A touching moment (Picture: Perri Farlow/Farlow Photography)
Wedding jitters are totally natural, especially as the bride and groom have all eyes on them throughout the event.
One bride from Alabama was nervous, so asked her bridesmaid to fetch her dog to calm her down.
Bride Kristen Dupree of Alabama wanted her trusty companion, two-year-old labrador Zeke, by her side.
She was hit with nerves as photographer Perri Farlow prepared to take first look photos – images capturing the raw emotions of couples before the big moment, either together or separately.
Though ‘first look’ photos usually capture the first time the groom sees the bride, Perri caught a different behind the scenes shot.
When Zeke, who had been hanging out with the groomsmen, saw Kristen all dressed in her bridal get-up, Perri had her camera at the ready.
What she shot was a set of heartwarming images between the cutest dog and his human.
After Perri shared the images on her Facebook they went viral, with many others vowing to do the same thing for their first look pics.
The best kind of photos (Picture: Perri Farlow/Farlow Photography)
Photographer Perri told Metro.co.uk: ‘We had been shooting bridesmaid and bridal portraits for a while and Kristen needed a few minutes to calm her nerves before walking down the aisle.
‘At the end of her bridal portraits, she requested that her matron of honour go get Zeke from the groomsmen’s room.
‘She asked me if I could shoot her “first look” with Zeke and I immediately agreed and thought it was such a cute idea!’
The stunning images have been shared on Facebook more than 47,000 times and Perri can’t believe all the attention.
Bet he’s not too pleased about that (Picture: Perri Farlow/Farlow Photography)
She added: ‘As for the images going viral, I knew they would make such a great Facebook post even as I was snapping them but it’s hard to believe how much attention they’ve gotten!
Kisses for mummy (Picture: Perri Farlow/Farlow Photography)
‘I think it’s awesome that so many people thought the moment was as cute as I did.’
The travel website publishes the best places to visit at the end of every year so if you’re looking to do some big travels soon, you might want to take note.
The likes of Tanzania, India, and Indonesia are some of the top-ranking countries on the list.
While these places might not immediately scream budget-friendly to you, the experts at Lonely Planet know their stuff.
They’ve suggested cities and towns overlooked by their more famous counterparts but offering equally appealing attractions.
Buffalo, New York, for example, is only 30 minutes away from Niagra Falls – and a whole lot cheaper than Manhattan.
For wine-tasting aficionados, instead of paying big bucks for South Africa’s Cape Town wineries, Lonely Planet suggests Cape Winelands for affordable samplings of local wines and cuisine.
Here is the full list of budget-friendly places to visit in 2020:
1. East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
No, not Bali (Picture: Getty)
These islands are home to pristine beaches that are quieter than those further west, and one of Indonesia’s best diving scenes can be found on the Alor Archipelago.
It is also said to have fewer crowds than on popular areas such as Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands.
2. Budapest, Hungary
Cheaper than Iceland (Picture: Getty)
Compared to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, Budapest offers thermal baths for a few dollars. You can also expect buzzing wine bars and edgier ‘ruin bars’.
Other attractions include Keleti station (the best place to arrive in or depart Budapest). There’ll be plenty of Instagrammable content.
3. Madhya Pradesh, India
See these badboys at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Picture: Getty)
In Madhya Pradesh’s wildlife reserves, including Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and Pench National Park, there’s lots to see beyond tigers; you can see wild boar, spotted deer and langur monkeys.
It’s quieter than the tourist-heavy neighbouring state of Rajasthan.
4. Buffalo, New York, US
Known for its close proximity to Niagara Falls, good museums and cultural attractions (Picture: Getty)
Air routes are now expanding to Buffalo where you can visit the super-interactive children’s museum, Explore & More, which is new for 2020.
The recently restored Frank Lloyd Wright houses of the Graycliff Estate and Martin House Complex are another highlight.
And you can make a day trip out of seeing Niagra Falls, of course.
5. Azerbaijan
Yep, it’s in Europe (Picture: Getty)
World Heritage Site Baku has a Caspian Sea waterfront and is home to ambitious architecture and new museums.
You’ll still be in Europe but close to a landscape of mud volcanoes and burning earth.
The north and west of the country have the ever-present Caucasus as a backdrop.
6. Serbia
The roofs of Zemun and the Danube river, looking towards Belgrade, the Serbian capital (Picture: Getty)
The capital city of Belgrade is hardly a secret, known for its nightlife but Serbia also offers outdoor adventures, spas and wineries, ancient monasteries and monolithic memorials from the Yugoslav era.
7. Tunisia
Nope, not Santorini, it’s the town of Sidi Bou (Picture: Getty)
Unlike Morocco, which offers similar attractions, Tunisia is trying to win back tourism so is offering amenities for cheaper
You can visit the Tunis’ Medina, the remains of ancient Carthage and the beachside suburb of Sidi Bou Said to offer an endless range of beach options. There’s also the Saharan dunes.
8. Cape Winelands, South Africa
For the wine lovers (Picture: Getty)
Take a short journey from the food city of Cape Town to the country’s wine region, centred on the historic towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.
You’ll find inexpensive tasting tours followed by lunches serving world-class food and local wines.
9. Athens, Greece
The best of things in Athens are free (Picture: Getty)
The capital offers plenty of free sights including museums and the Parthenon at night, which is free of charge.
You’ll stumble over Byzantine churches and neoclassical buildings, including the National Library and the University of Athen. If you’re more of a beach bum, you’ll find some nice beaches outside of the city.
10. Zanzibar, Tanzania
You can stay here for a fraction of the price compared to the Caribbean (Picture: Getty)
As opposed to the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands, Zanzibar offers accommodations by the beach for a fraction of the price.
