An unexpected pregnany can kickstart a wave of conflicting emotions – and that’s before other people weigh in with their two cents.

This week, we hear from a reader who’s had a positive test at 17 years old. Everyone around her has a different opinion, so how can she make up her mind?

Read the advice below, but before you go, don’t forget to read last week’s Sex Column, where we heard from a reader who was fed up of being ‘hidden’ from his girlfriend’s children.

The problem: 

I have a great relationship with my boyfriend and love his family to bits. His parents are very laid back, and he has three sisters and two brothers who all squash together into a small house. No one ever argues and I love it there. 

My own life is quite different; I have no siblings and live in a great big house with just my mum. Dad left when I was still a baby, and I’ve never known him. I love my mum, but we’re not close. 

She desperately wants me to be something ‘big’ like a doctor or a lawyer and I’m supposed to go to university next year. She herself had me at 19 and didn’t fulfil her own ambitions, so now it’s down to me. 

Unfortunately, my boyfriend and I were a bit careless about taking precautions during sex and I’m now pregnant at 17. I’ve told my mum and she immediately said she would pay for a termination and that I need to organise one as soon as possible. 

My boyfriend’s family on the other hand, are absolutely thrilled at the prospect of having a baby in the family. They’ve said I can move in with them and bring up the child there until we can get a place of our own. 

I do love my boyfriend, but also know there is so much more out there for me to experience. He wants me to keep the baby but Mum is desperate for me to have an abortion. I feel so torn. 

The advice: 

You’ve told me what your mum, your boyfriend and his family want, but in this situation, it really does boil down to what you want. I know you’re torn and confused but try not to listen to everyone else’s opinion – this is so important, it really has to be your decision. 

Think about your future and where you would like to be this time next year. You could either be a very young mum, living with your boyfriend and all that entails, or you could be getting ready for all the adventures of university. Which option do you feel most drawn to? 

Remember there are nearly always second chances at this stage in your life – not just another chance to have a baby, but also a second chance to have a career. You need to think very carefully, but also very quickly, before you reach any conclusions. 

It might be tough, but it really is vital that you make the decision for yourself and aren’t left feeling angry because other people’s opinions – including mine – have influenced you to behave in a certain way. But if you decide that a termination is the right option, you need to act fast.  

You’re still only 17 and have your whole life ahead of you, so ignore the background chatter and listen to the voice inside your head.  

Trust in your ability to make the right choice, and promise yourself that you’ll make a success of whatever you decide.  

Laura is a counsellor and columnist.

Saturn goes into retrograde and encourages you to slow down, to think deeper and align your actions with your inner desires.

Sagittarius, Cancer and Gemini, its time to reset and redefine. Focus your energy on finding your purpose and allowing intuition to flow freely.

The retrograde brings an opportunity to refine and rediscover, trust your instincts and find solace in self-assurance.

Ahead, you’ll find all the star signs’ horoscopes for today Sunday 13, July 2025.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox. To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

As the mighty Saturn turns retrograde in your sign, it’s time to hit pause, not on your ambitions, but on how you’re handling them. Ask yourself if you’re building something sustainable or if it’s all hot air. This rewind helps you reassess goals, tighten plans and cut out any surplus. Reflect on discipline, boundaries and what success really means to you as you prepare for the long game.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Serious Saturn goes into reverse in the most reflective of sectors, so it’s time to think carefully. The cosmos encourages you to slow down, consider life and recharge. You’re also being called to examine what’s happening beneath the surface, as old habits, fears or emotional clutter you’ve tucked away for “later” can no longer be ignored. Let go of what drains you and you’ll soon begin to feel more alive.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Your social scene goes through a more thoughtful phase. It’s less about collecting contacts and more about harnessing your connections. Who supports your growth? Who depletes your energy? As Saturn regresses, it helps you sort the real from the superfluous. You might also feel an urge to revisit a group project or cause that deserves a considered and more thoughtful approach.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

If you’ve been pushing hard professionally, serious Saturn’s retrograde phase reveals this is your chance to step back and reassess. Are you climbing the right ladder or just one that looks impressive? You’re encouraged to refine your goals, revisit long-term plans and weed out anything built on shaky foundations. Don’t panic if progress slows, it’s just a cosmic reality check, not a setback.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Do your visions and beliefs need examining? That dream is still valid, but it’s time to look more closely into the details. For today, powerful Saturn rewinds and asks if your outlook is empowering or inherited. Are your plans built on passion and practicality? You’re being nudged to re-examine your goals, education or travel ambitions. Think of it as refining your inner compass before the next big adventure.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

With strict cold Saturn rewinding in Aries, the cosmos is letting you know that it’s time to do some deep work. You’re invited to revisit emotional entanglements, financial partnerships or long-held fears that may be quietly shaping your choices. It’s not about drama, it’s about understanding. Let go of what no longer serves, renegotiate what matters and strengthen your sense of trust in yourself.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Your relationship zone gets a thoughtful tune-up as cautious player, Saturn rewinds. Whether it’s love, friendship or business, it’s time to ask if key bonds are built to last or there for convenience? You’ll be given space to assess boundaries, commitment and the balance of give and take. You may also find yourself redefining what “together” really means, Libra.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

As taskmaster Saturn does an about turn, it’s time to look more closely at your lifestyle. Do your routines need a rethink? A pause can help you reassess how you’re using your time, energy and effort. Are your habits serving your purpose or just filling up your days? Health, work and wellness all come into focus now, and small changes could lead to serious long-term gains.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Your leisure, romance and creative zones are up for review. If key projects have stalled or romance feels mundane rather than magical, don’t worry as it’s not the end. As Saturn begins his annual five month retrograde, he is asking if you’re truly investing in what lights you up or just skimming the surface? This retrograde helps you rediscover what play, love and creativity really mean to you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 20

With your ruler Saturn set to inverse in the coming months, your foundation, home, family and inner security can benefit from some reflection. You’ll be strengthening the areas that matter. You might feel an urge to revisit past family dynamics, repair a domestic issue or redefine what “home” means. You’ll have a chance to build deeper emotional roots and lasting stability.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 21 to February 19

Your mindset may be ready for a reset, in order to reshape it. Communication, learning and daily decision-making are up for review. If you’ve been rushing through conversations, skimming details or juggling too many ideas, Saturn retro from today is asking you to pause and go deeper. This is the perfect time to rethink how you express yourself and what you’re really trying to say.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

The planet of demands, Saturn, in your money zone, pushes you to reassess your budget, earning habits but also what you truly value and cherish. Are your resources supporting your dreams or just draining your energy? This phase helps you to spot leaks, trim excess and rebuild your confidence in what you’re worth both personally and financially.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

With both Saturn and Mercury in retrograde this week, the cosmos is slowing us down to check what’s really working — and what isn’t.

Saturn wants us to review the foundations we’ve built (especially around responsibility and boundaries), while Mercury retrograde asks us to rethink how we communicate, plan, and move forward.

This week, the tarot has one key question for every sign: What am I being asked to revisit, revise, or release?

Let the cards show you where to reset. You can also join my tarot club free for a whole month and see how it changes your life.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Tarot card for Aries for this week: The Magician

Meaning: A phase of activation awaits, igniting a fire within that links to a genuine talent or skill of yours that you’d love to do more with. Maybe education is needed, or committed practice, or experimentation to find out how you can best use it in your life.

Look back at childhood, look back at your successes and things people always praise you for… these are clues leading you towards your natural gifts. And it’s time to use them. From now to late September, make a plan of activation. Time to rise! Time to claim!

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Tarot card for Taurus for this week: The Empress

Meaning: True love, family, and a happy home are all that really matter to you, Taurus, and you should prioritise these things, align your actions with their pursuit and protection, and be overt about your needs.

This card can indicate fertility so it can be an invitation to start, or grow, your family (even with a pet, or house upgrade). It also points to love, passion, attraction. And to a harmonious and happy home. You are a creature of comfort and stability, your home is your kingdom. Put it first. Invest the best of you into it. Create the loving nest you’ll never want to leave.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Tarot card for Gemini for this week: The Emperor

Meaning: Power plays and masterful moves are what you need to think about, and then do. You can be very accommodating and peaceful, easy to work with, easy to get along with… but some folk mistake kindness for weakness and take the p***. Enough.

Come through this reset week with a harder, more self-centred, and demanding attitude towards getting what you want. Don’t be so reluctant to challenge, demand, push back, set boundaries, say no, and put your needs first. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. And it’s time to get.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Tarot card for Cancer for this week: Six of Wands

Meaning: What a lovely omen! You are going to get very lucky this next six weeks, you are going to encounter all kinds of magical coincidences and omens that are all designed to lead you towards success, love, joy, and opportunity.

Notice the presence of the number six or multiples of it. Notice Fire sign folk (Leo, Aries, Sagittarius) who have great offers or ideas for you. Notice sparks, fires, flames, and shimmers that surround some kind of place or person. Notice the signs. Follow them. Be wholly in the grips of chance and serendipity and trust that you’re being led to where you need to be!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Tarot card for Leo for this week: Five of Coins

Meaning: Sit with your feelings this week, Leo, and just let them rise, be noticed, tell you what they need to say to you, and then send them on their way with gratitude. You have been putting a pin in a lot of unresolved emotion recently – possibly linked to loss, grief, or regret. These are hard things to deal with. But deal with them you must.

So, sit quietly, honour your solitude, rest and relax, ponder and reflect, journal, talk to a trusted friend. Get things off your chest and release this weight in your heart. You will feel immediately and significantly better.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Tarot card for Virgo for this week: The Moon

Meaning: Mystery, illusion, secrets, and layers of meaning yet to be uncovered. This is the work of The Moon. Research, validate, sense check, question, discern, dig deeper, get under the skin of things and behind the scenes. You are going to play detective this week and get to the bottom of things that have felt unanswered or unresolved in 2025.

These mysteries, once cleared, will help you create a robust way forwards, one that looks different to what you currently believe you’ll be doing. So, do the homework, get the answers, find the truth! You’ve always been good at puzzles anyway!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Tarot card for Libra for this week: Nine of Cups

Meaning: Dream a dream, Libra. Romanticise your life. Live like a movie star. You are ruled by Venus and she is the goddess of love, beauty, riches, and pleasure. This is your arena, this is who you were meant to be. Make your life feel magical, special, loving, enchanted.

Weave beauty into everything you do. Create special outfits that are almost costumes. Spruce up your home and curate magical corners for you to languish in. Upgrade your diet – quality not quantity. Overhaul your stimulus – TV, music, podcasts, books, websites etc. Be mindful to only put beautiful things in your path and your life will feel authentically you!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Tarot card for Scorpio for this week: The Hierophant

Meaning: The theme of teaching or mentoring is what will define the second half of this year. And it starts this week. Perhaps you yourself are ready to move from an apprentice to master position. We all reach a stage where our experience is invaluable to others and we have much we can pass on.

Are you there? Maybe you feel like you need a mentor, tutor, coach or sounding board. Someone wise, shrewd, worldly, but also spiritual and loving. You want to seek the deeper lessons, the wider knowledge, the higher consciousness. Your mind and spirit are aligning and it’s leading you towards the theme of teaching, one way or another. Be open to this pathway.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Tarot card for Sagittarius for this week: Six of Coins

Meaning: Time to give back and give freely. Time to lift, support, motivate, encourage, and help others for no other reason than it feels good! You are ruled by Jupiter and you have energy, luck, and good fortune to spare. Your life is blessed. So share the love and joy. Be the one who offers to help first. Be the person who others remember for their good deeds.

