pot of gravy, which customers are encouraged to pour into the pudding – and use as a dip.

Sure, it could have a messy ending but it looks absolutely delicious, so it’ll probably be worth it.

Santa’s Little Dunker was created by Twisted, the food brand that posts quirky recipe videos on social media, and is best known for the pizzadilla: a deep-friend BBQ chicken-layered taco with a pizza on top.

Alongside the festive pizza, which costs £10, customers will also be able to order crunchy ‘Turkey Tenders’ with a pot of gravy for £6. You can also order both and get a £4 discount.

The menu features much more than just Christmas treats with nine other pizza flavours, made with white sourdough, turmeric and charcoal dough, as well as toppings such as sliced chorizo, nduja, chicken tikka and fried panko.

To try something spicy, go for the Tikka All The Boxes ( £9), with its turmeric-infused dough base, topped with tomato passata, mozzarella, sliced chicken tikka, jalapeños, red onion and chilli flakes.

There’s something for vegans, too. Introducing ‘The Fallback’, a classic sourdough base with vegan mozzarella, tomato passata, oregano and basil crème, available at £7.50.

As for the sides, prices start from £4 and include delights such as ‘Demon Vings’ and ‘Mac n Cheeeez’.

The new products are available exclusively through UberEats from today (2 December) until Sunday 22 December, meaning you’ll have to fend for yourself on Boxing Day.

There’s always regular pizza, right?

MORE: Baker makes raw turkey cake with fake blood for Thanksgiving and people are conflicted about it

MORE: Fancy a free meal? Five Guys is giving away burgers and chips

MORE: A vegan Domino’s pizza is coming soon

Friday was just a normal day for Daniel Heginbotham – until he opened his packet of crisps.

The auditor had picked up a packet of The Best Sweet Chili Crisps from Morrisons last week and he decided to open them for his mid-morning snack.

But when he pulled the packet open, he discovered a huge crisp inside.

Daniel, 44, from Mansfield, Notts thinks that the six-inch crisp could be Britain’s biggest – but he says it’s hard to find out for sure.

He said: ‘I pulled it out and it kept going – it was a lot longer than I thought it was going to be.

‘So I went and got a tape measure; it was six inches long. I was quite happy – it was the biggest crisp I had ever seen.

‘Everybody wants to find a big crisp, don’t they?’

Daniel said colleagues then flocked to his desk to marvel at the find – although some were less than impressed.

He said: Some weren’t that interested at all. But I quickly I locked it away, just in case somebody crushed it.

‘I think I’m going to put it in a little display case.

‘I’m not saying it’s the biggest ever, but you never know. I had a little look and couldn’t see anything bigger.’

Although he often picks up crisps on his way to work, he decided to go for a different flavour this time.

He said: ‘I’m not sure why I brought them – I was drawn to them that day.’

Unfortunately, he does know it’s not the biggest crisp in the world.

The record currently stands at a whopping 25 inches by 14 inches, held by a specially-created crisp housed in Blackfoot, Idaho.

The oddity was made by a team of food engineers employed by Proctor & Gamble in 1991.

A huge Frazzle was also found by Sean Stewart, 22, in Lanarkshire, Scotland earlier this summer.

But the actual size appeared to never be revealed – leaving the door open for Daniel’s record-breaking discovery.

Have you found a bigger crisp? Let us know at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

MORE: Feeling peckish? You can now get ‘Santa’s Little Dunker’ to satisfy festive pizza cravings

MORE: How long do real Christmas trees last, how to water them and are they expensive?

Last month, 65-year-old David Bevan died while waiting for an appointment at a Job Centre to discuss Jobseeker’s Allowance. He had allegedly been declared fit for work earlier this year.

It saddened and angered me to learn of the death. However, it does not surprise me. This is because my friend, Steve Smith, also died after being declared fit for work.

Since the birth of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), there have been deaths, suicides and accelerated deterioration in sick and disabled people, who have outrageously been found fit for work.

About 1,600 working-age disabled people are dying every year after having their claim for disability benefits rejected, the government has been forced to admit.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures reveal that 7,990 people who lodged a claim for PIP in the five years after the new benefit was launched died within six months of registering their claim, while also having that claim rejected.

Once your claim is rejected, many are required to attend the Job Centre weekly. Officially, they are not required to seek work but in practice they can often feel pressured to do so.

I am a benefits adviser and tribunal representative at the Community Advice Services Association (CASA) Liverpool. In July 2017, I met Steve, who had been found fit for work even though he had many debilitating illnesses, and I helped him with his appeal. 

Over time, we became friends, and it was me who rang 999 when we realised he was seriously ill.

He was admitted to hospital where he was told he was suffering from pneumonia, which he never fully recovered from and subsequently died. I am convinced Steve would not have died so soon if he had received the benefits he was entitled to.

