The deeply phallic Christmas treat is served in wrapping paper (Picture: MEN MEDIA)
We all know that what’s important is not the length of your sausage, but what you do with it.
At Papas Fish and Chips, in Hull, they’re taking that sausage, wrapping it in bacon, then deep-frying it.
So if you weren’t impressed by a 2ft long porker, perhaps you’ll be won over by the promise of the country’s largest battered pig in blanket… or hog in a duvet, as the shop is calling their creation.
The chain is selling the monstrous battered and bacon wrapped sausages throughout the festive period to raise money for charity.
Each one costs £3.99 with all proceeds going to Cash For Kids. Oh, and it’s served in wrapping paper, obviously.
‘We’ve always sold battered pigs in blankets during the festive period for the past five years,’ said George Papas.
‘Last year we sold a foot long but this year we have moved it up another level and are selling the world’s largest battered pigs in blanket that we are calling a hog in a duvet.
Here’s the ‘hog in duvet’ before it’s battered. It’s naked. Look away. (Picture: MEN MEDIA)
‘It’s the most amazing pigs in blanket you could ever have. It would be a challenge for one to eat but we would love to see if anyone can, and if not it’s something to order on top of your fish and chips to share.
‘We love Christmas and getting in the spirit so this is a great way to do it, as well as raising money for charity as well.
‘All the money we make from the hogs in duvets is going to Cash For Kids so that all children in our area can have a better Christmas.
‘We are a family business and believe in helping out as many children and family charities locally as possible. It is our way of saying thank you and giving back to the community.’
We’re sold. Nothing says Christmas like refusing to move from the sofa and emitting only low moans because you’ve stuffed your gullet with battered meat.
Or just stick together a bunch of smaller pigs in blankets, alternated with battered sausages. You’d have to cut the official one up anyway, so this is basically the same thing.
It seems one popular beauty brand has come to the end of its run in the UK.
French brand Bourjois announced today it will be discontinuing its products in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The move comes after the brand has seen a decline in sales – partly down to competition from new companies, such as celebrity beauty brands.
Coty – the company that owns the brand – released a statement on the discontinuation.
They told Cosmopolitan UK: ‘We can confirm that following a strategic review of Coty’s Consumer Beauty brands in the UK we’ve made the difficult decision to exit Bourjois.
‘This will allow us to focus to a far greater degree on our priority Consumer Beauty brands’.
The brand is perhaps best known for its Healthy Mix Foundation and its creamy blushers and bronzers, which are packaged in little round pots.
Other popular products include the Rouge Velvet lipsticks and liquid lip items.
So anyone who has a Bourjois product in their makeup collection might want to use it sparingly, to make it last for longer.
But, as far as we know, Bourjois will still be available in other countries.
The brand has been up and running for more than 156 years. It was founded in 1863 in Paris, by cosmetologist Joseph-Albert Ponsi.
Anyone who buys the piece can simply replace the banana when it starts to rot (Picture: EPA/RHONA WISE)
A banana, duct-taped to a wall has been sold for $120,000 (£91,000) from Art Basel Miami Beach.
A second piece of the same design has also been sold for the same price, and the third edition is now reportedly on sale for $150,000 (£114,000).
The art world is full of weird and wonderful creations, but that is a lot of money for a suspended piece of fruit.
The installation is by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan – and it went on sale earlier this week.
The first edition of the artwork was sold to a French woman, while the second edition was snapped up by a man, also from France, according to art market website Artnet.
Maurizio Cattelan says he bought the banana for his lucrative piece of art from a Miami supermarket – and he has reportedly decided to sell the third edition to a museum. Two institutions have already expressed their interest.
It’s a perfect picture op (Picture: EPA/RHONA WISE)
Speaking to Artnet, the Italian artist explained how he struggled to finish the piece of work for more than a year, before the revelation finally struck.
‘Wherever I was travelling I had this banana on the wall. I couldn’t figure out how to finish it,’ he said. ‘In the end, one day I woke up and I said “the banana is supposed to be a banana”.’
The banana is Cattelan’s return to art fairs after an absence of 15 years, and it has caused quite a stir.
Entitled ‘Comedian’, the artwork is literally just a banana bought in a Miami supermarket and a single piece of duct tape. So, what’s to stop imitiations?
The people who have spent thousands don’t need to worry, each ‘Comedian’ piece is sold with a certificate of authenticity – and when the banana starts to rot, you can simply replace it.
Every morning, as her parents turn on her hearing aids, four-month-old Georgina Addison has a moment of marvel.
Her reaction is priceless; the baby’s face goes from calm to disbelief to wonder within a few seconds, and it’s now been captured on film for the rest of us to see.
In the adorable video shot by her parents, Paul and Louise from Harrogate, Yorkshire, Georgina can be seen grinning from ear to ear as the sound returns to her ears.
‘It’s like she’s having the lights switched on and she can hear her mum’s voice,’ said Paul.
‘She is instantly delighted and becomes much happier straight away.
‘Her face lights up and she looks delighted.
‘For us as parents it is a true delight for us, too. It fills my heart with joy and you just can’t put a price on things like this.
‘Every morning she reacts like it’s a completely new experience and that will never get old.’
Georgina was born deaf, and was fitted with two hearing aids shortly after her arrival in August this year.
Initially, the little girl was taken for audiology tests, which revealed that she has hearing issues. Soon after, her parents were referred to a specialist audiologist, who confirmed the diagnosis.
‘Getting that sort of news is always going to be difficult,’ said Paul, who works as a communications manager.
‘We focused on the practicalities of the situation and did our best to stay positive.’
‘Every morning now when we turn the hearing aids on we get this lovely reaction from her’ (Picture: SWNS)
Paul added: ‘She’s a very happy baby and we made sure it wouldn’t become a long term issue.
‘Every morning now when we turn the hearing aids on we get this lovely reaction from her.
‘She smiles every morning when she’s able to access sound. It’s just gorgeous.’
In the meantime, can someone please pass us a tissue?
Do you have a lovely story of your own baby getting up to mischief or being unusually adorable? Get in touch and tell us all about it at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
Maximus has had a hard life (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
Phoebe Buffay’s Smelly Cat was a song that touched the hearts of many, with us all rooting for the poor little pet who’d been left outside alone.
Now, a real life Smelly Cat has come along and done the same thing, with his story inspiring £6,000 in donations to help him get better.
12-year-old Maximus was picked up by the Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands. who posted heartbreaking pictures of the poorly puss after he was found close to death in a gutter.
The pictures showed Maximum in a sorry state, with matted fur and cuts all over him.
When we was brought to the vet, it was found that he has FIV, which is the feline version of HIV, and his claws were also so long they were embedded in his paws and he could barely walk and vets said he was hours from death.
What he looked like before (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
Charity spokesperson and founder of the rescue team Lucy Strickland said: ‘We didn’t hold out much hope for Maximus but he’s a fighter.
‘He was in a terrible condition when we found him.
‘Maximus was ignored for many years, too many people thought they were doing enough by feeding him and walking on by, but sometimes, these strays need so much more.’
People thought that leaving food for Maximus was enough (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
Finally, however, little Maximus is getting the care he deserves, thanks to the deluge of donations that came in from the public for him.
Just days after the appeal was launched more than £6,000 was raised to pay for his treatment with donations coming from around the world.
But Maximus’s FIV meant he needed extra care (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
Writing on Facebook Jake Burch said: ‘What a hero. Smelly Cat from Friends is real and needs our help!’
Lisa Franks added: ‘I literally cried when I saw his little face. What a fighter. Someone needs to give him a home for Christmas.’
He’s slowly learning to trust humans again (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
Lucy says that they now have ‘cutting edge vets working mainly on Maximus, and that ‘the nurses and staff have all been incredible.’
All the funds that have been raised through the crowdfunder will be going to help Maximus, and special drugs are planned to be shipped from the US that should hopefully help him.
The charity is determined that he will spend his last months or years in comfort (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
He is being cared for at White Cross Vets in Wolverhampton and is undergoing multiple treatments, including AZT, which is normally used to treat HIV in humans.
Lucy added: ‘Even if he only has a couple of weeks, or a couple of months, of happiness, we’ve done our job.
