The smile of a child who’s stayed inside the lines (Picture: The Range)
You’ve made the Christmas cookies, and you’ve written the letters to Santa. Now the kids are excited and hopped up on sugar, and there’s nowhere to expend that energy (at least until they get their new bikes on the big day).
To keep your little elves busy is no small feat, but this DIY Christmas grotto from The Range should go some way to doing the trick.
The cardboard house is big enough for a kid to fit in, and had a working door and roof.
It’s also fully customisable, so they can colour it in and give it their own design with pens and pencils.
On the website, The Range say of the £9.99 Build Your Own Grotto, it’s ‘great for any budding artist looking to decorate their own wintry wonderland
‘Featuring a fully operable door, window, and charming chimney, this ready-to-decorate playhouse is sure to provide hours of endless entertainment this festive season.’
Parents have gone mad for the product, and it’s now sold out online. So, you’ll have to head to your nearest store if you want to get your hands on one.
When the homeware store posted a picture of the grotto on their Instagram, it racked up hundreds of likes from folks wanting to buy it.
Many people were tagging family and friends in the post, likely with the hope that they’ll find the treat in their stocking or Christmas eve box.
The grotto is three-foot tall, and even though it’s cardboard, it can be brought out for years to come as long as it’s stored correctly.
Let’s be honest, Christmas is mainly about the food.
So this year, forget trawling overheated, busy stores on a fruitless search for the perfect gift (who knows what size anyone is anyway?) – getting them a Christmas hamper ticks every box.
The festive classic is a high impact gift that is guaranteed to go down well – and now there are so many to choose from, you can get just the right hamper for everyone.
From a collection of cheese to fizz, wine, beautiful cakes and biscuits and a turkey with the trimmings, here are some of the best Christmas hampers for 2019.
For the traditionalists
The Cartwright Classic
(Picture: Cartwright and Butler)
Chock full to the brim with treats, this one covers all the bases with more than 20 of Cartwright and Butler’s most popular treats – in a lovely crate bundle.
There is traditional breakfast tea, classic Earl Grey tea and rich full-bodied café York coffee from Yorkshire. Also, an assortment of Cartwright and Butler preserves, including apricot preserve, smooth acacia honey with honeycomb and the finest Yorkshire chutney.
There are rosemary focaccia bread thins, olive and garlic wheat flatbreads and oven-baked tomato and basil bread thins, selection of lemon and tangerine slice sweets, Belgian chocolates, crumbling festive butter shortbread and more to satisfy a Christmas sweet tooth.
The Rosedale Luxury Christmas Hamper Large Wooden Crate, £150.00 cartwrightandbutler
The Gourmet Xmas Hamper
(Picture: Hamper Lounge)
A great one for gourmands, this hamper includes: basil and olive oil and fig and olive oil crackers by the Fine Cheese Company along with real ale chutney by Cartwright & Butler.
There is a selection of cheeses, plum chutney and a fantastic selection of chocs including salted caramel truffles and gold, frankincense and myrrh dark chocolate by Coco Chocolatier.
There is also a lovely selection of biscuits, teas and fudge.
The Gourmet Christmas Hamper, £230.99, hamperlounge
The Christmas Icon
(Picture: Fortnum and Mason)
Iconic in the world of hampers, Fortnum and Mason have put together a Piccadilly Hamper that is a lovely taster of some of their most classic products: their finest examples of breakfast teas, coffees, tipples, marmalades, preserves, condiments, biscuits and chocolates – all picked, packed and ready for a festive feast
Filled with a host of English and French produce, London’s local wine merchant makes lovely, traditional hampers.
The Hampstead Hamper includes a 2018 Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis, 2015 Bodegas Melipal Melipal Supernova and a 2014 Hunter’s Hukapapa Riesling Dessert Wine along with a variety of teas, a Lincet Brillat-Savarin, Ballancourt Pheasant Paté with Armagnac, savoury biscuits, mince pies and almond macaroons.
The Hampstead Hamper by Jeroboams, £150, jeroboams
Winter Delights
(Picture: Hamper.com)
This Christmas hamper has all the most popular festive foods needed to make a great impression this Christmas. Cortefresca Prosecco is accompanied by a selection of festive treats and beautifully hand-packed and presented in a white willow basket.
Wensleydale Creamery’s Mill Foss Hamper is new this year and it offers a great selection for cheese connoisseurs.
Included are 7 waxed truckles (Yorkshire Wensleydale, Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries, Yorkshire Wensleydale & Ginger, Hot & Spicy Cheddar, Yorkshire Wensleydale & Apricots, Cheddar with Caramelised Onion and Yorkshire Cheddar), along with a Wensleydale Blue, a variety of savoury flatbreads, a Yorkshire Wensleydale Chutney, fig chutney and a fruit cake.
Thoughtfully, It also comes with a Wensleydale Creamery branded cheeseboard, cheese knife and a Wensleydale Creamery apron.
Britain’s leading cheesemonger for over 200 years has created a belter of a cheese hamper.
It’s their best-seller and contains a range of their house cheeses, including the Cheddar Pounder, Celtic Soft and Dorset Goat, accompanied by a sumptuous collection of accompanying preserves, chutney, biscuits and sweet treats.
Presented in a traditional wooden hamper box, it’s a lovely gift. The Piccadilly Hamper by Paxton & Whitfield, £100, paxtonandwhitfield
The Cheese Geek
(Picture: The Cheese Geek)
This delicious hamper includes four award-winning, crowd-pleasing, never-to-be-seen in a supermarket cheeses and four wines paired by the in-house experts at The Cheese Geek.
Great as a Christmas gift for all the cheese lovers in the family, equally as good for a night in on the sofa watching Netflix all by yourself. The gourmet cheese includes an Old Winchester (something like a Gouda, but better) a Westcombe Cheddar, Peri Wen (a Brie/Camembert blend and the more complex Les Hautes Terrasses. Paired wines include a Cotes Du Rhône, a crisp Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon and an Australian Merlot. The Clint by The Cheese Geek, £50, thecheesegeek
Fancy Formaccio
Formaggio Accompaniment Hamper
From The River Café to Le Gavroche; Vallebona has been supplying top chefs across the UK for many years. And they know that an excellent cheese deserves excellent sidelines.
This hamper includes a jar of delectable acacia honey infused truffle slices, Mosto d’Uva from Sardinia, a reduction of Carignano, (a young red wine, which is great with blue cheeses) and roasted hazelnuts from Alba. Vermouth lovers will be delighted with the tart bottle of Vermouth Rosso that is included.
GoGo Fruit Basket has a range of fruit and gift hampers for Christmas but their Festive Indulgence is a cheese and fruit feast.
Included are Snowdonia cheese truckles, pate, Scottish oatcakes, bananas, grapes, apples, sweet pears with masses of satsumas/clementines and 2 bottles of a lovely red wine, finished with a mixture of Medjoul dates and Chinese gooseberries.
It’s a savoury treat-crammed hamper in a lovely woodland animal-themed tote.
Great for an after-dinner cheeseboard, it includes black garlic pickle (surprisingly tangy and delicious) as well as a cheeseboard chutney, red onion marmalade, mature cheddar and red pepper with pumpkin seeds oaty biscuits and pickled onions in cider vinegar.
Preserves, curds, biscuits and fudge plus chutney and relish In a smart, striped jute shopper – this one’s a great all rounder.
Mrs Bridges Classic Christmas Hamper has a nice selection of both sweet and savoury delights including Scottish raspberry and strawberry preserves, four fruit marmalade, fine cut orange marmalade, pear, apple and ginger chutney, sweet onion relish a lovely assortment of creamy fudges.
This red star-shaped wicker hamper is a head-turner on its own and perfect for using as a festive decoration once your lucky recipient has devoured the contents,
It includes a bag of Radfords handmade West Country Clotted Cream Fudge, roast chestnut and chive peanuts and hazelnuts and a Gold Crown mini loaf cake with a toasted marzipan topping. It also includes a mini bottle of Zonin prosecco and STAS Milk Chocolate bar embellished with chocolate stars and white chocolate swirls and sprinkles.
Star Attraction by Virginia Hayward, £24.99, virginiahayward
Gin Gifting
(Picture: Salcombe Gin)
This luxurious gift hamper is perfect for the gin lover on your Christmas list. The ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’ hamper includes a bottle of ‘Rosé Sainte Marie’, (a new, Mediterranean inspired gin, purposefully dry in style and with no added sugar), a copper barware set (copper jigger measure, bar blade and tongs), two Copa style reusable plastic glasses, tonic waters and a Salcombe Gin jute bag.
It comes in a willow hamper basket with an antique wash finish (it’s very pretty actually).
Swishy and spritzy, the iconic elderflower liqueur makers at St-Germain have partnered up exclusively with Harvey Nichols to create the St-Germain French Spritz Christmas hamper.
Embodying French refinement and the festive season all in one, the luxurious hamper contains a bottle of St-Germain along with a bottle of Premier Cru Brut Champagne and a cocktail book set to guide your mixology skills to the next level.
Harvey Nichols French Spritz Gift Set, £55, harveynichols
The Whisky Hamper
(Picture: Woodsman Whisky)
If you want something that will stand out from the wicker baskets and bottles of wine, why not opt for a hamper that arrives in a classic red toolbox. Rather than DIY gear, it contains tools to build a maple syrup Old Fashioned with Woodsman whisky.
The unique box includes: a Woodsman glass, stirrer, spoon, maple syrup, bitters and a bottle of The Woodsman Whisky – the only thing you need to supply is an orange.
The Woodsman Toolbox, £38.52, amazon.co.uk (Available on Amazon Prime, so can be purchased right up until Dec 23 for Christmas Eve delivery)
Sweet Treats
Lakeland Chocoholic’s Christmas Hamper
(Picture: Lakeland)
This pretty dark blue basket is a stand-out and inside it gets even better. Chocolate-coated butter fudge, luxury Belgian chocolate thins, chocolate popcorn, chocolate orange curd, double chocolate chunk cookies, drinking fudge, truffle bites and organic chocolate-coated almonds are sure to be a hit with the sweet tooth tribe.
This Christmas Chocolate Rainbow Reindeer Cake is a very cool way to take hamper giving to another level. Made by the celebrated bakers at Hummingbird, this Rudolph has a very yummy red-nose indeed. Rainbow vanilla sponge layers are covered in chocolate frosting and topped with an adorable reindeer-shaped sugar fondant and frosting rosettes. Or you can opt for their classic Christmas cupcakes – this year for the first time in minis. All cakes are freshly baked from scratch and delivery is available at selected London postcodes.
Whittard has created a lovely hot chocolate stacking tin hamper that features a gorgeous salted caramel flavour, a luxury white hot chocolate, a spiced Christmas classic and a classic luxury version.
Chocco’s annual bestseller is packed full of seasonal chocolate delights including their coveted new Christmas clusters: candied orange, freshly ground cardamom, Madagascar roasted cocoa nibs and crushed pistachios in dark chocolate.
Also included are Dorset sea salt caramel dark chocolate stars, rose and lemon Turkish Delight smothered in 67% Madagascar origin dark chocolate, Colombian Chocolate Coffee Beans covered in Colombian dark chocolate, a golden caramelised white chocolate mini bar and a festive box of 16 chocolates including 2018’s award winners.
Exquisite hand-iced biscuits along with Sipsmith triple mini gin in a hand-illustrated gift box makes a lovely Christmas hamper, perfect for those who love their gin and biscuits.
All biscuits are based upon a traditional twice-baked English-style biscuits and promise a shelf life for at least a month, lasting long after they’ve taken down the tree.
