Meet Lizzy the Labrador – she’s a therapy dog and she knows some impressive tricks.
She works with autistic children and learnt how to do lots of things to help cheer them up. Lizzy also visits hospitals to meet patients and universities, to help students with stress.
She loves to demonstrate her tricks with her siblings Harry and Freddy, who have the same dad and breeder.
In one adorable video, she pushes Freddy in a toy car.
Freddy climbed in and waited patiently until Lizzy jumped up on the back and pushed him forward.
He’s just 15 weeks old so he has a lot to learn from his five-year-old big sister.
Owner Jenny Williams, from Melbourne, Australia, said: ‘This is just a part of our usual training as we like to perform tricks.
Lizzy is teaching her little brother Freddy some new tricks (Picture: Caters)
‘This was more about teaching Freddy to sit and wait, more than Lizzy pushing.
‘I love seeing my dogs putting smiles on people’s faces.’
Tomorrow is election day so you need to go out and vote.
And as a reward (other than the reward of exercising your democratic right), you can have a free pint of beer.
BrewDog is offering a free drink if you show staff at the bar a selfie of you outside a polling station.
Of course, a picture outside a polling station doesn’t necessarily mean you went in and voted but the guys at BrewDog will take you at your word.
If you’ve already voted by post, you can still get your free drink by showing your postal registration confirmation email.
There are 50 BrewDog pubs across the UK so hopefully, there’s one near you for you to pick up your free drink.
You can get a pint of Punk IPA, Punk AF, Nanny State and gluten-free Vagabond Pale Ale.
They started the idea in 2017 (Picture: BrewDog)
The ‘Vote Punk’ idea started during the 2017 General Election and the brand says they received so many requests on social media when the latest election was announced, they decided to bring it back for 2019.
BrewDog said: ‘This Thursday, people will be going to the polls across all corners of the UK. At BrewDog, we’re not affiliated with any political party or persuasion – we believe it’s best to settle differences amicably over a pint. So we are doing just that. Everyone who votes in the General Election can have a pint of our flagship Punk IPA on us.
‘Irrespective of who you want to see heading in to 10 Downing Street on the 13th, we can all agree that if you Vote Punk on the 12th, everyone wins…’
Elsewhere, you can get free parking with JustPark near polling stations and people who are disabled or elderly can get a free Uber to the polling station.
Free codes will be distributed through charities including Whizz-Kidz, Transport for All, Scope, Possability People and Age UK Bristol.
If you already use Uber Access or Uber Assist to get about you will automatically be sent a code.
For parents with kids who have the day off because their school is being used as a polling station, you might be able to get free entry at Legoland Windsor.
If your child shares the name (and spelling) with one of the party leaders, they get a free ticket.
So any kids named Boris, Jeremy, Joanne, Jonathan, Sian, Nicola, Nigel or Adam need to show proof of identity at the gate and you won’t have to pay for them.
Here’s how to talk to your partner about an unplanned pregnancy (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
An unplanned pregnancy can be a massive shock.
It’s a huge thing to deal with and your emotions will be all over the place for a little while.
Another scary thing is telling your partner or the baby’s father, especially if you have no idea how they’ll react.
We’ve spoken to Dr Reeshemah Langham, a marriage and family therapist and psychologist, who has told us the best way to go about breaking the big news.
Dr Langham says the best way to talk to a partner about an unplanned pregnancy is to do it when you’re alone, when you’re feeling calm and rational.
She suggests first taking some time to process the information yourself because it’s a huge shock.
She then adds you should ask yourself the following questions: How does the news make me feel? Do I really want to have a baby? How do I think my partner will react? How will my life change if I decide to have a baby? How will my partner’s life change? How will our life together change? What are my options? And: What will be different and what will most likely remain the same after the baby is born?
Once you have processed your new reality, then it will be time to talk to your partner about the unplanned pregnancy.
It’s not always easy to reveal an unplanned pregnancy (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Dr Langham continued: ‘Don’t try to talk to him after he has had a long day at work, or when he’s upset or angry about something. Wait until the mood is as “zen” as it’s going to get, then sit down with him and tell him the truth – you’re pregnant.’
Unfortunately, there is a chance your partner might not be happy about the news. Dr Langham says if this is the case, it’s important to press pause on your immediate emotions for a few minutes, just so you can analyse the situation.
She said: ‘Ask him how he feels about the news and why he feels the way he does. Don’t assume, and don’t put words in his mouth. Lastly, don’t base how he feels on his initial reaction to the news.
‘Remember, you’ve had time to process the information – he has not. So, give him time to think about how he really feels about being a parent.
‘After he’s had time to really think about the benefits and importance of being a father, he may change his mind. But, if you hound, shut-out, belittle, degrade, shame, or criticise him, you’ll damage your relationship to the point-of-no-return.’
So, how exactly do you make sure the conversation doesn’t turn hostile?
Dr Langham says it’s all about remaining calm, sharing your feelings and listening to what your partner has to say – but make sure they’re recognising your feelings, too.
The best thing you can do in this situation is to wait until the atmosphere is calm, so you can have a pleasant conversation without it turning into an argument.
Dr Langham says: ‘It’s also important that you be patient and allow your partner to also come to terms [with the news]. Try not to continually interrupt him while he is speaking.
‘Be respectful and allow him to talk – even if it hurts. Then, if you’re unclear ask questions, but don’t be condescending because you’re upset.
It’s important that your partner supports you (Picture: Ella Byworth/ Metro.co.uk)
‘Ask genuine questions because you need clarity. Then, go over the pros and cons of having the baby together. Once you’ve come to an agreement on what to do next, reassure each other that you’re in this together.’
One of the most important parts of pregnancy is making sure you both know that you’re in it together and that you’re supporting each other.
There is the possibility that your partner may want you to get an abortion or may not want to be involved.
The truth is you can’t make your partner want to have a child with you and you can’t change someone else’s feelings.
Dr Langham says: ‘It is also important to understand that your partner doesn’t have to help you raise the child. He can choose to leave, just like you can choose to have the baby without his blessing. If you’re not sure if you want to have the baby, but can’t stomach having an abortion, there is always adoption.’
Ultimately, it’s all about doing what’s right for you – whatever that may be.
If you need professional advice, you can speak to your GP, or call someone at Marie Stopes, a charity that has been helping women and men across the UK to choose if and when they have children for more than 40 years. You can call them on 0345 300 8090.
You might have turned your nose up at a squat toilet you encountered in a southeast Asian country during your gap yah, but there’s merit in squatting for a poop.
But for some wild reason, the makers of the product, the Keeney Manufacturing Company, have added in a feature that holds up your phone so you can Netflix and poop.
Hold up there if you’re keen to add to cart, just ponder the reality for a second.
We’re already aware of the horror of our phone screens being dirtier than a toilet seat. Do we really want to take it into the toilet and scroll while we do our business?
And what if you want to pause or scroll, you’ll have to touch that germ-infested screen while mid number two.
If you’re not deterred then you might enjoy the product’s other features like the storage facility.
It comes with a storage area, perfect for placing tissue and wet wipes.
When you place your feet on the stool, you create an angle that’s better aligned to let stools pass through.
‘Squatting instead of sitting improves the alignment of your bowels by relaxing the puborectalis muscle,’ it explains on the website.
‘In a sitting position, this muscle can be tight around the colon, creating a kink and keeping the body from proper elimination.
For those emergencies (Picture: Wayfair)
‘By lifting up the feet to a squatting position, this muscle relaxes and create a more direct path for elimination, helping to prevent straining that can lead to hemorrhoids and pelvic wall problems.’
The phone-holding feature is just for your entertainment.
It’ll set you back $24.99 (£19.01) but sadly though there are no delivery options to the UK.