Plenty of people want him to be happy (Picture: Stray Cat Rescue Team WM / SWNS)
‘Maximus was severely dehydrated and underweight when he was brought in and had no trust in humans. He would hiss and spit. He was terrified.
‘A week after being rescued he realised that not all humans are bad. When he hears you, he starts purring.
‘We’ve had more applications [to foster] him than any other cat. He’s touched quite a few people.’
While Christmas trees have been a tradition for centuries many are unaware how the practice began, and the role the monarchy had in popularising them.
Why are Christmas trees kept in homes?
The modern-day Christmas tree hails from 16th century Germany when Christians began setting up ‘paradise trees’ – from the story of Adam and Eve – in their homes.
At the same time families prepared wooden ‘Christmas pyramids’ which were decorated with evergreens, candles and a star.
Soon, the two merged to create the Christmas tree.
A drawing of Queen Victoria’s Christmas tree at Windsor Castle (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty)
The Christmas tree made its way over to the UK in the early 19th century, and was popularised by Queen Victoria and her German-born husband Prince Albert – both of whom were known to love Christmas.
The Victorian trees were first embellished with ribbons, toys and small gifts, however in the turn of the 20th century intricate ornaments and decorations were adopted.
In current days, the Christmas tree is a staple in many homes over the festive period, regardless of faith, with modern use generally secular.
The modern day Christmas tree originated in Germany (Picture: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty)
In many countries – including those in south America – trees are on display from December 8, the Day of Immaculate Conception, until early January.
However some households choose to get their tree at the beginning of Advent – four Sundays prior to Christmas Day – while others opt to hang their decorations 12 days before Christmas.
And then there are those that decide December 1 is an acceptable milestone to use for putting up the tree – as well as others who are so excited to get their tree up, it’s adorned as early as November.
If all we see are hairless, six foot, Baywatch bodies in our magazines and adverts, the public will be misled into thinking anything else is abnormal (Picture: mmuffn for Metro.co.uk)
The last couple of years have shown an increase in the diversity of womenswear models both on and off the catwalk.
With ‘plus size’ models like Ashley Graham gracing the cover of Vogue and Tess Holliday killing it in Cosmo, the big, beautiful message we’re receiving is that one size no longer fits all women.
But why aren’t brands doing the same for menswear?
December is just about the only time of year that a man with a larger frame appears in our TV ads and the pages of our magazines. But aside from Santa… where are all the plus size men?
Brands like Jacamo and ASOS sometimes showcase ‘larger’ male models in their magazines and online shops, but I would love to see more brands showcasing body diversity in menswear.
My request for improved body diversity in menswear isn’t entirely altruistic: I like to see men who love Christmas pud and hate the gym as much as I do.
But, the thing is, seeing larger male and non binary bodies plastered across our screens is beneficial for everyone.
It’s good to see more than one type of man being held up as attractive. The Diet Coke Guy is great and all, but he’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
When it comes to dating, god-like physiques can sometimes be intimidating and it’s scary to see young men being misled into thinking that is the only desirable body type.
I have male friends who feel like they just can’t win when it comes to buying clothes.
If all we see are hairless, six foot, Baywatch bodies in our magazines and adverts, the public will be misled into thinking anything else is abnormal.
It’s especially important that the fashion industry diversifies its male models, as body image issues among the male population are far more likely to go under the radar. One recent study showed that men are up to four times more likely to go undiagnosed with eating disorders than women.
In direct contrast to the pressure on women to be petite and skinny, men are bombarded with the idea that they should look big and strong. Muscle dysmorphia, or ‘bigorexia’ is a growing diagnosis in the UK, with as many as one in ten men using a gym in the UK thought to be suffering from it.
They may feel the need to spend an excessive amount of time training themselves in order to gain muscle mass and become so focused on that goal that other areas of their life suffer. It can lead to loss of jobs, relationships, steroid abuse and serious injury from over-training.
I’ve always been a size 12, which is pretty easy to buy clothes for, but there have been a couple of times when I’ve wanted to hire dresses for events and felt deflated when labels got in touch to say they only send out samples in a size 8.
Despite being happy with my body shape, it made me feel like the only way I could fit in was to literally deflate myself.
The average dress size for a woman in the UK is a 16. Seeing models who accurately reflect shoppers isn’t just good for self-esteem, it’s good for business, too. In the US, the women’s plus-size clothing market is worth £4.7billion, yet there are still limited options for larger men on the UK high street.
I have male friends who feel like they just can’t win when it comes to buying clothes. With sizing often limited to S, M and L, it’s hard to know which letter best represents them. And it’s not just larger guys who have trouble.
Men with skinny frames or shorter heights are underrepresented in men’s fashion too. It’s no wonder the ‘men hate clothes shopping’ stereotype exists if it‘s such an ordeal to find anything that fits.
With the inaugural winter edition of Love Island about to hit our screens, it’s worth remembering that there are people out there who will celebrate your body type, not despite your non-Love-Island-conformist body type, but because of it.
Nothing beats an alpine print or a festive animal on a Christmas jumper.
They’re timeless and their universal nature means they can be used year after year – so are great for the environment too (aka, they won’t date easily).
Celebrate Christmas with some familiar faces by your side. Disney has released an adorable Christmas jumper range this year, featuring all of our favourite characters,
Throwback with a Disney knit (Picture: Disney)
There’s one with Minnie Mouse looking adorable and another with Donald Duck channeling some festive rage.
There’s one for the whole family (Picture: Disney)
Shay wanted to create something truly unique for her little boy (Picture: Facebook/Kmart Hacks and Decor)
An inventive mum has delighted her baby son by transforming a basic playhouse into a tiny tattoo parlour for him to play in.
Shay Starrenburg, from New Zealand bought the original playhouse from retailer Kmart, but she wanted to create something really special and unique for their son Hudson’s first birthday in November.
So, after assembling the the little house which cost $199 (£103.77), Shay and her husband John painted it inside and out and even added stencils to the walls to make it truly authentic.
‘We were going to do a cafe originally, with all the sign writing, like one of the cool hipster cafes on Pinterest,’ Shay tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Then I just thought, “oh, everyone does cafes let’s do something different, what about a tattoo studio?” – then it could still have the cafe part in it.’
Neither Shay nor her husband have a single tattoo between them (Picture: Instagram/Shay Starrenburg)
The creative pair also wanted to add a few ‘professional’ touches. The little parlour features monogrammed coffee cups, a miniature toy coffee machine, window boxes and outdoor seating. It also has signs that read ‘Tattoos’ and ‘Hudson’s Tattoo Parlour’ – which the couple made from scratch.
‘The hardest part was painting it. It has these annoying little grooves you’ve got to get into on the outside and with the paint being white, it needed a few coats,’ adds Shay.
And if you happen to pay a visit to Hudson’s Tattoo Parlour, you’ll likely come away with a fresh new design somewhere on your body – but don’t worry, all the tattoos offered are temporary.
Hudson had a fantastic first birthday (Picture: Instagram/Shay Starrenburg)
The parents stocked up on removable tattoos, which are all hanging up along the walls of the parlour.
The choice of design is even more interesting because neither Shay nor John have a single tattoo between them – but they were determined to create a playhouse for their son that was completely different to anything else.
The stencils on the wall add a touch of authenticity (Picture: Facebook/Kmart Hacks and Decor)
The monogrammed mugs are a cute touch (Picture: Facebook/Kmart Hacks and Decor)
The pair shared their innovative creation on a Facebook group specifically dedicated for interiors hacks – and people couldn’t get enough.
One said the playhouse transformation was ‘the ‘most awesome I’ve seen! Love it! Well done!’
Another added: ‘This is by far the best one I’ve seen done.’
‘Hudson thinks it’s great fun,’ says Shay.
‘He was loving the playhouse at daycare, he loves going in things at the moment and thinks playing with the cups and slamming the door repeatedly is great fun.
‘The slightly older kids on his birthday thought it was pretty cool and all went home with tattoos – pretend of course!’
All we know is that we are seriously jealous of little Hudson and his playtime.
Have you created anything special for your kids to enjoy? We want to hear about it – get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
Oz said they didn’t feel like a boy aged 10 (Picture: PA Real Life)
36-year-old Jemma Lovell is mum to 11-year-old Oz, who is gender fluid.