Christmas Biscuits and Gin Selection Gift Box, £52, Biscuiteers
‘Twas the Niche Before Christmas
The Healthy Hamper
(Picture: Planet Organic)
Revive the lost art of afternoon tea with this beautiful collection of organic teas, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates and biscuits from Planet Organic. Remind your loved ones to take the afternoon off on Christmas and indulge without the guilt.
Featuring premium organic brands Booja Booja, Island Bakery, Everfresh and more.
The Afternoon Tea Hamper from Planet Organic, £70, planetorganic
The CBD Christmas
(Picture: The Canna Club)
CBD is the hot topic in wellness right now, so why not gift the special person in your life some holistic healing.
London Cannabis dispensary Canna Club has created a curated selection of their most popular CBD products in a Christmas hamper sure to calm festive stress.
Includes CBD Bath Bombs, stem cells and dermabrasion scrub, CBD chocolate, CBD honey, CBD lozenges and a nifty vape.
The Canna Club Christmas Hamper 2, £250, cannaclubuk
A Taste of Wales
(Picture: Discover Delicious Wales)
The Little Welsh Wicker Hamper is a generous little guy filled to the brim with award-winning produce from the Black Mountain Smokery – smoked chicken, duck, cheddar, sausage and two kinds of smoked salmon.
It’s a delicious introduction to gourmet smoked foods – paired with a few other Welsh delicacies – that even the most seasoned foodie will enjoy.
What’s more Christmassy than taking care of Christmas dinner for them? Take the pressure off by sending out an entire turkey from Morton’s, an small, award-winning turkey farm in North Norfolk.
Their hampers include everything you’d need for the perfect Christmas lunch or dinner at home including turkey, smoked salmon, pigs in blankets, free-range pork and chestnut stuffing, smoked chicken breast, smoked duck breast and traditional Christmas pudding. They come in three sizes – small, medium and large, depending on the amount of people.
They ship nationwide via 24-hour Royal Mail delivery and orders are packed in a carton insulated with natural wool that is biodegradable. Ice packs keep the turkey safely chilled to ensure it arrives in tip top shape. All day deliver is available from Saturday 21, Sunday 22 or Monday 23 December. Alternately, you can visit the farm on 23 or 24 December to pick up your turkey.
Small Christmas Hamper from Morton’s Farm, £78, mortonsfarm
Beef Wellington
(Picture: Donald Russell)
Forget all the side bars, why not cut to the chase and gift them an elegant main course this Christmas?
Handmade by Donald Russell from grass-fed British beef fillet, this 1.1kg Wellington Log is perfect for a Christmas dinner and is a very thoughtful gift for a foodie friend.
It comes frozen and neatly presented in an ecobox ready to be popped into the fridge and defrosted for the big day. It also includes an elegant beechwood carving board, tea towel and cooking guide. Beef Wellington Selection, £70, donaldrussell
Meat Musclefood
Protein lovers rejoice! Musclefood have just launched their 2019 Christmas Hampers. There are eight variations to choose from including a whole British turkey, a luxury turkey breast roast, and a free-range topside roast beef.
Basically everything is in there for a festive feast for a minimum of six people for breakfast and lunch on Christmas day – including fresh veggies and gravy – with enough leftovers for Boxing Day snacking as well.
The hampers also conveniently include time-saving disposable roasting trays, so there’s no greasy pots to wash up after Christmas lunch, plus step-by-step recipes to help cook each dish with ease.
Musclefood Christmas Hampers, start at £59, musclefood
The Chateaubriand Box
(Picture: Farmison & Co)
One of the most outstanding and classic cuts of fillet from the tenderloin, perfect for sharing, the chateaubriand is a deliciously flavoursome and tender cut.
Farmison & Co have created a Christmas hamper box that contains this beautiful cut of grass fed beef, 32 day dry-aged chateaubriand, partnered with their fierce horseradish cream – a simple and lovely alternative to more chutney and wicker.
If your gran loves to read a particular magazine, think about buying her a subscription. It will come to her door every week or month and some even offer a free gift.
You can pay for different lengths of time depending on your budget. If your gran doesn’t currently buy one, maybe choose one that specialises on a hobby she has.
Afternoon tea is a lovely experience day (Picture: Getty)
Not sure what your gran needs? Try getting her a voucher for an experience you can do together, or somewhere she can take another family member or friend.
An afternoon tea voucher that covers the whole of the UK is a good idea as she can choose where to go or choose a menu she likes.
There are three scents to try in each box (Picture: Crabtree & Evelyn)
If you are going to go for toiletries, go for something a little more luxurious than her standard bar of soap.
These creams leave your hands feeling soft and they come in a gift box of three scents – Evelyn Rose, Pear and Pink Magnolia and Lavendar & Espresso. They’re traditionally floral with a little twist.
This tray is perfect for a long relaxing soak. After years of being your grandma, encourage her to lie back and chill. It is extendable to fit any bath with room for a book, a glass and anything else she wants to take to the tub.
These look incredibly cosy and they come in a range of colours from grey to magenta so you can pick a pair that suits both the more subtle grans and those who like something a little brighter.
If you are a new parent buying a gift from your baby to their new grandparent, this is a lovely idea.
The book contains envelopes prompting the grandparent to write about their memories of their grandchild’s parent growing up and their advice for the future. A lovely gift for grandparents and for children in the future.
We all need the perfect spag bol recipe (Picture: PrezzyBox)
Another way some memories of your grandparents – get them to write down all the food you love them to cook. Pick up this book for grandma and she can make sure the top secret family recipes are kept for generations to come.
Are you looking to share your home with a new furry friend this Christmas?
Well, the RSPCA have lots of animals who are in need of their loving forever home, and there are twelve who have Christmas names (yes, some are a bit of a stretch, but stay with us), making them the perfect addition to your family this festive season.
The 12 pets of Christmas include cats, dogs, rats, rabbits and ponies – and they’re all as cute as each other.
Could you open up your arms and give these gorgeous animals the love and care they deserve?
Stocking is a two-year-old black and white cat
Stocking is gorgeous (Picture: RSPCA)
Stocking came into the RSPCA after being rescued as a stray. She was found living in a garden shed with her kittens.
She was a great mum to her kittens in difficult circumstances, but now it’s time for her to find her purrfect forever home.
Stocking is a sweet loving girl who enjoys being around people and having some well deserved attention lavished on her. She is looking for a family to cuddle up with.
She can live with children and possibly another cat but no dogs.
To find out more about Stocking, call 0161 624 4725.
Meet Sparkle, the three-year-old Shih Tzu
Sparkle is just lovely (Picture: RSPCA)
Sparkle – like the star on top of your tree – is described as being a ‘very sweet little dog’ with a lovely temperament. She is very friendly and has an easy-going nature. She’s also very playful and loves going on walks, while also being good in the car and generally very clean, so housetraining wouldn’t be a problem in her new home.
Sparkle does have sensitive skin and her coat is not in the best condition. She is likely to have some allergies which could be investigated further.
While being at the RSPCA, she has been having medicated baths and is also on medication to help with this.
Sparkle is fine with most dogs and could potentially be rehomed with another neutered dog, but would also be happy being the only pup.
She absolutely loves attention and is looking for a home where she’ll get lots of it.
To contact the branch about Sparkle, call 01612 862503.
Seven-year-old Belle is looking for her forever home
Could you be Belle’s new owner? (Picture: RSPCA)
Belle – like jingle bells or sleigh bells – is a ‘spritely girl’ looking for an active home. She’s found life in the kennel very stressful and so can initially only be left for one to two hours until she has built her confidence.
She’s a super playful girl who loves toys and people, but can be quite energetic so should live with children aged over 14.
Although Belle has made many doggy friends, she is still learning how to behave around them, and so she’d benefit from training classes and lots of socialisation.
However, she does know lots of obedience commands, so needs an experienced owner that can bring out the best in her, through lots of love and training.
If you think you have the time and love to give Belle call the branch for more information on 0300 123 0751.
Two-year-old Star is a lovely black and white cat
Star is a lovely black and white cat (Picture: RSPCA)
Star is a lovely and friendly girl with lots of character. She’s also very playful and loves a cuddle.
In a new home, she is looking for somewhere where she can roam around outside, as she is full of energy and loves to play.
She’s also okay being homed with another cat or dog and is fine around children.
For more information on Star, call 07712459857.
Four-year-old Clause is a Domestic Shorthair crossbreed
Clause is a domestic breed (Picture: RSPCA)
The ginger and white cat is a beautiful boy who needs a constant supply of cuddles. He loves his best friend Evie, and so they must be adopted together, so if you do like the look of Clause, make sure you ask about his little friend before visiting!
Clause – like Santa Claus – would like to live with someone who spends most of their time at home, and who will allow him to go out and roam around. He could live with kids, and he could also live with a dog!
For more information on Clause, call 07712459857.
Twinkle is the most adorable baby rabbit
Twinkle needs to be adopted with his friend (Picture: RSPCA)
We have fallen in love with little Twinkle, who the RSPCA estimates is aged between zero and three months.
The black and white bunny can be a bit shy at first but he quickly comes out of his shell. He is good to stroke but he is still not sure about being picked up. He likes his food and will take vegetables from you. He loves to snuggle up with his friend Lady, and they will need to be re-homed together.
Snowberry is a Netherland Dwarf rabbit
Snowberry is two years old (Picture: RSPCA)
Two-year-old Snowberry, is a very cute Netherland dwarf female who arrived in RSPCA care as a stray, after she was found wondering around on her own.
Sadly all searches for her owner have failed and the centre is now looking to find her a new home.
Snowberry is a typical nethie, she can be quite fiesty and tempremantal at times, but equally she loves to come over for a nose rub.
The rabbit can be quite fussy with her food so she will need an owner that is happy to offer her a selection of hays and veggies.
She does love carrots, however she is now only allowed a little.
Snowberry would suit a home with someone with a neutered Netherland dwarf male rabbit. Snowberry has been health checked by a vet, neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped.
To adopt Snowberry, call 0845 2723570.
Ivy the baby rabbit is beautiful
Ivy is so sweet (Picture: RSPCA)
Meet Ivy, a little fawn-coloured baby rabbit.
She is a super sociable rabbit so could live with first time rabbit owners and could happily live with sensible children.
Upon successful introductions and continued pairing in the home she could live with a neutered male rabbit.
Ivy would also be able to live as an indoor rabbit – as long as you give her lots to do!
Like the look of Ivy? Call 0300 123 0744.
13-year-old Holly is an older cat
Holly is an older cat (Picture: RSPCA)
This black cat is a little older than the rest, and is looking for her forever home.
She is a ‘lap cat lady’ who came to the RSPCA after her owner sadly passed away.
She loves nothing more than sitting on your knee while you give her attention, but she is very independent and cheeky as she will give you a little nibble when she has had enough.
Due to her occasional cheekiness, she can live with children 10+, possibly another cat and possibly a cat friendly doggy too.
To meet Holly, call 0161 624 4725.
Are you looking for a pony? Meet two-year-old Flake
Flake is very shy (Picture: RSPCA)
Flake (like snowflake… we told you the festive link was a bit tenuous) is a grey gelding currently standing at approximately 11.2hh.
Flake was brought into RSPCA care in January 2017. He is a very nervous pony who needs encouragement and a calm handler to help gain his trust.
Flake requires an experienced loving home where he is given the time and reassurance he needs to progress further. He is a very friendly boy who wants to please you.
Flake’s trust and confidence grows each session he is worked with, he is a very quick learner who tries his best. He is good to catch, his leading needs some work along with grooming/leg handling.