Steve had worked all his life until he contracted terminal emphysema. He had owned an electric appliance repair shop and sold reconditioned washing machines, dryers, cookers and refrigerators in Liverpool, but there came a point where it was apparent that he could no longer work.

The relevant test for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is being able to walk 50m, while Personal Independence Payment has a benchmark of 20m. Steve could not walk 10m without losing his breath, yet he was taken off ESA but not PIP. It made no sense.

It took two years and an internal inquiry to get to the bottom of the issue, and even then he wasn’t paid all the money he was owed.

The assessment process needs to be changed immediately if the government is serious about taking care of people and preventing more deaths

Had he been awarded ESA, Steve’s quality of life would have improved drastically. His financial situation meant he was unable to move to a more manageable home, and could not afford to properly heat it. 

His living conditions (one room in a three-bedroom house with no running water, infested with rats without an effective roof) I believe contributed to his pneumonia.

These kinds of deaths keep happening because of the policies of the Conservative Governments since 2010, such as cuts to benefits overall, and criteria which are unfair, undignified and put claimants through unnecessary stress. To me, the evidence suggests the government does not care.

The assessment process needs to be changed immediately if the government is serious about taking care of people and preventing more deaths. Every year ESA claimants have to go through the indignity of being assessed, incorrectly most of the time, and I’ve seen first hand how the stress of this exacerbates claimants’ conditions.

If we are serious about the welfare of disabled and ill people a far more sympathetic assessment procedure should be introduced. That’s the only way to put an end to needless deaths we just keep seeing.

MORE: My Label and Me: I am not a ‘scrounger’ because I claim benefits

MORE: My humiliating and degrading battle to claim disability benefits

MORE: Deafness didn’t stop me passing my driver’s test, ignorance did

It’s December and that means one thing; endless socialising.

You’ve got your company Christmas party, your team Christmas meal, festive cocktails with the uni girls, Christmas drinks with the housemates. You’ve got mulled wine running through your veins at this point.

That’s a lot of booze. And a lot of hangovers.

It’s common to consume more alcohol than normal at this time of year, but if you have a fitness regime that you’re trying to stick to, being perpetually pissed for an entire month can really scupper your gains. So, just how much of an impact does alcohol have on your workouts?

We asked nutritionist Caroline Wilson from Kitchenistic to give us the scientific low-down on exactly how all these Christmas parties may be affecting your fitness performance, and crucially, how to limit the damage:

Dehydration and overheating

Essentially, alcohol is a diuretic and drains moisture from the body. I would say that 90% of hangover symptoms are a direct result of dehydration.

When alcohol is processed by the enzymes located in the liver, it is converted to acetaldehyde. As the body works to break the acetaldehyde down, the liver transforms the substance into acetate.

Alcohol also suppresses the body’s level of vasopressin, a hormone that acts as an antidiuretic. As alcohol has such a sudden diuretic impact to the body, it is inevitable that the rapid loss in moisture will affect the body’s fitness performance.

It is no secret that water fuels the body, however, what many people don’t know is that hydration is key to regulating body’s temperature.

If alcohol is in your system, your heart rate will increase faster than usual and your body’s temperature significantly rise.

This can make working out very uncomfortable and lead you to sweat more than you are typically used to. This will of course dehydrate the body further.

I always recommend having a bottle of water on the table as you enjoy drinks with friends. This encourages you to drink water alongside your alcohol.

This will not stop dehydration altogether however; it will limit it and work to protect your workout.

Slowing your metabolism

Alcohol has a negative impact on your digestive system.

It causes stress to the stomach and intestines and causes the movement of food and nutrients through the body to become sluggish. As digestive secretions slack, the rate at which the body absorbs essential nutrients also decreases. This cause the metabolism to slow.

In the run up to drinking, I recommend opting for nutritious food to ensure that the digestive system is functioning to its optimum performance.

This will limit impact to the body’s metabolism and prevent also weight gain.

Poor muscle recovery

Drinking alcohol often leads to a build up of lactic acid. This can make exercise very uncomfortable as cramping is likely to occur.

Muscle fatigue is also inevitable post alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol consumption also suppresses growth hormones which are vital for both building muscle and repairing it.

If you consistently drink, your recovery time post-workout will be a long one and it will be very difficult to build muscle in general.

The Perils of Sugar

Alcohol is often laden with sugar.  Sugar is regarded as ‘high’ on the glycaemic index, which means it rapidly turns into glucose once it is fully digested.

The sudden spike in sugar intake inflames the body and can lead to the body retaining water. This can cause bloating and fatigue as the sudden spike in sugar drops.

If you are planning to exercise in the days after drinking, avoid wines, cocktails or drinks with syrups, as they are full of sugar and will impact the effectiveness of your workout.

Cravings

Almost everyone has their own hangover cure however, perhaps the most popular is a fried breakfast.