Oz is a perfectly normal child, and loves dressing up, watching TV, and playing with their friends from theatre club.
However, for some parents, Oz’s love of drag performance is not appropriate, and they’ve even threatened to call social services on Jemma for allowing them to participate.
The family, consisting of Jemma, her husband Richard, 39, Oz, and Willow, five, have faced criticism from people who think the world of drag is too sexualised, after Oz started performing as their drag alter-ego Ben TrulyOutrageous at local talent shows and to friends.
Jemma, who is a pharmacy technician from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, says Oz first found out about the world of drag after catching snippets of their mum watching RuPaul’s Drag Race on TV.
In time, Oz told her, ‘I understand how they feel. I don’t feel like a boy, Mummy.’
From the age of eight onwards, Oz had been experimenting with make-up, mostly during theatre lessons, before finally coming out as non-binary last year.
But Jemma wants critics to understand that Oz’s drag is a form of expression, and not something that’s solely for adults or anything to judge.
She explained: ‘People tend to automatically sexualise drag, assuming Oz will come out dressed in hip pads and fake breasts, but we carefully vet everything to make sure that nothing is age-inappropriate. We make it clear Oz is still a child, no matter how high the heels or big the wig.
‘When Oz puts on that dress and becomes Ben, it’s awe-inspiring to watch. I can see our child visibly glowing. It’s like they’re free, almost a heightened version of themselves.
‘As parents, we don’t want Oz to be stigmatised for feeling different. Even if this is just a phase, we have allowed them to explore those feelings.’
Richard, Jemma, Willow, and Oz (Picture: PA Real Life)
A major change for Oz was when, in April 2018, aged 10, they asked Jemma for a dress to wear day-to-day, and the pair went out an picked out a t-shirt style dress.
‘As soon as Oz tried the dress on, they just looked so comfortable. I’ve never seen a smile like it,’ Jemma said.
From there, Oz began to wear more feminine clothes, usually either dresses or leggings and t-shirts.
And, a couple of months later in August 2018, the family went along to Chester Pride celebrations, where the then 10-year-old had an epiphany.
Oz loves to play around with colourful makeup (Picture: PA Real Life)
‘We were in one of the tents, and Oz spent ages reading over posters that had all the different explanations of gender,’ Jemma explained.
“Eventually, they came and got me and pointed to one about being non-binary, telling me they didn’t feel like a boy or a girl and didn’t want to be a ‘he’ anymore, but rather a ‘they.’
‘It’s never been an issue in the family. We don’t know what’s going on in Oz’s head, but we want them to feel free to explore who they are.’
That day at Pride, Oz also decided to dip their toe into the world of drag, and Jemma bought them some wigs and fun makeup they could experiment with. She also helped Oz to find out more about other drag kids online, and they came up with a drag name.
It’s been over a year now since Oz came out as non binary (Picture: PA Real Life)
The name blends nods to Oz’s favourite RuPaul queen, BenDeLaCreme, and Jem TrulyOutrageous, one of Jemma’s favourite TV programmes when she was little.
Although there’s little by way of gigs for Oz, they perform at Ben for local events and friends and family.
In September last year, before Oz returned to school to start year five, Jemma decided to tell their teachers that they were non-binary, to help ease their return in more feminine clothes, and ensure everybody knew about Oz’s they/them pronouns.
Jemma was delighted with the reponse, saying: ‘I told them that Oz had been wearing feminine clothes and would like to do so at school.
‘Not only were they fine with that, but they also put staff members on training courses about non-gender conforming people, printed off books to put in the libraries so other children could read about what it means to be non-binary and even asked Oz what bathroom they’d like to use.’
Chester Pride was when Oz’s realisation came (Picture: PA Real Life)
Some of the other parents were less accommodating, though.
Jemma said: ‘I have had some negativity. People have said I’m pushing Oz to grow up too quickly, and even threatened to call social services.
‘But we are so careful that lines aren’t crossed. All costumes are chosen really carefully, and if there was any hint of any sexualisation whatsoever, we wouldn’t let it happen.
‘We want it to be clear on stage that Oz is still a child. Some people may look at the costumes and say that the make-up makes them seem older – but confidence does that too.’
Another thing that people tend to struggle with is the correct pronouns to use when talking to Oz.
Wigs and fun outfits are all part of Ben TrulyOutrageous’s style (Picture: PA Real Life)
‘People can be wobbly on the pronouns, and I do understand that using they and them isn’t the way you’d naturally refer to a person,’ said Jemma.
‘It can feel strange when you first start to use them – especially to those that have known Oz since birth and as a ‘he’ for years.
“It is a lot to get your head around – the idea that someone feels so different to you that they use completely different pronouns.’
Jemma doesn’t hold a grudge against people that are trying their best and slip up, but says that people who misgender them deliberately make Oz ‘cringe’.
She continues: ‘There’s a big difference between somebody genuinely trying but just struggling with the syntax, and somebody shaming my child for being different and expressing themselves.’
Although she knows that this negativity might persist as Oz gets older, Jemma has no plans to make her child retire Ben TrulyOutrageous.
She said: ‘I hope I’ve instilled enough confidence in them that they know they aren’t the problem or the one at fault – it’s the person belittling a child that’s uneducated.
‘At the end of the day, Oz is still Oz, no matter who they are and what they wear. They may be in leggings and a jumper, they may be in a dress – they are still the same person inside.’
Caption: Are plastic Christmas trees bad for the environment? Getty
Advent calendars are being bought, the weather is frightful and the fire is officially delightful – that’s right, it’s Christmastime.
Even the biggest grinch you know should be able to accept that the run-up to Christmas has now begun, and with it comes the time to decorate your Christmas tree.
But with the pressure on for all of us to lower our carbon footprint, is there a right or a wrong type of Christmas tree to get when it comes to looking after the environment?
Are plastic Christmas trees bad for the planet?
This isn’t a question with an easy answer.
While artificial Christmas trees are reusable, they’re not recyclable and, as the Carbon Trust has it, those fake trees have more than twice the carbon footprint than that of real trees which end up in landfills, and more than ten times the carbon footprint of the ones which end up burnt.
This is no small matter, as the collective carbon footprint of throwing organic Christmas trees in the garbage amounts to approximately 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year.
That means you’d have to use your artificial tree for at least 10 Christmases in total if you’d like it to have a smaller carbon footprint than a real tree.
Plastic trees remain popular (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Gaj Rudolf)
Darran Messem, Managing Director of Certification at the Carbon Trust, has previously said: ‘A real pine or fir tree naturally absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen. The best thing you can do at Christmas is keep a tree alive and breathing. Disposing of a tree by composting produces CO2 and methane.
‘An artificial tree has a higher carbon footprint than a natural one because of the energy intensive production processes involved. By far the best option is a potted tree which, with care, can be replanted after the festive season and re-used year after year.’
Christmas tree retailer Pines and Needles recently banned the sale of fake Christmas trees from their stores.
Sam Lyle, founder of Pines and Needles, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Fake trees, because plastic is made with oil, have a bad carbon footprint and because they’re a mix of metals and plastic they can’t be recycled.
‘If you really really want to buy a plastic tree then a second-hand one is best, whether you inherit one from family or buy one online.
‘Lastly, if the customer really doesn’t want a plastic tree but also doesn’t want to chop one down, they can buy a potted tree and look after it til the following year.’
Plastic or the real thing? (Picture: FatCamera/Getty Images/E+)
If you’ve got an organic Christmas tree, to get rid of it responsibly, Sam recommends: ‘Chipping or composting them is the most environmentally friendly way of disposing of your tree.
‘Some councils will collect and compost them, or you can take them to the tip and put in garden waste.’
Each council has different rules when it comes to the collection and recycling of Christmas trees, so before you put your tree out you should double-check yours.
Sam also pointed out that Pines and Needles ‘offer a collection service where the trees are chipped and then go to places like London Zoo where it’s perfect bedding for porcupines, and also some goes to parks and playgrounds. After that the next best is burning it.’
If there is ever a time to buy a special outfit, it’s around the holidays.
From dressing up for the annual office bash to Christmas dinner with your family, there are so many opportunities to go all out.