Flake is passported, microchipped and vaccinated against tetanus.
If you would like to come and meet Flake and feel you can give him the home he deserves please contact the RSPCA on 07720948636
His adoption fee is £200.
Meet six-year-old Tink
Isn’t Tink lovely? (Picture: RSPCA)
Tink is a cute mini shetland mare, and is looking for an experienced home to carry on her education.
She loves adults but would need more introduction to children.
Her adoption fee is £150.
Do you think you could offer her a forever home? Call 0300 123 0720.
Brussel and Sprout are two rats in need of a home
These two boys are in need of a forever home (Picture: RSPCA)
These one-year-old rats are called Brussel and Sprout.
They were handed over to the RSPCA when their owner couldn’t give them what they needed.
They have had a few issues with their fur, but it’s growing back nicely now.
Brussle is more laid back, while Sprout is a bit more jumpy and protective over Brussle and food.
But slowly both are starting to learn what it’s like to have a large accommodation with a good variation of toys and food.
Rats are incredibly intelligent creatures and these boys would be excellent companions for an experienced owner. Call 07484 905707 if you think that’s you.
Tiffany with her new arm, and getting tested for it (Picture: MDWfeatures/Tiffany Johnson)
Tiffany Johnson and her husband James had been snorkelling together, but he started to feel sick and decided to swim back to the cruise ship they were staying on.
Just as she watched him swim off, she came face-to-face with a shark.
It grabbed hold of her arm, ripping it at the elbow and as she was alone, she had no choice but to swim back to the ship, holding her amputated arm out of the water, so she could get help.
Getting back on board, they tried to stop the bleeding with a towel and she was rushed to the nearest hospital.
The 24-year-old had a five-hour-long surgery and since then, has had three more surgeries but in November 2017, five months after the shark attack, she was given a robotic arm.
The state of the art device has helped her adapt to her new life and care for her children Kylee, eight, Luke, seven and Natalie, four.
Tiffany, from North Carolina, USA, explains: ‘My husband and I were on the MSC cruise with the last stop in Nassau, Bahamas.
‘It was just after he left that I was attacked. The Shark Attack Institute out of the University of Florida, believe it was either a Tiger or Caribbean Reef.
Tiffany got her most recent arm a few months ago (Picture: MDWfeatures/Tiffany Johnson)
‘I believe it was a Tiger shark after seeing pictures a few months later. The thing I remember distinctly is the eyes.’
There was no suitable medical equipment on the boat and Tiffany spent about 30 minutes with just a towel to stop the bleeding.
She adds: ‘We were on that boat from the reef to the stop at Paradise Island to the main port for about thirty minutes with no tourniquet and only a beach towel to stop the bleeding.
‘Medically, it does not make sense why I am still alive. I didn’t even require a blood transfusion. It was an absolute miracle.’
Tiffany with her trial myoelectric arm with her children (Picture: MDWfeatures/Tiffany Johnson)
With doctors focused on just keeping her alive, it was some time before the impact of what had happened really hit.
Tiffany explains: ‘It didn’t all hit me until I was back in the hospital in Charlotte; it had been a whirlwind up until that point trying to figure out a way back to the United States.
‘When I really had time to digest it all, I cried a lot. Not really tears of depression, but rather overwhelming and pure thankfulness that I was alive.
‘I had just lived through a near-death experience and there were so many miracles as to why I was still here.
‘There were times when I felt like I was living a bad dream but then I would look down and realise, it wasn’t a dream – that I had to figure out my life as an amputee.’
Following her surgeries, including having a robotic hand fitted, Tiffany had to learn how to use her arm all over again and admitted that this was very challenging being a mum of three children.
‘I have had to figure out a new way to do things twice. Once one-handed before I was able to get the hand and then now with the use of the hand,’ she said.
‘Everything is different, it doesn’t function the same way as a hand does; it is more like a tool. It helps me, but I can’t expect it to be like my real hand. So that has been a journey of learning that I am still on even two and a half years out.
‘This latest version is only a few months old; I can now bend my elbow and touch my head, bring my arm in closer to my body, etc. It functions ok, but it is a process.
‘It is heavy and can be uncomfortable at times. But I am thankful to even be on this journey able to learn the process.
‘I had to learn a new normal and that wasn’t easy; being a mum of three, very independent by nature, and used to doing it all.’
Tiffany getting tests for her robotic arm done (Picture: MDWfeatures/Tiffany Johnson)
Throughout her journey, Tiffany has struggled with turning to others but she said she has had a huge amount of support.
She added: ‘It took me a while to adjust to asking for help, learning how to do things again, and mentally being ok with it all. But through it all, my faith is what drove me forward.
‘In the times where I felt desperate and so unsure, my faith kept my perspective focused on the things I could control.
‘Ultimately, I have learned that you don’t always have a choice in the circumstance you are in, but you always have a choice in how you respond.’
Tiffany is now helping other people using prosthetics to come to terms with what has happened to them, through Instagram and her website.
‘I have actually been able to connect with some patients through my surgeons and prosthetic clinic,’ she added.
‘They have asked me to talk with some patients that have had a hard time adjusting or who have had questions. It has been a blessing to be able to use this to help, encourage, and spread hope.
‘I have been given the unique opportunity to share this very message of hope and overcoming through my newly launched ministry; Be An Overcomer Ministry.
‘My goal is to use broken pieces of my tragedy to help give others hope and to give practical steps on how to overcome life’s adversities.’
Make your stockings sportier this year (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
We’ve all know someone who lives in gym kit.
While you’re all slouching in front of your third movie on Boxing Day – they’re probably trying to encourage you all to go on a run.
All they do is talk about their favourite gym classes, new trainers and the latest athleisure – but buying them the perfect gift can still be tricky. There’s just so much out there.
How can you tell if something is a genuinely great gift, or just a silly fitness fad? We’ve taken a look at some of the shiniest fitness products out there to help you make the right choice – no matter your budget.
Track your heart rate, steps and calorie intake – but there’s also an inbuilt Amazon Alexa so you have all the knowledge you could ever desire on your wrist.
The watch allows you to see real-time exercise stats and check the time with just a glance.
Keep your water cold for 24 hours in this stainless steel bottle – perfect if you’re packing your gym bag the night before for an early morning session.
If you’re on a chilly trek and need a a winter warmer, the bottle also keeps liquids hot for up to 12 hours.
The Theragun uses repetitive strokes into muscle 16 mm deep – 40 times a second – to stimulate circulation, generate heat, and release your deepest tension.
Wave goodbye to DOMS and make this treatment a regular part of your recovery.
For the indecisive fitness lover in your life – get them the gift of trying something new every week.
With ClassPass you have access to 30,000 fitness studios and gyms around the world. From harder-than-life bootcamps to slow flow yoga, find the workouts you’re looking for with one app.
Another year, another crop of terrible jokes in Christmas crackers.
If you don’t know that crossing a snowman and a vampire means frostbite, you’ve never truly celebrated Christmas at all.
But, as classic as these jokes are, they can get a little tired over time (even if your nan still hysterically laughs at every one).
Given the politically, environmentally, and pretty much everything-ly tumultuous year we’ve had, it’s time we got some new ones on the go that are topical and actually funny.
With that in mind, TV channel Gold challenged the nation to come up with the best topical Christmas cracker jokes.
The competition has been running for the last seven years, and this year has produced a total belter in the form of the winner, referencing Donald Trump.
The author of the winning joke, Matt King, a secondary school teacher from Wokingham, received £1,500 towards a holiday and a box of bespoke Gold Christmas Crackers, one of which will contain his own top gag. Let’s hope he wins that cracker pull.
The top ten in general are great, although we should probably warn you that they will likely start an argument around many a Christmas table.
If you’re brave enough, why not stick these in your homemade crackers this year.
Top 10 topical Christmas cracker jokes 2019
Why does Donald Trump have his Christmas dinner on a plastic plate? He doesn’t get on with china.
Why is Parliament like ancient Bethlehem? It takes a miracle to find three wise men there.
Christmas dinner is a lot like Brexit. Half the family were told they needed to make room for Turkey, so opted to leave Brussels.
Why has Santa been banned from sooty chimneys? Carbon footprints.
What is Coleen Rooney’s favourite game to play over the festive period? Guess Who.
Why doesn’t Jeremy Corbyn ever visit Santa? Because he struggles in the poles.
Why is Greta Thunberg boycotting parsnips and carrots at Christmas? Because she’s a swede dish campaigner.
What’s the difference between Rudolph’s nose and David Cameron’s autobiography? Only one will be red at Christmas.
What do you call a snowman who goes on Love Island? A melt.
What is Olivia Colman’s favourite part of a turkey? The Crown.
With everything from Love Island to the Royal Family referenced, the list beats ‘what do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?’ (tinsillitis if you haven’t heard it a million times) by a mile.
Comedy critic Bruce Dessau, who led the Gold judging panel, says, ‘Amongst the political turmoil that seems to have swamped our country this year, we can always rely on British humour to pull us through. With subjects ranging from Brexit and Love Island, to Greta Thunberg and Coleen Rooney, there are jokes here to tickle even the biggest of scrooges.’
Kay with the tree, which has a family picture underneath (Picture: SWNS)
Now in its 99th year, Christmas tree has been put up in eight homes and even survived a World War II bomb.
Thought to be Britain’s oldest artificial tree, Kay Ashton thought her beloved tree might not take pride of place this year after it went missing in a house move.
Kay, 65, downsized from her three-bedroom house to a flat earlier this year.
When she came to unpack the tree, she couldn’t find it – but luckily it was found just in time for the festive season.
Kay said: ‘I downsized from a three-bedroom house to a smaller flat and stayed with my daughter temporarily and it was only this week I managed to find it.
‘I kept saying to Becky “I can’t find William’s Tree”. She insisted it was at my house but I could not find it anywhere.
‘I had another look at Becky’s house and I was on my hands and knees looking everywhere.
Kay’s 99-year-old fake Christmas tree (Picture: Dan Rowlands/SWNS.com)
‘I finally came across it under Becky’s bed.’
Kay’s grandmother Elizabeth Naylor bought the tree for sixpence from Woolworths in 1920 and she named it ‘William’s tree’ to mark her newborn son’s first Christmas that year.
Sadly, he died in 1940, aged 19 and the tree became a memorial to him.
Elizabeth – known as Nanan – died in 1981 aged 80 and the tree was inherited by her daughter, Joyce Ashton.
When Joyce died in 2012. Kay became the third generation to own it.
It’s survived eight house moves and a World War II bomb (Picture: Dan Rowlands/SWNS)
It still takes pride of place, with its original 1920s trimmings, and they traditionally put it up in the first week of December.
Grandmother-of-three Kay said: ‘It’s nice to put it up every year. I remember it from being a child and it evokes memories of Christmases with family members that are no longer with us.
‘We were a big family, but we were close and I lived with my Nanan and her half-sister, my mum, dad and my sister, so there were six of us.
‘It was a time when we were all together and it goes up year.
The tree even has some 1920s baubles (Picture: Dan Rowlands/SWNS)
‘We were very close and Nanan loved the tree and looked after it, so it’s nice to keep it going to keep her memory alive. I do it for her.
‘I think my Nanan would be really touched to know the tree is still going strong and being used – and so would William.’
The tree incredibly survived a blitz of Sheffield’s steelworks in December 1940 when the city was bombarded by the Luftwaffe for three consecutive nights.
When the air raid went off, the family were told to leave the house but instead they went down into the cellar, putting a heavy wrought iron mangle against the back door to keep it closed.