In Stone Town, stroll the ancient alleyways and enjoy sunsets before taking advantage of the cheap dining options at the evening food market.
And if you’re coming in from mainland Zanzibar, you get two stamps on your passport. Score.
Lots of women feel pressure to buy an entire new outfit for every party (Picture: Getty)
Christmas can be a really expensive time. Buying presents for everyone you’ve ever met and enough food to feed a small army can be very costly.
But it’s not just the traditional expenses that are chipping away at your disposable income this season, it’s all the socialising too. And your office Christmas party could be one of the biggest expenses.
New research has found that it costs British women an average of £281.78 to attend their work Christmas party.
That eye-watering figure factors in the cost of travel, accommodation and money spent on hair, makeup and that all-important new outfit.
Over a working lifetime of parties, that equates to £13,243.66. Ouch.
With the festive season right around the corner, fashion retailer Oasis surveyed their customers to find out exactly what it takes to get ready for the office Christmas party.
Almost all of those surveyed said they buy a new outfit for the work Christmas party every year, with the average woman spending £139.23 on clothes and accessories.
Additionally, 92% of women pay to get their hair and makeup done for the night; which costs a further £53.70.
Coordinating a fresh party look takes serious planning; 18% of women start looking for the perfect party outfit in early autumn, with half (48%) starting their planning in November.
Just 8% of women leave it to the last week to plan their outfit.
Wearing a new outfit is a major concern for loads of women. Zoe is a 27-year-old marketing manager from Yorkshire, she’s been working at her company for three years and has never shown up to a work party wearing something old.
‘Everything is all over social media and I don’t want to be snapped wearing the same thing twice,’ she explains.
‘I start planning my outfit as soon as summer is over and shops begin releasing party dresses. I want to make sure I look amazing and finding the perfect dress takes time – I would never wait until last minute in case I didn’t find something I liked.’
The research found that it’s not only money being spent on looking good for the night; nearly one in ten (8%) spend more than three hours on their hair and makeup for the evening.
A third get ready in two-three hours, and almost a half (48%) spend between one-two hours on their makeup and hair for the night.
When it comes to dress code, 55% said they preferred a cocktail party for Christmas, with just 14% hoping for a black-tie Christmas party.
The retailer also asked women what they think makes a good office Christmas party.
Entertainment (76%), a sit-down meal (67%) and a free bar (54%) were the most common answers.
However, one in five said free transport is essential – which is no surprise when women are spending an average of £27.55 on transport or £61 on accommodation for the night.
So if you’re office party is looming it’s probably time to get saving… or, you know, just wear that perfectly good dress from last year again.
Have you ever found yourself doing some chores and thought: ‘damn, I have nice hands’?
If so, then have we got a job for you.
Watchmaking brand Seksy is looking for Britain’s most attractive pair of hands to show off their watches.
Obviously, they don’t just want any Tom, Dick or Harry so the brand is searching for the most preened and prepped hands to try out its latest collection, Seksy Edge.
The lucky model will be paid £500 for the gig and gets to take the watches home. Sweet.
As well as receiving these perks, the model will also become the official ‘hands’ of the new Seksy Edge collection, featuring in the latest campaign on its website and social media channels in the new year.
They’re saying the role will provide a, er, ‘hand’s on experience’ (we can’t take responsibility for that pun).
And, of course, you’ll get the coveted title of Britain’s Next Top Hand Model.
Want this gig? (Picture: Sekonda / 72Point)
The lucky applicant will be paid to try out all seven designs in the range and then report back to the folks at Seksy.
They will have to provide feedback on wearability, style, and versatility.
Helen Carnall, brand manager at Seksy, said: ‘As a brand, we’re renowned for our standout designs and bold styles, which take inspiration from jewellery and the latest catwalk trends.
‘That’s why we’re searching for our first ever hand model to become our ‘hand ambassador’ and showcase our latest collection.
‘From perfect nails to the right accessories, we’re searching for the owner of Britain’s most beautiful hands to come forward and “raise a hand” for this once in a lifetime opportunity.
She added: ‘So, if you’ve got a passion for fashion, love a manicure, and you think you might have what it takes to be our first official hand model, then we want to hear from you.’
To apply for the role, aspiring hand models need to visit the Seksy website by Tuesday 17 December and upload an image of their hand.
Monkeypox is an extremely rare disease, and is zoonotic, so is normally seen in animals.
It can, however, be transferred to humans – so here’s everything that you need to know about the illness:
First of all, although Monkeypox is rare, it’s usually a mild condition and unlikely to spread – so there’s no need to panic.
It’s also an orthopoxvirus. Although it’s not a descendent of smallpox, it has similar symptoms (although they’re milder and there’s a lower death rate).
It’s most commonly seen in monkeys and rodents, but has been known to be passed to humans. There was an outbreak in the US in 2003, which was as a result of a giant Gambian rats.
The illness can be spread by touching items like clothing, bedding or towels used by an infected person, touching monkeypox spots or scabs, or if a person with a monkeypox rash coughs or sneezes near you.
Monkeypox symptoms
The early stages of monkeypox can be characterised by a high fever, intense headache, swelling of lymph nodes and aching muscles, say the WHO.
Those infected are also likely to have a lack of energy in the first five days after contracting the disease.
A rash usually begins one-five days after the first symptoms appear. The spots often start on the face before spreading to other parts of the body.
The rash will then likely become lesions with flat bases, blisters or pustules, followed by crusts, in around 10 days.
The symptoms can be known to last two-three weeks as the virus is a self-limited disease, meaning it is restricted in its duration.