Tipsy? Wasted? Black-out drunk? What’s actually allowed? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
The work Christmas party is a strange and unique social setting.
A mandatory festive hangout with your colleagues and bosses – only a few of whom are likely to be your actual friends – trying to balance having fun with not making a complete tit out of yourself.
It’s a fine line to walk. And alcohol is usually the trickiest element to navigate. Just how drunk is it actually acceptable to get at a work party?
You’re not in the office, it’s technically out-of-hours, everyone’s dressed up… but that doesn’t mean all professional rules go out the window. And that’s easy to forget when there’s a free bar involved.
‘Anything which your employer counts as gross misconduct could give them grounds to fire you, whether it happens at the Christmas party or in the office,’ explains Rachel Suff, senior policy adviser at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development.
According to Rachel, ‘this can include, but is not exclusive to, physical assault, sexual harassment (or any other form of harassment or discrimination), theft, or breaching your employer’s drug and alcohol policy’.
But what about just being really, really pissed? Slurring your words, kissing the wrong person, falling down the stairs, taking a cheeky nap on the pavement outside… that kind of thing.
It might not be gross incompetence, but the experts definitely advice against it.
‘I would say a couple of drinks is OK, but not more than that. You really don’t want to be very drunk at the work Christmas do,’ says Peter Lawrence, HR expert and founder of Human Capital Department.
‘If you do start to feel drunk, I think it’s definitely time to head home.’
Peter remembers incidents from work Christmas parties where employees have gotten so drunk that they’ve started having a go at their bosses, and one incident where a woman – who was a manager herself – collapsed in front of the company owners.
‘The commercial manager had had a skin-full. She stood up and walked over to the new owner, but then just completely collapsed on the floor in front of him.’
You don’t want to come in the next day in a shame spiral (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Peter says it’s important to remember that you’re still in a professional setting, to some extent – and you don’t want to make a bad impression with your superiors.
‘It’s unprofessional to get overly drunk at the work Christmas party. It’s really about behaviour and expectations.
‘Sometimes people say things they regret or don’t really mean when they’re drunk – you can lose your inhibitions or get a bit out of control. It doesn’t reflect well on the company.
‘The onus should be on the company a little bit too – for example they could indicate their expectations for the party to employees; make it clear what will and won’t be tolerated.
‘I remember another Christmas party incident where one guy was sick in a plant pot in the foyer of a hotel. Not a good look.
‘I think as an employee or manager, you want to represent yourself in the best possible light, and not do anything you might regret.’
But the level of debauchery allowed definitely depends on where you work – some companies might have a much more relaxed approach to Christmas party boozing.
Paul Simms is COO at marketing agency Reflect Digital. Their company Christmas party is this week, and Paul says he won’t mind if his employees get a bit drunk.
‘My tolerance for how drunk is acceptable at the work Christmas party may be slightly higher than some bosses,’ Paul tells Metro.co.uk.
‘I do believe a good night out can be great for the team, but there are probably a few points I can give to avoid getting into too much trouble and turning a good night into a bad one.’
According to a study conducted by Cartridge People, one in seven Brits have shouted at their boss at a work Christmas party, with more than a quarter having had to leave a work party early because they were too drunk.
Paul says he’s never had to deal with really bad behaviour or deal with anything that has lead to a dismissal – but he knows it’s becoming more common,
‘My top tip to avoid dismissal is to not urinate on colleagues, or anyone for that matter, at the bar. I know of this happening more than once,’ he says.
‘We’ve had the standard drunk behaviour of dancing on bars, or getting a little bit carried away – resulting in someone being very sick.’
It’s probably best to try to stick to the principles of moderation (Picture: Ella Byworth/Getty)
Paul says that the key to being drunk at the Christmas party is to make sure you don’t cross over into the dark side. You know what we’re talking about. The point of drunkness where you might say something rude, or become needlessly angry – the tone needs to stay light and fun.
‘As long as the drunken behaviour is in good spirits and is not going to upset or offend anyone, then you’re probably going to be fine,’ adds Paul.
‘You may end up being the one everyone is laughing about if you do have a few too many, but as long as you’re OK with that, go out and really enjoy yourself.’
Paul says it also depends on individual tolerance – if you know you have a tendency to cry after too many wines, or get black out drunk and scream at people – maybe go easy when you’re with your colleagues.
‘Sadly some people aren’t good after a few drinks and show a darker side of themselves and can get violent or abusive,’ Paul explains.
‘If this is you then you’re likely going to put your career in danger, so best to avoid getting carried away.
‘It’s also probably best, in general, to avoid tequila shots and jagerbombs if you don’t want to risk becoming unacceptably drunk at the Christmas party.’
So, if you think you can remember these pointers – even after three-quarters of a bottle of lukewarm white wine – then jump right in and have fun. But you know yourself, and if you have previous form of being a bit of a nightmare drunk, it might be best to go it sober.
And if that is what you decide to do, you likely won’t be on your own.
A new study, conducted by TotalJobs, has found that attitudes towards workplace drinking are shifting. Only 44% of drinkers plan to celebrate with a tipple at their office Christmas party this year.
Six in 10 workers want bosses to ditch the pub altogether and choose non-boozy venues for holiday celebrations.
So in a few years time, the entire concept of getting drunk in the office and dancing on your desk might be completely out of fashion.
If you need some pointers on how to take it easy on the booze this festive season, look into mindful drinking – it could help you achieve the perfect, non-embarrassing balance.
Twelve-year-old Ash Lammin, who was born a boy, is one of Britains youngest transgender children (Picture: KMG /SWNS.COM)
Ash Lammin says she felt that she was a girl as soon as she could speak.
The 12-year-old, from Kent, says that it has been difficult growing up as a transgender girl but feels that she is firmly on the right path.
Now Ash is beginning to transition her gender from male to female at an NHS-run clinic – and is one of the youngest children in the country to do so.
Ash – who changed her name by deed poll to Ashley when she was eight – will start by taking hormone blockers to halt the onset of puberty.
She eventually wants a womb transplant so she can be a mother when she is older.
She said: ‘The journey is long and it’s still going, but I feel like the sense of victory is there through it all. I do feel accepted sometimes, but other times not.
‘Not everyone is going to understand and people have to have their own opinions and I understand that. Some people might not like the idea of trans.
‘I hope I inspire others but I just hope that love and acceptance comes through everything.’
Ash says she felt like a girl since she could speak (Picture: Terri Lammin /SWNS.COM)
Mum Terri has said that Ash will take the blockers until she is 18. At that point, she herself will decide whether to go ahead with gender reassignment surgery.
If she decides not to go ahead with it, Ash will come off the blocker, and her puberty will kick in just a few years later than her peers.
She said: ‘I never thought it was a phase, Ash was just Ash. When she was three she said to me, “I’m a boy because you gave me a boy’s name – it’s your fault”.
‘I remember feeling horrible, because she blamed me.
‘I’d never come across it before and I just went along with it. I just thought at the time “if he’s happy, well that’s the main thing”.’
Ash is now homeschooled since being bullied (Picture: Terri Lammin /SWNS.COM)
When Ash turned 11 and went to secondary school, she became a target for bullies who would throw things at her on the bus and shout abuse at her, forcing Terri to take her out of the school after just one term.
Ash is now being home-schooled and Terri is calling for better education within schools to teach children about transgender people.
She said: ‘I’d like to see the subject of transgender people included in some lessons, like there are about same-sex families.
‘There needs to be more about liking people for who they are, not what they are.’
‘F**k anyone who tries to tell you that you have to look a certain way’ (Picture: David Parry)
Viral Instagram artist Sophie Tea has launched her latest exhibition Send Nudes with a ‘body confidence’ nude catwalk.
Naked volunteers proudly walked the pink carpet after Sophie had painted them in colourful and abstract brush strokes.