This is a solid, rewarding, fulfilling, and magical way to live. A cycle of good karma that will bring you further riches, opportunities, and rewards too, because that’s how karma works. It’s a big cycle. Get into its flow and love the life you live.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Tarot card for Capricorn for this week: King of Wands

Meaning: Adventure, passion, ambition, new horizons, a fresh purpose that underpins all of the above and compels you to make amazing leaps and bounds into the unknown, off the beaten track, in pursuit of your dream! Look out for Fire sign folk too – Leo, Aries, Sagittarius – as they can be great allies in this journey of discovery, they have the courage and ‘just do it’ attitude that you can draw from.

You are ready for a new purpose, a stretching goal, an inspiring motivation. Seek, it, clarify it, visualise it. And then plan for it. Make one big, bold leap in its direction this week to get the momentum going.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Tarot card for Aquarius for this week: Two of Swords

Meaning: It’s time to make all those decisions about things you’ve been putting off in 2025. Make a list. If it’s long, then that’s fine, this is how much you need to de-clutter your mental headspace and to-do list.

Go through the options, research the unknowns, sit down and discuss your hypothesis or ideals with someone shrewd and honest. Kick stuff about. Make some choices. Sleep on it. Execute the choices that help you sleep soundest. Move on. It can be that simple. Keep doing this until you’ve blasted the whole list, this might take up to two months.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Tarot card for Pisces for this week: Eight of Coins

Meaning: Hard work and dogged determination are what’s going to get you through. In the absence of inspiration or assistance, just push on and keep going yourself. Others will admire your fortitude, and the results will arrive.

A breakthrough (or two) will also happen that propels you further than you thought possible. You can’t see it right now, and maybe you feel tired and fed up, but the Universe is going to get you over the line, in style, with flair, and the awaiting rewards are all worth this slog. Just keep going.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

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Festival season is officially here, and if you’re worried about the total lack of showers (and general cleanliness) then we’ve got just the product for you.

The Luna Daily Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe is a gentle cleansing spray that transforms standard tissue into an intimate-friendly wipe that can cleanse your entire body – pits, underboob, down there… nothing is out of bounds.

There’s no need to beat around the bush: Camping in a field for a week with minimal access to showers (or even clean toilets, for that matter) tends to leave your personal hygiene to be desired, and there’s few people who wouldn’t end up stinking.

We’re all human guys; it is what it is.

However, if there are products that can help alleviate that unclean feeling in a pinch then we’re all ears – and this viral Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe from Luna Daily is that and more.

Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Original 30ml

Gentle on the skin and far better for the planet than single-use wipes, this effective spray utilises the brand’s THERMA-BIOME complex of thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid, linulin and vitamins C, E, A and F to support, nurture and protect your skin's natural microbiome.

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Luna Daily The Everywhere Cooling Spray 30ml

Perfect for the hot summer months, this new spray boasts the same cleaning powers but supercharged with X-Cool Technology which works to immediately hydrate and cool skin that's feeling irritated.

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Gentle on the skin and far better for the planet than single-use wipes, this effective spray utilises the brand’s THERMA-BIOME complex of thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid, linulin and vitamins C, E, A and F to support, nurture and protect your skin’s natural microbiome.

Developed with dermatologists and gynaecologists, the Luna Daily spray also contains aloe vera, chamomile extract and coconut oil to help soothe when you’re on-the-go – whether you’re at a festival, just left the gym, on a long flight or even on your period.

And yes, this spray is vegan, pH-perfect and microbiome-balancing for all areas – even your most intimate.

To keep you smelling even better, the handy spray comes in an array of comforting fragrances to suit you, as well as a fragrance-free version, keeping you smelling and feeling fresh in seconds.

It’s like a shower in a bottle. What’s not to love?

And even better still, Luna Daily has just released the brand new Everywhere Cooling Spray for the hot summer months, which boasts the same cleaning powers but supercharged with X-Cool Technology which works to immediately hydrate and cool skin that’s feeling irritated.

This is all thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid to moisturise and invigorating water lily to refresh, plus lactic acid (a nourishing prebiotic) to help support a healthy skin barrier.

These handy sprays are super compact, making them perfect for slipping into your bag when you know you’ve got a long day.

The spray is totally simple to use, too, as easy as spritzing either straight onto skin that needs a refresh or onto a tissue to create a skin-friendly eco-wipe, using this to wipe where needed.

It’s no surprise then that users absolutely love it, calling it ‘like a 30 second shower in a bottle’, even adding that it’s ‘perfect for freshening up on a long-haul flight’.

‘Great to throw in bag and use to freshen up if going out for a long day/gym/flight, using before reapplying deodorant, works really well.’ Raved one impressed shopper.

Another added: ‘Love these products! It smells great & is ideal for an on-the-go refresh. Very handy to keep in your bag for whenever you need them.’

‘This is a bag must have.’ Wrote a third. ‘I use it all the time and you can use it for so many things which I love. It’s so compact and thin too so perfect for a little beauty bag when you’re on the go!’

We’ll have one for every bag.

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Welcome back to What’s Cooking, Metro’s food series where we find out exactly what’s going on behind the scenes in the nation’s kitchens.

This week, we’re shaking things up, as we’re not in someone’s home, we’re at Dockhead Fire Station in Bermondsey to meet Ben Wiles.

Ben, 37, is a former chef, who switched gears after the pandemic and now works as a firefighter in London, putting out blazes, rescuing cats from trees and cooking two meals a day for his colleagues. 

The dad-of-one has been working at the station for a year and says food has been his ‘medicine’ for some of the more traumatic aspects of the job.

‘I’ve seen some eye-opening things,’ he says. 

If you’ve ever wondered what sneaky snacks firefighters keep stashed away in fire engines or what a typical day on the job looks like, you’re going to want to keep on reading, as we’ve got the answers.

Aside from putting out fires and rescuing cats, what do you do all day?

We turn up each morning and do a roll call, which is essentially reporting for duty. We’ll work out what we’re doing for the day, test the equipment, test the truck and our breathing apparatus, carry out any maintenance and then get out in the yard to do some drills. 

This will take us to breakfast, so I’ll pop upstairs and prep something for us all to eat, assuming we don’t have an incident to go to. 

We’ll spend half an hour chatting, laughing, eating and having a cup of tea, which is a real highlight of the day, then off we go.

We could be training, going to the gym, getting out into the community, doing fire safety checks with businesses or responding to incidents. On a quiet day there might be two or three incidents, but sometimes there’s as many as 15. 

Do you have any sneaky snacks stashed away in the fire engine?

There are definitely some biscuits snuck away inside of the truck. 

It’s impossible to avoid cakes and biscuits at the station, they’re everywhere. People are always baking things and bringing them in. Even the healthiest people here, you’ll catch them eating cake.  

I didn’t think I had a sweet tooth before starting this job,but it turns out I do. I just have the self-control not to buy all of the things. 

Is there anything you crave after a tough day at work, or does the job ever put you off food?

The only time I ever get put off food is if we’ve been under severe heat stress, which is the equivalent to getting sunburn and not wanting food for a while.

But in terms of what I see on the job, I think food is my medicine for that. 

When we’re putting out a fire we can get seriously dehydrated – the gear keeps the heat out, but it also keeps the heat in, so you get warmer and warmer. When I go home, I’ll be craving something salty, so I’m all over a cacio e pepe. I always have the ingredients part-cooked and ready to go.

What’s your ultimate guilty pleasure food?

Ever since university I’ve loved frozen IKEA meatballs with Bisto gravy. That’s my guilty pleasure, and I’ve extended it now to my little boy. Don’t knock it.

Name one store cupboard product you can’t live without.

Anchovies. Those are always in my cupboard so I can make a quick pasta sauce. I just mix them with capers, maybe a little bit of stock and some Parmesan butter. 

I also always have gherkins in the cupboard to have with a sandwich. I love a cheese toastie with mustard, pickles and some onion. They’re also really good with any kind of meat, or just eaten straight out of the jar as is. Some people might keep them in the fridge, and if I were in a restaurant it’d be the fridge, but I don’t have space for that. 

And something that always has to be in your fridge?

Parmesan has to be in the fridge. Can’t get my late-night cacio e pepe without it, can I? 

What about the freezer, what do you have to keep in there at all times?

The IKEA meatballs, of course, but also ice lollies. 

I have an ice lolly every day and my boy loves them too. We always have Del Monte Orange Juice ones in the freezer, and some raspberry ones from Aldi which are unbelievable. 

The station freezer is also full of lollies and ice creams – they’re a great way to cool off in our line of work.

Is there an item you’re always willing to splurge on at the supermarket?

Salt. You’ve got to have good salt. 

It’s not very expensive, but I always buy either Maldon or Cornish Sea Salt. You can really taste the difference, it’s significant.

Alternatively, which kitchen staple isn’t worth splashing the cash on?

There are a lot of things that I don’t splurge on that I probably should, but the one that’ll hurt a lot of people’s feelings is olive oil.

I buy cold pressed rapeseed oil at a third of the price, mainly because supermarket olive oil is incredibly expensive and never that delicious. I’d rather wait for friends and family to go on holiday in Europe and come home with a pretty bottle of good stuff. 

Do you have any top cooking tips to share from your chef days?

Clean your fridge. 

Taking a minute to keep your fridge clean will help food last so much longer. The way you store things, and the habitat you store them in matters. Any moisture when you have a leaking fridge, or anything like that, will cause your food to spoil very quickly. 

It’s maybe a bit boring, but when I discovered how much longer food could actually last, it blew my mind. You can cook so much more and it’ll save you money too. 

Finally… what’s been cooking at the station lately? 

I’m usually cooking for between eight and 11 people and I make breakfast and dinner. We all chip in about £45 each a month and I budget that, plan the meals and order all the food for delivery.  

We work a shift pattern of two days and two nights, so I try to do something seasonal and healthy one day, and then let everyone indulge themselves on the other.

For breakfast I’ll make something like porridge, or maybe a full English.

Recently we’ve had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, which is a favourite. Everyone also loves Sloppy Joes and Taco Tuesday. For that I’ll make pork carnitas, various salsas… the full works.

I still like to go back to my restaurant roots with a bit of flamboyance and get a bit creative – it makes me feel good. 

If we’re on call outs, there isn’t always time for cooking, so I basically try to make meals with slow-cooked meat or mince so I can minimise the spoilage if we have to drop everything and go. We don’t want anything going to waste. 

Want to take part in What’s Cooking and let Metro raid your kitchen at home? Email courtney.pochin@metro.co.uk

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

‘We don’t worry about Trump,’ Leene tells me over a pungent plate of fermented lamb. ‘We worry about what’s happening out there.’ She waves a hand at the window that frames the slate grey sky.

Sheltering against sheets of sideways rain, we’re in the only restaurant on Fugloy, the easternmost island of the forgotten Faroe Islands. Population at last count: 38 or 40, depending on who you ask.

A passing destroyer flying Denmark’s colours has steered conversation to US takeover threats on nearby Greenland and the disturbing state of the world.

But in far-flung corners like Fugloy, people focus on what matters: when they can fish, when they can sow, and when they can safely sail off this craggy lump of rock.

Leene, a Danish woman in her 60s who met her husband while working as a teacher on a neighbouring island, returns each summer on a sort of pilgrimage to his homeplace.