Kay with the tree after it was decorated for the 99th time (Picture: Dan Rowlands/SWNS)
Kay added: ‘When a bomb was dropped across the road, the force blew the back door open, and the mangle went flying across the room and into the tree.
‘When they came back upstairs, the living room was a mess – with the tree lying in the middle of it.
‘The top of it had nearly come off and it’s been bent ever since, but it was fixed with Sellotape and wire – some of the original bits of tape are still on the tree and I daren’t take them off.’
It’s not the only time the tree has almost been destroyed.
Kay added: ‘Sheffield was hit by awful gales, people were even killed when buildings collapsed.
‘I remember being at my Nanan’s house, and she asked my mother to close the back door.
‘But before we knew it, the tree had gone flying across the room and almost into the fire.
‘She cried: “The bloody tree nearly went into the fire’ and it made us all laugh.’
Kay added: ‘I can’t imagine it not being around. It hasn’t been the best looked after in all these years, but it has survived eight house moves and the blitz, so it must be robust somewhere.’
What you see before you is not a plate of more-than-al-dente bucatini.
Nope, it’s a tapeworm that came out of the body of Kritsada Ratprachoom, a Thai freelance photographer.
The 44-year-old did us all dirty and decided to post picture and video evidence of the tapeworm on his Facebook page, and unfortunately due to it going viral we’re also bringing it to your attention.
Kritsada, who comes from the Udon Thani region in Northern Thailand, posted the pictures to his feed with the caption, ‘Damn….. What’s in me?’
He explained that he’d recently had an appendectomy surgery, but was recovering normally.
After dropping his child off at school he went to the loo, but didn’t feel finished and noticed there was something outside of his body.
The photographer initially thought it was rope left over from his surgery. But it was not.
He told Khaosod: ‘I had just finished dropping my child off at school and ran some errands when I had to go number two.
‘Afterward, I felt like I wasn’t finished defecating, like something was left. So I got up to see what it was. Turns out there was something sticking out of by bottom.’
He flushed it down the toilet afterwards (Picture: Facebook/abs.snake)
The tapeworm that came out was moving, and was said by Kritsada to have a spongy and elastic texture.
Some reports have said that it was five metres in length, but Kritsada said that it felt like it could have been stretched to 32 feet.
Confused by the whole thing, he proceeded to flush it down the loo and try to move on with his life.
His post has now been shared thousands of times, and made a number of worldwide news sites.
Tapeworms aren’t particularly common in the UK, but can be caught from fairly innocuous-seeming things. For example, if you drink contaminated water, or eat certain foods that haven’t been cooked thoroughly.
They’re normally easily treated with a pill from the doctor, but if left untreated can grow up to 55ft long and survive in the intestine as long as 25 years.
Katrin Maslenkova, 29, said vaginismus made sex impossibly painful when she was younger. (Picture: MDWfeatures/Katrin Maslenkova)
A woman said her vaginal clamping condition made sex so painful it felt like she was being stabbed.
Katrin Maslenkova, 27, recently opened up about her struggles with vaginismus. The condition that affects 1 in 500 women and makes their vaginal muscles involuntarily tighten, meaning any activity that involves penetration is painful or impossible.
Maslenkova, who lives in Toronto, Canada, said she tried to lose her virginity when she was 18-years-old, but her then-boyfriend’s penis felt like it was ‘hitting a wall.’
‘He just wouldn’t go in. During another attempt or two, I did my best to relax and some penetration was possible,’ she said.
‘But just a little bit of him being inside me felt like a constant stabbing sensation, with silent tears streaming down my eyes.’
Katrin first tried to lose her virginity when she was 18, but the pain left her crying and fearful to get intimate with her then-boyfriend (Picture: MDWfeatures / Katrin Maslenkova)
She continued: ‘It brought feelings within me that I wasn’t good enough and he just deserved better…I started to loathe where intimate touch was leading. So, I started to avoid it.’
Maslenkova said that the condition did not just hamper her ability to have sex, it also made inserting tampons a painful ordeal.
‘Many perfectly good tampons went straight into the bin with my unsuccessful attempts.’
‘They were impossible to use; I tried, experienced a sense of hitting a wall, or really intense, sharp pain.’
In January 2010, Maslenkova brought up her concerns with her doctor, who told her she might be too young for sex.
‘The first guidance I was given by him is that I must be too young, and my body wasn’t ready for penetrative sex yet and I should wait,’ she said.
Katrin pictured in her teens when she first began experiencing vaginismus symptoms. (Picture: MDWfeatures / Katrin Maslenkova)
But after researching her symptoms online, she learned of vaginismus and went back to her doctor to schedule a gynecology appointment.
‘After quite a wait, the gynecologist did a pelvic exam and the word vaginismus wasn’t mentioned either. I also went through a vaginal ultrasound, in which I experienced the most pain.’
‘After listening to me cry through it, the ultrasound specialist told me, “don’t worry honey, it will get better after kids,”‘ Maslenkova said.
She later sought help from a therapist who confirmed she had vaginismus.
‘After the relief, I felt overwhelmed with the road ahead of me overcoming vaginismus, but was motivated to finally live a pain free and intimate life.’
Katrin began using dilators to exercise her pelvic floor and help disassociate pain with penetration. (Picture: MDWfeatures / Katrin Maslenkova)
Katrin is now set to marry her fiance Dimitri, 33, who she said has been very supportive ever since they met in 2017. (Picture: MDWfeatures / Katrin Maslenkova)
It was recommended she try dilating therapy, where dilators are used to stretch the vaginal muscles and help her stop associating penetration with pain.
Maslenkova said she experienced months of confusion during which she did not use the dilators because the devices offered limited instructions, but she eventually learned how to use them to encourage her muscles to relax while strengthening her pelvic floor.
In 2016, she was finally able to have pain-free penetrative sex while she was single and is now able to have a ‘fulfilling sex life’ with her fiancé Dimitri.
Maslenkova has since quit her job as an accountant to help other women with her condition, writing a book titled ‘Breaking The Cycle Of Pain: Vaginismus.’
‘This has been a journey for me, and (Dimitri) has been encouraging through the process of creating my educational materials and getting them out into the world,’ she said.
Are you looking for a winter break before the beginning of a new decade?
We’ve found a stunning and unique place to stay this December and it’s located in Drimnin, Scotland.
This place is unlike anyhwhere we’ve ever stayed in before – because it’s an airship. The tiny home is secluded on a four-acre site and has stunning views across the Sound of Mull towards Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and out to sea toward Ardnamurchan Point.
This sustainable getaway is described as an ‘iconic, insulated aluminum pod’ with amazing views from the dragonfly windows.
It’s so modern inside (Picture: Airbnb)
It’s said to be ‘comfortable, quirky and cool’ – and does ‘not pretend to be a five-star hotel’.
The airship is small but modern.
It features a wooden interior with the kitchen including an oval breakfast bar and table.
We love the kitchen (Picture: Airbnb)
The living room faces the large windows and there’s a working fireplace inside for when you want to cuddle up and gaze at the stars.
The bedroom is small but stylish, with circular windows for you to peek through.
Inside the bathroom is a shower with a heated towel rack.
There’s also a common area with a lovely sofa and shelves filled with books, giving it a really rural feel – even though the exterior of the property will make you feel like you’re in a sci-fi movie.
The bedroom (Picture: Airbnb)
The property is fairly priced, costing £150 for a one night stay – and according to the reviews, it’s well worth it.
One person who stayed recently said: ‘Wow! What a wonderful place to stay. If the photos on the listing make you consider staying here, then be reassured that the Airship itself will not disappoint!
‘The interior is cleverly designed to provide all the amenities required for modern holiday accommodation. The large glass windows at either end provide long-distance views across the Sound of Mull. The wood burner provides a cosy atmosphere on cold Scottish nights. Highly recommended!’
It even has a log burner (Picture: Airbnb)
Another person wrote: ‘This place has the wow factor with a capital W, within half an hour we were relaxed and chilled. It has everything you need and more, the views are amazing. The airship is like nothing else you will stay in, gazing at the stars at night and watching sea eagles gliding through sky during the day, all without leaving the structure. If you book this you won’t regret it.’
Someone else said: ‘Everything we hoped for and more. When booking we were taken aback by the beauty of the location and how cool and unique the airship was, we were not dissapointed. A great space with everything you need to curl up with a glass of wine and watch the world go by in the most amazing scenery. This will not be our last visit!’
What are the rules for calling in sick with a hangover? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
You wake up with a pounding headache, a mouth dryer than the white wine you downed the night before, and a nonspecific sense of despair.
You are severely hungover and you know full well that if you head into the office you won’t do your best work.
So what do you do? What can you do?
Do you call in sick and claim the generic 24 hour tummy bug? Do you force yourself in and apologise repeatedly for how useless you are all day? Or do you tell the truth and hope your boss will take pity on you, knowing that the pain and nausea you’ll feel all day is punishment enough?
These are questions that flood our minds as we lie in bed working up the courage to attempt a shower.
Steve Arnold is the CEO at e-days, a site that helps employers manage absence. He tells Metro.co.uk that he’s never seen an absence officially recorded through the platform with ‘hangover’ as a reason.
Of course, that doesn’t mean no one has ever taken a sick day for a hangover – they just haven’t been honest about it.
‘The companies that use our absence management system all pick a reason every time an absence is recorded, but we haven’t found a single customer that offered ‘hangover’ as an absence reason,’ Steve explains.
‘Handling hungover employees can be really tricky because ‘hungover’ is not usually the reason they give for their absence. So, it’s more a hunch (or an educated guess) from the manager – especially if there was a company social the night before!’
So faking the flu seems to be the most common approach to a so-wrecked-you-can’t-work situation, but is it the right one?
This is where you need to consider the likelihood of getting caught out.
You cannot get fired for following proper sick leave procedure and taking the day off because you’re genuinely ill – and so if your employers buy your story you’ll be fine.
But if there’s anything that raises suspicion, you could get called out for the fib and face action as a result.
You can’t get away with lying if your hangover is the result of the work Christmas party, where everyone saw you downing shots (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Danielle Parsons, employment lawyer at Slater and Gordon, says: ‘If you lie to your employer about your hangover and your reason for absence then this could lead to a breakdown in the working relationship with your employer.
‘It may also be an act of misconduct and could lead to disciplinary action.’
The fact of the matter is that in many cases the risk of being caught in your lie is fairly high – and you need be certain the risk is at rock bottom before you make that dishonest call to your manager.
Check your social media. Did you post anything while hammered that shows you downing pints or generally not looking very ill? Has your pal tagged you at the location of a bar?
Did you mention to anyone at work that you were doing some drinking the night before? You don’t want one of your coworkers laughing when your boss mentions you’re poorly and asking if you’ve tried a McDonald’s breakfast.
And of course, remember that lying about a hangover the morning after a work party just won’t work. No one’s going to buy that you’ve got food poisoning when they saw you downing shots the night before.
Okay, so lying isn’t wise.
Neither, obviously, is just not turning up or rolling in late carrying the greasiest hash browns you can find. Danielle says: ‘If your boss was aware that you were going to be out drinking the night before then they may have already told you that they expected you to turn up on time the next morning, and this could mean that you are issued with a warning if you then fail to attend work.’
Even after a work party, all the usual rules of conduct still apply unless you’ve been told otherwise. Bear in mind, too, that if everyone’s been out to a company social it’s likely others in the office are nursing a hangover too – and knowing you stayed home can cause resentment.
But forcing yourself into the office when you’re emitting low groans and vomming on the hour isn’t always the best choice, either. If you come into work and your performance isn’t up to scratch, you could face disciplinary action for that, too.
