13 reasons to love Christmas when you don’t have children

December 24, 2015, 2:00 am

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Christmas isn’t just for children and families and you don’t need a toddler dressed up as a Christmas pudding to make the day fun.

There are big bonuses to spending the day alone, as a couple, or with friends. There are no dirty nappies, no tears, no fights and no puking – unless you’re really unlucky…

1. You can actually have a conversation

It’s good to talk. It’s even better when you don’t have to shout over cartoons or keep remembering what you were talking about every time the conversation is derailed by impromptu crying, squabbling and general interrupting.

2. You can watch whatever you want on TV

Throw on… Read the full story

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QUIZ: How well do you know Charles Dickens?

December 24, 2015, 2:00 am

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Christmas isn’t Christmas unless you’ve received a dose of Charles Dickens in some form.

Charles Dickens is one of many great English writers, and his stories have captivated audiences over the years, and you can always expect to see a TV adaptation around Christmas time of a classic Dickens tale.

But being a Dickens fan isn’t a task to be taken lately. No, not at all. Instead it takes dedication, a love of stories and attention to detail.

How well do you know Charles Dickens? Take our quiz and find out.

Read the full story

Christmas board games ranked based on their ability to destroy relationships

December 24, 2015, 2:00 am

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At some point over the festive period, someone will have the bright idea of getting the board games out.

It will inevitably end in someone else flipping the board over and storming out of the room.

It’s a Christmas tradition – and the number one cause of family fall outs on Christmas Day apparently.

Because it’s the season of peace and goodwill to all men – unless your brother’s got a hotel on Park Lane.

Here are your favourite Christmas board games, ranked from ‘this is okay, even if Granddad is ignoring all the rules’, to b*tch slapping Grandma and walking out.

9. Cranium – fine holiday fun

Cranium love pic.twitter.com/JmtMHvPcHF

— Camu (@CamuRozas) November 23, 2015

This has everything, including Pictionary with your eyes closed, humming challenges and Play-Doh. And unlike most Christmas board games, this one is only improved by vast amounts of alcohol.

As one satisfied Amazon… Read the full story

Here’s a hiccup cure you probably haven’t heard of

December 24, 2015, 2:05 am

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Is it a bit ridiculous that we haven’t come up with a solution to hiccups that works for everyone, 100% of the time? As a frequent hiccup sufferer, yes. Yes, it is.

While we all have our go-to for dealing with one of the most irritating bodily malfunctions of all time – sugar under the tongue, drinking water upside down, or holding your breath – it’s always handy to learn of a new one you can put in your arsenal.

The people over at Delish have just brought our attention to a hiccup remedy that’s been around since the 80s; but… Read the full story

These kids are far too honest and we love them for it

December 24, 2015, 2:23 am

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You can always rely on your kid to tell you the truth. And sure, it’s not nice to hear from anyone but it hurts a little less when it comes from a child, doesn’t it?

Well, after watching this video, some parents may want to re-think the amount of honesty they encourage in their children.

Maybe we should stick to that saying: ‘If you haven’t got anything nice to say, just say nothing at all’.

But, we’ve got to hand it to these kids, although they don’t know it, their comments are so brutally hilarious.

With responses such as ‘I need a man!’ when receiving a Barbie, and ‘Big… Read the full story

People just ate a 46-year-old Christmas pudding found in a house clearance

December 24, 2015, 2:41 am

≫ Next: The top 20 National Geographic photos of 2015

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Finding a 46-year-old Christmas pudding when clearing out the house would be a pretty cool bit of family history.

But actually eating a pud that’s been sitting around for half a century? Probably a step too far.

However, that’s exactly what some researchers from the University of Nottingham have gone and done.

Anything in the pursuit of science.

The pudding was made for the wedding of a relative in 1969, but they never got round to eating it.

Read the full story

The top 20 National Geographic photos of 2015

December 24, 2015, 2:49 am

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Prepare to go on a journey around the world, stopping at some of the most quirky and beautiful places on Earth, all from the comfort of your chair.