In most cases, it is a mild condition and most people recover within a few weeks, but some people do develop more serious symptoms, so patients with monkeypox in the UK need to be cared for in specialist hospitals.
When should you see a doctor?
Experts say there isn’t cause to be overly concerned about the appearance of the monkeypox virus.
The disease is a mild condition which should disappear of its own accord and is unlikely to spread – the virus is actually less contagious than chickenpox.
Doctors suggest you see your doctor if you get a fever, rash, or start feeling sick within three weeks of being exposed to monkeypox.
It’s the perfect Christmas present (Picture: Birds Eye)
If you’re still looking for a Christmas present for the man in your life, the answer might come from an unlikely source – Captain Birds Eye.
Yes, the face of the fish finger has branched out into cologne.
Don’t worry, the signature scent doesn’t smell like those freezer favourites – instead, it’s described as an ‘aromatic scent is reminiscent of a fresh ocean breeze, bursting with top notes of zingy grapefruit, sweet mandarin, and intoxicating patchouli’.
Apparently it’s inspired by ‘the hypnotic and evocative power of the high seas’ so perfect for the pirate or sailor in your life.
The Eau de Toilette comes in a 50ml glass bottle with nods to the nautical. It’s called AHOY! after the seafaring term used to greet someone or draw attention to something in the distance.
It’s not the first time the Captain has been involved in a gift range – last year, Riccardo Acerbi, the 56-year-old Italian-born actor who plays he in the latest ads, posed for 12 different shots for his own calendar.
The Captain (Picture: PinPep/REX)
Annalisa Fanali, Birds Eye spokesperson, said: ‘We know the British public have a soft spot for our Captain; in fact, you could even argue that he reached celebrity status after the unprecedented response to his debut calendar last year.
‘So this Christmas, we wanted to treat fans to something special from our iconic Captain, by creating his own signature scent – after all, who doesn’t love the fresh aroma of the ocean?’
Riccardo was cast as the Captain in January 2018 and he soon caught the public’s attention for his ‘rugged’ and ‘modern’ looks.
The only catch is that the Eau de Toilette isn’t on general sale. Instead, fans can win one of 50 limited edition bottles via the Birds Eye Facebook page from 4 December.
Elf on the (wrapped) shelf (Picture: Caters News Agency)
The above picture shows you the lengths that some people are willing to go to for a prank.
36-year-old Nichola Mullen-King’s husband Carl spent two hours wrapping up the whole kitchen – including the fruit, chopping board, and utensils – all to make his wife and child laugh.
Carl, 34, told Nichola about his madcap plans for an Elf on the Shelf prank on Monday evening as but, naturally, she assumed he was joking.
However, after putting their son, Max, six, to bed, Nichola walked downstairs to find wrapping paper everywhere and decided to join in with Carl’s crazy idea.
Two hours and six rolls of paper later, the pair, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, transformed their kitchen.
Nichola shared the final product on Facebook, joking about her ‘arsehole of a husband’ and saying ‘two hours later and a divorce on the cards’
Don’t worry, it’ll all be reused (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
In the post, which has now racked up 44,000 comments and 46,000 shares, she adds: ‘Idiot even plugged the air freshener back in’.
Nichola, a civil servant said: ‘Max didn’t want the elf to return this year as he believes the elf gets him into trouble with Santa.
‘But he had a last-minute change of heart on Saturday which prompted Carl to think outside of the box on the spot.
‘I assumed Carl, who is a customer service advisor, was joking when he said lets wrap the whole kitchen. But after reading Max a book and putting him to bed, he had started and asked me for a hand.
‘I couldn’t stop laughing but we were both panicking in case the noise would wake Max up and I joked a divorce was on the cards if he continued to tell me to ‘shh’.’
Even the fruit was individually wrapped (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
Max was ‘absolutely flabbergasted’ at the whole thing and said to his parents ‘why do I always get the naughty Elf?’
Nichola was shocked at the reaction from the public, saying: ‘I shared it for my friends and family because I couldn’t believe we had actually done it.
‘When I seen the amount of shares the following morning, I couldn’t believe it. It has blown up!’
After the stunt, it took 40 minutes to unwrap the kitchen, and the couple even had to unwrap the individual eggs that they’d packaged.
Thankfully, all the paper will be used to Christmas wrapping too, so it didn’t go to waste.
Holly wore the dress while decorating the Christmas tree (Picture: Instagram/M&S)
We know Holly Willoughby is a fan of the high street and she’s even launched collections with M&S.
But fans were delighted to discover that the party dress she wore in an Instagram post about putting up her tree is from the store – and it costs under £50.
The presenter posted the picture of herself wearing the satin printed midi dress, with a tiny glass of sherry beside the Christmas tree. She added the caption ‘Rockin around the 🎄’.
The dress comes in both regular and long lengths and sizes 6 to 24.
It’s already sold out in the longer length in sizes 6 to 12 as well as sizes 22 and 24.
The description online says: ‘The slinky satin fabric and dainty pleats of this midi dress create a gorgeously floaty look.’
It adds that there is a waisted shape for a flattering fit, high neckline with feature tie fastening to the back and button-up cuffs on the wrists.
Despite fitting neatly into the millennial age bracket, Michael, a professional portrait painter, insists on living life in the past by dressing only in Victorian clothes from the 19th century and redecorating his home with antiques.
Michael writes in quill and ink, refuses to watch television, and travelled everywhere on an old-fashion bicycle until it was stolen.
And yes, he’s single.
He does receive some odd looks from strangers and judgement from friends and family, but Michael wouldn’t want to live his life any other way.