The young artist launched her new exhibition after deciding that she wanted to create work that was really meaningful – and she felt helping to promote body confidence in women was the perfect place to start.
Sophie is delighted with the response to the launch (Picture: David Parry)
‘I’ve always wanted to paint women,’ Sophie tells Metro.co.uk. ‘I wanted to do something with real value and purpose – and the reaction to the work so far has been so encouraging.’
Sophie’s work focuses on the nude, female form – using abstract lines and bright colours. After starting off her work by simply Googling ‘naked women’, she opened out the invitation to her Instagram followers – asking them to send her nudes. The response was overwhelming.
‘Overnight, I woke up with more than 1,000 images from women,’ explains Sophie.
‘It has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life.’
‘The most incredible thing has been all the messages I received with the images’ (Picture: David Parry)
Sophie says the best thing about the images she received was the incredible range of diversity.
‘I got all ages, sizes, ethnicities, women with mastectomy scars, cesarean scars, stretch marks, colostomy bags – these were all real women, and it was so beautiful to see.
‘The most incredible thing has been all the messages I received with the images. Along with their nudes, women sent me messages explaining why it was important for them to share their nudes.
‘It has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life’ (Picture: David Parry)
‘One woman who had had her breasts removed, said that her mum had passed away just two weeks ago from breast cancer – that made me realise how important this was to women.’
Sophie’s artistic shift into nudes is based on a life long interest in the human form. Inspired by artists such as Lucian Freud and Jenny Saville critical studies of naked women drawn at school filled her childhood home.
Since launching as an independent artist three years ago, she has been eager to revisit painting the female form.
‘I hope the Send Nudes exhibition will force me to treat my own body with more respect’ (Picture: David Parry)
Paying tribute to how amazing our bodies are has come at a good time for me,’ says Sophie. ‘Mine has been telling me for awhile that it’s not been treated well.
‘I have pushed myself to the limit and then crashed, time and again, only to wear that exhaustion as a badge of honour. I hope the Send Nudes exhibition will force me to treat my own body with more respect and in turn promote more self love.’
Sophie is working with the breast cancer awareness charity Coppafeel, and donations can be made to the charity at www.SophieTeaArt.com for a chance to win a hero piece from the exhibition.
‘It has been the best responses to a show I’ve ever had – I’m on a massive high from the launch last night.
‘There’s such a fantastic movement towards body confidence at the moment, so to be part of that conversation feels like such a privilege.
‘No body is normal – what is “normal”? F**k anyone who tries to tell you that you have to look a certain way.’
Nikki’s work is her incredible physique (Picture: Nikki Jenkins)
Nikki Jenkins works as a professional bikini fitness model, so her body is part of her job.
Along with keeping fit, it also means 39-year-old Nikki is aware of what’s going on in her body.
When she noticed a lump on her ankle, she went to A&E to get it checked, initially thinking she had bumped it.
This January trip to the hospital resulted in Nikki being told that she had a benign cyst that would clear up on its own.
However when the cyst grew in size Nikki, from Aintree, was sent for further tests with a GP, and was told it was something more serious.
By May, she was undergoing treatment for a rare tumour called Plemomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma, and by September was given the all clear.
At the end of October, though, she was told that the cancer had come back and spread to her lungs, and she was given just 12 months to live.
She lives a very healthy lifestyle, so was shocked to be diagnosed with cancer so young
Nikki told the Liverpool Echo: ‘It’s like a movie, it doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t feel like it’s happening to me.
‘I’ve got no symptoms. If I hadn’t had to go to the doctors for check-ups because of the tumour in my ankle I would have been completely unaware.
‘I’ve got no breathing problems, I’ve been running in the gym and doing normal stuff. When they told me I was really shocked. I’d expect someone with lung cancer to be coughing all the time and look ill but I’m not.’
Nikki is now undergoing chemotherapy to try and prevent the spread of her stage four lung cancer.
The lump on Nikki’s ankle
Despite the diagnosis and the limited options available to her on the NHS, Nikki is determined to find alternative treatments through private health care.
Nikki said: ‘When I’ve been looking into it I’ve found a couple of different options for treatments but they’re only available privately which is expensive.
‘So far I’ve found an immunotherapy and a protontherapy for my type of cancer but they are only available privately. I need to work out what the best course of action is to take.
‘I’m trying to deal with having chemo and the emotional impact it’s having on my family and doing the research on top.’
Common symptoms of Plemomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma
Persistent lump or swelling in the body that may be painful
Bulging of the eye or a drooping eyelid
Headache and nausea
Trouble urinating or having bowel movements
Blood in the urine
Earache or sinus infection symptoms
Bleeding from the nose, throat, vagina, or rectum
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Constipation
It’s worth noting, however, that it often shows no symptoms until the tumour is already very large.
The athlete is now also trying to cope with the side effects of her treatment.
She said: ‘I said it wasn’t going to bother me when my hair comes out during the chemo but when it actually happened I was so upset. It happens so fast after having it. You’re just brushing your hair and it comes out. I never imagined being ill like this.’
It’s hard for Nikki to deal with going from a healthy lifestyle filled with exercise and eating well, to knowing that she may not last a year.
Despite getting the all-clear earlier this year, things took a turn for the worse
As a result, her and her family are doing everything they can to cling on to hope, including asking anyone with information on Plemomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma to come forward, and raising money for an alternative treatment.
Nikki said: ‘Anything at all will help and I’m very grateful for anything. It just gives me hope that I can do something about this because being told that you could be dead in twelve months time is grim.’
Nikki’s niece Keeley Ray, who is helping her to raise money along with the rest of her family, said: ‘It’s been devastating for all of us, none of us expected this to happen.
The family are now fundraising for the surgery.
‘Nikki’s whole life has been dedicated to health and fitness. She’s travelled around the world with her career, competing in bikini body building competitions.
‘She’s always in the gym and eats healthy and has an amazing physique so for this to happen is a massive shock.’
Keeley added: ‘But she’s been so strong about it all. She’s determined to find a treatment and none of us are going to give up.
‘We’re going to do a lot of different fund raising as a family and if people can give anything like can and if not if they can share it we’d be so grateful.’
The office has a window for each day and a huge red bow (Picture: BiGDUG)
So you’re 11 days into your advent calendar now and while you’ve been binging on chocolate, cheese or mini bottles of gin every day, one office has been doing some good with theirs.
They’ve created what they claim is the UK’s biggest advent calendar, decorating 24 of the windows so they can be opened each day.
And as each one is revealed, staff are carrying out a random act of kindness to help people in their community.
The calendar is at the head office of shelving specialist BiGDUG in Gloucester, with a festive-themed display in each window and a huge bow around the building.
They asked members of the public to nominate friends and family for a special treat throughout December.
So far, they’ve arranged 10 surprises, including a mum going through chemotherapy, who got a glamorous new outfit and 10 children, who got a visit to see Santa.
The whole office is a giant advent calendar (Picture: BiGDUG)
They’re still accepting nominations for the rest of the month so if you can think of someone who deserves a treat, you can suggest them on the BiGDUG website.
The campaign was created by their marketing manager Luke Cameron, who was dubbed the ‘Nicest Man in Britain’ in 2014 after completing 365 days of good deeds.
Luke said: ‘Christmas is a very special time of year for us and advent calendars are a big part of the excitement. That’s why we’ve created the UK’s largest advent calendar.
‘It’s all part of our efforts to give back to our loyal customers and their communities throughout December – whether that’s a monetary gift, donating to local charities or helping people for whom Christmas might be a difficult time of year.
‘The festive season is a time for giving and sharing with those around us.
‘Not only do we hope that our Christmas advent calendar will benefit members of the public across the country, but we also hope it will encourage people to pledge acts of kindness of their own.