Regularly turning up hungover doesn’t look great (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Danielle explains: ‘Normally, it is unlikely that you would be sacked on the spot for either attending work with a hangover or calling in sick, but if you have less than two complete continuous years of service then you will not have the right to claim unfair dismissal, and this means that your employment can be terminated without a fair reason at law and without a fair process being followed – if this applies to you then you should be very cautious about overdoing it if this may lead to a days unplanned absence.
‘If however it is the hangover from hell, you may want to consider offering to take a day’s leave.’
Is honesty the best policy, then?
We’re afraid there’s not a definitive answer – a lot of context has to come into consideration.
Is it a day when you’re absolutely vital to the work going on? If so, a day off for a hangover is going to cause a lot of bother.
Is this the only time in all your years working for a company that you’ve needed the day off due to a hangover? If so, you’re in a better position to get away with it.
Multiple hangover days will alert your manager to the possibility of an issue with alcohol (and rightly so – if booze is regularly and negatively impacting your life, that’s a sign there’s a problem) and in general, if you’re taking a load of sick days above the average, your boss will likely have concerns that you’re not committed to the job.
How those concerns are dealt with depends on your employer. You might get a worried heart to heart to check you’re doing alright, or you might get a verbal warning, putting you on the path to getting sacked.
If you’re blessed with a great manager they’ll want to help reduce your sick days by sorting out the root cause and offering support, but not everyone is so lucky.
‘It’s important for organisations to understand the reasons for an absence and to be able to spot trends,’ Steve says. ‘One day nursing a hangover isn’t a sackable offence. A real issue occurs when there is a trend of absences related to drinking.
‘This could be a sign of individual experiencing a problem with alcohol, or someone who really isn’t engaged with work. In that case, discipline might not be the best solution – especially in the case of an alcohol-related problem, where providing help and creating productive solutions for the employee will be a better course of action. Understanding the difference and taking action comes from a line manager who is on the ball and knows their team members really well, and wants to create a solution.’
As well as the frequency of your sick and hungover days, it’s vital to consider the general culture of your workplace.
Consider the severity of your hangover and the busyness of the day – could you get away with coasting through? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
If your manager is the type to loudly ask for a tampon and recount tales of their boozy nights at university, they’re far more likely to be understanding of a hangover day than your old-school, super traditional, 100%-attendance boss.
You’ll need to know your boss and the specific context inside and out to know if it’s best to lie about a tummy bug or just be straight up about your post-drinking state.
Lucy, a manager of four people at a creative agency, tells us she wouldn’t have a hard and fast rule about employees calling in sick for a hangover.
She tells us: ‘It really depends on who it is and how they do it. If I know they’re hard workers and wouldn’t call in sick unless they were genuinely struggling, I’d be okay with them taking the day off for a hangover – they won’t be on top form so they might as well stay home this once.
‘But if it’s someone who clearly can’t be bothered, I’d be annoyed.
‘If it’s after the Christmas party and someone calls in sick when the rest of the team have turned up, that will piss me off as well. You chose to drink and we’ve all made the effort, get in here and share the pain, we’re all going through it and I’ll understand if you’re useless. I might even end up sending you home early or letting you slack off – but it’s good to see you’ve at least tried to get the work done.’
So we’re sorry, but there’s no one rule when it comes to taking the day off to vomit and sob. You’ll need to consider your boss, your working culture, your general vibe (if you give off an air that you can’t be bothered, it’s bad news), and your history of sick leave.
If you know you can get away with a lie, we won’t judge. But perhaps the best option is to just keep it vague – if you tell your boss you’re calling in sick because you’ve got a throbbing headache and you’ve puked in the shower, that’s technically true. If they don’t ask for the cause you don’t have to go into it.
Just make sure you do actually call in, follow all the company guidelines for sick leave, and keep your hungover day to a one-off occurrence. Now order the biggest breakfast you can find. You can get through this.
Holly (right) and Ivy (left) are in need of extra care after being dumped on the roadside RSPCA/Solent News
Animals in Christmas jumpers are always a joy, whether they’re cows or chickens.
But sometimes a festive knit is doing more than just maximising an animal’s cuteness.
Two balding lurcher puppies, Holly and Ivy, were found dumped at a roadside in Surrey along with their mum, Mistletoe.
The dogs were freezing cold, infested with parasites, and needed urgent care.
They were taken into Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey, where part of their treatment included wearing specially-made Christmas jumpers to keep them warm and cosy after the loss of their fur made them more likely to feel the chill.
The puppies were infested with parasites and had developed mange, causing bald patches (Picture: RSPCA/Solent News)
The pups had mange, caused by tiny, microscopic mites that burrow beneath the skin surface and lay eggs, which made them scratch and bite at their skin, causing pain, irritation, and hair loss.
As well as keeping them nice and cosy, the jumpers also help to prevent the dogs from scratching at their skin.
Liz Wood, deputy manager of Millbrook Animal Centre in Chobham, Surrey, said: ‘These poor little dogs were dumped beside the road like rubbish, it’s disgusting.
‘They’ve got a really bad case of mange and are practically bald which means they’d have been even more vulnerable to the cold and rain.
The pair will be up for adoption in the New Year once they’ve recovered (Picture: RSPCA/Solent News)
‘Thankfully, someone spotted them and asked us for help and we were able to get them into our warm, dry kennels quickly.
‘They’ll now stay with us over the Christmas period while we nurse them back to full health.
Mum Mistletoe is doing well but the pups have still got a long way to go and it will take some time for their coats to grow back.
‘Poor Holly and Ivy have lost a lot of their fur so we’re having to keep them snug and warm in special Christmas jumpers.’
Holly and Ivy won’t be ready for adoption until the New Year, as they require further treatment before they can be placed into loving homes.
The shelter is asking for donations in the meantime to cover the cost of care for these pups and all the other animals the RSPCA looks after.
A wise man once said: ‘Only a fool hateth on Colombo’.
Full disclosure – that wise man was me. Trust me, I too was once a Colombo hater but having now spent a substantial amount of time in Sri Lanka’s capital city, I’m a convert.
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen comments in backpacker forums advising people to ‘get the hell out of Colombo’.
However, these are usually written by people whose only experience of the place is spending a frustrated morning in the immigration office trying to extend their tourist visa, before escaping back down south to the beaches.
These people are missing out because Colombo has a lot to offer – you just need to know where to go.
Tourism in the city has suffered greatly since the horrific Easter Sunday terrorist attacks committed earlier this year, so spending time here will not only broaden your own horizons, but will help out the thousands of local people whose businesses have been affected.
Here are my suggestions on how to spend 48 hours in the city.
(Mostly involving food because I am motivated by things I can put in my mouth. If you want a boring guide involving every single museum in the city, you can easily find that elsewhere.)
DAY ONE
8.30am: Yoga at Prana Lounge
Start your day with yoga at Prana Lounge (Picture: Prana Lounge)
Chances are, you’re in Colombo pre or post a long haul flight and your limbs are pretty achey, so revitalise a tired body and mind with a delicious 75 minute yoga class at the Prana Lounge, Colombo 7.
A drop-in class costs 1500rs (£6.80).
10am: Breakfast
Paratha, dhal and pol sambol (Picture: Lisa Bowman)
Fuel up – you’ve got a big day ahead! If you fancy eating local grub (think delicious dhal curry with paratha and pol [coconut] sambol) your best bet is to ask your hotel where their favourite spot is, as there are many modest little roadside restaurants to choose from. They will likely point you to a hidden gem.
Failing that, have a search on Yamu which is a super useful guide to eateries in Colombo and beyond.
Not up for having curry three meals a day? (I am a diehard Sri Lankan food fan and even I don’t want it all day, every day.) Try The Grind, Colombo 2, which serves beautifully presented Western brunch delights like avocado on toast, berry cream cheese French toast and whole food bowls.
The vegan avo on toasted sourdough is a deliciously pimped-up version of the classic, with fresh avocado salsa, beetroot houmus, rocket, basil pesto, sautéed abalone mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, and beetroot pickle. All for 750rs (£3.20).
The Grind does proper coffee (quite hard to find in Sri Lanka, especially outside of Colombo), with almond milk as a non-dairy milk alternative.
11am: Take a stroll around Viharamahadevi Park
Gotta get some nature in (Picture: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)
Get a dose of nature by checking out Viharamahadevi Park, a big, leafy space in the heart of the city.
Colombo’s humidity can be exhausting, so this is a great opportunity to find a spot under a shady tree and relax, especially if you’ve only just landed in the country and are new to the heat.
If you’re up for exploring, there’s a lake to walk around and a giant Buddha statue. Make sure you don’t have your picture taken with your back to Buddha as it’s considered extremely offensive.
It’s also worth checking out the beautiful red and yellow building nearby that houses the National Eye Hospital of Sri Lanka, built in 1906. It’s one of my favourite buildings in the city.
Department stores are my personal hell but if you’re a shopper, you should check out nearby Odel, a huge, modern department store.
12pm: Enjoy the serenity of Seema Malakaya Buddhist temple
So peaceful (Picture: Lisa Bowman)
Seema Malakaya is a peaceful Buddhist temple seemingly floating on Beira Lake, accessed by a pontoon bridge, about a 10 minute walk from Viharamahadevi Park.
The original Seema Malakaya sunk into the lake (not ideal), so famed Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa (more on him later) was commissioned to redesign its replacement in the 1970s.
It’s more of a place for meditation than worship, so come and enjoy the serenity of the temple, juxtaposed by the city’s busy backdrop.
Don’t forget to dress appropriately, covering shoulders and knees.
1pm: Stock up on eco-friendly products at Bhumi
Get your environmentally friendly goodies here (Picture: Bhumi)
The Bhumi eco store in Colombo 3 is a great place to stock up on affordable environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday items.
A great example is the plastic straw, which is still plonked into many drinks on the island (including the coconuts you drink on the beach) and will inevitably end up in the sea, pissing off surfers or spelling an untimely end for sealife.
If you didn’t bring a reusable straw on your travels, nip into Bhumi and get yourself a metal or bamboo version. It also sells ridiculously cute (and cheap) straw pouches made from fabric offcuts, so you can carry your straw and cleaning brush around in style.
If you use cotton buds, make sure you leave with a packet of compostable ones, made from compressed wood and cotton.
1.30pm: Lunch at Kiku
Vegan tofu steak pasta at Kiku (Picture: Kiku)
Head to the super cool Kiku, Colombo 5 for Japanese-inspired food and beautiful interior design (the sofas, crockery and pink/black speckled tiles in the loo are a dream. Dare I say, ‘an Instagram dream’ *implodes*).
I had the vegan wafu pasta with tofu steak, shiitake mushrooms and soy butter sauce, which was pretty damn delicious, and filling, despite the seemingly small portion.
Plant-based pals are well catered for with delights such as miso scrambled tofu, a vegan burger, and mochi, while meat-eaters can enjoy dishes like grilled salmon onigiri, prawn katsu, and chicken karage waffle.
The hot drinks list is extensive with the usual Western coffee suspects (all double shots, baby) as well as beetroot, turmeric, matcha, charcoal or lavender lattes for the more adventurous/caffeine dodgers. (The drinks are hella pretty, so expect to see people taking pictures of their food.)
You could easily while away an afternoon in here chilling with a coffee and your book or laptop. Or, y’know, a human. An actual real-life human.
3.30pm: Explore the city on a Tuk Tuk Safari
(Picture: Lisa Bowman)
If you’re short on time or would rather someone else did all the legwork for you, I highly recommend Tuk Tuk Safari as a way of seeing the city’s choice chunks.
I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Colombo, yet just driving from A to B on this safari, I saw sights I’d never seen before.