Sparkling party dresses are always a big hit, but if you really want to wow with your look, try this year’s hottest trend: the suit.
The best thing about wearing a suit is that it’s so versatile; throw on a turtleneck for a more demure ensemble or wear a lace body underneath to add a sexy twist.
High street brands have jumped on the trend, with a range of materials and colours to choose from, suitable for every festive occasion.
From green satin to showstopping yellow, we’ve put together a list of the coolest suits on offer in 2019, all of which are guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd.
There’s so much to choose from (Picture: NotOnTheHighStreet/John Lewis/Very/Debenhams/Hotel Chocolate/Jo Malone)
Christmas is just three weeks away, so if you haven’t bought all of your gifts yet, it’s time to get started.
The pressure of finding the perfect present for a loved one can be stress-inducing – especially when it’s someone you really care about, like your mum.
Should you get something she wants, something she needs or go for a nostalgic, personalised gift?
To help you navigate through the holiday shopping hell, here is our ultimate gift guide of products that are both affordable and will make your mum smile.
The contents guarantee a delicious sugar coma with champagne truffles, strawberries and cream puddles and a raspberry chocolate bar, as well as two milk chocolate hearts (representing your love, of course). It also features fragrant hand cream with cacao, shea and wild honey, and a 200ml bottle of prosecco.
Here’s the best part: you don’t even need to wrap the gift, it comes complete in a cute black box with a white ribbon.
Perfume sets are classic holiday gifts, mostly because they’re always a hit.
The trick is to choose a fragrance that isn’t too strong and has notes that most people tend to like, like citrus or flower-based scents.
Clinique’s ‘Wear It And Be Happy’ set features a perfume in two sizes (50ml and 10ml) that smells of grapefruit and bergamot, as well as ‘Hawaiian wedding flower and spring mimosa’ (and who doesn’t love a mimosa). There’s also a 75ml body cream included.
Spend a grand total of £25 and you’ll also get free delivery. Basically, it’s an excuse to get yourself a pair, too.
Jo Malone set
(Picture: Jo Malone)
We know what you’re thinking: Jo Malone scents are expensive, but this is actually one of the cheaper choices in this year’s guide.
The cracker features classic notes, including English Pear and Freesia Cologne (9ml), Blackberry and Bay Body and Hand Wash (15ml) and Basil and Neroli Body Crème (15ml).
Sure, the product sizes are quite small, but if your mum prefers quality over quantity, it’s an ideal gift at £32.
Virgin spa retreat and afternoon tea
(Picture: Virgin)
Why not share a day out with your mum?
Virgin Experiences is selling a special day package that can be redeemed at four sites across the country, and includes afternoon tea for two and access to the spa.
Munch on finger sandwiches and fresh scones, before indulging in a much-needed sauna and steam, all for £39.
M&S robe
(Picture: Marks & Spencer)
No gift guide for mums is complete without an option from M&S.
This festive robe is from the Rosie for Autograph collection; it’s made from polyester but features satin and lace trimmings, which elevates the style.
Just make sure your mum doesn’t sit close to an open fire, as the gown is flammable.
It’s sold at a pretty decent price of £35, with the option to get it delivered. Alternatively, you can collect it in your nearest M&S store for free.
One in eight Brits admit to illegally fly-tipping, 74% continue to buy plastic-bottled water, despite knowing most won’t be recycled and of the 39,000 coffee pods produced every minute, 29,000 of them end up in landfill.
But there is also some hope: apps like OLIO are being created to help tackle food waste. Online tools like Furniture Choice help people easily find their local recycling centre. And, according to new research by BRITA, 80% of us want the government to introduce new laws to tackle the plastic problem.
In the meantime, there are companies tackling the task head on.
Here are seven sustainable products that you can simply swap out for your existing ones around the home.
1. Coconut bowls (and spoons)
These bowls are made from coconut shells thrown away at oil plantations (Pic: Vie Gourmet)
What’s the big idea?
Upcycling discarded coconut shells from coconut oil plantations. I love the story behind these Vie Gourmet Coconut Bowls: that local savvy craftsmen in Thailand salvage these unwanted shells and then finish them off by hand to create a beautiful and unique bowl. That’s pretty good entrepreneurship skills. Plus the bowls don’t just look pretty, but can do hot or cold food and are pretty durable.
Any good?
There’s two things to adjust to here: the lip of the bowls curve inwards so the opening is narrower, and the bottoms aren’t perfectly flat so they wobble a bit when you pop them down on a surface. I tried eating ravioli out of them but found that tricky, but for most other things – breakfast, snack bowls etc – they’re easy peasy. Just don’t put them in the dishwasher because they don’t like that and won’t last for long if you do.
Where can I get my hands on them?
A set of four bowls and spoons costs £19.95 and are available from via Global 1st here.
2. Wooden coffee capsules
These wood Nespresso-compatible pods are 100 compostable (Pic:: Lost Sheep Coffee)
What’s the big idea?
Saving the planet from millions of non-biodegradable aluminium coffee pods. Each pod from Lost Sheep Coffee is made from lignin (which comes from wood bark) and contains 100% Arabica single-origin coffee, which come straight from Brazil and are roasted in Whitstable. Plus they pay their farmers nearly five times what they would get through third-party distributors. That calls for a celebratory espresso.
Any good?
As I don’t drink coffee, I handed these over to the expert: my mum. She’s mad for her Nespresso machine so the fact that these are compatible meant she had no resistance to giving it a go. Super easy to use and compost. Her only complaint? She looks forward to more flavours which, I should imagine, will happen soon enough.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Prices start from £3.95 for a pack of 10 and currently come in three different flavours (including decaf). And shipping is free when you spend £15. Time to change your coffee game here.
3. Bamboo straws
These bamboo straws are a natural and sustainable alternative to plastic (Pic: Vie Gourmet)
What’s the big idea?
Eradicating the world of plastic straws. Like anything made from bamboo, Vie Gourmet’s Bamboo Straws are sustainably grown, 100% biodegradable and do not transmit heat. Which is always handy when drinking hot drinks (though why you’d want to drink a hot tea through a straw I’m not sure). Zero chemicals are used and the product is then shipped by sea, so have a lower carbon footprint.
Any good?
I much prefer these to the stainless steel straws I’ve tried in the past – they feel more…natural, and less like I’m in a dentist chair. But, as they’re not dishwasher safe, you’ll have to use the brush they come with to give them a quick wash by hand. All in all though, they get a big thumbs up.
Where can I get my hands on them?
A set of six straws (with cleaning brush and pouch) is £4.95 and are available via Global 1st here.
4. Beeswax wraps
Beeswax-wrapped organic cotton are a great alternative to one-use cling film (Pic: BeeBee)
What’s the big idea?
An environmentally-friendly replacement for single-use cling film. Spurred on by her own bugbear of wasteful plastics, the founder of BeeBee did some research and discovered, as if often the way, that things were better before we messed things up. Back in the day, people used beeswax-coated cotton to keep things fresh and so this age-old method has been brought back. These wraps are washable, reusable, and their cotton is organic. Plus, when you’re done with it you can just pop it on the compost and it’ll completely break down.
Any good?
Yes. Like with most things, you make it into a bigger deal or hassle in your head than it actually is. I guess the only limiting thing here is that the wraps come pre-cut and not on a roll where you can pick and choose your size as you go.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Admittedly, this is one of the pricier things to switch to when you compare to what roll of cling film costs, BUT, arguably, you can get years of use out of one single wrap. Prices start from £9.50 and can be bought via Mamoq here.
5. Solid beauty bars
Solid beauty bars last up to five times longer than your average liquid equivalent (Pic: Ethique)
What’s the big idea?
Beauty products that use zero plastic. Kiwi brand Ethique has been trying to rid the world, the ocean, and the beauty industry of plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles since 2012. They’re Fair Trade, palm-oil free, tight on water usage, and vegan. Plus, because the bars are concentrated, it means they can last up to five times longer than their liquid counterparts. Not to mention all their packaging and in-shower bamboo containers are compostable or recyclable.
Any good?