Michael said: ‘I have always been fascinated by the history that surrounds me – I have been dressing the way I do for as long as I can remember.
Michael, 24, dresses only in Victorian clothing and refuses to watch TV (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘My earliest memory is seeing a top hat for sale in the window of a shop and asking my mother to buy it for me.
‘I dedicate my life to the era and have spent tens of thousands of pounds on clothing and furnishings – I don’t have a budget for my passion for history.
‘My friends and family don’t share my interest and the way I choose to live my life, but that doesn’t matter to me.’
Michael claims that his love for the past initially begun when he studied the Victorian era in primary school, even though his brother Bob, 20, would desperately try to get Michael to join in a game of football.
Michael added: ‘Most people looked at the class as boring history, but I really connected with it – I felt as though I really understood it and the way people were.
‘After learning about the era I began to base my life around it.
‘I adore everything from the era: the fashion, the morals, the aesthetics of furniture and even the music.
He used to get around with an old-fashioned bike… until it was stolen (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘I base my personality on that of a Victorian – I am very much a gentleman and always polite.
‘People have always told me how polite I am ever since childhood.
‘I detest ill humour or anything dirty in conversation and I never swear either.
‘I only listen to music written before 1900 and I attend the opera many times a year, often in my own private box.
‘I also play the piano to a high standard and therefore relate to the music more.’
Michael hasn’t commented on whether he also holds the Victorian view of medicine, racism, and sexuality, and he doesn’t appear to have yet been struck down by smallpox.
He is keen, however, to chat about why it’s so important for him to wear only clothes from the olden times, explaining that people are so ‘spoilt’ with mass-produced clothing that what you wear is, sadly, no longer ‘a way of promoting one’s status or wealth’. Perish the thought.
All of his clothes are old and chosen to display his wealth (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘I adore the clothing for its delicacy and ornate nature – clothes were very expensive and people would always wear their best when outdoors,’ says Michael.
‘I spend an entire week’s wage on a coat – and the average age of my clothes is 120 years old.
‘My most expensive item is a tailored dressing gown and night shirt I had made for my fit in Germany, which cost well over £700.’
That does sound cosier than the old, holey T-shirt we sleep in, to be fair.
Michael is currently transforming his house into a Victorian haven, having already restored his bedroom with oil lamps, a grandfather clock and a gramophone.
Shutting out the modern world comes at a price – the portrait painter says that redoing his room cost well over £8,000.
‘I hope that once the house is finished people will feel as though they have stepped back in time once they walk in,’ he says.
‘Even my job is tailored around my love for the past as I paint custom portraits in an older style.
He’s now transforming his home to be a Victorian haven (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘People buy my art not just for what it is but also for the artist who creates it so I always make sure I’m dressed in dinner tails when I unveil a portrait.’
While many of us might refuse to date a man who can’t take a great plandid, Michael says his gentlemanly ways leave him inundated with offers for potential partners.
Sure, Michael.
If you’ve got your eye on bedding the bachelor, you’ll need to eschew the trappings of a modern woman and swap that Boohoo dress for a bustle. As we said, he doesn’t watch TV, so we don’t think you’d have a relationship filled with cosy nights in watching Love Island (yes, there’s a winter edition now).
He said: ‘I am currently not in a relationship, but I can assure you I am not unwanted.
‘I am one of the most eligible bachelors for miles around.
‘When I do decide to marry, I would prefer someone like me – a lady who wears a bustle and feathers in her hat, and who could accompany me with her singing as I play the piano late into the evening.
‘My career as an artist is far more important to me than love – I spend each day thinking of new ideas, painting and being creative.
‘I never get the time to work on my emotions.
‘But – when the time is right – I know I will be a perfect suitor.
‘And, as I base everything I do on that of the Victorian era, I would love to have a woman to share this with one day also.’
In an age of instant messaging, email and FaceTime, when those you love are often just a touchscreen phone call or text away, you may think that the tradition of sending cards is becoming somewhat redundant – but not so for us Brits.
Some recent figures for the UK card market show that it’s worth a whopping £1.7bn, with Christmas greetings making up nearly half of that sizeable figure.
What is more, the Greetings Card Association estimates that around £50m is raised for worthwhile causes every year, thanks to the sales of charity Christmas cards.
So where did the tradition of sending Christmas cards start and when was the first festive greeting sent by mail?
When was the first Christmas card sent?
The very first Christmas card was sent in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole.
English designer, writer and public servant Sir Henry Cole (1808 – 1882). (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Sir Henry Cole was the chief organiser of the Great Exhibition, pioneer of the Uniform Penny Post and also the founder of the V&A Museum.
The V&A records that Cole’s diary entry for 17 December 1843 reads: ‘In the Evg Horsley came & brought his design for Christmas Cards.’
A picture of the very first Christmas card from 1843. (Picture: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)
This refers to artist John Callcott Horsley, who was commissioned by Cole to design the very first Christmas card. His illustration featured three generations of the Cole family all raising a toast alongside the words ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You.’
One of these original Christmas cards was sold by Bonhams auction house in London in 2005 for £4,700.
Cole sent the cards he had designed that year to his associates, friends and relatives, but he also had the design published and offered for sale for the price of a shilling.
The card didn’t sell well and the tradition of sending Christmas cards didn’t truly catch on until about twenty years later, in the 1860s, when new printing processes and Prince Albert’s introduction of various German Christmas traditions into British culture made for a more viable market and demand for Christmas cards rose.
A Christmas robin and sprigs of holly decorate a traditional Victorian Christmas greetings card. (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The V&A museum has collected and displayed greetings cards ever since it was established thanks to its association with Cole and to date has over 30,000 cards archived – more than half of which are Christmas cards.