She’s here by happy accident. I’m here on purpose.

Under the radar

The Faroe Islands, a self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark, are only a short flight from the UK. Yet they’re miles off the standard traveller’s radar.

Chances are, you haven’t been. You might struggle to pinpoint them on a map. When I told friends about my upcoming visit, one confused it with Faro, in Portugal. Another asked if ‘those were the ones near Egypt’.

Adrift in the swell of the North Atlantic, this 18-piece jigsaw of islands erupts from the ocean about 200 miles north of Scotland and 300 miles southeast of Iceland. It’s wild and windswept, and feels both ancient and modern, all at once.

Turf-roofed cottages and wooden churches embroider the vast, treeless moors. Cairn-marked trails weave across barren mountains.

Beneath them, a remarkable network of bridges and road tunnels has linked the seven most populous islands since the 1970s. Hidden within is the world’s only underwater roundabout, loomed over by a giant aquamarine jellyfish.

Even the most inaccessible hamlets are now connected, and somehow, phone signal is stronger than it is in London. On the ferry to Fugloy, where I meet half a dozen tradesmen and a few curious gazes, the 5G on my phone never drops.

When the tourist board invited me to come and see what life on the Faroes is like, I’ll admit I wasn’t exactly fizzing with excitement. It’s not somewhere I knew much about, besides the controversial dolphin hunt that makes headlines when it happens a few times each year.

In my ignorance, I dismissed the Faroe Islands as a bleaker version of places I was already familiar with. I’m Irish; I know a thing or two about rain and grass.

Instead, I discovered a fascinating nation with deep ties to the nature that sustains it, a quirky food scene rooted in native ingredients, and a unique approach to tourism that protects the land and local communities.

In a world gripped by uncertainty, the Faroes feel truthful and real.

‘Closed for Maintenance’

Part of what sets this rocky outcrop apart is a willingness to do something few places could conceive of: closing to tourists.

The brainchild of a Danish creative agency, the ‘Closed for Maintenance’ concept shuts the Faroe Islands to general visitors for one weekend each year.

In their place are 100 volunteers who, in exchange for bed, board and a locally-made hat, come to repair footpaths, paint signs and make trails safe for the next tranche of hikers.

The project may only happen once a year (it’s already been and gone, in May), but part of the vision for tourism in the Faroes is to find a balance between the well-being of the 54,000 people who call these islands home, and providing a good experience for visitors.

Everywhere I go, signs remind you to ‘keep off the grass’ and show virðing, the Faroese word for respect.

On the mist-shrouded cliffside of Hvithamar, the Faroes’ showstopper viewpoint, the raw beauty of this wild and unspoiled landscape is fully revealed.

Dwarfed by fjords and mountains that stretch into the clouds, I feel like a microscopic crumb in an infinite universe. It’s so striking, I wouldn’t dream of leaving anything but footprints (on the designated pathways) behind.

National revival

In 2015, an economic crisis in the Faroe Islands had a strange effect.

As financial difficulties brought an end to an import craze that had blighted almost every domestic industry, people began to look inwards. Faroese culture entered a renaissance, in knitting, in food, and in music.

In Tórshavn, the chocolate box capital that’s more small town than city, there are no high street chains or big fast food names. Instead, there’s Tutl, an independent record store run by local musicians; Roks, a hip fine dining restaurant that serves things like sea urchin and vanilla-flavoured scallops; and Gudrun & Gudrun, a high-end wool clothing boutique run by two Faroese women.

Like many indigenous languages around the world, the Faroese language is enjoying a revival.

For Lea Kampmann, a young singer-songwriter from Vestmanna who performs in Faroese, it’s about identity. ‘I write about my experiences, about my grandmother who is no longer with us. Doing it in the language makes me feel connected to who I am and where I come from,’ she says.

Life imitates art. In Kirkja, the village where I meet Leene on Fugloy, young relatives of ageing residents are coming for summer. Some are even experimenting with new methods of farming.

‘Life is coming back,’ she says. ‘If it had been up to my generation, we would have turned this place into a ghost town, but now it’s different. The young feel the connection.’

Dinner with locals

At Anna and Óli Rubeksen’s elegant house in Velbastadur, I experience Heimablidni, a traditional Faroese supper club in the home of a resident. All over the islands are people who host guests from around the world for dinner, and I’m breaking bread (or in this case, wind-dried mutton) with two of the best.

As Anna prepares a feast of prawns, lamb and honey-roasted potatoes, Óli pours me a gin mixed with Faroese rhubarb liqueur, and we chat about why they do what they do. ‘For us, it’s about possibilities,’ he says. ‘If we say no, and we don’t welcome people into our home, ok, that’s it. End of story. If we say yes, you never know what might come of it, or who you might meet.’

Over a four-course dinner served with locally brewed pilsner, I ask about the backlash to the Grindadrap, the hunt that has led animal rights campaigners to call for a boycott of the islands.

Hundreds of whales and dolphins are slaughtered in Faroese waters each year, with the meat divided among villages. Internationally, it’s widely condemned, but in the Faroes, public opinion is divided. Some see it as archaic and inhumane, others as a practice that has been part of the Faroese way of life for centuries.

Anna raises a double standard: if you slaughtered pigs in the open in the UK, people would be talking about it in the same way. But they don’t, because it’s done behind closed doors.

It’s a fair point. Approximately 11 million pigs are killed in the UK each year, according to the RSPCA.

Identity and isolation

In the taxi from the Rubeksen’s to the Hilton Garden Inn, the only international hotel on the islands, I get talking to my driver, Magnus.

He’s surprised to hear I made the journey to Fugloy. All told, it’s about two-and-a-half hours, by car and then boat. But in 57 years on the Faroes, he’s never been.

‘Young people are interested, I suppose,’ he muses. ‘In any case, the young people here are proud of where they come from.’

They have reason to be. I think of all I have seen in my time on the islands. The breathtaking Múlafossur waterfall, crashing down into a tidal lagoon. The hidden hamlets, where grass-roofed houses sit in the cradle of mighty fjords. The resilience of tiny communities that seem to exist on the edge of the Earth.

In times like these, it’s easy to see the appeal of this peace and isolation.

As Leene says, ‘here, we only worry about what we can see.’

The world might forget about the Faroes, but these islands know exactly who they are.

‘Black ages your face by five to ten years,’ says Evgenia Preimane, my colour analysis consultant. ‘It looks overwhelming on you. And for jewellery, silver supports your features.’

I glance down at my gold wedding band, stacked with my gold sapphire engagement ring, and laugh. Awkwardly.

I later learn that my hair colour should be cool-toned (having recently paid for a warm, honey-blonde balayage), and that beige and brown tones ‘wash me out’ (tell that to my favourite caramel shacket). 

What have signed up for?

What is colour analysis and why is it suddenly everywhere?

Colour analysis – or ‘getting your colours done’ – has exploded on Instagram and TikTok, with consultants draping clients in swatches of fabric and filming dramatic ‘reveals’.

The idea is simple: everyone has a set of colours that naturally flatter their skin tone, hair and eyes. These are divided into four main ‘seasons’ — spring, summer, autumn and winter — and further broken down into subcategories like ‘True Summer’ or ‘Soft Autumn’.

True Summer, I soon learn, means my best shades are ‘cool, light, muted, and soft’. Apparently, I look my best in dusty pink, smokey blue, cool mint and aquamarine. Not black. Not orange. Not gold. Basically, half of what I own.

Evgenia tells me I have a ‘low-medium contrast,’ which means tonal looks, where one colour forms the base and similar colours are layered, look ‘particularly refined’ on me. I should avoid stark contrasts like black and white, and neon is a no-go.

Checking your skin’s undertone is more complex than asking ‘are your veins blue, green or a mix of both’, she adds, claiming this online hack is simply ‘not true’.

‘You get it from your parents and it never changes,’ Evgenia tells Metro. ‘So when you do the color analysis, it’s a once in a lifetime investment.’

Colour analysis is nothing new, with a colleague telling me her mum used to carry tiny colour swatches in her handbag for shopping trips during the 90s. But social media has led to a resurgence among a new generation who want to buy less, but better.

Which brings me to why I signed up

My wardrobe is literally buckling under the weight of so many clothes, and we won’t talk about the overspill rail currently taking over my spare bedroom. Yet, I am that cliché woman with ‘nothing to wear’.

Too-small clothes hang next to too-big maternity wear, alongside piles of uninspiring breastfeeding-friendly tops purchased in a 3am haze and pre-baby miniskirts that are impossibly impractical with a toddler. Nothing matches, ever. And I’ve taken to wearing a tiny selection of safe outfits on repeat (Sweaty Betty leggings on parenting days, the same three shirts and wide-leg trousers on office days).

So, I’ve turned to colour analysis. Not because I think it will solve everything, but because I need a system to help me edit this chaos.

For the first time in two years, I am not growing or feeding a tiny human. I’d like a big clear out and to purchase a handful of new bits that make me look and feel good. But, thanks to going part-time and the cost of childcare, I no longer have the disposable income to make the retail mistakes of the past. There’s also nothing like nurturing the next generation to make your environmental continence kick in…

The process: part science, part…vibes?

The session begins with natural light, minimal makeup, hair pulled back with a Handmaid’s Tale-style bonnet, and a mirror. It is, in a word, humbling. 

Evgenia (who, to her credit, is both blunt and warm – like a stylish aunt who’s always right) holds up different coloured drapes under my chin and observes the effects. I’m soon used to her delivering savage insults and gushing compliments in one breath.

‘I know you have a kid, you have a newborn, and there’s a lot going on in your life, but the orange color doesn’t add anything good to your appearance,’ she says, swapping it for a turquoise shade. ‘But this makes you look so fresh!’

And what is she basing these opinions on?

‘I’m watching your skin texture, your under eye area, your jawline, your lip colour,’ she explains. ‘There may be some dark spots coming out all of a sudden, or redness coming out. Or your eyes may become very muted.’

I thought I was going to come away with easy-to-follow rules, like ‘wear blue, don’t wear red’. But it turns out it’s all about the deepness of the blue, the tone of the red. Evgenia says things like ‘you see how this green has a strong blue undertone and this one has a strong yellow undertone?’ and I nod politely, secretly baffled.

She also makes a few declarations that I point blank disagree with; apparently I look chic in Premier Inn-style purple and a rather depressing greige. But occasionally, when a colour really works? Magic. I see it with my own eyes – suddenly I look more awake, even a bit glowy in raspberry. 

‘You’ve got beautiful skin,’ she tells me, more than once. She also raves about how good I look in cool baby pink, gasps at my ‘stunning’ eyes against green, and uses the word ‘elegant’ when I try on a grey-blue that I’ve always thought was boring. Despite fundamentally being judged on my looks, the process ends up being surprisingly affirming.

Evgenia also reassures me it’s not about ruling things out – even black. ‘You’re not banned from wearing any colours,’ she reminds me. ‘If you love it and feel confident, you’ll look good.’

But she suggests I might want to consider wearing my favourite autumnal shades on my bottom half (ie not by my face) or to break them up with an accessory like a scarf to truly optimise the look.

Is colour analysis worth it?

Evgenia charges £300 for 2.5 hours of colour analysis, which includes hair and makeup advice where your perfect red lipstick is revealed. For full transparency, I enjoyed a complimentary press session and know the upfront cost would have deterred me.