It took me a while to get round to giving this a go, largely down to failing to break the habit of just reaching for the shampoo bottle. I also thought that rubbing what looks like a soap bar on my hair would not go well. Turns out I was wrong. I didn’t get to try their conditioner but I did try their body butter. Bits of it fell off as I rubbed the bar up and down my legs, so I’d recommend doing this in the bath or shower to avoid unwanted clear up, but I did feel cocooned in moisture and edible by the end of it. When I run out of supplies next, I’ll happily consider switching to this in the long-term.
Where can I get my hands on them?
With their shampoos starting at £12 and body butter at £11, it’s perhaps a little pricier than you’d expect but, remember, there’s a lot of uses in that one block. Check out their full range on their website here or you can find them in Holland & Barrett.
6. Toothpowder (not paste)
No plastic packaging and no nasties for your teeth (Pic: Georganics)
What’s the big idea?
Toothpaste that is both good for you and good for the environment. Unlike other toothpaste brands that use a bunch of chemicals, everything in Activated Charcoal Natural Toothpowder by Georganics is natural so, when your body absorbs traces of it as you use it, there’s nothing toxic in it. Plus the packaging is plastic-free, recyclable and compostable. Win win.
Any good?
Opening a jar of black paste and dabbing my (bamboo) toothbrush in it does feel like something my granddad might have done. And, while using it, the black foam does give me the appeal of a Bond henchman. But, once you get over that, you’re home and dry. It doesn’t have any of the nasty and sweet flavourings of mass-marketed toothpaste brands and it feels kind of nice on the old gnashers.
However, if you have sensitive teeth or soft enamel like I do, I would recommend one without the activated charcoal as it can be quite abrasive.
Where can I get my hands on them?
Prices start from £6.90 for a jar which will last one person four weeks and can be bought from Mamoq here.
7. Bamboo loo roll
This loo roll, made from virgin bamboo, feels oh-so soft on your behind (Pic: Bumboo)
What’s the big idea?
Toilet roll that aims to slow down deforestation. With 27,000 trees being felled everyday for the sake of wiping our butts, aptly named Bumboo is aiming to do their bit – one roll at a time. Made from bamboo, it’s tree-free and sustainable. The grass only takes five years to mature and can then be harvested every year for the next 70. What’s more, it uses little to no pesticides and produces 35% more oxygen than trees, while absorbing 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year. It’s both good for the soil and, in China, helps to support rural development and small farmholds. Plus, like anything made from bamboo, it’s surprisingly soft.
Any good?
Didn’t notice the difference in quality or comfort. Which is a good thing, considering there’s a clear decline in softness when using loo roll made from recycled paper (the softness is normally down to using a virgin wood source). I even managed to convert my brother in the process. Though I do think the individually-wrapped rolls is somewhat defeating the point.
Where can I get my hands on them?
You have to go big or go home when buying Bumboo. But their direct-to-door delivery service makes life easier. It’s £40 for a carton (which contains 48 rolls) or £36 per carton on subscription. You can order yours here.
8. Refillable hand soap
Bramley body wash comes in 5 litre containers to refill smaller bottles at home
What’s the big idea?
Bath and beauty products that come in large containers – up to 5 litres – so you can refill your own bottles at home. Bramley has a real focus around sustainability. All packaging is 100% recycled, recyclable or biodegradable. Aside from the 5 litre bottles, big 1 litre bottles help reduce plastic waste. Ingredients are 97% natural and contain no harmful or unethical ingredients – things like petrochemicals, sulphates, microbeades, pthalates.
Any good?
We tried the grapefruit, lavender and sweet orange essential oils body wash from the 1 litre bottle. Admittedly the larger containers are pricey – £42 for a 1 litre bottle – but the large hand soap and shower gel bottles last a seriously long time. 8 weeks after starting the Bramley shower gel in the 1 litre pump bottle, there is still half left. For context, I usually replace 250ml hanging bottles of shower gel once a week. The upright pump delivers the right amount into your hand – unlike the hanging gel bottle, which splurges far too much into your hand with each squeeze – and the intense essential oils go a long way. It has a lovely, fresh fragrance that creates an energising sensation in the shower and lasts on the skin.
Glass is preferable to plastic for reheating food and it last longer too
What’s the big idea?
It’s widely accepted now that glass is preferable for cooking and storing food. Some plastic contains chemicals that may leak into food and even those that are ‘safe’ for food use can degrade when scratched or put in the dishwasher. The new crop of plastic containers are pthalate and BPA-free and have eliminated many problems with old school plastics – but new studies still find glass is preferable for storing and reheating food.
Glass doesn’t leach any chemicals into food and is far more durable – so you shouldn’t have to replace them like you do plastic containers.
Any good?
I have been meaning to make the switch to glass food storage for a while – and now I have I am a convert. I had grown increasingly uncomfortable reheating food in plastic – watching the plastic melt or warp in the microwave, smelling plastic while heating. Even the new wave of ‘safe’ plastics usually have a safety shelf life and come with conditions (don’t leave in sunlight, don’t microwave or put in dishwasher) so you can’t be sure if their integrity is intact – and they and often still have that plastic smell.
The robust plastic lids clipped on very well and there was zero leakage when I carried a casserole upside down in my handbag to work.
Every single plastic container I have used ended up leaking liquid into my bag, so this is a win.
They’re freezer-safe and oven-safe – so you can cook and store or pop the lid on to take out. I was worried they would seem heavy in my bag, but the extra weight really didn’t make much of a difference and I felt much better about heating the food up in the microwave than I used to with the plastic containers.
Nature horsehair and wood dish brush from Lakeland
What’s the big idea?
An alternative to non-biodegradable plastic and nylon bristles, this dish brush combines natural beechwood from responsibly managed forests with microfibre and horsehair bristles.
The brush is made by Swedish firm Smart Microfiber, whose philosophy is to create cleaning utensils and cloths with microfiber technology that require only water to clean, limiting the need for chemical cleaning products.
Any good?
The horsehair bristles are softer than expected – this isn’t the coarse, horsehair oven dish scrubber you might be expecting. The gentle bristles do mean you can clean metal and delicate glass scratching and will manage a regular post-meal wash-up, but real baked-on stains still needed tackling with a scraper or scourer, or a dishbrush brush that has stiff bristles and a sharp, square end to it for scraping.
The round head means it fits nicely into glasses and jars and it was the perfect utensil for getting into the coils on my milk frother, which a sponge or larger, stiff bristle brush cannot touch.
This is a good supplementary brush but need to keep an additional scourer by your sink for the tough jobs.
Tincture make 100% natural cleaning products using essential oils, botanical extracts and active silver, a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial agent. They use refillable glass bottles and antimicrobial spray bottles that can be used again and again. Packaging is biodegradable and recyclable and made with 100% recycled plastic. Tincture is part of the World Land Trust charity, which purchases and protects endangered rainforests. Ingredients are checked to source to ensure they are cruelty free.
Any good?
The packaging is lovely. Never have I felt more aligned with Hinch’s Army than when I actually got excited opening cleaning products. The brown glass bottles and white hexagonal sprays with neat black type are elegant and made me want to clean.
But do they work? Tincture was started by a mum who wanted safer alternatives to cleaning products that actually worked – the word is she worked with scientists to find natural products that are as effective as chemical ones. And to her credit, the cleaning power of these products was excellent. The natural beeswax furniture polish uses pine, caraway and chamomile for aroma left a high shine – as good as the usual spray I use that leaves a very potent artificial scent hanging in the air. The multi-purpose cleaner took grease off the hob and shined up the draining board, including tough water stains. The glass spray I used on the TV – which it is always contentious to clean – and after some elbow grease, initial streaks vanished. The cost, while of course more than a bottle of Cillit Bang, for instance, is not as much as you might think. £3.99 for 375ml of all-purpose cleaner, washing up liquid or bathroom cleaner and £10.80 if you buy all three together.
Many mass produced candles on the market use paraffin wax, synthetic fragrances and lead/metal wicks that have been found to emit toxins and carcinogenic substances into the air as they burn, as well as leaving soot behind. While the true effects of paraffin burning candles is still debated, petrochemical-free alternatives are becoming more popular. The trend is to move away from paraffin and synthetic fragrances and turn to alternatives like soy and beeswax and natural essential oils. It’s easy to see why synthetic fragrances are so widely used – as Eym co-founder Poppy Wells illustrates, a kilo of synthetic rose fragrance costs £100 – a single teaspoon of natural rose oil costs £150.