According to the V&A, the Victorians well and truly cemented the tradition of sending Christmas cards and were also responsible for establishing ‘the now familiar iconography of Christmas.’
‘This period saw the debut of many of the meaningful symbols and decorative devices that we associate with the festive season,’ the V&A explains.
‘Winter scenes of robins, holly, evergreens, country churches and snowy landscapes; along with indoor scenes of seasonal rituals and gift giving, from decorating trees and Christmas dinner, to Santa Claus, children’s games, pantomime characters and Christmas crackers – another Victorian invention.’
Christmas cards today still feature the hallmarks of the very first commercial greetings cards sold at Christmas in the Victoria era. (Picture: Getty)
Much like our Victorian ancestors, Brits still love to send Christmas cards today and the GCA Market Report in 2018 showed that one billion Christmas cards were sold in the UK in 2017 alone.
She showed how she does a weekly shop and splits each meal into a basket, with a note attached for all the chilled ingredients she needs to add.
Although it might take some time at the weekend, it means everything is in one place for you to put together after a tiring day of work and you make sure you have everything for the meal before you start.
Jessica explains: ‘Aldi shopped today and set up meals for the week! My mom and I have a great system set up lately. We put the cans, sauces, boxes, anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated for a meal in one of these and plan a meal completely. Sides, desserts, and all!
Aldi shopped today and set up meals for the week! My mom and I have a great system set up lately. We put the cans,…
‘Anything cold that would need to be added goes on a sticky note in the back! We pull the box out when we get home from work and have everything ready. It’s a great system, honestly. We set it up for the week on one night of the week and it’s ready to go.’
Jessica used plastic baskets that can be picked up for a few pounds but you could also use boxes or anything big enough to keep all the food for that meal in one place.
Other people loved the idea and the post racked up over 5,800 likes.
One person said: ‘Genius. Game changer. Thank you for sharing!’
Another added: ‘Love this idea! Not only a great time saver for during the week. It is a great way to also make sure you did not forget something for a meal before you start making it.’
So we’re certain that Kelly Seaton, 32, has perfected her ‘oh my gosh, you shouldn’t have, I love it’ reaction.
Her golden Labrador Retriever mix has been bringing her all sort of strange gifts for years.
Each time Kelly arrives home, the seven-year-old pup, Xena, greets her at the door with something she’s found that day, whether it’s sellotape, a green bean, or a single strand of spaghetti (yes, these are all things given to Kelly by Xena).
Kelly is often puzzled by where her dog finds the items, but is always sure to thank Xena for the thought – as that’s what counts.
Here, please take half a plate (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
And an empty jug (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
Xena will often run off to dig out an item when she hears her owner coming and will then wait by the door ready for the gift-giving ritual.
She’s been bringing her owner gifts ever since she was a puppy, starting with fairly normal items such as chew toys, balls, or bones.
Over the years the present selection has become stranger, and Kelly has started documenting the gifts she receives from her dog in adorable photos.
Kelly, of Greenbelt, Maryland, US, said: ‘Xena has always brought me gifts. The first few times she did it, it was her ball or toys so I didn’t think anything of it.
Kelly always makes sure to appreciate her gifts, even this red solo cup (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
‘And the first time she brought me something random, I thought maybe she couldn’t find her toys but then it kept on happening. I never expected it to go on for this long.
‘When I finally realised how odd it was, I started documenting it.
‘She brings me a gift every time I come home or even sometimes if I go in a room, shut the door, then come back out.
‘Her ball is the most common gift but she’s brought me all sorts. Sometimes I find myself really confused about where she finds these things.
‘The other day she brought me a gallon jug and I don’t even know where it came from or where she found it.’
Sometimes the presents are useful, such as missing socks that Xena may or may not have hidden away for weeks.
Other times they’re a bit… odd.
Yes, that’s a bottle of essential oil (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
But whatever she finds, Xena is always very proud of the present-giving ritual and the treasures she manages to find for her pal.
‘It has to be something she thinks is worthy,’ says Kelly.
‘She sits there very proud to show you what she’s found. She always looks very pleased with herself. It’s really sweet.
‘I always thank her for her gifts and make a big deal of it and say, “Oh Xena what did you bring me? That’s so sweet”.
‘You aren’t allowed to take the gift right away, just look at it.
‘Then she throws herself onto the floor and rolls over so you can rub her belly while she holds your gift for you. That’s her gift presentation position.
‘When she’s had enough cuddles she’ll leave the gift on the floor for you. It’s so nice. It’s the best part of my day.’
It sounds dreamy to us.
And some sellotape (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
Kelly reckons that Xena’s passion for giving daily presents is all part of her loving nature. The dog has even extended the honour to family and friends, who also need to react with similar gratitude when brought a random assortment.
Kelly’s other dog, Maserati, has not been convinced to copy Xena’s people-pleasing tactics.
Kelly said: ‘When I tell people about it they’re all shocked and wish their dogs did the same.
‘The best thing is when people come over and get to see it for themselves and Xena brings them a gift and they’re just besides themselves.
‘My mum is Xena’s favourite person and whenever she hears my mum coming, she goes crazy. She runs around frantically looking for a gift that’s good enough.
‘She really is such a character. She is a dream. She is the kind of dog that just loves to make you happy and she’s incredibly well-behaved.
‘Her and Maserati are the best of friends. They really love each other.
‘Although he does look at her funny sometimes when she’s bringing me gifts. It’s like he’s looking at her to say “what are you doing?” or telling her she’s a suck up.’
The pair are best friends (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
This is Jessica Clewes, and her best friend Denzel.