‘If you know someone who could use a boost this festive season, please do get in touch.’
The random acts of kindness so far:
Day one
Lisa Fry in her new outfit (Picture: Lisa Fry)
Cheltenham mum-of-four Lisa Fry received a brand-new outfit to wear during chemotherapy. Lisa was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2011, but was told last year two weeks after the birth of her son, that secondary cancer had spread to her sternum.
Lisa dresses for chemo like it’s a special occasion in an effort to live her best life.
Day two
The team chose one of their customers to receive a gift voucher so they could treat themselves to something special at Christmas.
Day three
Sue Roughton was treated on day three (Picture: Sue Roughton)
Sue Roughton founded Purple Heart Wishes, the UK’s first adult-wish granting charity, after her daughter Lyndsey died from a brain tumour in her early twenties. The team surprised her with a meal for her and a friend at their favourite restaurant.
Day four
The vandalised classroom at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Eirwg (Picture: BiGDUG)
After a year 3 classroom at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Eirwg in Cardiff, Wales was targeted by vandals, the team gifted selection boxes to the schoolchildren to show them that there are still good people in the world.
Day five
The team with the receipt from the lunches they bought (Picture: BiGDUG)
The team went to various fast-food restaurants in Bristol and surprised people with a free lunch.
Day six
The team just before they surprised the children (Picture: BiGDUG)
The company paid for 10 kids to see Santa himself.
Day seven
Elsie with her flowers (Picture: BiGDUG)
Members of staff at Ty Hotel management at the Celtic Manor Hotel were asked to nominate a deserving colleague. They chose Elsie, who received a big bunch of flowers for her hard work.
Day eight
The Tesco gift cards (Picture: BiGDUG)
BiGDUG sent random Tesco gift cards to people around Gloucester to make their Christmas shopping easier.
Day nine
The team with the vouchers for two mums (Picture: BiGDUG)
BiGDUG chose to treat two mums battling cancer to a meal at a restaurant. The women were nominated by their daughters
Day 10
The BiGDUG team with parents and children supported by the James Hopkins Trust (Picture: BiGDUG)
The team at BiGDUG visited the James Hopkins Trust, a Gloucestershire charity providing care for young children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. They visited the kids with an elf mascot and gave out Christmas elf teddies.
Day 11
Staff at Lawn’s Nursing Home receiving the gift (Picture: BiGDUG)
Residents at Lawn’s Nursing Home were treated to biscuits, shortbread and mince pies just in time for the festive season.
An intense hiit workout without leaving your living room (Picture: Getty)
It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s nearly Christmas – the last thing you want to do is go out to the gym.
If you are leaving your house for anything other than work – it’s strictly for mulled wine purposes. That’s just how life works in December.
So if you don’t have the motivation to leave your house, but you still want to get your fitness fix, what’s the answer? A living room workout of course.
We asked the Grant King, founder of Military Fitness and Army veteran to come up with a high intensity workout that you can do without leaving the house. Just clear a bit of floor space – you can even leave Netflix on in the background.
The workout is an EMOM circuit – which stands for ;every minute on the minute. Complete 10 reps of 1a, once 10 reps has been completed, hold 1b for the remainder of the minute. Complete this five times.
Have a one-minute rest, then do the same for 2a and 2b, one-minute rest, then 3a, 3b – continue util eight rounds are complete.
1a) Burpees
Start standing with feet shoulder width apart.
Bend down into a squat and put both hands on the ground between your feet.
Jump your feet back into a plank.
Lower yourself to the ground making your chest touch.
Push back up into the high plank position
Jump feet onto the outside of the hands landing on your heels..
Stand upright, jump with your hands above your head.
Land with knees slightly bent before going into your next rep.
1b) Plank
Begin on the ground with your legs extended, forearms on the ground, balancing the body.
Press through your heels to keep your body in a straight line from your heels to hips to head.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
Planks are great for core strength (Picture: Getty)
2a) Step-up (each leg)
Stand on top of a knee-height sturdy object. (This could be a chair, wall, box etc.)
Step down with your left foot, leave your right foot on the box.
Step your left foot back on top of the box and stand up straight.
Step down with your right foot, leave your left foot on the box.
Step your right foot back on top of the box and stand up straight.
This is one rep, complete nine more.
2b) Glute bridge hold
Begin lying on the ground with your feet flat, knees up in the air.
With your arms at your sides, stabilizing the body, raise your hips up toward the ceiling.
Pause for a moment at the top, squeezing the glutes.
Push up that extra little bit and hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
3a) Push-up
Lie face-down on the floor with your legs straight and feet together.
Place both hands just outside of the shoulders, palms on the floor.
Push your body off the floor till you have fully extended your arms, making sure you move your body as on unit keeping your back straight, hips up, and legs locked out.
Bend your elbows to lower your chest roughly one inch off the ground.
Push back up again.
3b) Squat hold
Stand with your legs slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
Hinge at your hips and bend at the knees keeping your back straight.
Pause at the bottom of the squat with your thighs breaking parallel to the ground.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
Drop as low as possible and hold (Picture: Getty)
4a) Lunge (each leg)
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
Step forward with your left foot until your right knee touches the ground. Both knees should be at 90-degree angles, and the front knee should remain over the ankle of the front leg (not over the toes).
Push off the front leg back to standing.
Repeat on the other leg. This is one rep, complete this nine more times.
4b) Leg rise hold
Begin lying on the ground, placing your hands under your glutes for support.
Raise your legs six inches off the ground keeping your legs straight, feet together.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
5a) Squat jump
Stand with feet shoulder width apart, feet pointed slightly out.
Hinge at your hips and bend at the knees keeping your back straight, until your thighs break parallel.
Explode up into a jump both feet leaving the floor.
Land with knees slightly bent before going into your next rep.
5b) Press up hold
Lie face-down on the floor with your legs straight and feet together.
Place both hands just outside of the shoulders, palms on the floor.
Push your body off the floor till you have fully extended your arms, making sure you move your body as on unit keeping your back straight, hips up, and legs locked out.
Bend your elbows until they are at a 90 degree angle.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
This one’s a stinger (Picture: Getty)
6a) Mountain climbers
Start on the ground with your legs extended, palms on the floor under your shoulder, arms fully extended in the high plank position. Shoulders should be in line with your fingertips.
Bring your left knee in between your elbows, alternating the leg as quick as possible keeping your body in a straight line.
Count only the right knee going in between your elbows.
6b) Dorsi raise hold
Begin on the ground with your legs extended and shoulder width apart, arms fully extended on the floor above your head.
Raise your arms off the floor lifting the chest off, and raise your legs lifting off your quads.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
7a) Sit ups
Lie down on your back.
Bend your legs and place feet firmly on the ground.
Cross your hands to opposite collar bones, keep your elbows tucked in.
Curl your upper body all the way up toward your knees.
Feel the burn but use your core – don’t pull on your neck (Picture: Getty)
7b) Body V hold
Lie down on your back, arms fully extended above your head on the floor, legs extended feet together.
Raise your arms and legs, creating a V shape with your body.
Hold this position for 15 seconds.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
8a) High knees
Even though all of these HIIT exercises will get your heart rate soaring, there’s nothing like mixing in a good old-fashioned cardio drill to really elevate your workout.
Stand up tall and draw one knee at a time up toward your chest, quickly alternating legs back and forth so that you’re constantly in motion.
It feels a bit like you’re running in place with your knees out in front of you.
8b) Wall sits
Stand in front of a wall roughly two feet away.
Lean against the wall, slide down until your thighs break parallel.
Walk you feet towards the wall until your knees are in line with your toes.
Your shoulders, upper back, and back of your head should all be flat against the wall.
Hold this position for the remainder of the minute.