Eym candles are 100% natural, using soy wax, cotton wicks and essential oils. Eym was set up by candle-loving Poppy and husband Sam Wells, after Poppy decided while pregnant she wanted to burn candles without subjecting herself to potentially harmful toxins. Packaging is ethically and sustainably sourced and British made. Six scents – Home, Soul, Man, Rest, Create and Laze.
Any good?
They really are. I burn candles every day so goodness knows how much paraffin byproduct and synthetic fragrance I’ve huffed over the years. In past apartments, the walls have been blackened by soot – and that’s just the part you can see. The fragrance of Eym candles when not lit is lovely – complex but with the clarity of each individual oil. When burning, the fragrance is lighter than some synthetic candles I have, whose fragrance is often stronger – but the fragrance has a real intensity and a good ‘throw’ that fills the room without being overwhelming. I only needed to burn for one hour to benefit from the scent and put it out to save for the following day. The burn time of soy is also much slower than paraffin, so you get more burn time for your buck.
Trishna Bharadia has always loved sport – but when she started experiencing scary symptoms in her 20s she was terrified she might lose the ability to be active.
‘I first knew something was wrong in 2007 when I lost the feeling down the side of my body,’ Trishna tells Metro.co.uk.
‘However, it wasn’t until May 2008, when I was 28, that I was diagnosed with the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS).’
MS damages the nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walking, talking, eating and even thinking. It was a shock to recieve the diagnosis, especially for Trishna, who had loved fitness her entire life.
‘I was an active kid, and at school I played every sport I could turn my hand to,’ she explains.
‘I liked everything – squash, volleyball, netball – but from the age of 12 it was hockey that became my main sport and I ended up playing at county, school, university and club level.
‘We’re a hockey family and I grew up watching my dad play – he’s 70 and still plays for Wales.
‘As soon as I could walk my dad would take a saw and chopped down one of his wooden hockey sticks so my sisters and I had our own sticks to play with. From then on, it was always part of my life.’
‘I was so scared my diagnosis would mean that I would lose a huge part of my life’ (Picture: Trishna Bharadia)
At the time of her MS diagnosis, Trishna was experiencing sensory symptoms like burning, pins and needles and fatigue.
‘Three years prior to that I was told I had repetitive strain injury as my grip strength went for a few months and it meant I couldn’t cut my food up. When I got my MS diagnosis they pinpointed that as my first relapse.’
But losing the feeling down one side of her body wasn’t going to stop her playing the sport she loved; Trishna was determined.
‘I took the attitude of, “if I get hurt, it won’t hurt”. But mentally I kept worrying about how this illness would impact my future?’
‘I was so scared my diagnosis would mean that I would lose a huge part of my life.
‘MS is unpredictable and different for everyone, but I couldn’t help thinking – “will I end up in a wheelchair?”
‘The condition meant I would potentially not be able to run – and I needed to do that for hockey. Thankfully, when I asked my neurologist if I could still play, he said sport and exercise would be good for me.’
The best thing about team sport is the camaraderie, and Trishna’s teammates rallied around her when she gave them the news.
‘I printed off a document explaining about the condition and what medication I was on, and included emergency contacts – my team started carrying it in the team bag to every single game.
‘I carried on playing hockey, but my on-field position gradually changed. I had to reduce the amount I was doing.’
Before her diagnosis, Trishna was training twice a week – travelling into London after a full day of work – and playing two matches at the weekend, as well as walking and running. Something had to give.
‘Eventually it came down to playing only one match, as that was wiping me out,’ says Trishna.
‘And, mentally, it was hard for me as I felt like I was letting my team down as I couldn’t perform at the level I’d always played at.
‘I knew I had to adapt and find other things to do to keep my fitness levels up that were more suitable.’
That’s when Trishna discovered Zumba.
‘As soon as I could walk my dad would take a saw and chopped down one of his wooden hockey sticks’ (Picture: Trishna Bharadia)
‘I was going through a difficult time in my personal life and I wanted to do something new and find a space where no one knew me,’ she explains.
‘I wanted to do something closer to home and be able to change the intensity of what I was doing. I’ve always loved dancing, but never had the confidence.
‘My twin sister, Manisha, had tried out some Zumba classes and said she thought I’d enjoy them. I tried a few different classes, alongside my now 71-year-old mum, and then I found one that really suited me – one with lots of Latin music.
‘The Brazilian instructor immediately instilled confidence in me and within a couple of months she even had me up on stage!’
What is MS?
MS affects more than 100,000 people in the UK.
MS damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think.
Women are three times as likely to get MS than men.
No one knows for sure why people get MS. It’s likely to be due to a mix of genes, your environment and lifestyle factors.
At Zumba, Trishna found that she could do things at her own pace. The steps are more repetitive and it incorporates lots of different dance moves, which makes it really accessible.
‘With MS you need to find something you can do if your health deteriorates – something that you love regardless of what your physical ability is.
‘Dance is what you make it – it’s one of the few forms of fully-inclusive exercise. I’d be devastated if I couldn’t do it.’
Every year, Trishna joins her sister on stage at the MS Society’s MS Walk to give the participants a Zumba workout.
‘It’s really important for people with MS to see how inclusive exercise can be,’ she says. ‘I often hear people say they can’t exercise, so seeing a person with MS up on stage can help spark that little bit of confidence again.’
Currently, Trishna’s condition manifests as fatigue and bladder issues.
‘And mentally, with every decision I have to make, MS factors in,’ she says.
‘I have to rely on my family for support and charities like the MS Society. That’s hard as I’ve always been someone who has been independent.
‘But MS doesn’t stop me living.’
‘When the music started I was in my element’ (Picture: Trishna Bharadia)
In 2015, Trishna was part of the People’s Strictly for Comic Relief. She was partnered with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec, and she says the whole experience was completely unbelievable.
‘I explained to everyone what MS was, and the adjustments I might need to make, but I wanted it to be a challenge as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
‘Head choreographer, Jason Gilkison, came to a number of our training sessions and both him and Aljaž instilled confidence in me (even on days when I was exhausted).
‘It was brilliant being taught how to dance properly, and I was itching to show people my Jive. When the music started I was in my element.’
Trishna is determined to go on being active as long as her body allows it, because she says strength is defined by self belief.
‘Strong is someone who isn’t afraid to ask for help and support in order to get to where she wants to be. For someone that lives with a long term health condition, that’s really important.’
Strong Women
Strong Women is a weekly series that champions diversity in the world of sport and fitness.
A Sport England study found that 40% of women were avoiding physical activity due to a fear of judgement.
But, contrary to the limited images we so often see, women of any age, size, race or ability can be active and enjoy sport and fitness.
We hope that by normalising diverse depictions of women who are fit, strong and love their bodies, we will empower all women to shed their self-consciousness when it comes to getting active.
Each week we talk to women who are redefining what it means to be strong and achieving incredible things.
The fashion world has been trying its best to become more sustainable over the years and one designer brand has just taken a big step in the right direction.
British handbag giant Mulberry has just released its first 100% sustainable leather bag.
Christened the Portobello Tote, the new bag is made in the brand’s carbon neutral factories in Somerset.
But these green efforts extend to the material of the bag itself. The heavy grain leather is made of a by-product of food production.
Mulberry has also pledged to give all of the net proceeds from sales of the tote bag to the World Land Trust – an organisation that works to manage and protect natural ecosystems around the world.
The silhouette of the tote is based on the design of a plastic bag and you can definitely see that in its structure. It features two looped handles and a long shoulder strap.
The bag currently comes in seven different shades – black, chestnut, crimson, green, midnight (a dark greyish black), blue and tangerine.
Some great colours to choose from (Picture: Mulberry)
It’s available to buy online and in stores now. But, like all Mulberry products, the item comes with a price. In fact, the bag will set you back £795 in total.
It’s also worth noting that a few colours have already sold out online
Commenting on the launch of the bag, the brand’s CEO, Thierry Andretta, said: ‘Through our Mulberry Green responsibility commitments, we are continuing our innovative approach towards design and manufacturing in a conscientious way.’