They met one rainy night, when Jessica’s dad Michael, 70, heard a chirping outside their front door and saw Denzel all alone on the doorstep.
Michael noticed that the baby bird had no mother around, and Jessica (who lives next door) decided to nurse the poor shivering duckling back to health.
She used a heat lamp to warm him up, and fed him worms and corn, and slowly but surely he was back to his old self.
Not only did he start to grow, though, he also became Jessica’s sidekick, and now follows her almost everywhere.
When he was big enough to fly the nest, pampered Denzel didn’t want to leave, so she built him a duck pond and outdoor house, but he prefers to be indoors.
Denzel was all on his own outside Michael’s house (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
It’s now been our months since he waddled into their lives, and Denzel loves watching TV from his favourite spot in front of the fire. He has outgrown his home-made incubator, but instead loves the log burner.
He follows Jessica and partner, Adam Oliver, 38, around the house in Smallwood, Cheshire, and even sits on their shoulders and nestles into her hair.
Denzel when he was a duckling (Picture: SWNS)
Cleaner Jessica, who has experience as a game keeper, said: ‘We love him to bits. He sees us as parents and we have hand-reared him since he was a baby.
‘He sits on my knee at night whilst I watch TV and now it’s cold outside he likes to sit in front of the log burner. He’s never ever tried to fly away and he could do at any point really, but this is all he has ever known.’
He’s always loved to sit on shoulders and nuzzle in (Picture: SWNS)
Even if he did want to live the life of a normal duck, Jessica worries that he might not be able to survive among the pondlife now that he’s had a taste of humanity.
‘I’m not even sure he knows how to be a proper duck,’ she says.
He doesn’t drink tea but sometimes has worms as a treat (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
‘He must have only been a couple of days old when he turned up on my dad’s door in the rain. I want to keep him forever now. We both have an affection for him.’
Jessica considers herself – as well as gamekeepers and farmers that she’s around – massive conservationists. She loves animals, as does Adam, and they look after Denzel like he’s a baby.
As he’s a duck, he loves a body of water (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
Jessica says: ‘One of his favourite things to do with us is sit in the garden and dig up mealworms.
‘He will sit on my shoulder too and I can walk around the house with him on there. When he was young he used to sit on my head. I think he might have seen it as a bird’s nest.
His favourite spot in the house (Picture: Lee McLean/SWNS)
My boyfriend is obsessed with him and they have a special connection for sure. He pecks me sometimes but follows Adam around wherever he goes.’
One thing that the couple haven’t mastered yet is toilet training, so they do find themselves cleaning up after Denzel around the house.
The next steps (or waddles) for the family Jessica is to adopt a female duck so Denzel can start a family.
Jessica is hopeful of one day having her very own duck nursery in her back garden.
Owner Joanne sleeps in the kitchen next to the puppies and their mum (Picture: IOM Newspapers / SWNS)
A dog could have set a new world record after giving birth naturally to a staggering litter – of 21 puppies.
Great Dane and American bulldog cross Mary Jane (MJ) did her owner Joanne Hine proud as she popped out the enormous brood.
Joanne, who’s from the Isle of Man, had been told her beloved pet would give birth to six-eight puppies, but as the due date crept closer a fresh examination revealed that the number was going to be much higher.
The puppies were born naturally – which might make the birth a world record (Picture: IOM Newspapers / SWNS)
Now that the ordeal of the birth is over with, questions are being asked as to whether MJ’s epic achievement is actually record-breaking.
The Guinness World Record for the largest litter currently stands at 24, born to a Neapolitan mastiff called Tia in Cambridgeshire in 2004. But those puppies were born via caesarian section while MJ’s litter were all natural – which Joanne thinks could mean a new record has been broken.
‘When the vets told me it would probably be more after they’d said she would have just six to eight I said; “no way!”‘ Joanne recalls.
‘I’m so proud of her. MJ did it all on her own with Annie and Ruth of Jane Callow Veterinary Practice by her side the whole time. MJ only has nine nipples so bottle feeding them every two hours is a team effort from us all.’
Sadly, six of Joanne’s puppies were stillborn and one died soon after the birth on November 20. So the new mum has 14 little ones to care for.
Imagine the cuddles with these little guys (Picture: IOM Newspapers / SWNS)
The remaining 14 pups have been named after chocolate bars that Joanne says suit their personalities.
Joanne loves these little dogs so much, she even sleeps in the kitchen next to a homemade crib, which is big enough for all 14 and their mother.
The majority of the dogs are yet to be re-homed, although two are soon being taken to a new family in Rotherham.
All the pups seem to have inherited their mother’s black and white colouring and the face of their father – a bull mastiff crossed with a rottweiler. Which is an unbelievably adorable combination.
The animals need to be fed every two hours, so Joanne is being supported by her dad Steve, brother Matt and friend Liam – who will soon all become ‘dads’ to the puppies.
She added that MJ will now be neutered – as she’s read that a second litter can be even bigger than the first.
Emily curling her hair and the finished result (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
Emily Kendall’s big night out was almost ruined when she couldn’t find her curlers – until she had an idea to use a radiator pipe instead.
She decided to wrap her hair around the hot pipe to curl it and she says it was actually better than using her normal styling tool.
The 22-year-old has long blonde hair and it took her just 20 minutes to create the bouncy curls.
She even claims that her hair felt healthier than normal because it didn’t seem to singe in the same way.
The young mum took photographs of her hack and shared them on social media, getting over 22,000 likes and shares.
Emily, from Morecambe, Lancashire, said: ‘I almost cancelled my plans until I realised I could try the radiator pipe. I was so shocked when it worked.