We were picked up from our hotel by our driver and guide, Wizard, in his fancy white get-up and pimped out three wheeler (which had a coolbox of Lion beer and snacks inside waiting for us. Nice).
He handed us each a fresh king coconut (thambili) to drink, before we started our tour of the city, whizzing past landmarks like the town hall and the Lotus Tower (the super tall building in the main image), before getting to our first stop, Sri Kaileswaram temple.
This is the oldest Hindu temple in Colombo and is tucked away in back streets behind Fort railway station. It’s vibrant and stunning, with incredible ceiling paintings and shrines to the Hindu gods.
Later in the tour, we also visited the huge Buddhist Gangaramaya temple, which was full of huge Buddha statues and – strangely – a large amount of cabinets full of trinkets that wouldn’t look out of place in my nan’s sitting room. Well, actually they would look out of place because my nan is dead, but you get the gist.
As someone whose experience of religion is being forced into a dull, modern build Catholic church every Sunday as a child, visiting temples such as these is so exciting. The atmosphere reminds you how far you are from home, and it’s pretty special.
We also drove past the stunning Jami Ul-Alfar mosque in Pettah AKA the Red Mosque, which is super distinctive with its red and white striped design.
Also on the trip was a trip to the spice market, sampling espresso at a local coffee roastery, and sipping on various brews at a tea shop, as well as inhaling a delicious meal in a local street food spot.
The Tuk Tuk Safari is a really unstuffy way of exploring the city and seeing which places you might want to pop back and explore in more depth later.
One such place is Pettah market, a busy labyrinth of lanes and alleys housing stalls and shops. Each street is dedicated to a different type of good – you’ll find all manner of things like fresh produce, spices, clothing and household items.
It’s an incredibly hectic shopping experience, but definitely worth a browse.
We did our Tuk Tuk Safari during low season so were the only ones doing the tour, but in high season you can expect to be zooming around town in a convoy of tuks, which sounds pretty fun.
A four hour Colombo safari costs $49 (£38) per person (kids under six go free, half price for 12 and under). This price covers everything done on the tour, including entrance fees and dinner.
Still peckish after your Tuk Tuk Safari dinner? No judgement from me, pal.
If you’re after a low key vibe then nip into a streetside restaurant (a very modest affair – think plastic chairs and a ‘leave as soon as you’ve finished’ vibe) for rice and curry. Look for where the locals are eating – that generally signifies where you’ll get the best food.
Vegetable rice and curry can be found for as little as 100rs (45p) in super local places, but prices vary and will be substantially more in tourist hotspots. Expect a mountain of rice topped with spoonfuls of various different curries and sambol.
Fancy a more leisurely local dinner? Head to Upali’s in Colombo 7 which is swankier than your average roti shop.
Veggie or vegan? You can’t go wrong with a serving of hoppers (a kind of light pancake made with fermented rice flour and coconut milk) and some curry and sambol.
Hoppers with dhal and coconut sambol is my go-to but aubergine (brinjal) curry is also ridiculously good. Look out for soya meat curry if you’re into your mock meat.
Omnivores can feast on a tasting plate for two for 2350rs (£10.65) which features a wide variety of traditional Sri Lankan fayre, including hoppers, chicken kottu, dhal and coconut sambol.
Not up for curry again after your Tuk Tuk Safari feast? Get takeout tacos from Tacocat in Colombo 7.
DAY TWO
9am: Breakfast
Mushrooms and houmous on toast. Yum. (Picture: Black Cat)
Get your butt down to Black Cat café in Colombo 7 (it’s next door to Tacocat) – their menu boasts a delicious array of delights to suit all tums.
It can be hard to find decent coffee in Sri Lanka but this is one of the few places you can get a Melbourne-worthy barista brew so make the most of it.
Crucially, they do soy milk, dairy-free friends.
There’s not too much in the way of vegan food for breakfast (bar coconut milk overnight oats) but they’ve always been happy to modify vegetarian dishes for me to make them dairy-free. Happy days.
Veggies and omnivores will have a field day here, with hearty brunch options like tahini and cream sautéed mushrooms on sourdough with haloumi, chicken curry with onion sambol, poached eggs and hollandaise on sourdough, and poached eggs, Norwegian smoked salmon, caviar on toast.
If you’re around Colombo a while and you’re a burger fiend, definitely pop back here one lunchtime/dinner for a burger from Black Burgers. They are ridiculously good, as are the fries.
(Also available to order to your hotel on Uber Eats, if you fancy a munch by the pool…)
10.30am: Browse the secondhand book stores in Maradana
My eyes almost fell out of my head when we drove past the secondhand book shops on McCallum Road while on our Tuk Tuk Safari, and I dropped a pin so I could head back there the next day.
There are thousands upon thousands of books here, piled up high in each shop. You could spend hours scouring the shelves, looking for your next read.
If, like myself, you’re pretty old school when it comes to reading, and love having something tangible to thumb through, rather than scanning words on a Kindle screen, you will be in heaven here.
Expect to find books in all languages, including English. Bring water because it gets hot.
12pm: Watch the trains go by with a coffee at Whight & Co café
The train line runs along the ocean in parts of Colombo (Picture: Getty)
Don’t come for the food, come for the coffee and the view. Whight & Co café in Colombo 3 is across the road from the ocean – and the train line which runs right along it.
(Tip – if you’re on a southbound train leaving Colombo, grab a seat – or more likely, a standing spot at the open door – on the right-hand side of the train and you’ll be treated to stunning ocean views for miles. It’s one of my favourite train journeys.)
Grab a window seat at Whight & Co and you’ll be treated to trains sidling past just metres across the road, with commuters hanging out of the windows and open doors. It’s a view that never gets old.
The café uses Ruby Harvest coffee which is roasted onsite. I had a cold brew coffee that gave me hairs on my chest. In a good way.
After you’re done, take a stroll along the street which has the sea and railway on one side, and the busy shops of Colombo on the other.
1.30pm: Lunch at Plus Nine Four
Yep, more houmous (Picture: Plus Nine Four)
Expect great coffee and delicious brunch food at Plus Nine Four (named after the international dialling code for Sri Lanka, fact fans), set away from the chaos of the city in a peaceful, walled garden in Colombo 5.
I have the same thing every time I go because it’s just so good – houmous, pesto, sundried tomatoes, and roasted garlic on sourdough toast, at 1080rs (£4.57). Trust me, if you’re a houmous fiend, you’ll be happy to find somewhere in Sri Lanka that makes it.
The hot butter mushrooms with sweet chilli sauce (they’re vegan, despite the name) are great to share.
I don’t eat meat, but their coconut sambol, bacon and egg sourdough sounds like a good time, as does the smashed avo and prawns on sourdough, and the scrambled egg, bacon and mushroom croffle.
It’s super peaceful here, and the main seating area is outside in a walled, shady garden.
3.30pm: Geoffrey Bawa Number 11 house tour
A living room in Geoffrey Bawa’s Number 11 Colombo home (Picture: Geoffrey Bawa Trust)
The late Geoffrey Bawa is without a doubt the architectural daddy of Sri Lanka, and one of the most influentional Asian architects.
He’s responsible for the popular ‘tropical modernism’ aesthetic you see around the island, tweaking modernisn to suit island living by designing open, ventilated spaces, using materials that keep buildings cool, and utilising local resources.
You can have a nosey around his Colombo residence, Number 11 which is four houses knocked into one, tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac in Colombo 3.
Bawa has a thing for indoor-outdoor spaces – you can see in the above photo his sitting room that opens out onto an indoor garden with an open roof. It’s perfectly designed to never flood into the house, even in the rainy season.
Make sure you climb the dazzling white staircase up to the roof terrace, which is exquisite and will have you dreaming of moving into your own suburban tropical abode.
45 minute tours cost 1000rs (£4.53) per person and take place Monday – Saturday by strict appointment only.
5pm: Sunset flag lowering ceremony at Galle Face Hotel
Sunset at Galle Face Hotel (Picture: Galle Face Hotel)
Watching the sun set over the Indian Ocean from the tranquility of the chequerboard bar at the historic Galle Face Hotel in Colombo 3 is a great way to ease into the evening. Especially when done with a passionfruit Pimms cocktail in hand.
There’s a flag lowering ceremony with bagpipes (a nod to us colonising ratbags) every day at sunset.
7pm: Dinner at August by Mama Aida’s
Did I mention I love food? (Picture: August by Mama Aida’s)
The food here is unreal, with veggie/vegan, meat and seafood mezze platters including the usual suspects houmous, babaganoush (a rare find in Sri Lanka) and tabbouleh.
Don’t dare leave without trying the pita chips.
Alcohol isn’t served here but they have a delicious array of other drinks, including Arabian coffee with cardamom.
8.30pm: Drinks on Park Street Mews
Try the milk punch cocktail (Picture: Baillie Street Merchants)
Park Street Mews is a cute little cobbled street in Colombo 2 lined with bars and restaurants built in warehouse conversions.
We had a few drinks in Italian restaurant, Park Street Trattoria, purely because I knew they would have Aperol and I was gagging for a spritz as I am a basic bitch.
You, however, can wander the cobbles and see which establishment takes your fancy.
If you’re up for drinking into the wee hours, jump in a tuk and head over to Baillie Street Merchants in Old Fort, which has a cool, speakeasy vibe and a (expensive) drinks menu that screams ‘mixologist’.
Cocktails utilise local ingredients like cinnamon, pineapple and curry leaves – if you’re up for trying Sri Lanka’s signature spirirt, arrack, then this is a good place to try it.
Just beware of drinking too much and experiencing the dreaded ‘arrack attack’…
Where to stay
Bustling Colombo can be a bit of a culture shock, especially if you came to Sri Lanka with dreams of deserted beaches.
I’d advise treating yourself and checking in to somewhere quiet and on the right side of luxe. That way you have a sanctuary to retreat to if the noisy city gets too much.
For those on a tighter budget, there’s Bunkyard Hostel, Colombo 7. Hostels aren’t too commonplace on the island but this one is great. It’s clean and modern with comfy beds, and you can stay in a dorm for as little as $8 (£6.24).
If your budget is higher, here are three luxury escapes I trialled.
Residence by Uga Escapes
The pool at Residence by Uga Escapes (Picture: Uga Escapes)
Residence by Uga Escapes in Colombo 2 is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of Colombo (and it’s in a great location, just up the road from Park Street Mews).
This boutique hotel has 11 luxury suites – we stayed in a Park Suite, which has a bedroom, living room, big bathroom (with the largest shower I’ve ever had the pleasure of being naked in, as well as delicious smelling toiletries) and a private, walled courtyard.
It’s so rare to sit in a hotel room and think, ‘I could happily spend an afternoon in here’ but I had to be torn away from our sofa to go get lunch. The Geneva sound system in the room was incredible – we stayed around Christmas time so had Shakin’ Stevens blasting, which our neighbours probably didn’t appreciate.
Sri Lanka isn’t known for its peaceful silence yet our room was super quiet at night and I slept like a log. Everything about the hotel is comfy and cosy, which is exactly what you want from a city retreat.
The room also had a selection of loose leaf teas in which was a huge bonus in my eyes – peppermint tea is hard to find in Sri Lanka, yet our room had it. Winning.
Our room door opened out onto the pool, which was super convenient for nipping back inside to grab…another peppermint tea.
The whole place feels high end without being pretentious – the perfect balance.
Rates start at $186 (£144) for a night in a Park Suite.
Galle Face Hotel
A private balcony terrace at Galle Face Hotel (Picture: Galle Face Hotel)
If you’re after a heritage hotel steeped in history, look no further than Galle Face Hotel – an enormously grand, colonial affair, situated on the seafront in Colombo 3.