Mulberry’s sustainable efforts have resulted in the brand being awarded a gold standard rating from the Leather Working Group – a pretty impressive accolade.
Hopefully this will be the first of many sustainable bags from the fashion brand.
When my wife and I met nearly eight years ago, we had both recently graduated and were working long, late shifts in the service industry.
She was co-managing a late-night bar and I worked in a celebrity chef restaurant where the only thing the celebrity contributed was his name.
After a late shift I would head for drinks in my wife’s bar, quickly becoming a regular, then the quizmaster, then her boyfriend.
She was criminally underpaid and I was on minimum wage, so neither of us was rolling in it but it didn’t really matter. We didn’t have any responsibility to each other than to have fun. If one of us couldn’t afford to go out, we stayed in. Money didn’t feel like a part of the relationship.
Now we’re married, however, my wife works for a bank detecting fraud while I write for a living – and that means I earn less than her.
My wife’s superior income is not something which hurts my fragile, masculine pride. She is as smart as she is tenacious and far more competent in general than I am – that’s why I love and admire her. Simply, she deserves to be paid more than me.
Now we’re married, my wife works for a bank detecting fraud while I write for a living – and that means I earn less than her (Picture: Rik Worth)
But I’m not an idiot – only people who don’t need money say money doesn’t matter. Plenty of couples get stressed at the thought of being short on the bills – that’s just part of life – but add in the fact that there is a difference in our earning and a shadow of inequality, dependence and failure creeps in.
If money comes up during an argument it shifts from ‘We’ll have forgotten this in 10 minutes’ to ‘Oh, this is an all-evening debate? I’ll take the tea off the hob then.’
I think my wife is angry at me for earning less, which in turn makes me defensive. Luckily after eight years, we’re pretty good at understanding what we’re each trying to say: she isn’t upset I earn less than her, but sometimes I’m upset on her behalf.
When my wife feels she can’t buy something because she is worried about the cost – even something she actually needs and is reasonably priced – I can’t help but feel I’m a drain on her. If it wasn’t for me, she’d be happier… or at least own more clothes.
Whenever I have a bad or unproductive day – which happens in any job – I don’t just feel like I’m letting myself down, I feel like I’m letting her down too. As a generally negative kind of guy, if I spiral and feel bad about myself, my super positive wife feels the strain. Then she feels bad because she can’t stop me feeling bad.
Money might not buy love but it is sometimes necessary for romance – or even just fun. A relationship needs more than just getting by together and nights in watching Netflix. I still have the desire to show my wife I love her but flashy displays of affection come at the cost of paying the bills, and the anxiety creeps in.
It’s a wonderful realisation for me that my wife values my happiness over what I earn (Picture: Rik Worth)
I’ve learned that small gestures can go a long way. Flowers, or a book, or an M&S two for £12 meal may not make my wife’s heart race but they are enough to say, ‘I was thinking of you’. It’s never much, but she loves it.
There’s something about small, everyday treats that is more meaningful than extravagant gifts – although I’m sure they’re nice too. We both feel that spending lots of money comes off as ‘look how much this is worth’ – smothering the sentiment in the expense.
When/if we do splash out, we don’t spend money on one person (it’s hard to keep a massive expense a surprise in a joint account). We go to the cinema or have a romantic meal, something we can experience together rather than something we can own.
When you earn less than your partner it can be hard to accept that your partner doesn’t care – but it’s a wonderful realisation for me that my wife values my happiness over what I earn. She would sooner me earn less and be happy than watch my soul ebb away in dead-end jobs. And she is endlessly supportive, telling me to ‘just give it another month’ when I’m really struggling.
It’s made me take stock of just how lucky I am to have her and that what we have is built supporting each other emotionally above anything else.
Love isn’t immune to accounting but our relationship with one another has to come before our relationship with money. Because really, time together with her is better than any single gift. It’s not a sacrifice, because what you get back – your partner’s happiness – is more valuable than what you lose.
Love, Or Something Like It is a new series for Metro.co.uk, covering everything from mating and dating to lust and loss, to find out what love is and how to find it in the present day.
If you have a love story to share, email rosy.edwards@metro.co.uk
Lois Peckover, of Wickford, Essex, and her pal Claire Koehl have set out to spread ‘the real essence of Christmas’ by creating a nativity scene with their eight dogs.
Six poodles, one springer spaniel, and a cockapoo posed patiently for the camera as Mary, Joseph, the angel Gabriel, wise men, and – of course – the baby Jesus.
The dogs dressed for the occasion, complete with miniature crowns, blankets, and towels (just like when you used to put on the nativity play at school).
Rather than chasing down a star and heading to a barn, the friends set up their nativity in Lois’ living room, which they transformed to look like a stable with blankets, a shining star hanging on the back wall, and a ‘borrowed’ bale of straw.
They even held up a donkey toy with some perspective trickery to make it look like the animal was just peeking his head into the shot.
The dogs posed in budget-friendly outfits in Lois’ living room, which the pair transformed into a stable with a borrowed bale of straw (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
Lois and Claire think the photo will remind people of ‘the real essence of Christmas’ – Jesus’s birth.
Lois, who owns Lois’ Shear Pawfection dog groomers, said: ‘It was all very good fun. We had such a laugh.
‘People think it is amazing and have said how lovely and special it is. Loads of people don’t understand how we got them to sit still and look at the camera.
‘I didn’t have a ball or treat or anything like that, it was just me being an idiot shouting “look this way doggies”. It was really funny.
‘Being able to share it with people and spread a bit of festive cheer would make my year – that would be my Christmas.’
The duo even included the fourth wise man who, according to the New Testament, tried to attend Jesus’ birth with gifts of sapphire, ruby and pearl but arrived too late.
Massage therapist Claire, of Maldon, Essex, said: ‘I’m really happy with how the photos turned out. It worked really well.
‘We wanted to capture the real essence of Christmas – the Christmas story of Jesus being born.
‘It’s not all about having loads of presents and competing with the next person on how much you’ve spent. It’s all gone a bit crazy.’
Dog groomer Lois with her pups (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)After deciding to do their fun take on the Nativity, Lois and Claire spent the next six days sorting costumes and props.
Lois bought dog Santa and elf costumes from the pound shop for the wise men and made their crowns out of coloured card while Claire borrowed a bale of straw from her local farm shop.
The leading role of baby Jesus was played by Lois’ seven-year-old toy poodle Meesha who sat on a white blanket on a white wicker basket atop the bale of straw.
Lois’s grey 13-year-old miniature poodle Rizzo was wrapped in a blue blanket to represent Mary and Claire’s springer spaniel Harley, five, wore a beige towel to take on the role of Joseph.
The role of Gabriel was given to Lois’s grey mini poodle Frenchy, 10, while her brother Doody, also 10, was the fourth wise man. What an honour.
The standard three wise men were represented by Claire’s cockapoo Poppy, seven, black miniature poodle Faith, eight months, and white toy poodle Missy, 10.
Lois said: ‘Claire turned up and said ‘I’ve got this’ and pulled out the donkey and I just wet myself laughing.
‘It was advertised as 30cm tall but it wasn’t. We think they must have meant 30mm. So we decided to have him photobomb a few of the photos as if it was a selfie.
‘When we were done, all the dogs got fussed over for being so good and we pulled some of the straw out so they could run around in it.
‘The straw ended up everywhere, which was quite funny.’
The friends say they’re planning another photoshoot with their dogs soon, but the theme remains a surprise. Keep your eyes peeled.
After piling on the pounds thanks to a diet of vending machine snacks, Joanne decided to get healthy so she could ‘be the legs’ for her disabled son, Ellis (Picture: Caters News)
Joanne Grimshaw, 35, was unable to walk up a flight of stairs without feeling out of breath.
But when she discovered that her son Ellis, two, is unlikely to ever be able to walk, she knew it was time to make a change.
She has now lost four stone after vowing to ‘be the legs’ for her disabled son.
Ellis was born with an underdeveloped brain, with the corpus collosum – the part that connects the left and right sections of the brain so signals can be transmitted – ‘practically missing’.
The boy had a tough start to life, contracting sepsis three times and fighting for his life as a result.
Constantly in and out of hospitals and dealing with the distress of her son being unwell, Joanne began to pile on the pounds.