‘It’s a good hack for when you’ve lost your curlers. It’s a tip for people who didn’t get [any] in the sales.’
Emily curling her hair (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
Emily was getting ready and had had a difficult day when she realised her curlers were missing.
As she tried to think about where they could be, she had a moment of inspiration.
She said: ‘I was trying to think where the tongs were and sat on the radiator because I was freezing. My daughter tried to touch it and I said ‘no, it’s hot’.
‘Then I realised the pipe was there and thought “oh, that might work.”
‘I sat on the floor and tried to curl my hair around it.
‘When I looked in the mirror and thought “well, that one’s worked”, so decided to carry on.
‘I thought ‘oh my god’ when I saw the first curl. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it’d worked.
The finished result (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
‘It only took 20 minutes and with my curlers it takes about 40. It’s quicker and I’m saving on electricity in the meantime.
‘The curls stayed in all night and the next day. I went out the following night with it still curled.’
She still hasn’t found her tongs but says she’ll keep using the new technique for now.
Emily was especially pleased she managed to style it all without burning her fingers as she often catches them on her tongs.
She said: ‘I’ve got a few Christmas parties and meals coming up, so I’ll be using the pipes again.
‘If someone had suggested this to me in the past, I’d never have done this.
‘My friends loved it. They were all taking pictures of me because they couldn’t believe it. They’re inspired to try it now.
‘It wasn’t as hot as my curlers because normally my hair smokes with the tongs, so it must be better for my hair too.’
Sophia Hilton, founder of Not Another Salon said that it’s actually maybe not a bad idea.
She told Metro.co.uk: ‘All credit to her, it’s creative that’s for sure. The average radiator is only 80 degrees, which is 100 degrees less than the temperature that professionals tong at.
‘So.. no damage done, except possibly to twist her neck.’
The Christmas advent calendar has evolved far from the original designs that simply had pictures behind the doors. (Picture: Getty Images)
The countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun now the first of December has passed and for many people the time left until Christmas Day will be marked daily by the opening of an advent calendar.
But if not to present you with a little gift every day in the lead up to Christmas, what are advent calendars really for and what is the meaning behind the festive tradition?
What are advent calendars for and where did the tradition start?
Long before advent calendars were filled with chocolate, cheese, gin, beauty products and numerous other goodies, an advent calendar was a simple way to mark the days left before the most important day in the Christian calendar, the birth of Christ.
The word Advent comes from a Latin phrase meaning ‘coming toward’ and the first records of people counting down the days of December dates back to the 19th century in Germany when Lutherans physically marked the passing of each day with chalk on their doors throughout the month.
The first commercial advent calendars were sold in Germany and looked very different from the ones on sale today. (Picture: Getty Images)
According to the Landesmuseum in Austria, the first very first advent calendar was made in Hamburg in 1902 by a protestant bookshop owner.
The first-ever printed Advent Calendar was produced in 1908 in Germany and had 24 small paper doors which were numbered and opened to reveal a small picture of illustration behind each one.
This autistic man had to take matters into his own hands (Picture: ABC6)
Michael Coyne has spent two years trying to find a job, which he feels is because he is autistic.
He plays sports with the Special Olympics of Rhode Island which provides activities for those with intellectual disabilities but professionally, he has struggled to find work.
Now, he’s had to take matters into his own hands and decided to open a coffee shop, with the help of his mum.
The business – Red, White & Brew – opened its doors near Michaels’s home in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, in November.
Michael, who also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder, wanted to hire staff with special needs to give them a leg-up.
Using the rejection as motivation, Michael started business classes at the state’s Developmental Disabilities Council to learn tricks of the trade.
His mum Sheila also helped set it up so they could help the disabled community.
The pair want to be as inclusive as possible and hope that in the future it can be even more accessible with equipment that helps disabled people.
For example, using a barcode scanner instead of entering prices manually or getting a milk steamer that automatically shuts off.
Though in its infancy, Red, White & Brew has given hope to others with developmental disabilities.
He’s hoping to hire others with developmental disabilities (Picture: ABC6)
‘It’s just a beacon of hope for people with disabilities,’ Michael told local paper The Valley Breeze. ‘We just want to integrate.’
Mum Sheila added: ‘We’ve had parents come in with tears in their eyes with the hope that their young children will eventually be accepted into the community.
‘As parents, we look at our kids and see the value,’ Sheila said. ‘We see what they are capable of, instead of the system that’s consistently labelling them and putting barriers.
‘What I liked about the coffee shop idea is the community. We learn on both sides,’ she continued.
‘We teach people, “Yeah, he has a disability, but look what he’s doing”. And he’s out in the community getting his social skills.’
Red, White & Brew is also connected to a craft store called Budding Violet which offers homemade items made by artists with special needs.
The tale of Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future has become synonymous with the festive season. (Picture: Getty)
Traditional festive tale A Christmas Carol has been adapted for TV once again and the BBC’s latest re-telling will air on BBC One over Christmas.
A Christmas Carol tells the tale of Scrooge, a miserly old man who hates Christmas and is mean-spirited to everyone around him. One cold Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future, who seek to show the selfish, elderly businessman the error of his ways and guide him towards learning the true joys and important parts of life.
The Charles Dickens Museum notes, in regards to their new exhibition Beautiful Books: Dickens and the Business of Christmas, that although Dickens very much ‘cornered’ the Christmas publishing market from the 1840s following the publication of A Christmas Carol, he would live to somewhat regret it.
Mr Fezziwig’s Ball, illustration by John Leech for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. (Picture: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
‘Later in his career, he began to distance himself from what had become an annual flood of festive books, stories and stocking fillers.,’ the museum observes.