‘I can understand that £300 pounds may sound too much, but when you just sum up the cost of all the clothes, the 80% of your clothes that you are not wearing…just the average cost for a top in Zara is £30 pounds,’ says Evgenia.

Although there were a few ‘what is she talking about?’ moments during my condensed hour-long masterclass, I have found Evgenia’s advice helpful in the six weeks since.

I’ve realised, for instance, that I never feel good in my coral Oliver Bonas dress, despite it looking gorgeous on the hanger, because it simply isn’t my colour. And that if I’m short on time while shopping with an impatient 14-month-old, there is little point trying on a mustard yellow dress, no matter the cut. Instead, I beeline for shades that I know will work and go from there.

I’ve purchased a few, limited items to improve my existing wardrobe while I sell a giant pile on Vinted: some vest-tops in Evgenia-approved colours, a cool-pink striped dress from Primark, and a grey-lilac puff-sleeve blouse from M&S (something I previously wouldn’t have looked at twice, but has genuinely received so many compliments).

Yes, a professional colour analysis session is expensive, but if you can afford it, it does provide a framework to help you regain your fashion confidence.

I no longer feel like I’m dressing in the dark. Now I just wish I had the budget to bring my wardrobe into fabulous, True Summer technicolour. 

‘It’s not good news’. 

That was the text I sent to my mum, my in-laws and my boss as I left an early ultrasound clinic last July. 

As my husband and I cycled home through eyes filled with tears, I received replies from all of them. My mum was on her way over, my in-laws ready to jump in the car to be with us, my boss’s message full of sorrowful words and pleas not to think about work for one second. 

She would handle everything – she would speak to HR; to my team; and manage my workload. I should take as long as I needed and focus on myself, my husband and my needs over the next couple of weeks. 

I’m fortunate that during that time – the worst in my life – I had one less thing to worry about. This is not the case for so many people. 

In fact, unless your baby loss happens after 24 weeks – when it is considered a stillbirth, rather than a miscarriage – parents-to-be are not eligible for any statutory leave. 

Now, the government is set to make amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, which would see them get ‘at least’ a week – although specifics have not been laid out. 

(Those who have a stillbirth, or lose a child under 18, are currently entitled to two weeks off, which in my opinion is nowhere near enough). 

In total, I took just over a fortnight off after my miscarriage – but could have taken longer if I wanted. 

I had gone for a private early reassurance scan at seven weeks, before I was supposed to fly abroad for a friend’s wedding. It was my first pregnancy and I just wanted to know everything was looking OK. 

But like up to 20% of women, I was about to have a miscarriage before 12 weeks. I was told by a kind doctor that there was no heartbeat, that they would normally expect to see one by this point, and that the chances of one developing after this point were slim to none. 

I expected the miscarriage would follow shortly after. I was wrong.

Unless it happened naturally before then, the next step would be to wait a week and go to the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU). It was important to wait, she said, in case there was any change. 

So we went home and waited. I sobbed. I screamed. I made guttural sounds I didn’t know I was capable of making. 

And I frantically Googled ‘How likely is it that a seven week foetus will develop a heartbeat?. I held on to a small glimmer of hope – even if my husband gently repeated the kind doctor’s words that in 18 years of doing her job she had never seen it happen. 

The lowest I felt day was on day seven. The EPU is basically A&E. You can get appointments there but generally that’s for follow up. So you have to wait. 

We arrived for the 9am opening and sat down among hordes of anxious couples looking for reassurance that their babies were OK. Over the course of the day, the room emptied out, sometimes others would come in, and yet we stayed. 

We spent seven hours waiting to be seen in a windowless room, not daring to move or dart out to get food unless our names were called. It was torture. 

When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating

In the end, there was still no heartbeat. We were told by an empathetic doctor that this was likely a chromosomal issue – as is the case in most early miscarriages – and heartbreakingly, I’d have to wait another week as they couldn’t accept my private scan as proof. 

However, if the miscarriage hadn’t started naturally within that time, they would book me in for a medical procedure to get it underway. 

With this news I could start to mourn my longed-for baby; the grief overwhelming. But I also felt unable to leave the house. What if the miscarriage started when I decided to go out? I couldn’t face the thought of it. 

The doctors warned me about the pain. They warned me that unless I bled through two sanitary pads per hour for two or more hours, or had a fever, it was ‘normal’ and I could handle it at home. My mind boggled. 

When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating. 

Out at dinner, I couldn’t eat. 

Couldn’t think of anything else except the stabbing in my abdomen. It sounds like something from a Greek tragedy, but it was during this moment that the woman on the table behind us announced her pregnancy to friends. She talked about not feeling particularly excited. 

I could write countless words about all the horrendous parts of miscarriage. The fact that you still have pregnancy symptoms; the bleeding that goes on and on and on; the limbo of waiting to lose your baby and having to see it in the loo. 

When I returned to work, I was still bleeding. I was still crying in the bathroom most days. It took me a long time to feel like myself again. I can’t think too hard about that time last year without getting emotional. 

So I hope with every bone in my body that the government not only makes statutory bereavement leave longer than a week for those who have suffered miscarriages, but that they also increase time off for parents who are grieving post-24 week losses and children. 

Because forcing people in the throes of grief to work – or take sick leave – is inexplicable to me. 

Yes, the loss is different to losing an adult child. It’s different to a stillbirth. 

But it is a bereavement. It’s not sickness. 

As I heard MP Sarah Owen say on the radio this morning, no one says ‘get better soon’ during a miscarriage, but they do say ‘sorry for your loss’. 

And it’s time employers acknowledge that loss. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

As we drive into the seaside village of Flic en Flac, on the west coast of Mauritius, the sun shines in a cloudless sky.

‘We call this The Magic Place,’ my guide tells me with a smile. ‘Even when it’s raining everywhere else, there are always blue skies here.’

You might think constant sunshine is a given in Mauritius, but as a tropical island, it gets more rain each year than the UK.

During my stay in the impossibly beautiful country, I was caught in soaked-to-the-skin downpours, and stood at viewpoints which promised scenes of lush jungle and imposing mountains — only to see nothing but clouds.

And yet, if my guide was to be believed, it was going to be a different story here in Flic en Flac.

And as we pulled into the five-star Sugar Beach resort, with it’s cool, vaulted lobby — turquoise sea glistening in the distance — I started to wonder if this place really was magical after all.

What’s the vibe? Paint us a picture

Arriving at Sugar Beach is pretty breathtaking. From the reception building you get an almost uninterpreted view of the main pool and gardens, with the Indian Ocean in the background.

High-ceilings and laid-back staff make you feel like you’re in a calming oasis, away from the heat and the chaotic Mauritian traffic.

This sprawling resort, built in the early 90s, is styled like an old sugar plantation, with a grand manor house and villas that mimic the look of Mauritius’ colonial houses.

There’s no denying it’s beautiful, but it can feel a little jarring. Sugar plantations in Mauritius were heavily reliant on slaves, forcibly brought over to the island by Dutch, French and British colonisers.

Still, the hotel manages to strike a balance between acknowledging the past and investing in the future.

Mauritian culture is celebrated through workshops with local artists and events such as a seafood market event every Saturday, which supports local fishermen.

Meanwhile, 75% of the hotel’s food is sourced from suppliers within the community, and the vast majority of its workforce (who are offered extensive training in the likes of leadership and technical skills) are Mauritian.

What about the facilities?

First up, and perhaps most importantly, there are two pools. The main one is a huge, curved situation that seems to reach around the entire hotel. It spreads over 2,000 square metres, and the sunbeds that are slightly submerged in the water are an added touch.

There’s also an adults-only pool (I am not exaggerating when I say I ate the best chicken wrap of my life pool-side) which is surrounded by palm trees, with a sea view. Children have their own pool in the Kids’ Club.

If you prefer lounging to the sound of waves crashing, there’s also plenty of sunbeds on the beach. Thanks to the coral reefs that encircle the island, the sea is calm and shallow.

Activity-wise there’s lots on offer, with everything from tennis and beach volleyball to windsurfing and snorkelling.

A manicured lawn which overlooks the beach also becomes a pop-up cinema on selected nights, where a huge screen is erected, and guests can watch a roster of films under the stars.

There’s a spa, an option for when it rains (my guide, as it turns out, wasn’t right about that one).

An authentic Mauritian massage for 60 minutes costs 4,500 Mauritian rupees, which works out at around £72.

Can you eat and drink at the hotel?

There are three restaurants at Sugar Beach.

First is Le Patio, a buffet-style restaurant which all-inclusive guests have access to, serving breakfast and dinner.

There’s a huge selection. Breakfast offerings include an omelet station, full English favourites, continental pastries, a smoothie station, fresh fruit, crepes and waffles, to name just a few.

In the evening, you can enjoy traditional Mauritian curries, as well as more familiar options like pasta and pizza.

I was surprised by the not-at-all naff entertainment here — I watched a Sega Tipik performance, a traditional Mauritian artform which involves songs and some mesmerising drumming.

But it’s Sugar Beach’s a la carte restaurants that aren’t to be missed, although it’s worth noting, they’re not included in the all-inclusive package.

In a secluded corner of the hotel is Maré Maré. The interiors look kind of like the chic neighbourhood restaurants you’d find in the likes of Richmond or Highgate, with a white beamed ceiling and light-wooden accents.

However it’s the alfresco dining that’s the showstopper: you eat right on the beach with an ocean view. There’s even a sunken fire pit, where I witnessed a nervous looking guy about to propose.

It’s a pop-up concept, with a guest chef curating a menu each year. For 2025, the collaboration is with South African celebrity chef, Reuben Riffel. I tucked into prawn fritters, and fresh local fish.

Over at Buddha Beach Bar, guests can also enjoy Asia and Mediterranean dishes. I opted for sushi and delicious lobster dumplings. I was warned by my waiter that the Singapore chilli prawns maybe a bit too spicy, but I enjoyed every mouthful (although I have a sneaky suspicion they may have gone a little light on the chilli).

There’s also a bar area at Buddha, which feels like the heart of the hotel. It’s pleasantly busy at all times of the day, but it’s at its best at sunset. Once night falls, you can sip cocktails into the early hours, while genuinely good acts serenade you with live music.

In the name of good journalism, I did my best to sample as many cocktails as possible here. Special mention goes to Violent Noble G&T, a twist on the classic that sort of tastes like Parma Violets.

Ok, what are the rooms like?

One word: stunning.

I stayed in a premium ground-floor suite, which has the look of one of the aforementioned colonial houses, and is bigger than most London flats.

I had two adjoining rooms: one with a bed and bathroom, and another with a living area (and second bathroom).

It’s glass fronted (your ‘front door’ is a sliding glass door that steps out onto a terrace, with a pool and ocean view), which does take a bit of getting used to. Unless you’re an exhibitionist, there’s a lot of faffing about with drawing the curtains. But it does mean you can enjoy the stunning views of the pool and ocean from bed.

The wooden panelling and boho aesthetic feel calming and at one with the stunning scenery you find at every turn in Mauritius.

The bed, as you’d expect, was huge, and the free-standing bath would be perfect for honeymooners wanting a romantic night in (you’d definitely want to close those curtains).

There’s an impossibly huge TV and a mini bar area which Brits will be pleased to know comes with kettle, cold milk and tea bags.

I enjoyed sipping a morning cuppa on the sun lounger on my terrace, listening to the island wake up and the waves crash in the distance. Bliss.

How much does it cost?

Sugar Beach is a five-star resort and it comes with a five-star price tag.