Constant trips to the hospital meant Joanne’s diet was made up of fast food and vending machine snacks (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
She reached 15 stone after she ‘lived off’ vending machine snacks.
Joanne said: ‘Ellis was a poorly newborn, but I was dismissed by doctors who assumed I was exaggerating but I knew something wasn’t right.
‘I was probably going to the doctors or A&E twice a week as he didn’t sleep for longer than an hour and wasn’t feeding.
‘A week before his 1st birthday in March 2018, they did a brain scan and discovered I was right; something was seriously wrong.
‘They discovered part of his brain was practically missing, which is needed for physical coordination, doctors have said he is unlikely to ever walk or talk.
She was told her son’s rare condition meant he was unlikely to ever walk (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
‘The news broke my heart but pushed me to do something about my weight to ensure I am fitter than ever so Ellis doesn’t miss out and can be the legs he needed to enjoy his life.
‘His immune system is so weak; a cold isn’t just a cold and he has spent a lot of his life in hospital.
‘I would eat chocolate and crisps from the vending machine and grab a McDonald’s or an Indian on the way home.
‘I put on weight and began to lose my breath from just walking up the stairs.’
It is thought Ellis’s genetic condition is so rare that he is possibly the only person in the world who has it.
Learning that Ellis likely would never walk pushed Joanne to overhaul her life. She realised that there would be many challenges ahead for her son and that she needed to be fighting fit to make sure he never missed out.
Joanne now (Picture: Caters News)
So Joanne, from Wigan, joined the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan in March 2019. She’s since dropped four stone.
The mum-of-two said: ‘I thought if Ellis can’t do it then I will do it for him.
‘I was so unfit and overweight but determined to do my best to make sure he never misses out.
‘A friend suggested the joined The 1:1 diet and it has changed my life.
How Joanne lost the weight:
Joanne’s diet before:
Breakfast: Large bowl of sugary cereal such as Coco Pops with full-fat milk
Lunch: Four sandwiches or a large Big Mac
Dinner: Large pizza with chips
Snacks: Crisps and chocolate
Joanne’s diet now:
Breakfast: Fruit smoothie or Cambridge bar, such as strawberry and apple yoghurt
Lunch: Cambridge shake
Dinner: Cambridge microwave meal, such as chorizo and smoky chicken
Snacks: Cambridge chocolate chewy bar or bites
‘I swapped the sugary cereals for a shake or smoothie and totally cut out fast food.
‘I am now able to walk anywhere holding Ellis, push him on the swings and even go on small fair rides – something I was ashamed to attempt when I was at my heaviest.
‘Doctors are shocked as they have never had a case like Ellis’s before but I hope they can do something in the future.
‘But for now, I will continue to be the legs for my little boy.’
Have you made a dramatic change to your life? Do you fancy sharing your story? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
It seems like such a good idea at the time, eh? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
From Jim and Pam to Dawn and Tim, the worldwide public absolutely love an office crush.
Maybe it’s the heat of the fresh-out-of-the-printer paper, or the tension when you’re all pulled into a meeting, but it seems there’s something about the workplace that get people hot under the collar.
Online recruitment specialists, CareerBuilder, ran a nationwide survey and discovered that on average, 44% of Brits have had an office crush.
Londoners and 18-34-year-olds were even more likely to fancy someone they work with, at 58% and 50% respectively admitting to infatuations with colleagues.
Couple these deskside flirtations with alcohol and reduced inhibitions at the Christmas party, and you’ve got a recipe for romance – or disaster.
As the debate rages on over whether mistletoe is acceptable at work parties, it’s still a given that someone will likely try it on with someone else at your festive party.
If that person happens to be you, and your office crush doesn’t feel the same way, it can make the following day back at your computer a very difficult one indeed.
But, thanks to Match’s dating expert Hayley Quinn, there are a few ways to style out your lack of cuties hurrying down your chimney.
Prevention is better than cure
Hayley comes from the ‘don’t shit where you eat’ school of thought, that you should seriously consider whether or not acting on workplace romances is a good idea in the first place.
‘Whilst it is natural to develop feelings for someone you spend a lot of time with,’ she tells Metro.co.uk, ‘be cautious when this occurs in the workplace.
‘Whilst no doubt people do form relationships with people they meet at work, in 2019 you don’t want to have a cavalier attitude to flirtation at work.’
This doesn’t mean never been in the same room as the person alone for fear of miscellaneous allegations (like this even happens?). It’s more about being respectful that you’re dealing with a whole person, and piling on the moves – especially while drunk – might make them uncomfortable.
Particularly in a high-pressure environment like a party, your inhibitions are lowered, and you can’t fully judge whether or not your signals are correct or being returned.
Hayley says: ‘Even if you think feelings are reciprocated, never assume someone will want to follow them up in the same way as you do.
‘Rather than taking it down to the wire with a last minute move at the office party, it’s smarter and safer to see if someone wants to grab a coffee one-on-one during daylight hours.
‘This will give you an opportunity to ‘test the waters’ and help avoid overstepping the mark.’
It doesn’t have to be rejection, but if it is, you’ll know what to do (Picture: Ella Byworth/ Metro.co.uk)
Take feedback on board
We’re all adults here. That means, if you shoot your shot and it doesn’t land, there are no hard feelings. It’s not always about you.
Yes, even if you laboured over a thoughtful and funny secret santa present for them. Yes, even if you’ve been cultivating witty banter via Slack for months in preparation for snog in the stationery cupboard. Yes, even if you spent a fortune on your outfit so they’d see you in something other than your scuffed work shoes and shirt.
The pain of rejection may feel more acute because you’ll be reminded of it every time they do a tea round, but you’re only hurting yourself if you try to twist their arm into feeling the same way.
‘Avoid all thoughts of plotting to make them like you; accept they do not feel the same way and work on letting it go,’ says Hayley.
‘Rejection often feels bad in the moment, but try to remember that you don’t know what’s going on in the other person’s life that’s made them feel that way. They could be seeing someone, have a strict ‘no romance at work’ policy or just not want to create a confusing situation.
‘None of this means you are unattractive, or that you can’t meet someone who does reciprocate how you feel. You also deserve to invest your time and energy into someone who can return your affections; this is the most important criteria for someone who you can have a committed relationship with.’
What is it about tinsel that makes people want to shoot their shot? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Deal with the aftermath
This is the make a break moment where your rejection could go from funny, blase story to cautionary tale. It’s all about how you approach things.
Hayley says there are two ways to deal with things here: ‘If you feel like you need to say something by way of apology or clear the air, keep your communication short and accountable’
Her template for this is simple: ‘I just wanted to apologise for last night, I misjudged the situation but want you to know I respect you and it won’t happen again.’
This is because Hayley advises avoiding too much justification, which would just add more pressure and complicate your whole diffusion strategy.
Aside from that, she says: ‘Focus on creating a neutral atmosphere between you. Be professional, polite, and don’t treat this colleague any differently from anyone else you work with.
‘If someone sees you consistently respecting their boundaries and letting things go, in time it’s likely that it will feel like much less of a big deal than it does today.’
As long as your initial approach didn’t fall into creepy or threatening territory (why do we still have to mention this in 2019?), and you style out the following days and weeks as you’ve been advised, it’s no harm, no foul.
![DOG GROOMER LOIS PECKOVER, 34, OF WICKFORD, ESSEX, WITH HER [L-R] MINIATURE POODLES FRECNHY, 10, DOODY, 10, AND RIZZO, 13, AND HER TOY POODLE MEESHA, SEVEN) A pet groomer staged a Nativity scene with a twist to spread Christmas cheer - using eight DOGS to play Jesus, Mary and the other characters. Lois Peckover, of Wickford, Essex, and her pal Claire Koehl, 36, donned their pups in towels, doggy costumes and DIY crowns to recreate the biblical scene. The six poodles, one springer spaniel and one cockapoo posed patiently for the camera as baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the angel Gabriel and wise men. DISCLAIMER: While Kennedy News and Media uses its best endeavours to establish the copyright and authenticity of all pictures supplied, it accepts no liability for any damage, loss or legal action caused by the use of images supplied and the publication of images is solely at your discretion. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266](http://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/PRI_106242050.jpg?quality=90&strip=all)