We stayed in a Premier Ocean Balcony Twin Room which had the most wonderful view of the lapping ocean.
There are comfy sunloungers on the balcony and privacy from your next door neighbours so you can get some sun in peace. However, I highly recommend heading down to the saltwater pool to get your vitamin D fix – it’s big enough to do some morning laps, which is always a bonus from a hotel pool.
You can enjoy delicious (but pricy) cocktails way into the night at the hotel’s lively Cuban bar/restaurant, King of the Mambo – don’t get too drunk though as you’ll want to be sober to truly appreciate how comfy the beds are. Dreamy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
If you’re after some therapy for your aching limbs after a long flight, you can indulge at the hotel’s L’Occitane spa – it’s a very classy affair compared to some of the (admittedly much cheaper) massages you get in the coastal tourist towns.
We had a 60 minute relaxing aromachologie body massage which was absolute bliss. Body massages start from 9900rs (£42) – you get 20% off at the spa if you stay in a premier room or suite.
Rates start at $190 (£148) per night for a Premier Ocean Balcony Room.
Colombo House by Ceilão Villas
The Discoverer room (Picture: Ceilão Villas)
Colombo House by Ceilão Villas is a five bedroom boutique hotel, situated in the heart of Colombo. It’s actually the house the owner’s mother grew up in, which is rather lovely.
The building is a beautiful, airy, peaceful affair, with clean white walls, cool concrete bathrooms, and eclectic, colourful decor.
The hotel has two pools for sun worshippers – one on the ground floor and a plunge pool overlooking the other pool on the first floor. (‘Don’t jump from the top pool to the botoom pool,’ joked Ashan, who checked us in. It’s like he could read minds.)
There’s an in-house restaurant Forty Seven Spice, and a quiet, leafy garden area where you can chill out with a drink and read your book.
We stayed in The Discoverer room, which overlooks the upstairs pool and sun terrace, and has a huge hidden bathroom, with a bathtub (rare for hotels!).
The room itself is also huge, with a desk and lounge area, and a large, ridiculously comfy bed. We loved this room so much we got dinner delivered here and stayed in all night.
The whole place is so incredibly peaceful here, you’ll forget you’re in Colombo.
Rates start at $124 (£96) per night for The Discoverer room.
How to get around
It’s super easy to get around Colombo thanks to the abundance of cheap tuk tuks.
You can try navigating the inner city bus system, but I wouldn’t bother, unless you’re on a super tight budget. (It’s fun riding the buses in Sri Lanka, but I’d save that experience for when you can sail between towns and enjoy the view, rather than sitting in gridlocked city traffic, filling your lungs with smog.)
Unlike the rest of Sri Lanka, tuk tuks in Colombo have meters, which means you’re charged the correct price rather than an inflated tourist price.
You’ll find some drivers (especially around Colombo Fort railway station) will say their meter is broken and try to charge you a set price, so politely decline and get in one with a meter. (This is a small minority of drivers – most are regular, honest humans.)
You can always hail a tuk or cab using Pick Me or Uber (the Uber app you use at home will work here), although be aware that there is sometimes a tuk tuk ‘mafia’ that won’t let drivers from these apps stop in their patch.
Pick Me has always been cheaper than hailing a meter tuk, which gives me concerns about how much the drivers actually earn, so it’s definitely worth tipping your driver.
It’s useful to have Google Maps or Maps.me downloaded to find your way around town, and assist your driver with directions. Maps.me tends to be better for Sri Lanka as it shows more lanes and side roads in rural areas.
Be aware that there are many one way systems in Colombo so it may be quicker to hop out close to your destination and walk, rather than copping an extra 10 minutes in the tuk to get to the doorstep.
It’s nice to be disconnected on holiday but it’s also useful to have a working phone to be able to arrange transport, use online maps, and call for help if you’re lost.
You can buy a 30 day tourist SIM card in arrivals at the airport from various providers like Dialog, Mobitel and Etislat. This can give you benefits like data, some international calls/texts and local calls. This will cost you around £5.
You will see the counters as you come through arrivals, before you exit the airport.
How to get there
I flew with Etihad Airways from London Heathrow via Abu Dhabi.
Get you a granny who does it all (Picture: Ross Smith)
Grandparents make the ultimate best friends: They love and support you, regale you with stories of their lives, and dish the dirt on your parents.
One grandson doesn’t just commit to the weekly visit or a sporadic phone call to his beloved gran, he spends most of his time with her.
Social media legend Ross Smith, 27, has become besties with his 93-year-old grandmother, Pauline Kana, and they now dress up in hilarious matching costumes.
They cover all the holidays including Thanksgiving, when the pair dressed as a turkey and pilgrim.
For former Christmasses, they’ve gone for a tree and lumberjack, Santa Claus and Rudolph, and many other festive costumes.
You’ll also catch the besties with their own take on Hollywood blockbusters such as Marvel’s Avengers, Gladiators and animated faves like Up, Toy Story and more.
The pair rose to fame when Ross filmed a clip in which Grandma Pauline blocked a basketball shot.
That was seven years ago and now the cute duo has amassed 892,000 Youtube subscribers and millions of followers on Instagram and Facebook.
Gang$ta (Picture: Ross Smith)
‘We have been making videos and pictures for seven years now,’ Ross tells Metro.co.uk.
‘All of this started when I came home for Easter one year and my grandma made a viral basketball video.
‘Now we are best friends, we hang out almost everyday and travel the whole world together! We have been there for each other through all the good times and hard times.’
Ross explained that the costume ideas just come to him depending on what people are watching or talking about online.
While each post can garner anywhere between 300 to 800,000 likes, they take careful consideration and a lot of effort.
‘Some of the costumes take a long time,’ added Ross. ‘Like this Halloween, we had a costume that took probably 75-100 different parts and cost anywhere from $1,500-$2,000 just to create.
‘Some outfits for pics and vids are free and just come from our amazing fans.’
When asked whether the other grandkids are envious, Ross says they’re all happy for pair.
Ross says: ‘I don’t think the other family members are jealous, I think they are just happy for us and the amazing journeys we have had. We even take some of them with us when we can.’
Please enjoy this grandson and grandma duo who are friendship goals:
Occasionally they let other people pose with them (Picture: Ross Smith)
Run, grandma (Picture: Ross Smith)
Bad day to be a turkey (Picture: Ross Smith)
Friendship goals (Picture: Ross Smith)
Cluck cluck (Picture: Ross Smith)
Ooh um (Picture: Ross Smith)
Too cute (Picture: Ross Smith)
The baddest sheriff in town (Picture: Ross Smith)
We can’t handle the cuteness (Picture: Ross Smith)
She’s collected all the Infinity Stones, we see (Picture: Ross Smith)
They celebrate all the occasions together (Picture: Ross Smith)
(Picture: Ross Smith)
Do you have a grandparent with a brilliant story? Get in touch with us to share it by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
‘We are creating a society terrified of food and feeling hungry’ (Picture: Getty)
A new study has claimed that telling people how much exercise they need to do to burn off food and drink could encourage people to make healthier choices.
The findings suggest that exercise advice could be more effective than simply listing the calories.
Physical activity calorie equivalent or expenditure (Pace) food labelling tells people how many minutes of exercise they would need to do to burn off the calories in a particular product.
The Royal Society for Public Health has called for Pace labelling to replace the current system, which just lists calories and nutritional content.
The authors said current labels only have a limited effect on changing eating behaviours because many people don’t understand the meaning of calories or fat levels in terms of energy balance.
However, mental health advocate Hope Virgo – who had anorexia from the age of 13 – says the proposal is ‘dangerous’ and could have huge implications for people who have or are recovering from an eating disorder.
‘It is appalling,’ Hope tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Extremely triggering for people with eating disorders, yes, but it also goes wider than this.
‘We are creating a society terrified of food and feeling hungry. I was obsessed with exercise with my eating disorder and it was something I had to do all the time. It nearly killed me.
‘Plus, people with obesity might have an eating disorder and we are not taking in to account that in the slightest, but often just assuming they are lazy. We need to educate people more broadly on this.’
The researchers – from Loughborough University – say the new labelling system could shave off up to around 200 calories per person each day on average, if widely applied.
They say this could help prevent obesity, as regular over-consumption of small amounts of calories is a key contributing factor.
But Hope is convinced – from personal experience – that this kind of system could be really harmful for vulnerable people.
‘If I saw this in a shop I would get panicked and anxious,’ she adds. ‘We learn the calories of everything, imagine if we then learnt the amount exercise we need to do for everything we eat.
‘We are all different sizes too, so surely we all need to do different amounts of exercise.’
The authors said the effects of Pace labelling could vary according to context, with marketing, time constraints and price all likely to affect choices.
‘Public health agencies may want to consider the possibility of including policies to promote (it) as a strategy that contributes to the prevention and treatment of obesity and related diseases,’ wrote the authors.
‘We welcome this new research which builds the case for introducing activity equivalent food labelling,’ adds Duncan Stephenson, deputy chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health.
‘Our own research showed that using this type of labelling did make people think twice about the calories they were consuming, and when compared with other forms of labelling, people were over three times more likely to indicate that they would undertake physical activity.
‘We would like to see further research to test if the effect on calorie consumption is sustained when Pace labelling is applied in other settings such as restaurants and supermarkets.’
If you need to talk to somebody about your mental health or concerns about an eating disorder contact BEAT Charity: 0808 801 0677.
Jensen was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome, which is marked by a large port wine stain on the head or face (Picture: Caters News)
A mum is speaking out to raise awareness of port wine stains after her son’s was mistaken for a severe burn.
Jensen Norris, six, was born with a port wine stain that covers the majority of his body, appearing across half his face, his chest, arms, and legs.
He has Sturge-Weber syndrome, the rare neurological disorder marked by a port wine stain on the forehead, scalp, or around the eye due to excess capillaries near the surface of the skin.
His parents Nicola, 40, and Lee, 47, from Sutton Valence in Kent say strangers often mistakenly think the port wine stain is caused by a severe burn, and assume they have let harm come to their child.
The couple are now sharing Jensen’s story to raise awareness of his condition and put a stop to the incorrect assumptions.
Nicola, a medical PA, said: ‘I get upset now that he’s older. Parents pull their children away from him and some people ask how he got so burnt.
Jensen’s condition also causes seizures Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
‘People stare at him and ask if the stain is contagious. It really upsets Lee and I, sometimes it can be utterly heartbreaking.
‘Since Jensen was born we’ve become used to it all. We don’t think about it. To us, he’s completely normal and he’s our special little boy.
‘He’s got the most amazing smile and such a lovely, caring nature.’
Lee, a civil servant, said: ‘When Jensen was young we were in a shopping centre and an old man came up and us him if we’d burnt him.
‘We said ‘no its a port wine stain’. It was quite shocking.
‘If we’re out in the park or something he’ll see other children. He really loves other kids and is quite inquisitive and wants to say hello and play with them.
‘But they’ll just look back and stare at him.
Strangers have pulled their children away from Jensen out of fear (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
‘Sometimes the other parents even go up and pull them away from coming towards Jensen. It can be very upsetting.
‘Nicola is great about it though and goes up to the kids and explains why Jensen has the stain and introduces them to him.
‘We just want to educate people about it, he’s a normal little boy and has such a love of the world, we just want people to know he’s like everyone else.’
Jensen was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome soon after his birth in 2013.
Nicola and Lee spent fourteen years trying for children and were in the early stages of IVF when Nicola became pregnant.