For a human, a cruise across the world is a treat. For a cat, however, not so much.
That’s why it’s so surprising and impressive that little Izzy the tortie cat made it all the way from Israel on a 12-day trek in a shipping container.
It’s thought that Izzy was a street cat before she jumped on the cargo ship bound for Southampton.
Nobody knows why she boarded the ship, but she ended up crossing the world and coming to the UK, where she’s now looking for a new home.
The tortoiseshell puss, thought to be around a year old, was discovered in one of the shipping containers which arrived at Southampton in April.
Following a four-month quarantine stay, Izzy is now being cared for at Cats Protection’s Newbury Adoption Centre, in Thatcham, while she waits to find a new owner.
Deputy Manager at the centre Thea Eld said: ‘Izzy is quite a shy cat, and we think she must have been a street cat in Israel – used to being around people, but not being handled.
‘We’ll never know her full story, but it’s most likely she snuck into the container looking food or somewhere cosy to sleep, and ended up getting locked in.
‘It’s quite remarkable that she survived for so long without food or water in what must have been very uncomfortable conditions.
‘She’s definitely an independent girl, and she’d suit a home where she can have plenty of outdoor space. It may that she’ll prefer to spend most of her time outdoors at first, but once she gets settled, she may well begin to come inside the home.
‘Izzy’s been through a lot, so we’d love to see her go to a home with a patient owner who can give her the stable home she needs after such a turbulent few months.’
Could you be that person?
To find out more about offering a home to Izzy or any of the other cats at Cats Protection’s Newbury Adoption Centre, please call 01635 200 111 or email newbury@cats.org.uk
Do you have a pet who got lost and came back somewhere unexpected? Get in touch with us to share it by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
The syndrome makes you want to eat non-edible items (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
It’s not totally unusual to crave certain smells or wonder what a non-edible item tastes like.
But if you’re feeding on non-food substances, you may be suffering from pica syndrome.
Pica is a feeding disorder in which someone eats non-edible items that have no nutritional value. Most commonly, this includes paper, soap, paint, chalk or ice.
It’s not uncommon to fancy eating some ice – and this usually signifies you’re lacking in iron. But if you’re drawn to eating these sort of items, you may be given the diagnosis.
To receive a diagnosis of pica, the behaviour must be present for at least one month, according to Beat.
A pica diagnosis is not given if eating something is part of a cultural practice, or if is developmentally inappropriate – for example, it’s generally not diagnosed in children under the age of two. It is common for babies to put objects in their mouths which can lead to them accidentally eating substances that aren’t meant to be eaten.
In fact, often pica is not revealed until medical problems happen, such as metal toxicity, cracked teeth, or infections.
Pica affects people of all genders and ages, though it is most likely to first appear in children, and can occur alongside other illnesses such as eating disorders.
It’s can also affect people with other conditions associated with impaired functioning, such as an intellectual disability, autism and schizophrenia.
In these people, pica is a sign that the body is trying to correct a significant nutrient deficiency.
Often, treating these issues with medication or vitamins resolves the problem.
However, pica can be hard to diagnose – because it’s often hidden.
People with the disorder don’t usually avoid other food, so they’ll still be getting all the nutrients they need, and nobody would suspect a thing.
But some non-food items they consume can be incredibly dangerous, especially if eaten in large amounts.
If you are worried that you or someone you love has pica, there are some signs to look out for.
Symptoms include craving to consume substances that aren’t supposed to be eaten, actually eating those things and developing a physical illness as a result of eating harmful substances.
Beat says: ‘The reasons that people develop pica are not yet clear, although several scientists have linked it to the nervous system, and have understood it as a learned behaviour or coping mechanism.
‘In some cases, people with pica have been found to be deficient in certain minerals or vitamins, but this is often not the case. The percentage of people who have it is not yet known, as different researchers may use different definitions of pica, leading to some confusion.’
If you or a loved one are suffering from the syndrome, it is important that you go to the doctor ASAP, and don’t wait until something goes medically wrong.
The first line of treatment will generally involve testing for mineral or nutrient deficiencies and correcting those.
The National Eating Disorders Association states: ‘In many cases, concerning eating behaviors disappear as deficiencies are corrected. If the behaviours aren’t caused by malnutrition or don’t stop after nutritional treatment, a variety of behavioral interventions are available.
‘Scientists in the autism community have developed several different effective interventions, including redirecting the person’s attention away from the desired object and rewarding them for discarding or setting down the non-food item.’
Mike, who retired at the age of 24, and his wife Alyse (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
Mike Rosehart is just 27 years old but he’s already been retired for three years, having quit work at the grand old age of 24 once he had saved up £578,132.
The former IT business analyst says that there’s no big secret: he just saved aggressively, lived frugally, and bought his first home at the age of 19 instead of renting.
Mike also believes that anyone and everyone can achieve financial independence and stop needing to work with a little financial wizardry – he’s even taken in three mentees to teach them his saving skills.
Mike said: ‘The secret to retiring early is: spend less, earn more and maximize the returns on the difference.
‘The hard part is executing it. Most of us can’t resist the Starbucks, the trip abroad or the new cellphone. Delayed gratification is the secret to FIRE.’
Mike was about to save up more than £500,000 (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
Okay. Delayed gratification. Write that on your hand and look at it the next time you fancy a sweet treat or a jazzy jumper on the way home from work.
Mike hit upon the idea of retiring early when he was studying at the Ivey Business School in Ontario, Canada, in 2010.
He came across Early Retirement Extreme, a book about becoming financially independent on a median salary by Danish astrophysicist Jacob Lund Fisker.
He said: ‘I was in my first year at university and I was working on a project about the psychology of happiness.
‘I went deep into a wormhole on the internet and I came across Jacob Lund Fisker. He started the spark for me. His thesis was that anyone can retire in five years.
‘I thought: ‘Hey, I’m 17, I’m young and eager.’ I realised that what makes you happy is freedom and the ability to do what you want in your life.’
He graduated from college free of debt thanks to scholarships, a part-time job, and living within his means (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
Mike’s then-girlfriend, now wife, Alyse, found this new approach to spending tough at first, as many of us would.
But Mike kept reminding her that those little spends could add up and prevent the pair from fulfilling their long-term goals.
‘Alyse and I have been together since we were 16. I wouldn’t say she’s a crazy spender but she likes her Starbucks,’ Mike said.
‘She wanted to have kids young so I explained that if we were able to retire early we could be there for our kids. I told her we just had to cut our spending in half. It took me over a year to get her on board.
‘Every time she bought Starbucks, I said: “That cost us two more days away from our kids”.’
Mike Rosehart with wife Alyse, daughters Emma and Arielle (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
Before you go thinking ‘well, it’s easy to save a load of money if you have rich parents and don’t have to rent’, Mike is quick to say that he didn’t grow up with wealth.
He was raised by a single mother on the poverty line and received scholarships to go to university. When he embarked on the FIRE plan he was working at coffee and doughnut shop Tim Hortons, earning slightly above minimum wage.
That meant making sacrifices and living below his means to save for the future.
He explains: ‘I saved aggressively. In my second year of university, I rented a bedroom for £200 when the market rent would have been £315.
‘It was 7ft by 8.5ft but it was perfect for me. I just needed a place to sleep. Then I got a tiny apartment with my girlfriend for just £346 a month.
One of the houses Mike redid then sold for a profit (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
‘We even shared the internet with the neighbours and gave them £3-a-month. I cycled everywhere instead of getting a vehicle.
‘I found a bike that someone was giving away on the Craigslist of Canada.’
Scrimping on rent allowed Mike to buy a home at the age of 19, putting down a deposit on a £115,626 cottage in London, Ontario (the one in Canada, not England’s capital).
Once the home was his, it was time to rent part of it out.