TUI offers a seven-night holiday to Flic en Flac, Mauritius staying at the 5T Sugar Beach on a half-board basis from £2289 per person.

The price is based on two adults sharing a deluxe double room with sea view and balcony, flying with Air Mauritius on direct flights departing from London Gatwick Airport on September 8 2025. Your hold baggage (23kg) and transfers are included.

Kristina was a guest of TUI. For more information visit tui.co.uk, visit your local TUI holiday store or download their app.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

A number of Spanish holiday hotspots were hit with severe flooding this week, with some areas seeing 100mm of rain in just one hour.

While the UK basks in sunshine, half of Spain’s 50 provinces received weather warnings from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), causing chaos for locals and tourists alike.

Urgent alerts were issued for the regions of Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza, Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, and Castellón yesterday, after flash floods led to disruption across the worst-hit areas on Friday.

Shocking footage showed streets left underwater by the storms, and cars were seen floating away in floodwaters near the El Cardener river.

Two people have also been reported missing in the area, while the Military Emergency Unit (UME) was deployed in Tarazona, Zaragoza to help deal with the resulting damage.

One plane that took off from Barcelona was forced to turn back after sustaining damage to its nose in a hail storm, and roads were blocked throughout the city, with one hospital having to refuse patients after it flooded.

Extreme weather is also expected to hit the Cantabrian coast, the Balearic Islands and parts of central and eastern Spain in the coming days, bringing heavy showers, thunderstorms, and in some places, torrential downpours.

Travel advice for Spain after weather warnings

The UK Foreign Office has not currently issued any new travel warnings for Spain after the flooding.

However, it urged UK travellers: ‘Check weather warnings from Spain’s meteorological office (AEMET) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.’

And, like with any country, the Foreign Office advises British nationals to stay vigilant when abroad.

On X, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on people to exercise ‘great caution’ in flood-hit areas, which include destinations popular with tourists including Catalonia and Valencia.

What to do if you’re caught in a flood abroad

Before or during a flood, the UK government says you should turn off gas, electricity and water supplies, if it’s safe to do so.

They also advise to move to higher ground, and to use flood protection products if those are available to you. It is also recommended to follow the advice of local officials or emergency services.

The FCDO states that British travellers are responsible for their own personal safety while abroad, adding ‘we do not have a general duty of care to British nationals abroad’.

However, the FCDO may set up a specific response to help British nationals in a crisis abroad, which can include natural disasters such as flooding. This can include a dedicated hotline or online registration where you can apply for assistance.

Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday due to the floods?

If you’ve taken out your travel insurance and you’d now like to cancel your holiday due to the floods, you may be entitled to some money back.

Flooding should be included under the natural disasters coverage (although it varies between insurers so check your policy) but this comes with a catch.

Travel insurance will only pay out for holiday cancellations if the FCDO advises against anything but essential travel to your holiday destination – and there are currently no such warnings for Spain.

Some providers also require the local or national authorities to state it’s unsafe to travel there. If your holiday provider or airline is operating there as normal and there are no advisories, you won’t get any cancellation cover.

According to gocompare.com, you should look at the ‘cancellation and curtailment’ section of your policy, as this can help with cancelling or cutting a trip short due to extreme weather. 

There’s another reason your travel insurance may not cover you, too. If extreme weather was forecast for the area before you booked your holiday and before you took out your insurance policy, you won’t be covered for ‘anticipated’ events.

Basically, if you knew the weather was going to be bad but booked it anyway, you won’t get your refund.

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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

The sky was a deep, angry grey as rain hammered down. We were somewhere mid-Atlantic, thousands of miles from land. 

My knuckles were white on the oars as I rowed, clinging to the last shred of control as the storm raged around our small boat. In front of me, I heard my crewmate Jo say something but her words were swept away by the wind. 

The storm abated as quickly as it had descended, and as the ocean calmed, from behind me, I heard my second crewmate, Lebby, ask if I was OK. I grinned back, adrenaline surging. ‘It was fun!’.

I’d wondered how I’d react to storms. It turns out, I thrived on them. 

That moment, battered by the elements and yet more alive than ever, captured everything The Mothership was about.

We were four, working, mid-life mums – my sister, Pippa, was the fourth on our team –  determined to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, not just to test our limits, but to show our combined 11 children that no dream is too big, and that courage isn’t the absence of fear but the resolve to push through. 

Training had been an endurance event in itself. With three young children and a demanding job, my life was already a juggling act.

But six days a week I’d rise before dawn to protect that sacred time for myself and my goal. I did a mixture of rowing machine sessions, strength and conditioning and pilates or yoga, mainly out of the make-shift gym in our garage. 

In December 2022, the day finally came to say goodbye at the start line in La Gomera, Canary Islands. I’d expected to feel nervous.

Instead, I felt sad but excited and calm – my quiet confidence forged by nearly two years of relentless preparation. 

The next 40 days of boat life was a simple routine of eat, sleep, row, repeat. We rowed in pairs for two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours per day.

In off-shifts, sleep was a priority, in small cabins at either end of the boat that were just about long enough to lie down in, as well as personal ‘admin’ – from basic personal hygiene to eating to refuel. 

The ocean was a tapestry of extremes: the awe of dolphins racing alongside us and the raw fear when something threatened to derail our plans.

On Christmas Eve day, our water maker broke. We spent two long, anxious hours tinkering with it before it spluttered into life, only for our steering to fail when large waves knocked us off course.

In the dead of night, with the wind raging and waves crashing, we didn’t know if we’d be able to complete the race. Fortunately, in the calmer light of day, we fixed the problem and carried on.

We bonded deeply and laughed – a lot. We hosted ‘Mothership Awards’, which saw me take the dubious title of ‘Mum most likely to need an inconvenient poo on night shift’.

Around halfway, I had started noticing stomach cramps and needed frequent trips to our makeshift bucket toilet. We laughed it off, blaming the dehydrated ration packs and sheer volume of food required for our physical exertion.  

Arriving at the finish line in Antigua was pure euphoria. We finished 13th out of a fleet of 37 boats, beating many of the men’s and the mixed crews. The cheers, the horns and the sight of the crowds on the dock was overwhelming.

My children scrambled onto my lap, my dad’s hug was fierce with pride and relief. I’d lost 10kg and picked up a few aches, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I felt invincible.

Back home, however, the stomach cramps worsened and I was alarmed to see blood in my stools, so I made an appointment to see my GP. Three weeks and several tests later, during a colonoscopy meant to ‘rule out’ cancer, I heard the words no one wants to hear: ‘You have bowel cancer’.

I was stunned. I had just rowed an ocean, how could I be seriously ill? Looking back, I wonder if being so fit helped my body to cope with the disease.

The news was a freight train through my life. My first thoughts were for my family. My children were just four, seven and nine at the time, and my dad was already battling terminal cancer.

My parents were devastated but calm and supportive and we broke the news gradually to our children. They took it in their stride but they hated seeing my PICC line – a catheter for administering medications – crying out ‘Put it away, Mummy!’ if it became visible. 

Later, Mum told me how upset Dad was – he knew too well the journey I was about to go on.

Soon after my diagnosis, I had surgery to remove part of my bowel, but when cancer cells were found in my lymph nodes two weeks later, I faced six rounds of chemotherapy.

Each round drained me and left me nauseous for a few days before I gradually regained my strength for the next one. My rowing experience had honed my physical and mental resilience, and I leaned on it.

Exercise became my anchor, walking and running, finding comfort and positivity in moving my body in nature. It helped me recover physically and mentally,

I had my final chemo session almost exactly a year after the row, which felt surreal. I was grateful, but also adrift, no longer protected by the routine of active treatment. I don’t think this is unusual. 

I threw myself back into a more varied fitness regime, determined to feel like ‘me’ again – but cancer was a catalyst for change.

I left my corporate role and pursued a new path as a motivational speaker and now, author. In the autumn of 2024, I started writing my book, Stronger than the Storm, which I hope inspires others to believe in themselves and keep going, no matter what life throws up.

Now three years into a five-year surveillance period, I’m still clear of cancer. I celebrated in May 2025 by trekking to Everest Base Camp to run the world’s highest marathon, The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon. 

I wanted to prove to myself that I’ve not just survived but come back stronger. We’re all capable of far more than we think but too often, we let self-doubt or society’s limits hold us back. 

My message, especially to young girls and my own children, is this: don’t let fear or other people’s expectations define you. You are stronger than you know, and you can weather any storm. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

My friend sent me my first perimenopause meme about a year ago, when we were 41.

I double-tapped it out of courtesy, not really knowing what it had to do with me. But after she sent three or four more, I finally asked herwhat she was talking about.

‘Are we in perimenopause??’ I wrote. The last time I checked, I was a sprite young teenage woman, barely into the fifth decade of her life, easily passable for 37 and able to touch her toes.

‘We are!’ she replied. ‘It starts at 35-38.’ Slightly panicked, I typed back: ‘Who said?’

Her response: ‘Everybody.’

As someone being regularly tracked and monitored by Google Ad Services, of course I’d heard of perimenopause. My algorithm basically got down on all fours and started panting like a dog the second I turned 40. Overnight, I was inundated with nonstop ads for pills and potions all promising to reinvigorate my newly decaying corporeal form.

But lately, maybe because I’ve clicked on one or two of those ads or because those memes have multiplied like maggots, I can’t get away from it: Big Perimenopause is here and it’s dragging me with it.

How it started

According to Google, the perimenopause conversation exploded somewhere around late 2022, the same time several high-profile female celebrities were talking about (or investing in) its supercharged big sister, menopause.

• Naomi Watts launched her menopause-focused skincare line Stripes
• Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore all invested in Evernow, a telehealth start-up focused on relieving menopausal symptoms
• Michelle Obama opened up to People about needing moral support while she went through menopause
• Courtney Cox posted a funny updated version of her 1985 Tampax
  commercial, this time about menopause “eating you alive”

Suddenly menopause was trending (and trendy), so it was the perfect time for perimenopause to tag along.

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause that often begins in your mid- to late-40s (though for some women it can begin in their mid-30s). Symptoms include irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and mood changes, as well as other physical changes.

It’s not a single event – it’s a continuous process, one that doctors say can last several years. And even if a woman has experienced some or all of these symptoms, there’s no one test or sign that will determine that she’s officially entered perimenopause.

So… clear as mud – it’s a thing, for sure, but no one can tell you if you have it, you just sort of have to guess.

Peri mania

Which could explain why half of the strangers in my algorithm have been so quick to grab the diagnosis and slap it on all of their problems – to the point where it’s starting to feel like an identity.

Weight gain? Perimenopause. Can’t sleep? Perimenopause. Forgot your keys? Perimenopause. Suddenly bad at eyeliner? Perimenopause.

Obviously women’s health is important and chronically understudied. Before 1993, we were rarely included in clinical trials. Women’s health research is woefully underfunded, and physically, the world has been designed for and by men. Ask any woman under 5’5” who’s ever put on a seatbelt—those car companies want us dead.

But I do think it’s important to ask: what if your symptoms aren’t perimenopause? Or at the very least, what if they’re not only perimenopause?

The body changes for all of us after 40—we gain weight, our skin sags, our vision changes, our joints get stiffer. Not to mention lifetime happiness reaches its low point in your 40s. The sting of nostalgia creeps in and your life starts to look like all the decisions you made along the way.

Your forties also place you in the “sandwich generation,” where you might be simultaneously taking care of young and/or adult children as well as aging and/or ailing parents.