In reference to Christmas, he wrote to a friend in 1868: ‘I am sick of the thing’.
The first thing you might notice about her is the fact that she has beautiful, bright eyes.
Then it might be the fact she hasn’t got a tail.
What most people don’t notice about her, though, is that she actually doesn’t have an anus.
This issue was discovered in Venus when she came to live with foster carer Jodie Dewane, who is now fundraising for surgery for the cat.
Jodie got Venus from a rescue centre called Feline Friends, who are based in London and supported by donations and volunteers.
She said: ‘I was thinking about fostering a cat. I’ve grown up with cats and wanted to help take care of vulnerable animals.’
It wasn’t long after that that Feline Friends’ organiser Barbara got in contact to say they had a stay that needed a home – Venus.
She sometimes cries from the pain (Picture: GoFundMe)
The tiny black kitten had been found in a bush with no tail and no place to call home, and so Jodie was more than happy to help.
But, ‘it soon became apparent that she had other health complications aside from not having a tail,’ said Jodie.
‘She was seen by the vet and we found out she didn’t have a bum and had been pooping from her vagina, ouch!
‘It appears as if she was born without a tail or a bum and was abandoned when it became apparent that she was such a special little girl.’
This is likely due to a condition called imperforate anus, which is a birth defect that affects the development of the anus. In some cases the rectum opens into other structures – in Venus’ case her vagina,
Venus, who is estimated to be around four months old, sometimes cries from the pain, and Jodie understandably wants to get things sorted. As a result, the vet suggests surgery for the brave little cat.
Jodie says: ‘Nonetheless she’s still one of the most loving, affectionate, sweet kittens I have ever met!’
The surgery will cost up £5,000, which includes x-rays, medication and the surgery itself. Jodie said that this is a ballpark figure as vet consultations are ongoing, but any excess will be donated to Feline Friends.
Currently, the GoFundMe page has racked up £205, but there’s still a long way to go. If you’d like to help Venus, you can do so here.
Dave after his operation (Picture: Kennedy News and Pics)
When Josh Watson’s duck Dave couldn’t stop having sex, he was reluctant to intervene.
But Dave’s antics led to him injuring his penis and getting an infection – so now it’s had to be removed.
Before his injury, Dave was mating with his friends Dora, Freda and Edith up to 10 times a day.
Josh noticed that the end of his penis had ‘died’ and took him to the vet.
Dave was prescribed antibiotics and painkillers and his owners were told to wash his penis daily, before pushing it back in – but sadly it didn’t help.
Dave continued trying to have sex and eventually, they decided the only thing they could do was remove his penis.
He still has about one centimetre left and he can urinate as ducks only use them for mating.
Josh, from Torquay, Devon, said: ‘He’s doing fine now, he’s quite resilient for a duck. The only downfall is that he’s lost his willy. I think he feels pretty upset about it.
‘I think he’s a nymphomaniac. He’s got a high sex drive basically. So I think that’s what caused it.
‘He tries to mate with his female companions a lot. Every chance he can get.. I’d say between five and ten times a day, maybe more.’
Josh added that most ducks calm down once mating season is over but Dave never has.
He said: ‘He doesn’t stop throughout the year. Over winter he’s meant to calm down. The ducks stop laying eggs but he doesn’t stop mating. He just carries on.
‘I think his female companions do like him. They obviously sometimes get fed up with him and wander off.
‘He does try at every available opportunity but sometimes he gets turned down.
They decided the operation was the best thing for Dave (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
‘One of them really doesn’t like him probably because of that. But the other two are quite receptive.’
Josh has returned from Bristol and has been kept away from the other ducks to help him recover from his surgery.
The couple keeps the ducks as pets on their lawn, with an enclosure for them to sleep in at night.
Vet Sonya Miles, who operated on Dave, said some ‘overuse’ had caused his penis to prolapse before he injured it and it became infected.
She said: ‘It turns out Dave had been over-amorous with the ladies that he lives with which had caused his penis to prolapse.
‘This resulted in his penis getting traumatised and then pretty infected. He’d basically injured the tip of his penis and had a wound on it that had got infected.
‘Normally it goes back inside him once he’s finished [mating] but it stayed out and obviously when it’s out it’s bashed and stood on and pecked at and god knows what.
‘Female ducks can actually be quite aggressive and if they don’t want his attention then they will peck at anything including his penis. I think [his penis] took the brunt of it, unfortunately. It’s brutal.’
Sonya said that they felt they had no choice but to remove it to make him more comfortable.
‘All of us knew that as soon as we saw it there was really only one thing we could do and that was to remove it before it got any worse,’ she added.
‘It was very much a team effort. One of us saw him in, one of us did the surgery, and our exotic [species] specialist nurses made sure he stayed alive and was comfortable.’
Now he’s had the operation, Sonya said it won’t have too much of an impact on him in the future.
She said: ‘He won’t be able to successfully breed which isn’t a problem for the way he is kept but it means he’ll lead maybe a slightly joyless life in comparison [to before].
‘On the face of it he was actually pretty oblivious to the fact that he’d lost his manhood. He was up and about and eating and doing his normal duck things immediately post-surgery.
‘I imagine once he realises what he’s missing he may be slightly more concerned. He’ll definitely still try to mate. It’s not going to stop him.
‘But at the end of the day it’s not going to stop him having a completely normal life. It’s not going to bother him too much.
‘I felt sorry for him more than anything but also really pleased that his owners were so caring. It’s nice to have a client who is willing to do that much for their pet.
‘A lot of people go “oh it’s just a duck” but he’s not – he’s a loved pet.’