‘It was a tiny little cottage, the cheapest house I could find in London [Ontario],’ he said. ‘We put down £22,515 – half of that was money we had saved and half of it was our student line of credit.
‘We rented every room in it and so it was earning money for us. We had four other roommates.
The family are able to go on plenty of budget-friendly holidays (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
‘The guy in our basement apartment was paying our mortgage. We graduated debt-free and with money in the bank.’
When it came to getting married, Mike and Alyse made sure to keep costs down, spending around £2,890 on the wedding and using points they had gained on credit cards to go to Brazil for the honeymoon, staying with a friend so they didn’t have to spend more on accommodation.
After graduating, Mike took on a job in consulting that paid £31,950, while Alyse worked as a graphic designer, making £20,157 a year. That’s not a load of money, but the couple were determined to make the most of it.
They began to use nearly all of Mike’s salary to buy up properties and start renting them out, living on ‘slightly less than half’ of Alyse’s saving then putting anything left over straight in savings.
Over the course of three years, they were able to buy 10 properties.
In 2016 the couple welcomed their first child, Emma, and one year later, in February 2017, Mike handed in his notice, having sold 11 properties and saved £578,132 – the 25 times his yearly living expenses that FIRE recommends saving.
Mike said: ‘I knew I needed £368,925 to retire and I had, in equity of my property, just under £578,132.
‘I went into my boss’s office and he told me that my job would be there when I came back in six months time.
‘He thought I was having a quarter-life crisis.’
In 2019 the couple had a second child, Arielle.
They’re planning a trip to Disneyland next (Picture: Mike Rosehart / SWNS)
Mike admits that despite being a dad-of-two, he still had to find ways to fill the time left behind by retiring by 24. He started gaming at first, then decided to create a group in the area for other people who want to follow the FIRE system. They now do a monthly meetup.
While he’s no longer in employment, Mike does still make money. He describes property as a ‘passion’ and so buys houses, redesigns and redecorates them, then sells them on.
‘That’s what generates income by accident,’ he explains. ‘I made £34,610 this year without even trying. If you chase your hobbies, you’ll probably make more money.’
He also spreads the message of FIRE on his YouTube channel and has made his own mentorship program with four men who live in his rental properties.
The family still live a good life and their monthly outgoings are around £1,750 a month.
They’re going to Florida in January and plan to go to Disney World after that – but will make sure to hunt for deals when it comes to travel.
Are you an expert saver who fancies sharing their wisdom with the world? Or do you have any budgeting tips and tricks we should know? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
We love these ethical gifts (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to finish up that shopping.
If you’re buying for someone who wants to be a bit more sustainable this year, you might be a bit stumped about what to buy.
The good news is that there are lots more gift sets and things that you can put together.
Or if you’re buying for someone who isn’t as conscious about single-use plastics and waste, this could be a chance to buy them something that encourages them to get started.
From reusable bottles to telescopic straws, we’re brought together some of the best ethical gifts for Christmas 2019.
Help to save the bees with this gift that even the most novice gardener can manage. You just need to add water to the box to grow lavender, hyssop and verbena flowers that bees love.
They come in lots of cute prints (Picture: The Beeswax Wrap Co.)
These come in a range of sizes and beautiful prints and are perfect for wrapping up food, instead of using clingfilm. Gift a selection pack of sizes this Christmas so they have one for any occasion.
Whether you’re buying for someone who is just getting into plastic-free products, or for someone who has been trialling products for a while, this gift set is a more eco-conscious version of the traditional Christmas toiletries.
A reusable water bottle is essential and this one is a great choice. It keeps things cold for up to 24 hours and things hot for up to 12. You can choose from a range of colours to match the person’s personality. The 500ml size is probably the most practical choice for on the go but you can choose a smaller or bigger one if you think that is what they need.
Another great gift for them to keep in their bag on the go, this little set means you never need to use disposable cutlery and helps to cut down on waste. With a knife, fork, spoon and straw in a handy pouch, you should have everything you need.
We love a candle as a gift but many of them aren’t particularly friendly to the environment. This one is made from organic, vegan soy wax, which is paraben-free. The wick is made from organic cotton and all packaging is completely plastic-free. It comes in a reusable glass jar with an aluminium lid and biodegradable front label.
A reusable coffee cup is another essential item when it comes to cutting down on waste. This one is made from glass, which means your drink doesn’t get any of that plasticy taste. Again it comes in a range of colours and sizes so you can personalise it.
Never forget a plastic straw again with this little device. It folds up into a little case (keeping it clean) and attaches to a key ring so you always have it in your pocket.
These reusable pads mean you can stop using makeup wipes and they just need water – yes, even waterproof eye makeup comes off with these. Pick up a few so they can be popped in the wash after a few uses.
It comes with 10 brushes (Picture: Plastic Freedom)
This makeup brush set is completely free of plastic packaging and it is vegan. It includes 10 brushes, giving the person to receives them everything they need for a flawless look.
Not sure what exactly to buy but know you want it to be eco-friendly? This cute gift set includes facial rounds, soap and cleansing cream in a cute knitted stocking.
If your go-to drink is a gin and something then you have great taste.
There are many, many different gins in this great big world so we’ve whittled down some of the most festive, unique and quirky offerings of the alcoholic staple.
From tiny sets perfect for decorating the Christmas tree to the bigger bottles for booze lovers.
Of course, there’s gin bottles you can personalise plus itty bitty ones ideal to fill up the stockings.
And in case you thought gin came only came in its signature transparent colour, you’re wrong.
There’s pink gin, blue gin, purple gin as well as those inspired by mythical creatures such as mermaid and unicorn gin. For all types of budgets, ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the bad and boujie.
You can also gift a gin experience, for diehard gin fans. We’ve even included a gin approved by Ryan Reynolds.
Here are the best gifts to get the gin-lovers you know:
This is complete with Fever Tree tonic water, Edinburgh Gin, two sumptuous alcoholic elderflower gin flavoured sweets, and gin-infused Cornish fudge from Buttermilk.
There’s also a scented candle and artwork for the gin lover in your life. Perfect.
This is on the pricier end of the spectrum but you get with it two 70cl bottles of personalised gin which you can design yourself.
Pick from citrus, spice, floral and herbal, then add in your botanicals and choose your colour, pink or clear. Finally, you can name your gin and add a personal message. Brilliant.
Sick of people nicking your booze? The only option is to lock it up, which is what you can do with this gin safe.
Choose from lemon and jasmine, bramble and honey, rhubarb and ginger, or go for the classic.
Each bottle comes in the safe and the only way to open it is to solve the cryptic clue.
Once the secret combination has been found, the box becomes a permanent ‘gin safe’ – allowing you to decide how much of your wonderous gift you’d like to share (if at all).
This quirky, limited edition, gift pack contains two miniature 50ml bottles of Hendrick’s gin, a cocktail booklet and a ‘grow your garnish’ cucumber cultivation set which includes a sachet of seeds and a miniature clay windowsill pot. Mint.
Get ready for the most Christmas-inspired gin. This jolly tipple using a host of traditionally festive botanicals, as well as ingredients that are traditionally festive though not traditionally botanicals.
Here’s the list – juniper, cassia, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, Medjool dates, clementine, cardamom, oranges studded with cloves, Christmas Tree Needles, Christmas cake, charred oak, Chestnuts, Christmas puddings.
*Takes breath*…a big pile of chocolate truffles, German Christmas cookies, mince pies, panettone, a whole gingerbread house, frankincense, and myrrh.
This is being called ‘a gin with a sense of place’, being made with Isle of Wight rock samphire and Boadicea hops alongside juniper, coriander seeds, fresh lemon zest, grains of paradise, angelica, liquorice, orris and elderflower.
This lovely 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.
You might as well make a day of it with this gin-loving experience.