It’s a midlife mess and sometimes it really sucks. (Or as Carl Jung put it, “The wine of youth does not always clear with advancing years; sometimes it grows turbid.”)

Taking stock

As for me, it feels like a longer-than-usual rest stop where I’m reflecting on the first 40 years of my life, looking out over the next 40, simultaneously sad, happy, joyous and grieving, and wondering who the f*** stole the compass.

Sometimes I lie awake wondering what I really want, if this is it, if I should be more grateful for what I have or more active in bracing for the sadness yet to come.

So yeah—sometimes I toss and turn.

But I am not only what is happening to my body. And as a semi-reformed former hypochondriac, I have no interest in labelling every physical sensation sparking inside of me. I know Father Time will have his way with me when it’s my turn, but I’m not inviting him over before our appointment, are you crazy?

Maybe, like American talk show host Candace Cameron said about scary movies, the memes are a portal. So I rebuke them – get them away from me!

Maybe my refusal to laugh along with them is just delusion. Perhaps I’m in denial about my age and terrified about the closing of a chapter. It could be I’m just too scared to look it in the face.

But can’t that be fine, too? Men famously go kicking and screaming into midlife. They cheat on their wives, buy Ferraris, get into MMA, and fly to Turkey for hair plugs. They buy presidential elections and become obsessed with space. And for the most part, we let them.

Perhaps I’m just asking for women to give themselves a little more room, to steal some from the men, and to not get attached onto any more labels we just spent a decade unlearning. Especially one with such bad PR.

And I guess while we’re at it, I’m at least asking for better memes. After all, we’re millennials, we invented memes. We gotta do better than this.

You can read more from Nicole James here.

It appeared on the doorstep, just days after the event – a delicious Shepherd’s pie, complete with hand-written serving instructions.  

A surprise and utterly welcome gift. After all, who wants to think about cooking when their wife has just died of cancer?   

It wasn’t an isolated event. Indeed, it quickly became a daily occurrence. Pies, stews, cakes and entire weeks of supplies showed up at my door.   

Then came the offers to clean, do the laundry, tidy, garden and even care for my 6-year-old daughter. Incredibly kind and generous gestures, the touching expression of a shared grief.   

I don’t know exactly when I started to think differently of this tsunami of aid, but after a few months, I realised I was feeling something beside the gratitude – a growing sense of unease too, not about the generosity of the givers but about some of the assumptions behind the giving.

Assumptions that made me feel uncomfortable at times.       

The offers of food, housework and childcare, as well as being generous, seemed to imply that now I was widowed, I wasn’t expected to be able to cater for myself at all; to cope, to function or adapt in any way to the new reality of being a single father.  

Doubtless, there are men who haven’t moved with the times and are completely unable to take care of the home and children, but I’d assumed that was largely a thing of the past.  

The most problematic assumption was around childcare. There were mutterings about ‘getting me help’ almost straight away and from several sources, which only made me more determined to refuse.  

There was a sense that, as a man, I was somehow genetically incapable or in some way lacking skills. The fact that I had a daughter rather than a son apparently made matters much worse. 

There were several instances where it was clearly implied; I can recall the particular look of pity from one mum, as if I was attempting to upend basic science, as she used the words ‘.. and of course, it’s extra hard for you because she’s a girl.’

Even after a couple of years, when I’d made, according to some, a reasonable success of bringing her up, the compliments that came my way still had something of a double edge. 

‘You’re doing really well’ was accompanied by a look that made clear the end of the sentence was ‘for a bloke.’   

I’ve never regarded myself as some progressive new kind of man. I just shared the child rearing with my late wife when she was alive, as we shared everything else 50/50, too.  

I also thought that I was the person best placed to bring my daughter up, after she died. It never occurred to me that the fact I was male might be some sort of drawback.   

This is not to deny the loss of her mum and the unique influence that she brought, or the fact that there were bound to be things my daughter would miss from not having her around. I am not being blasé or saying that I could seamlessly cover any gaps. I couldn’t then, and I can’t now.  

But the argument seemed to be based on the fairly ancient idea that I probably had little understanding of the fundamentals of the child-rearing business – that as a man, I probably didn’t really ‘get’ children, to the point where it would be better if someone else came in and showed me how.   

Socially, too, old-fashioned assumptions still seemed to prevail.  

It became clear after a while that what some folk thought I needed most was to be paired up with a nice new partner. To be fair, there were some positive aspects to this.

I felt very welcome wherever I went, the object of immediate sympathy and understanding, but I couldn’t get away from the fact that the reasons for my treatment still seemed rooted in an antiquated view of the sexes. I wasn’t in some remote, traditional enclave. I was in middle-class Norfolk.     

Interestingly, my current partner, herself a widow, didn’t have the same experience in the early years of her bereavement.  

She wasn’t invited out often, and felt viewed with some suspicion, particularly by other women. There wasn’t an upside for her elsewhere, either. While I found cakes on the doorstep and received offers for fresh laundry and childcare, she didn’t.

She didn’t receive job offers or free financial advice, which I did. She was, as a lot of widows are, simply expected to cope with everything.   

Despite years of progress in many aspects of bereavement, surprisingly old-fashioned values still rule the roost.  

Until those change, the whole business of bereavement for those who have lost a partner, and those who are offering consolation, is going to be that much more complicated and confusing.     

Practical support is always hugely welcome, but surely even better served by a recognition of the way that male and female roles, in the 21st century, are now far more intertwined.       

I am now in my early 60s and myself and my partner who I’m still with from those days, are empty nesters. The offers of support are a thing of the distant past but I’ll never forget them and will always be incredibly thankful for the generosity they represented.

I still hope however, that those in the future who are similarly bereaved will find a slightly different, more nuanced version of that help on offer.  

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

As London roasts in yet another heatwave, you might be wondering — why am I still here? Honestly, we’re not sure either, but we found a gorgeous seaside town that might just tempt you to escape.

Over the years, Cornwall has become eye-wateringly expensive, and Brighton is practically London-on-Sea. 

But not every seaside town requires a trust fund or a six-figure salary to move there. 

New research from the Co-operative Bank has revealed the UK’s most affordable seaside towns — and the winners make coastal living seem like a surprisingly realistic prospect.

For each place, the bank looked at average house prices, monthly rents, the house price to income ratio, and the proportion of salary that goes on rent to calculate an overall affordability score. 

Oban, a small town in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland, came out on top of the list, with an overall affordability score of 9.82 out of 10. 

Often referred to as the seafood capital of the country, this picturesque spot offers some of the lowest average house prices (£220,458) and the most reasonable rents (£800 per month) which works out to just 34.7% of the average monthly income.

And a low cost of living isn’t all it has going for itself.

Things to do in Oban 

Located on Scotland’s west coast, Oban is a harbour town known for its fresh seafood and sea views. Surrounded by a rugged coastline and rolling hills, it’s considered a gateway to the Hebrides and although its population is small (home to just over 8,000 people), the town has plenty to see and do. 

McCaig’s Tower is its most notable attraction, a colosseum-like landmark that sits above the town, offering views of the bay and nearby islands.

Nestled beneath a cliff in the town centre, there’s also Oban Distillery – one of the oldest in Scotland – where you can take a guided tour and sample some of its signature whiskies. 

Near the harbour, you’ll find lots of fishing boats and ferries, along with plenty of local restaurants serving freshly caught seafood. But if history’s more your thing, head just north of Oban to explore the 8,000-year-old ruins of Dunollie Castle,

Transport links in Oban 

It might feel remote to some, but Oban is well-connected.

Scotrail runs regular daily trains to and from Glasgow, with tickets starting from around £20. The scenic journey does take about three hours by rail, but since it runs through the Highlands, you’re spoilt for beautiful scenery.

Oban also serves as the main ferry port for those wanting to reach the islands of Mull, Iona and Staffa and is often used as a base for island-hopping. 

What people are saying about Oban 

Oban has been described as a ‘paradise’ for seafood lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, and many locals have raved about life there, declaring it a ‘gorgeous part of the world’. 

One resident on Mumsnet wrote: ‘Oban is beautiful, a wonderful place to live and work. Winters are mild, being on the west coast. You get used to midges, they are not the big problem everyone thinks they are, especially by the coast, a bit of sea breeze and they can’t fly so won’t bother you.’

Others praised its pace of life compared to the city, including Redditor Stevoknevo70 who commented: ‘I’ve lived in Oban for six years now, wild horses couldn’t drag me back to Glasgow. Wonderful place to raise a family, can be on the beach in under 10 minutes, and easy access to numerous islands.’

House prices in Oban 

According to Rightmove, the majority of properties sold in Oban during the last year were flats, selling for an average price of £151,783. Detached properties sold for an average of £351,993, with semi-detached properties fetching £227,786.

So, while you might not secure a five-bedroom beachside property for £200,000, there are definitely affordable options. 

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

The night before she was due to fly home from a holiday in Antalya with her boyfriend last October, Moli Morgan, 22, suffered two seizures.

Turkish doctors told her it was probably down to heatstroke after spending too much time in the 30°C sun during their week-long trip.

But when she returned to the UK the following day, Moli’s sister, a nurse, urged her to go to hospital for a checkup.

As the farmer from Llanerfyl, in Powys, Wales felt ‘completely fine’, she was shocked to learn that she had a life-threatening 4cm brain tumour on the left side of her head.

‘I had no real warning signs before or during the holiday,’ says Moli. ‘I had never suffered any symptoms before.’

The holiday itself was ‘lovely’, and she and her boyfriend of six years, Oli, 22, spent the week relaxing and visiting the hotel’s water park.

It wasn’t until the last night that things took a turn for the worse when, apparently out of of the blue, Moli had a seizure at around 1am followed by another 20 minutes later.

‘My boyfriend called the medics and they had a doctor on site at the hotel who told me it was probably just heatstroke,’ she recalled.

‘We had been in the sun all day and I hadn’t drank much water, so I sort of thought nothing more of it and we flew home the next evening.’

Moli followed her sister’s advice ‘to be on the safe side’ and was given a CT and MRI scan at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, but ‘couldn’t believe it’ when doctors broke the news of the tumour.

She says: ‘I do get a couple of migraines a year, but obviously that can be normal. It just came as such a massive shock.’

After being kept in for four days having anti-seizure tablets, Moli was allowed to return home. However, it wasn’t long before she was transferred to a specialist neurology centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital to have the mass removed in an awake craniotomy.

While this would be a daunting prospect for many, she says: ‘I didn’t even really think about it, I just thought do whatever you need to do.’

During the operation, she had to repeat words back in both Welsh in English to make sure the surgery didn’t impact her ability to speak her first language, which is Welsh.

‘There was a couple of times I didn’t get it right, so they knew that was the part affecting my language and not to interfere there,’ adds Moli. ‘It’s mind-blowing what they can do really.’

The four-hour procedure – which left the 22-year-old with 28 staples in her head – thankfully proved a success, and further tests showed the tumour was benign and non-cancerous.

Six months on, Moli is still being monitored, but is now back helping out on the family farm, and largely ‘back to normal’.

To thank the medics who saved her life, she and her mother, Carol, presented a cheque for £345 to Ward 228 and members of the UHNM Charity team, which they raised through a carol singing night organised by The Wales Federation of Young Farmers.

‘It was amazing to see Moli and her mum,’ said Dr Erminia Albanese. ‘Her recovery has been incredible, and it’s great to see her doing well after the surgery.’