For National Geographic have unveiled their top 20 photos of 2015 and they are absolutely breathtaking.

To create the roundup that’s been giving us some serious wonderlust, they took a look at the shots that were most shared, commented on and liked throughout the year.

And let’s just say they make the holiday snaps we thought worthy of Instagram look boring AF.

1. Clinton Berry – When Penguins Attack

Read the full story

You can now get married in the middle of the Indian Ocean

December 24, 2015, 2:52 am

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If your favourite Disney film is the Little Mermaid, you dream of swimming with dolphins, and you fancy a bit of peace and quiet, we may have found the perfect wedding venue for you.

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru has just unveiled a fancy new pavilion for couples to read their vows on (H/T Huffington Post).

It’s a little hut with wide open doors and giant windows, decorated with all-white furnishings and candles. Oh, and it happens to be in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Read the full story

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Non-verbal autistic man can barely speak, but he sings this Christmas song beautifully

December 24, 2015, 3:00 am

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Kyle Coleman, 29, is a non-verbal autistic man from Swindon, UK.

He was diagnosed with ‘classic autism’ around his third birthday and, as time went on, Kyle retreated from the world leaving him unable to communicate or relate to anyone – finally enclosing him in a ‘pervasive fortress of autism’.

Kyle had a fascination with abstract patterns of sound, and was absorbing anything and everything of a musical nature. However, he Kyle was non-verbal, and felt incredibly alone.

MORE: 11 things you should never say to the parent of an autistic child

Growing up, although he’d show ability at times, he still remained unreachable… Read the full story

The 14 Christmas presents you’d love to receive that prove you’re now officially middle aged

December 24, 2015, 3:00 am

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Everyone enjoys getting a present. Everyone appreciates the thought gone into the choosing, buying and giving of a gift.

But at Christmas, those of us who have started to prefer staying in where it’s warm to going out and referring to anyone under the age of 30 as ‘youngsters’, we don’t want to get anything too fancy.

In fact as we reach a certain ‘comfortable’ age we’d quite like presents that are useful, edible, don’t take up too much room or any effort to get working.

And so, if you’d be happy to receive one (or most) of the 14 presents listed below then maybe it’s time to admit to a little middle age?

1. Something decent for the kitchen or house

Nothing silly like a bread or ice-cream maker but a set of good, sharp knives or some ceramic pans. A food processor or… Read the full story

10 things you’ll only know if you spend Christmas in the countryside

December 24, 2015, 3:00 am

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The British countryside is beautiful in winter, as the frost settles on fields and quaint villages decorate their streets.

But Christmas is probably a bit different for us country folk compared to those who live in bigger towns and cities.

Here are 10 things you’ll relate to if you spend Christmas in the countryside.

1. Getting your tree from the Christmas tree farm

At the beginning of December you head to the local Christmas tree farm in the middle of nowhere kitted out in your wellies and best winter warmers, to walk the field and pick your own Christmas tree from the thousands there.

2. Christmas Day in the local

Spending Christmas afternoon down the road… Read the full story

Which of the UK’s top beers are vegetarian and which have fish guts in?

December 24, 2015, 3:10 am

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Hold on, beer can be … not-vegetarian? There’s meat in beer?

No. But there may be fish. A lot of alcohol is strained through isinglass, which is dried fish swim bladders (nice).

It is a form of collagen used for clarification or fining of beer, to help the yeast sedinment settle more quickly rather than to improve flavour or texture.

However tiny particles of fish remain in the final drink.

Barnivore.com, an online search tool for vegan/vegetarian booze, tells you what’s what, so we’ve looked up the UK’s most well-known beers for a handy guide to vegan and vegetarian beer.

Stella Artois

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN – but not the Cidre.

Foster’s

NOT VEGETARIAN/VEGAN in the UK (but is in Australia).