The neurological condition doesn’t only cause the appearance of a large port wine stain, but also means Jensen suffers severe epileptic fits and glaucoma. He is unable to speak or move without help from a disability walker and can have up to 40 seizures a day.
His parents want people to know their son is a happy and friendly boy (Picture: CATERS NEWS AGENCY)
‘When he’s had a seizure his stains turn dark purple,’ Lee said. ‘He can’t really speak at all really. He can tap things and we know that that’s a signal that he wants them. He relies on us for pretty much everything.
‘It’s been very difficult for both Nicola and I. You don’t realise any different though until you see friends of yours and their children with Jensen.
‘Jensen gives us cuddles in his own way but when you see other kids run up to their parents and giving them hugs it can be tough.’
The parents hope that by talking more openly about Sturge-Weber syndrome, they’ll protect their son and other children like him from cruel treatment, and help people to understand that the condition is nothing to be afraid of.
Nicola said: ‘We didn’t know anything was wrong until Jensen was born. At first the doctors thought he had been bruised but then he was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome.
‘To us, he’s a happy, smiley boy just like any other six-year-old his age. When he smiles at you you can’t help fall in love with him.
‘He’s a cheeky chappy. He’s a flirt too. If there’s a young trainee nurse who comes to see him he’ll know and gives them a great big smile.
‘We just want to tell people that Sturge-Weber isn’t anything to be concerned or scared of. We just want people to come up and say hello to Jensen. He’s just like any other kid.’
Before the haircut (Picture: Caters/Amyleigh Weaver)
They say never cut your own fringe but they should probably make an amendment to the adage: never let your boyfriend cut your hair, for he will mess it up.
Such is the tale of one woman, who trusted her partner’s haircutting skills and let him come at her with his electric razor.
For reasons unknown, Amyleigh Weaver felt ‘very confident’ in his ability despite him not having any prior experience.
The 21-year-old from Halifax, Yorkshire, told construction worker boyfriend Francis Plaka, 20, exactly what to do.
After whipping out an electric razor, Francis got to work on her fringe.
Amyleigh, a self-taught makeup artist, did not realise how badly the trim had gone until she looked in the mirror.
What she was left with was a style that resembles Jim Carrey’s iconic character Llloyd from Dumb and Dumber.
Oh dear (Picture: Caters/Amyleigh Weaver)
She’s just hoping it grows out soon.
‘I’ve just moved to the area so I didn’t know where I should get my hair done,’ explained Amyleigh.
‘But my hair was getting long so I knew something had to be done. I only wanted my fringe done, so I decided that my boyfriend should cut my fringe until I could go to a proper hairdresser.
‘This was the first time he ever cut my hair. He seemed very confident in doing so and I trusted him.
‘He got the electric razor and then started to cut away. I told him what to do and I let him get on with it.’
When he finished, Francis’ face said it all.
Amyleigh added: ‘After he was done, he just looked at me and said sorry.
‘I ran to the bathroom mirror where I realised everything had gone wrong. I went mental when I saw my fringe.’
Amyleigh said she has decided just to laugh about it and treat it as a lesson to never let Francis touch her hair again.
Remind you of anyone? (Picture: Rex Features)
And despite what happened, the couple, who have been together for a year and also live together, are still going strong.
She said: ‘I went mental at first but then I just started laughing. I gave myself a good laugh though, it is hard not to see the funny side of it.
‘He felt really guilty about it. I regret letting him do it, but at the end of the day it is just hair and it will grow out.
‘I would not recommend any other girls let their boyfriend cut their hair, as it will probably all go wrong unless he is a hairdresser.’
Bonita was well chuffed with her haul (Picture: Latest Deals)
Yellow sticker bargains are often flukes, with some nearly out-of-date mash or sandwiches found in the chilled aisle when you finish late for work.
Some people, however, make yellow sticker hunting a lifestyle, and are adept at planning meals and shopping trips around their savings.
One of those savvy shoppers is Bonita Aguilera, who has made found some cracking deals, and got her Christmas dinner sorted.
Far from past their best foods, there’s everything from pigs in blankets fondue to Extra Special stuffing in her basket.
The best part is, instead of paying the £44.60 ticket price for the lot, she’s gotten it all for just £3.51.
Bonita, who’s known in her family as a bargain hunter, posted her finds on offers community Latest Deals, garnering hundreds of likes and comments of congratulations.
The post, titled ‘Christmas is sorted’ wasn’t just Christmas dinner items she found, either. Also in her haul were bacon, tuna steaks, pork shops, pepper ribs, and more.
Quite the spread (Picture: Latest Deals)
Bonita told LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘The best part of finding all these yellow sticker items is that they were all freezable.
‘They had loads of packets of stuffing, cocktail sausages, bacon and some blue cheese. I also got some cheesy mash, tuna steaks, pork chops and salt and pepper ribs.’
The 22-year-old is headed to her mum’s for Christmas, and will be taking her finds with her to add to the Christmas table.
‘I’m going back to my mum’s for Christmas with my boyfriend and she always spends so much on food for Christmas,’ she says.
Bonita is known for her yellow sticker finds (Picture: Latest Deals)
‘She calls me up and says “Bon, how come you always find the deals and I don’t?” so I decided I’d stock up for her and take it down.
‘I was excited when I saw all the items as I love a good bargain and it always makes me happy that I can have quality ingredients for a fraction of the price.’
As for Bonita’s top tips for getting the best yellow sticker items, she says that 6.30pm is the best time for Asda shoppers.
She does also recommend talking to members of staff for price cuts.
Bonita says: ‘Some of the best deals I’ve found is hunting for items that are going out of date and politely asking for a reduction.
‘If you’re keen to bag yellow sticker discounts, make sure to get acquainted with the times your supermarket reduces prices and be there on the dot.’
Galloping at a good pace across an arid stretch of land, my Mongolian adventure had taken somewhat of a heart-pounding turn.
I hadn’t intended at speeding along so quick, but a local herder taking me for a trot was bucked off his horse, broke a rib, let go of my reins and all of a sudden, I was speeding away.
Luckily, after saying some prayers, I coerced the horse to grind to a halt before cautiously hopping off.
I was in Mongolia with 12 other intrepid souls on a 14-day tour with adventure tour operator Exodus Travels.
Before my horse let loose in Mongolia (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
We all had a shared interest in the country’s rich history, nomadic culture and remote landscape.
My nerve-wracking horse ride, on day three, was just one of many exhilarating experiences during the 2,000 km-plus off roading journey – although the rest weren’t quite so perilous, I have to say.
From sharing fermented mare’s milk with local nomads to some bone-shaking off-road driving on untraversed tracks and getting close to the rare Przewalski’s Horse (the world’s last surviving subspecies of wild horse), the adventure delivered something new every day.
We set out from the capital of Ulaanbaatar, where a highlight was a $13 hour-long massage at the Joy Massage Center – she even massaged my eyeballs.
The bustling metropolis – where around 50% of Mongols live – is one of the most polluted cities on the planet, with big power plants rearing their ugly heads and I found the traffic appeared to be gridlocked most of the time.
There aren’t roads outside of the urban areas in Mongolia (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
But once you head out of Ulaanbaatar, you enter the vast wilderness where the internet drops out and animals outnumber humans.
‘Welcome to the land of blue skies and endless lands,’ our chirpy guide Odgerel Purrevdorj said as we peered out of the van windows at the grassy lands beyond.
Mongolia, sandwiched between Russia and China, is the 18thbiggest country in the world but it is one of the most sparsely populated nations, with just over 3 million residents.
The punishing weather has something to do with this.
In the summer, temperatures reach highs of 40 degrees Celsius and in the winter, it plunges to lows of minus 40 degrees Celsius, with winds relentlessly blowing throughout.
The Mongolian steppe was very fragrant with a mix of herbs (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
When we were there, summer was in full swing, with the flora and fauna back to life.
If only my words could convey the heavenly scents that wafted around we reached the Mongolian Steppe.
I’ve travelled a fair bit but never have I encountered a landscape more fragrant.
A mix of herbs carpeted the place and essences akin to rosemary, thyme and lavender scented the air with each step.
As we neared the Gobi Desert there was also a chive-like plant that would make my tummy rumble with its flavoursome perfume.
A nomad serves up some mare’s milk (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
But there were some less heavenly smells along the journey, including the whiff of camels and the fermented mare’s milk which we were kindly offered by local nomads each time we stepped into their tented homes.
When it came to food during the tour, the western-style staples at lunch and dinner included salad for starters, mutton or beef for mains and something random for dessert, from slices of Swiss roll to ice cream and jelly.
‘Mongolians don’t really do dessert,’ our guide explained.
When we visited a couple of nomadic families we tried some more typical delicacies.
Along with the mare’s milk, popular local Mongol snacks include chunks of dried milk curd, salted tea and buttermilk.
The Gobi is Asia’s biggest desert, covering an area of 500,000 square miles (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
What to pack for a Mongolian adventure
I visited Mongolia in August with the temperature around 20 degrees Celsius with some cooler evenings. Here are some of the essential items I packed which worked well for the dusty and mountainous terrain:
Havaianas Slim from £18 – Super slim, lightweight flip flops that slip easily into your bag, perfect for around camp
All are a little hard to stomach if you’re not used to them.
I admittedly hid some dried milk curd in my pocket as I found its pungent parmesan taste a little hard to swallow.
The mare’s milk also had an unusual fizz, like curdled yogurt.
On the accommodation front, after leaving Ulaanbaatar, we swapped a comfortable hotel for gers – the Mongolian equivalent of a yurt – for the rest of our cross-country journey.
The circular structures, crafted from a wooden frame clad with woollen felt, were very comfortable, with a wood burning fire for chillier nights.
By day seven we reached the wilds of the Gobi desert, where the sun beat down and the winds whipped the caramel sands into sculptural mounds.
Mongolia is home to the last surviving subspecies of wild horse (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
The push to get there saw us drive 12 hours one day and 8 hours the next on unmarked tracks, peppered with rocks and potholes.
Our guide warned us from the start: ‘You have to trust us, there won’t be roads and we don’t use GPS, our drivers just know where they are going.’
At one point one lady in our group joked, with a touch of seriousness, ‘Can we just find a paved road please?’
But all of the bone-jerking action paid off and the Gobi was another exhilarating highlight.
It is Asia’s biggest desert, covering an area of 500,000 square miles.
An example of the gers where the group stayed (Picture: Sadie Whitelocks)
We trundled up a steep stretch of sand to watch the sun set and hiked around the red sandstone Flaming Cliffs where American palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews famously found the first dinosaur egg fossils in 1923.
The Yolyn Am valley is another must-see spot with large birds of prey swooping around the towering granite cliffs and little critters beavering away in the shaded grasses below.
I saw a snake slinking by the water’s edge here as we navigated the river running through the rocky gorge.
Flying out back to Ulaanbaatar from the Gobi and looking out of the plane window, I was captivated by the weathered, sprawling lands below.
From the fragrant Steppe, to the peaceful Buddhist monasteries and welcoming nomads, Mongolia is a country that promises to leave an imprint on your soul.
Planning your own Mongolian adventure:
I travelled with Exodus Travels on the 14-day Mongolia: Steppes, Deserts & Nomads tour. Prices start from £3,399, including flights. Cycling itineraries and one coinciding with the Nadaam Festival are also available.
Aeroflot runs flights from London to Ulaanbaatar via Moscow. To gain access to airport lounge facilities during extended stopovers, try PriorityPass.
This delicious hamper includes four award-winning, crowd-pleasing, never-to-be-seen in a supermarket cheeses and four wines paired by the in-house experts at The Cheese Geek.