According to the NHS, symptoms of a brain tumour vary depending on the exact part of the brain affected.

Common symptoms include headaches, seizures, persistently feeling sick, vomiting and drowsiness, mental or behavioural changes – such as memory problems or changes in personality – progressive weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, and vision or speech problems.

The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you have these types of symptoms, particularly if you have a headache that feels different from the type of headache you usually get, or if headaches are getting worse.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

‘Girls, I’m sorry…’

It’s a sentence I say often to my daughters Blake, six, and four-year-old Cole.

And not because I’m constantly doing terrible things or breaking my promises; it’s because I lose my temper. I’m tired! I’m trying to work! I’m due on! 

But none of the above, and a myriad of other reasons, is the fault of my teeny children. And I need them to know that. 

Recently, during half-term, I lost my cool. Blake was nagging me to make cakes, except I had to tidy up, clean away lunch, sort through the endless piles of washing and run a Cillit Bang-soaked sponge around the bathroom. 

Couldn’t she see that for God’s sake? Well, no. She’s only just six and the entire universe still revolves around her. But hey, who needs logic in a moment like that? 

‘Stop!’ I roared. ‘Stop asking! Sit down! Watch TV!’ She blinked at me, hurt by my outburst. Then she ran into the living room, leaving me well alone. 

Later on, as Blake was getting ready for bed, I apologised. ‘Being a mummy can be hard,’ I said, ‘but you didn’t do anything wrong, and I’m sorry for shouting.’

‘That’s OK, mummy,’ she said, as she always does, and wrapped her arms around me. 

With all my heart I hope that in the moments they spend in my arms, my daughters feel totally safe and totally loved. Because while I can be an angry mum, I am also a mum who apologises. 

Apologising to my daughters wasn’t a conscious decision I made in my pre-pregnancy life – then again, neither was being an angry mum – but like the rest of motherhood, it has been a natural evolution.

‘I’m sorry…’ is now something I say often, not because I’m constantly doing terrible things or breaking my promises but because I lose my temper. 

I lose it when Cole whines and moans because she needs me while I’m trying to work; when Blake screams and cries in the car because she’s dropped something; when they squabble and bicker over toys and the TV.

I could swear my children wait until I’m out of the room to ask something of me. They hold it in until my toe touches the top of the stairs before they holler ‘Mum! Mum!’

I vividly remember shouting at Blake and Cole not long after Cole’s first birthday. 

I’d just finished maternity leave and was working from home, so I logged on just before 6am while the rest of the house was still asleep.

In theory, this would give me over an hour to write and edit in peace; in reality, the children both woke up and sat outside the door of my makeshift office, crying for me.

It was mental torture. I grew more and more frustrated – mainly at my husband for not dealing with the situation – until I exploded in fury.

Afterwards, I felt wretched. My kids were babies and all they wanted was their mum.

My words of apology fell on deaf ears as they were too little and lacked the language skills to understand, but my cuddles and kisses let them feel my sentiment.   

As they have grown, though, I tell them that I am sorry over and over again. I’ve come to understand that shouting at my children is a loss of control on my part, and I know that I need to apologise for that.

Kids are like sponges and they absorb what they see, soaking it all in, especially from the person who is the centre of their world.

My two constantly parrot words and phrases that I say, so when I see flashes of anger and impatience in my children, I know it’s on me to show them another way.

I want them to be kind to others and be kind to themselves, and I want to help teach them how to do this.

I also want my children to have memories of laughing and loving times, not of a mum at the end of her tether constantly irritated and snapping and fraying like a piece of string.  

Writer Philip Larkin summed up the impact parents have on their children perfectly in his poem This Be the Verse when he wrote: ‘They f**k you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to but they do.’ 

Without any malice on my part, some of my quirks and foibles are going to leave a lasting impact on my kids. I’m determined, however, that my rage won’t be one of them.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

When it comes to fashion, there’s no question who takes the Grand Slam at Wimbledon.

Since 2011, her first appearance at the tournament, Kate Middleton’s fashion choices have wowed the Centre Court crowds.

This year, the Princess of Wales, who is the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, awarded Polish winner Iga Swiatek the women’s singles trophy in an elegant cream ensemble.

Despite the heatwave, she looked cool as a cucumber in a pleated peplum Self-Portrait dress, which she accessorised with an Anya Hindmarch tote bag, her favourite Gianvito Rossi suede pumps, a gold Halcyon Days bracelet and Cartier earrings.

Her outfit for today’s men’s singles final was equally sleek and summery: watching the match with Prince William and two of their three children, George and Charlotte, Kate was a vision in royal blue.

Catherine’s bright midi dress is reminiscent of a similar Roksanda number worn to the tournament previously, with a statement bow on the left shoulder and a nipped-in belted waist.

Providing some welcome shade, Catherine also donned a wide-brimmed straw hat from LK Bennett, while the aforementioned Cartier bracelet and a necklace by Daniella Draper added a touch of sparkle to the ensemble.

Often opting for her favourite designers, such as Alexander McQueen, LK Bennet and Dolce & Gabbana, the 43-year-old always manages to stand out in a star-studded Royal Box.

These are all of the looks she’s has worn courtside at Wimbledon over the years.

2008

Sixteen years ago, Kate Middleton turned heads as the then girlfriend of Prince William. This was likely the first time the young soon-to-be Princess was snapped in the stands, then just 26-year-old, wearing a simple white dress and black cardigan.

2011

Just a few months after getting married, Kate wore newlywed (or is it Wimbledon?) whites, on an extremely hot day in South London. Her debut look of a sleeveless (scandalous!) tiered gown was by Temperley London.

She was accompanied by Prince William, and the pair even joined in with a Mexican wave.

2012

Kate made two appearances at Wimbledon in 2012 during a summer of sport for the capital.

The first was a nautical themed knitted ensemble by Sarah Burton’s Alexander McQueen, the woman behind the Princess’ wedding dress.

For the final, Kate, who was accompanied by her sister, Pippa, stuck to white, wearing a jacket and dress by Joseph.

2014

Kate was back with a bang in 2014, in a broderie white dress by Zimmerman. Broderie has been a favourite fabric for 2024, with Vogue calling it ‘the trend to invest in this season’, so clearly our Kate was way ahead of the game.

For the men’s final that year, she moved away from whites for the first time, and opted for a blue and green Jonathan Saunders day dress.

2015

Despite giving birth to Princess Charlotte just three months earlier, The Princess of Wales delighted fans with an appearance in 2015.

She was every inch the lady in red, standing out from the crowd in her £250 LK Bennet structured dress. The dress sold out online within hours of the then-Duchess wearing it.

She paired the striking piece with a leopard print clutch by DVF.

2016

Another year, and even more colour, this time a yellow and white shift dress by Roksanda. Kate would go onto wear the sunshine shade twice more at future Wimbledon tournaments.

Kate’s dress is actually a customised version of the one that could be purchased off the rack, which has a more flared sleeve and is white, with yellow accents (rather than the other way around, as seen on Kate).

Her second look in 2016 was another eye-catching number: an Alexander McQueen dress with a pattern that featured interesting motifs, including eyes, insects and lipstick.

2017

Polka dots have become somewhat synonymous with Kate Middleton at Wimbledon, but 2017 was the first time she chose the pattern, wearing a Dolce & Gabbana monochrome piece.

Her second look was very British summer-esque: a bespoke Catherine Walker dress with a wildflower meadow-style print.

We also loved Kate’s shorter, grown-out bob length hair this year.

2018

Attending for the first time with sister-in-law Meghan Markle, Kate dressed oh-so-on theme in yet more polka dots – or are they tennis balls? The Jenny Packham dress was certainly a serve.

Then, for the men’s final she was back in yellow again, this time another Dolce & Gabbana creation.

2019

Back in Wimbledon whites for her first appearance in 2019, Kate wore a Suzannah dress, paired with an Alexander McQueen belt and clutch. This look didn’t come cheap, with the elegant dress costing £1,850.

Then, it was back to colour: her next look was a forest green dress by Dolce & Gabbana, and for her final appearance she wore blue Emilia Wickstead.

2021

For the first time ever, Kate didn’t wear a dress to the All England Lawn Tennis Club, instead opting for a skirt, top and jacket combo. Back in what must be her favourite pattern, the pleated navy polka dot dress was by Alessandra Rich.

For the women’s final, Kate wore a green dress by Emilia Wickstead, and for the men’s final, she must have known that Barbie fever was on its way, as she chose a £720 belted pink midi dress by Beulah London.

2022

We saw Kate in polka dots twice in 2022: first an Alessandra Rich belted sky blue gown, and then a navy dress by the same designer.

But it was another yellow dress by Roksanda that really turned heads this year, which was teamed with a wide brimmed LK Bennet straw hat.

2023

Kate went green in 2023, with three outfits in different shades of the same colour.

First, she opted for a statement mint green and white Balmain blazer. The two-tone crêpe blazer had previously been seen on none other than Selling Sunset’s Chelsea Lazkani.

Next up was a custom version of a lime green Self Portrait dress, tailored to feature a higher, collared neckline.

And for her third choice, she wore elegant emerald green by Roland Mouret.

2024

After being diagnosed with cancer earlier in the year, Kate made one of her few appearances of 2024 at the Wimbledon men singles final, where she presented Carlos Alcaraz with the winning trophy.

Wearing an elegant purple midi dress, she received a standing ovation as she made her way to the Royal Box alongside Princess Charlotte and sister, Pippa.

The royal paired the customised £1,295 Safiyaa frock with a nude bag and shoes, statement Pariah hoop earrings, and a bow brooch in the signature purple and green colours.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

The moon in Pisces finds harmony with Jupiter in Cancer and brings opportunity to take a step back and re-centre.

Cancer, Capricorn and Aquarius, the smallest interactions may alter your offer new inspiration. An open heart and mind are key to uncovering new ventures.

You might find you crave comfort today, listen to your intuition, prioritise protecting your peace and your true path will reveal itself.