Behind the doors of Bombay Saphire’s historic distillery, Laverstoke Mill in rural Hampshire, you can unveil the skill, and artistry behind every drop of Bombay Sapphire.
Are you someone who snoozes all night then has a nap in the afternoon? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
To all those people who brag about how much sleep they get – you shouldn’t be too smug.
Having nine hours of sleep a night, regular lie-ins, and naps are all linked to an increased risk of stroke of up to 85%, new research shows.
So yes, there is such thing as too much sleep.
Researchers from China asked 31,750 healthy Chinese adults, with an average age of 61.7 years, about their sleep and nap habits.
Over the course of six years, there were 1,438 definite and 119 probable stroke cases among those asked, and those who said they slept nine or more hours a night were 23% more likely to go on to have a stroke than those who slept less than eight hours per night.
Those who reported regular naps of longer than 90 minutes were 25% more likely to later have a stroke than people who napped for under half an hour.
And people who both slept for nine or more hours a night and had lengthy naps were 85% more likely to later have a stroke than people who were moderate sleepers and nappers.
Of course, this doesn’t automatically mean that long periods of sleep causes strokes.
More research is needed to see why getting more sleep is linked with an increased risk of stroke (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
If someone is regularly sleeping for nine hours or more a night and still feels the need to have a two-hour nap during the day, that could be a sign that something else is going on – we’re all tired, but that level of exhaustion doesn’t sound great.
It’s also possible that those who are sleeping for more than ten hours a day are less likely to be exercising or doing other healthy habits – after all, they’d have less time awake to get anything done.
Sleep quality also has an effect, with those who slept for nine hours or more a night but also had disrupted snoozing 82% more likely to later have a stroke.
Study author Xiaomin Zhang, of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China, said: ‘More research is needed to understand how taking long naps and sleeping longer hours at night may be tied to an increased risk of stroke, but previous studies have shown that long nappers and sleepers have unfavourable changes in their cholesterol levels and increased waist circumferences, both of which are risk factors for stroke.
‘In addition, long napping and sleeping may suggest an overall inactive lifestyle, which is also related to increased risk of stroke.’
Don’t descend into a spiral of panic just because you get plenty of sleep, though. If you’re concerned about the sleep you’re getting – whether it’s too much, too little, or heavily disrupted, chat to your GP to make sure nothing’s wrong.
Barbara Kobson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘We know how long and well we sleep can have an effect on our heart and circulatory health. This study suggests that sleeping for a longer time, getting sleep of poor quality, or taking long midday naps could be associated with an increased risk of stroke.
‘Although this is an interesting study it was carried out among middle-age and older Chinese adults, so we can’t be sure that these findings are relevant to people in the UK. Further research would therefore be needed to confirm the findings of this study.”
‘The important message here is that if you are concerned about your sleep pattern, the length of time you spend sleeping during the day, or are worried about the quality of your sleep, it would be worth speaking to your GP.’
Christmas can be a stressful time for cats, especially if they are particularly nervous.
They can easily become unsettled if they go from being in a usually quiet environment to having lots of unfamiliar people around. A house with so many unusual smells and sounds can be upsetting for them and some cats may even become disorientated by moving furniture and excessive cleaning that happens around Christmas time.
Sometimes cats won’t show they are stressed – but other times they may do so by embarking upon unusual behaviours, such as over-grooming or peeing on carpets.
If this happens, it’s important to take your cat to the vet to check there are no underlying issues, but also so that you can get information on how to soothe them, such as buying a diffuser for the rooms they most commonly use to calm them down.
Other things you can do include offering your kitties a hiding place somewhere quiet, giving them an additional litter tray and allowing them to spend time in a special quiet room just for them.
And you know what else you should avoid this Christmas, that will no doubt stress your cat out? Dressing them up.
Yes, they look cute. Yes, Christmas outfits for cats are fun to buy. Yes, they get tonnes of likes on Instagram. But it’s just not worth heightening your feline’s anxiety levels.
Cats Protection strongly advises against dressing your cats up in any form of clothing or accessories, whether that means putting them in a fancy dress outfit, a Santa hat or just popping some antlers on their heads.
This is because accessories can be super stressful for your cats and they can restrict your cat’s movement, making them less able to express their normal cat behaviour, such as grooming or stretching.
As well as this, fancy dress outfits can be risky for your pet, as they can easily get caught and result in injury to your cat.
Tinsel, ribbon or gift ribbon are all potential hazards and should be avoided – and on top of this, they are all easily ingestible and could cause harm if swallowed or if caught around your cat’s neck and limbs.
He doesn’t look happy, does he? (Picture: Getty)
You shouldn’t dress your cat in any clothing without your vet’s say so.
The only clothing you should be placing on your cat should be medically approved – such as buying T-shirts from your vets, which they may have recommended your cat wear to stop them licking a wound so that it can heal.
But these sorts of clothing have been specially made for cats, and therefore will not be dangerous for them.
It’s really not worth stressing your cat out and ruining their Christmas for the sake of a few Instagram photos.
Remember that the festive period is already stressful enough for them as it is, and they deserve to have as anxiety-free a time as possible.
Please don’t share towels with your other half (Picture: Metro.co.uk/Getty)
Living with someone you love is all fun and good times until you’ve got their faecal bacteria on your face.
That’s not an assumption about your sexual preferences, to be clear.
If you’re casually swapping and sharing towels with your significant other – or anyone else – it’s pretty likely your body and face are coming into contact with some seriously gross things… including faecal matter, also known more bluntly as, well, poo.
Earlier this year Drench did some research and found that 90% of towels are contaminated with faecal bacteria, and that 56% of romantic partners spread faecal bacteria when they share bath and shower towels. Of those towels, 14% were found to carry E.Coli and researchers point out that towels can harbour other infectious bacteria, including ringworm and staph infections.
It doesn’t help that moist towels hanging out in a damp bathroom are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow and spread.
Even using your own towel exposes you to some gross stuff, but trading or sharing with a partner can be dangerous, putting you in contact with bugs you’re not used to that could cause illness.
Diana Gall, of Doctor 4 U, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Damp, warm towels are the perfect environment for germs. And if towels are being used repeatedly by different people, they may never get a chance to dry completely, allowing bacteria to thrive.
‘One chief concern is the contamination of coliforms – aka bacteria, such as E. coli – that comes from faecal matter.
Your towel is hiding some seriously gross stuff (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
‘E. coli poisoning can be so serious that it can be life-threatening in certain circumstances, meanwhile coliform contact can also cause urinary tracy infections like cystitis.
‘Staph infection is also another real risk, as the staphylococcus bacteria can be transferred from towels to a human body if you’ve got any sort of cut or open wound.
‘A staph infection might manifest as swollen skin, red lumps, as well as sore eyes and eyelid – but it can also cause serious MRSA infections.
‘And at this time of year it’s important to protect yourself from cold and flu by not sharing towels.
‘The flu virus is capable of surviving outside the body for around 24 hours, giving it ample opportunity to infect a new host.’
So in the worst case scenario you could get seriously ill just by scrimping on bathroom products and sharing a towel. If you’re lucky you won’t come into contact with anything dangerous, but you’ll still likely be rubbing yourself with your other half’s poo – think of them drying their bum in a thorough floss motion, placing their towel back on the rack, and you coming along and drying off your face before the resulting faecal matter has even had time to settle and fade.
Another fun potential outcome of sharing towels is hair loss.
Weird, we know, but sharing towels could lead to you picking up a ringworm in your scalp. It’s rare, but it’s a possibility we’re not particularly keen to risk.
Have fun in the shower, but poo particles await you (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Dr Bessam Farjo, of Farjo Hair Institute, explains: ‘Sharing towels, or hats, can lead to a Tinea capitis infection, otherwise known as scalp ringworm.