Carling

NOT VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Carlsberg

Read the full story

Max the pig loves playing with his big blue ball, but he can’t stop ruining the fun

December 24, 2015, 3:30 am

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Max the pig is a happy guy. He lives with three hundred animal friends at Edgar’s Mission – a sanctuary in Australia – and has his very own big blue ball to play with.

He loves that big blue ball. Rolling it around with his nose, rubbing it with his face, jumping on it.

His carers blow it up for him, hand it over, and he has loads of fun. This is one joyful pig.

There’s just one thing holding him back from true happiness.

16 things you only understand if you have to go to your partner’s family for Christmas

December 24, 2015, 3:30 am

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When you end up in a long term relationship, you have to prepare to make sacrifices – and that isn’t just compromising with how the toilet seat is left. (By the way, it should be down and dry, always).

At Christmas, there are two families to please when you are a couple – and both will feel it is their right to have you at Christmas. Inevitably, whilst you will always prefer being in your own home with your own traditions over the festive… Read the full story

5 things that have similar effects as going to the gym

December 24, 2015, 3:51 am

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The gym. The place where buff bodies are made for some, and haunting nightmares for others.

It seems to be a necessary evil for us in keeping fit and healthy in this modern world – full of sweat, pain, blood and many, many tears.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Luckily scientists have been busy finding alternative ways we can get the same benefits of the body and mind without the gym. Some of them are quite surprising.

Here are five things that, according to studies, can… Read the full story

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This chocolate Yoda cake is out of this world (in a galaxy far, far away)

December 24, 2015, 3:58 am

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Read the full story

Can you solve this truly evil puzzle?

December 24, 2015, 4:47 am

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It’s Christmas. Maybe you’re home with the family, maybe you’re still at work. Either way, you’re bored and need to kill some time.

Presenting the perfect, mental-state-ruining solution: a puzzle that will confuse you to the point where you have serious doubts about your own intelligence. Fun times.

It was originally posted on Reddit by mattcoady, who found it on a coaster at a pub.

Try to find the solution. Prepare to get a bit frustrated as you spend a good twenty minutes staring at your screen.

View post on imgur.com

Hint: you don’t have to pass through all… Read the full story

9 things only IBS sufferers understand about Christmas

December 24, 2015, 5:00 am

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1. Christmas dinner is designed to torture us

The usual procedure on Christmas Day is to stuff as much food into your face as is physically possible, then a bit more, a bit more, wait three or four minutes and then repeat the procedure with Quality Street, Christmas cake, mince pies and turkey sandwiches. An IBS digestive system can’t cope on a normal Tuesday afternoon – this is intestinal Armageddon.

2. You calculate person-to-toilet ratios

If you’re staying with mum and dad and Uncle Fred and two toilets then you might be OK as that’s half a… Read the full story

#SantaNoShowExcuses: 17 hysterical reasons why Santa might not show up tonight

December 24, 2015, 5:35 am

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If you don’t end up with a pile of presents under the tree tomorrow morning, it might be because Santa is either a drunk, technologically inept or too busy Netflix and chilling with Mrs Claus.

Sorry, we can’t get the last image out of our head either *shudders*.

Those are just some of the brilliantly funny suggestions shared by Twittter with the trending hashtag – #SantaNoShowExcuses

Of course, we’ve got our fingers and toes crossed that it all goes to plan, but doesn’t mean that we can’t have a chuckle over the potential mishaps of Father Christmas in the mean time.

There’s rumours that… Read the full story

This Christmas freakshake has gone too far

December 24, 2015, 5:41 am

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Don’t get us wrong, we loved it when Australia whipped out their chocolate milkshake topped with a Nutella filled doughtnut.

It was possibly one of the most inspired things to come out of the culinary world in 2015.

But then those Aussie cafes got a bit carried away with the whole affair, creating ‘freakshakes’.

Patissez bakery started topping their shakes with popcorn, marshmallows, brownies and even a slice of pecan pie.

What happened to being able to drink your milkshake without the aid of silverware?

Read the full story