Alcohol leads us to gravitate towards fatty foods and spark cravings. This is because alcohol encourages a chemical in the brain called galanin to surge, which causes us to crave foods that are rich in fats.

Even after sleep post-alcohol intake, the levels of galanin in the brain are higher than usual and we will continue to crave fatty foods. This can really impact our workouts as, not only do we feel incredibly sluggish, we have not fuelled our bodies with the correct nutrients for it to sustain an exercise regime.

A healthy balance of the fats Omega 3 and Omega 6 are essential in keeping a healthy lifestyle. However, Omega 6 is often found in vegetable and corn oils that are used to fry food and can cause high blood pressure and heart attacked if eaten to excess.

Weightlifting tends to cause a spike in blood pressure.

If you have been drinking alcohol, I suggest that you stay away from weights for the day as your blood pressure is likely to already be higher than usual.

MORE: Brain cancer survivor launches accessible fitness app to encourage people to look after their bodies

MORE: Could this be Britain’s biggest crisp?

MORE: How long do real Christmas trees last, how to water them and are they expensive?

When one mum spotted lego murals online, she was keen to include it in her son’s bedroom.

But when she spotted the £50 price tag, she wasn’t as impressed.

Instead, she decided to recreate it herself, using just sheets of A4 paper.

The woman said her son loved building things with the bricks and she was keen to refresh his room – but the mural she looked at was above her budget.

So she picked up a pack of coloured sheets of A4 paper. She didn’t say which one she used, but you can get 100 sheets for £3.39 on Amazon.

She stuck them in a pattern on the wall to look like bricks.

Posting on the DIY on a budget group, she said: ‘So, my son’s Lego corner needed revamping, but with the price of Lego self-adhesive mural feature wall being in excess of £50 for the area I wanted to cover, I decided to improvise by using A4 sheets of coloured paper.

‘Not finished, but looking good so far.

‘(Somebody out there has probably done a better job, or used better materials no doubt) but my son is really happy, and that is all that matters.’

Other people loved the idea and commented saying they wanted to try it too.

One said: ‘What a brilliant and fantastic idea. Well done mummy. Glad your son loves it.’

Another added: ‘That’s such a good idea!! Might have to try this.’

And someone else gave a great tip to make it last even longer.

The group member said: ‘That’s a great idea, to make it last longer I would varnish over it with clear varnish u can wipe it down as well I just roller it on, I have used Wilkos mat varnish and I have to say it’s great.’

MORE: How your boozy Christmas parties are affecting your workouts

MORE: Could this be Britain’s biggest crisp?

We’ve all got those friends who find it hard it stop when it comes to booze.

While some people are more than happy to just have one glass of wine over dinner, other people have to order the bottle. And then another.

A new study has discovered there’s a scientific reason why some of us drink compulsively when presented with alcohol – and why some of us find it easier to stop after a couple. It comes down to our drinking personality type.

Neuroscientists at Vanderbilt University and The Salk Institute observed the brains of mice after they had been exposed to alcohol, and were able to predict which of the mice would drink compulsively after identifying three distinct drinking personalities: light, heavy and compulsive bingers.

MORE: How your boozy Christmas parties are affecting your workouts

MORE: Mum creates lego wall for her son’s bedroom using A4 paper

MORE: My friend died after being declared fit for work – this can’t keep happening

Christmas time is almost upon us which, of course, means we must eat all the festive things.

The only downside is we can’t eat some our fave Christmas treats on the go, during office lunches and quick trips to the supermarket.

But Asda is trying to change all that. The retailer is offering pigs in blankets in sausage roll form so you can eat as you go.

The nations favourite festive trimming has been turned into the perfect on-the-go meal in the lead up to Christmas.

Asda’s Pig in Blanket Sausage Roll is on sale now for just 99p and it sounds like it could become a lunchtime favourite.

The stuff is made up of seasoned sausage meat wrapped in streaky bacon and then hand-rolled in puff pastry.

And it’s cooked in store for that fresh out of the oven flavour.

If that’s got you excited for the festive season then head to your nearest Asda to grab one – or five.

‘Our Christmas sandwich range is always popular with customers every year and this year we wanted to create something that’s also made for on-the-go eating and includes a family favourite – pigs in blankets,’ said a spokesperson for Asda.

‘Asda’s Pig in Blanket Sausage Roll is a delicious take on a Christmas classic, and what’s more, it’s produced in the UK.

‘We hope that customers will enjoy the sausage roll and we’re certain that it will become a lunchtime staple.’

And if you need something festive to wash down the sausage roll then don’t forget that the Red Velvet Baileys is also now available.

You can grab a bottle at Asda while you pick up a sausage roll.

Happy holidays indeed.

MORE: Asda shopper turns to food bank for Christmas after £474 glitch leaves her broke

MORE: M&S Christmas food collection includes a festive Colin the Caterpillar and 19 other amazing treats

MORE: £15,000 raised after child asked Santa for food and home this Christmas