‘It’s caused by a horde of microscopic organisms and it’s highly contagious.
‘The incubation period for ringworm in humans is typically around two weeks.
‘That means that the fungal spores are present before you actually see the ringworm outbreak – and you can therefore catch it from someone even before it shows up on them.
‘Severe cases could lead to crusty lesions on the scalp, called kerion, that seep pus.
‘And unfortunately, in these extreme cases of ringworm of the scalp, the infection can result in serious inflammation, scarring and even permanent hair loss.
‘In cases where hair won’t grow back, the patient may have to consider hair transplantation to cover the bald area.’
And don’t go thinking that using a separate special towel for your hair will keep you safe, as Dr Farjo is clear that sharing towels could also lead to the transfer of parasites that could wreck your pubic hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
He adds: ‘These crab-like creatures can multiply to hazardous levels on moist towels.
‘They block hair follicle ducts which provide the oily substance that keeps them healthy, and this can also lead to an abnormal thickening of the outer layer of the skin.
‘Mites occupying deeper regions of hair follicles can actually cause dislocation of the base of the hair itself.
‘And it’s this which can lead to excessive loss of both eyelash and eyebrow hair.’
All of which sounds pretty unpleasant.
The good news is that preventing all this – the mites, the infection, the knowledge that you’re rubbing your partner’s poo on your body – is pretty easy. Just stop sharing towels. Perhaps get a monogrammed set to avoid confusion.
Make sure you’re regularly washing your and your partner’s towel, too, and letting them dry thoroughly between uses – that means actually hanging them up rather than leaving your towel in a heap on the floor after your morning shower.
On my 17th birthday I realised I’d not had a period for two, maybe three months.
Having just won a coveted place at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, I was facing the possibility of an entirely different future from the one I had planned. I needed to decide whether to start this study or to continue the pregnancy, against my parents’ wishes. Their resistance galvanised my decision.
I gave birth to my son later that year and set out on a path many said would ruin my life.
The moment I decided to become a young mother I knew that this label would follow me around, and while I love being a mother, I didn’t want my whole identity to be defined by having children.
There were times maintaining a separate identity became a struggle. By the time I was 22, I was the mother of four sons. The mother label enveloped me.
I gestated, breastfed, knitted, baked, breastfed while pregnant, went to mother and baby groups, moved country, birthed, decorated homes, breastfed, created a group for isolated mothers, breastfed and planned university study.
But I was determined. With a small brood of noisy boys in tow, I built a shortlist of universities to approach and came away armed with interview dates to study social policy.
By the time I was 22, I was the mother of four sons (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
I’d been told by career advisors to apply to ‘lower league institutions’ because I was a mother, and this would be my primary role in life.
The assumption that I’d tinker around the edges of my truest purpose – being a mother – was pervasive.
It felt like being a mother overrode being a person in my own right. It’s like there’s a motherhood contract with strict terms: Mothers must serve others’ needs, agendas and interests before their own.
I resisted all this advice – including the suggestion that I defer my degree for a decade ‘to get the children to their teens’ – and applied to top league institutions. I wasn’t about to derail my own ambitions because that is what others expected of me.
And I am so glad I did, because I graduated with a good degree and went on to postgraduate degrees and academia. Yet the stigma surrounding working mothers didn’t stop there; I remember in a PhD scholarship interview being asked whether I intended to have children and how this would affect my ability to be a senior academic.
Except I was a mother of five already.
Mothers are often vilified for the choices we make for ourselves beyond our children (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
I am not prepared to be defined as a mother first and foremost, but it’s something that is embedded deeply in our culture.
We can see it in workplaces, the pay gap, the impact career breaks have on women’s career prospects, the cost of childcare, advertising, and the ways our friends and families treat us.
Talking about myself, my potential and my desires outside of my family does not reduce my love for my children.
This might seem like a ridiculous thing to clarify, but mothers get used to prefacing any conversation we have about our hopes, dreams and plans with: ‘Of course I love my children…’
Mothers feel the need to say this because we’re often vilified for the choices we make for ourselves beyond our children. Then we spend time defending ourselves by confirming the love we have for those children.
Being a working mother of 10 is a balancing act between selflessness and making the most of my potential (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
I’ve gone from being a career academic when I was a mother of six, to building a consultancy firm that advises boards and C suite teams on strategic decision making – having four more children along the way, including triplets who are now aged six.
People always assume I’m childfree because of my drive and ambition, but it’s really their assumptions about what a mother is supposed to be that prevent them from seeing what we are really capable of.
Being a working mother of 10 is a balancing act between selflessness and making the most of my potential.
How do we stop having stupid conversations about women ‘having it all’? By not defining women solely in relation to motherhood.
This will allow women to be central participants throughout our whole lives – rather than only before we become mothers.
Labels
Labels is an exclusive series that hears from individuals who have been labelled – whether that be by society, a job title, or a diagnosis. Throughout the project, writers will share how having these words ascribed to them shaped their identity — positively or negatively — and what the label means to them.
This couple scraped a dream holiday to America and chose to travel to Cornwall instead (Picture: Wessex News Agency/Getty
Ever get ‘flying shame’ when you cross the skies for that Insta-worthy holiday but can’t seem to detach yourself from the feeling of impending doom of our planet?
You’re not alone. That environmental guilt is a feeling that 75-year-old Al Venables shares.
The OAP, who lives in Gloucestershire, has even cancelled a trip he’s looked forward to for 64 years, since his boyhood.
Al, who lives with his partner Jane Hobdell, has been obsessed with the Aleutian Islands, 5,000 miles away in Alaska, since he was an 11-year-old schoolboy.
But they scrapped plans to fly there because of the impact that jet aircrafts have on the environment.
The couple were prepared to lose the entire £3,000 non-refundable deposit on the holiday but fortunately, the travel company has agreed to take only half.
Fully aware that they would be losing their £3,000, they had contacted the firm, explaining that they wanted to cancel the booking for environmental reasons.
Al explained: ‘They told me they understood and respected our reasons and because of that, they would be happy to return to 50% of our deposit.
‘That was very good of them – I felt quite touched by it.’
Al had dreamt of going to Alaska for 64 years (Picture: Wessex News Agency/Getty)
Instead, the couple chose a holiday destination a bit closer to home, travelling by rail to Cornwall, which Jane described as ‘lovely’.
Al learned about the islands when he saw a film focussed on the wildlife there in 1955, when he was at school.
Now a retired university lecturer in microbiology and genetics, he said: ‘In the back of my mind there has always been the thought “one day I’ll go there”.
‘I’m 75 now, so on and off for 64 years I’ve been thinking about it.’
‘I’ve always been into wildlife, and I was fascinated by the Aleutians. They’re volcanic but no longer active.’
Al is no stranger to visiting remote places, having previously travelled to Antarctica and the Arctic.
He now gives talks about the wildlife he has seen there. He added: ‘I’m also interested in how the ice is retreating, and concerned about the climate.’
He says that having witnessed at first hand the impact of climate change in the polar regions, he’s now a committed environmental campaigner.
Jane is too, and they are both active members of Extinction Rebellion.
Al added: ‘When we began to think about it, we couldn’t reconcile the fact that the trip started with a long haul flight to Vancouver.
‘With the current climate crisis and the need for us all to reduce our carbon footprints, we felt bound by our consciences not to take any further long-haul flights.
‘And although Jane and I were greatly looking forward to the cruise, after a great deal of soul searching we decided we were going to cancel.’
Jane had been well aware of his long-held dream to visit the islands, so when she saw an advert for a fly-and-cruise holiday there, she suggested they go.
She said: ‘We booked two tickets – it wasn’t cheap, we had to put down a £3,000 non-returnable deposit.’