Ahead, you’ll find all the star signs’ horoscopes for today Monday 14, July 2025.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox. To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

The universe is encouraging you to press pause and be kind to yourself. You enjoy chasing the next goal, but today the real win will be leaning into your feelings and listening to your need for rest, comfort and a little pampering. The more you cherish yourself now, the stronger and more productive you’ll be later. Go after whatever feels like it could be a relaxing and nurturing treat.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

With the Moon in soulful Pisces angling towards expansive Jupiter in Cancer, your words carry warmth. A heartfelt conversation could unfold naturally, giving you the chance to speak openly and more importantly, feel heard. Whether it’s with a friend, partner or someone from the past, what you share now could deepen bonds in very beautiful and unexpected ways.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

You might have a glimpse of what people need, and that understanding could spark a lucrative idea or spotlight a skill you’ve underestimated. Whether it’s solving a problem, offering a necessary service or giving something free of charge, where real empathy can be so positive. Sometimes success starts with paying attention, and you’re wired to notice the things others often miss.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

The Moon syncs with generous Jupiter in your sign, so you may be craving something soothing. This is the perfect moment to plan a trip, visit a place filled with beauty and harmony or reconnect with someone dear who lives far away. A change of scenery or a convivial catch-up can work wonders, leaving you inspired and emotionally uplifted, Cancer.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Today’s bubbling healing energies suggest the answers you seek won’t be found in the spotlight but be lingering in the quiet. This is your cue to retreat, recharge and let stillness do the talking. It could be a gentle nap, a walk in nature or a mini escape from the hubbub but stepping back can bring the understanding you’ve been craving and enable any perplexing strands the space to breathe.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

A relaxed get-together, whether it’s with old friends or new faces, could warm you more than your usual social whirl. The kind of gathering where laughter can flow, memories are shared and bonds can deepen, perhaps over good food and soulful sharing. You might find an old friendship strengthens, or a new one begins to blossom. Sometimes the best therapy is a well-timed coffee and a chat.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Look out for a coincidence that confirms you’re on the right track. Perhaps it’s a compliment from someone you admire, a timely email or an unexpected opportunity, but trust that it’s not just a fluke, it’s encouragement. Your blend of charm and conviviality is working, even if progress has felt slight. One little sign could give you the confidence to aim much higher.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

With the Moon in Pisces harmonizing with the expansive Jupiter in Cancer, escaping could do you a world of good. It might be an afternoon wander, a seaside stroll or just zoning out with your feel-good playlist. Getting away, even briefly, offers emotional healing that runs deep. Giving yourself space to breathe and decompress a little is exactly what your soul craves.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

You may find yourself in a deeply private mood that’s worth exploring. The cosmic vibe whispers slow down, unplug and exhale. Seek out a cosy corner with a book or try a solo walk and ignore digital chat. Relish this healing stillness and make time to recharge that restless spirit. Your inner world is ready to offer insights – if you find the moment to quieten your mind enough to truly listen.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 20

A heartfelt conversation could open a whole new level of understanding. If someone has puzzled you, their quirks may now make greater sense and your compassion can deepen. You love solutions, and today you might find the missing puzzle piece. This is more like soul talk, and it may leave you feeling closer, lighter and in the mood to interact more with people – as the week goes on.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 21 to February 19

Do you have something that you feel you should share with others? Whether it’s your tech insights, creative flair or calming presence, you may be instinctively showcasing a talent that’s suddenly in high demand. A casual conversation or small task could open a bigger door than expected. This isn’t about being flashy, it’s about truly shining in the right moment to those who appreciate you.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

With the Moon in your sign harmonising with Jupiter in Cancer, today’s cosmic message is about embracing life. You may want to dive into a beloved hobby, create something beautiful or simply spend time with someone who’s very relaxing, which means it’s time to prioritise pleasure. The more you feed your spirit, the more inspired, grounded and uplifted you’ll feel.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

From bare beating to knee-knockers, Metro has coined plenty of creative terms for irritating commuter habits.

But just when we thought bad travel etiquette couldn’t get any worse, we discovered a new type of offender: ‘pole hoggers’.

This is exactly what it sounds like: people who lean against poles on the Tube, preventing other commuters from holding on.

These passengers haven’t appeared out of nowhere. Anyone who’s ever jumped on the Tube will have encountered a leaner, who appears blissfully unaware that others might require them for, you know, staying upright.

But now, they’re driving such frustration that dozens of people have taken to Reddit and TikTok to call them out.

And it’s drummed up serious debate.

What are people saying about ‘pole hoggers?’

In one recent thread, unsubtly titled ‘Preventing others from holding the pole,’ someone shared a photo of a woman leaning on their hand.

‘Busy commute to work, and this woman is leaning against the pole, on her phone, taking up as much room as possible, preventing people from getting on the train while leaning on my hand the entire commute.’

They said she then dared to turn around and ‘angrily’ stare at them like they were invading her personal space. ‘The entitlement is simply incredible to witness,’ they concluded.

Commenters had plenty to say, with many sharing their own experiences. Others made jokes about how to react to the situation.

‘Plot twist, they think a stranger decided to be kind and give a free massage,’ one person said, while another wrote: ‘And turn your hand, so that your knuckles annoy the person so much that they move….’

A third shared perhaps the funniest response: ‘Stand directly in front, smile, and reach around or above them for a grip. Smile, and talk about the weather.’ On a serious note, best to avoid this one.

Another Reddit thread called ‘Pole Hogs’ asked Londoners how they feel about the habit.

One person recalled a recent Overground experience: ‘I’m really short and this woman was leaning against the whole pole, there was really nowhere to hold on to. When the next batch of people got off, I moved to the next pole and she literally looked at me and rolled her eyes. Not sure what her beef was but I’m always baffled by people who seem to be rude just for the sake of it.’

However, not everyone found ‘pole hogging’ to be such a big deal. One person suggested a quick and polite ‘excuse me’ does the trick, as another made the point that some people – particularly tourists – don’t even realise they’re doing it. Or, that they have no idea it’s not particularly good public transport etiquette.

How to deal with ‘pole hoggers’

Like any annoying commuter habit, the best course of action is to be polite.

With a smile, ask if they wouldn’t mind moving so that you can also hold onto the rail. In most cases, people will comply. Not everyone is rude.

If the person leaning on the pole isn’t doing any harm (e.g. the carriage isn’t busy or you’re sitting nowhere near them), let it go. It’s not the end of the world.

As companies move towards AI-powered everything, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to speak to an actual human when you need help.

Anthony, a Metro reader from London, is one of countless people who finds this frustrating — especially so after a recent issue with Amazon.

He’s going round in circles trying to sort out a product return through the site’s customer service bots, and can’t get through to a person no matter how hard he tries.

In this week’s Money Problem, personal finance journalist and consumer champion, Sarah Davidson, offers her advice on breaking the stalemate.

The problem…

My problem is in some ways small but I believe it hides a mountain of difficulty for most of us ordinary folk. I recently ordered an item on Amazon but it didn’t arrive until four days after it was due and when I opened it, I discovered it was the wrong size.

I followed the instructions provided by Amazon to get a refund to the best of my ability, posting it back to the seller using the label Amazon gave me. But now I am getting push back from the seller who says they haven’t received it.

I’ve tried to contact Amazon but am either blocked or dealt with only by Amazon robots saying that they have ended the claim. I’ve written a letter to complain but I can find no way to send it – Amazon only seems to offer a chat line limiting comment to 70 words. 

I feel they do everything to thwart any complaint and I am at a loss. I think that the public should see what is happening here – I don’t believe that I can be the only one.

I wonder how much this occurs and how many people are being cheated in this way.

The advice…

Dear Anthony,

Thank you for raising this – as you say, it’s highly unlikely your experience is unusual.

You told me the item in question cost you £11, which might seem like a small amount to some people, but it will make a difference to others who need every penny to keep up with bills and the cost of living.

Moreover, say 1,000 people end up £11 out of pocket, then that’s £11,000 that hasn’t been refunded to customers – hardly negligible. Now imagine that number when you consider that last year Amazon delivered more than one billion items for Prime members in the UK the same or next day. Even if just one in 10,000 customers is unable to get a refund for a wrong or faulty item, we are talking millions of pounds.

Metro contacted Amazon via its press office on your behalf and, on this occasion, we have secured you a full refund, which will arrive within five business days.

We did also ask Amazon to explain how you could have done this on your own behalf and how often this sort of thing happens to other customers, but didn’t get an answer to either question.

Although this is a satisfactory outcome for you on this occasion, it does beg the question, what about everyone else? It shouldn’t have got to the stage where a national newspaper had to sort the situation out for you. Sadly, this is the sorry state of affairs we’re dealing with today.

You do have rights and some simple ways to protect yourself though. Follow these general guidelines to stay safe.

What can you do?

Pay for your purchases using a credit card.

In the UK you’re protected by the Consumer Credit Act under section 75. This means if you buy anything costing more than £100 and less than £30,000 on your credit card, you can get your money back from your card provider instead of chasing the retailer if something goes wrong. They will then try to get the money back from the retailer themselves.

Use chargeback

If you’ve paid for an item using a debit or credit card or a charge card and the retailer is refusing to refund you, you can contact your bank and ask them to reverse the transaction. You’ll need to show that you didn’t get what you paid for – either the item wasn’t received, was faulty or not what you ordered – and that you’ve already tried to get a refund from the retailer yourself.

You can claim any amount back this way if your card is with Visa or American Express. If you’re with Mastercard, you’ll need to have spent a minimum of £10 to use chargeback.

Complain

You should write a formal complaint to the retailer directly if you’re not happy or can’t get a refund. Sometimes, this can prompt a refund via the customer complaints team.

Go over their heads

If you have already complained to the retailer and aren’t getting anywhere, you can raise a dispute with Trading Standards.

Ask for help

If you’re struggling with the bureaucracy, you can seek help from Citizens Advice by calling 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales or 0808 164 6000 in Scotland.

When are you entitled to a refund?

If you receive a faulty item or it doesn’t match the description or quality, you’ve got 30 days to return it and get a full refund.

The retailer can choose to replace the item or knock some money off what you paid rather than giving you a refund. But if they do this once and you’re still not satisfied, they have to refund you in full.  

The refund rules apply even if you’re buying a service or digital content, such as streaming services.

If you just change your mind and want to return an item, the retailer will offer you a credit note instead of a cash refund.

Sarah Davidson is an award-winning financial editor and head of research at WPB.

Got a money worry or dilemma? Email sarah.davidson@metro.co.uk

A warm orange sun cushioned by clouds fizzles down before me. As it vanishes, it leaves behind a smudge of hot pink, illuminating the sky.

Everything feels calm. Peaceful. The sea gently rocks beneath our yacht. Of course, the pictures I take don’t do it one bit of justice.

I’m on a mini-cruise, gliding through the Port of Gdansk, that’s been timed to catch the sun going down.

Sailing down the still waters of the River Motława and Martwa Wisła, we pass hulking cranes and stationary ships. Our guide, Mike, points out historic sites – the 700-year-old Wisłoujście Fortress, and the Westerplatte Monument, marking where the first battle of the Second World War took place in 1939. Eventually, we reach the bay, for that uncapturable view.

It’s a relaxed introduction to Gdańsk, a European port city that sits pretty on Poland’s Baltic coast. Over a long weekend in late June, the city reveals itself as the ideal spot for a break – one that, for me at least, gets the balance of everything just right.

There’s a lot going for it: an easily-walkable city centre, ample amenities (it’s a struggle to pack in everything I want to do), and lively energy thanks to a smorgasbord of al fresco dining options. There’s also a rich tapestry of history to unweave, dating back to the 10th century. 

So it’s surprising, then, that Gdańsk doesn’t crack Poland’s top-five most-visited cities – the 2023 list was topped by Krakow, and featured the capital Warsaw, plus Wroclaw, dubbed the ‘Venice of Eastern Europe’.

Still, it’s hardly empty, not quite an elusive ‘hidden gem’ – plenty of tourists join me in combing the Długi Targ (Long Market), and I spy many souvenir shops.

But as I explore, even during peak summer season, I don’t feel overwhelmed. I’m not a dot lost in a crowd.

Getting to grips with Gdańsk’s ‘Main City’

A lot of the action takes place in the city centre: Main City – where you’ll find Długi Targ and connecting Długa Street – and the Old Town, a short walk north.

In the former, the crown jewels are Neptune’s Fountain, the grand Main Town Hall building (home to the excellent Museum of Gdańsk), and the Renaissance gate Brama Złota, which attracts the lens of every camera in the vicinity. 

At the end of Mariacka Street, you can’t miss St Mary’s – a striking Gothic church completed in 1502, said to be the largest brick church in the world. Stepping inside, I arch my neck to view its intriguing Astronomical Clock, a 15th century showstopper made by Hans Düringer that tracks not only the time but dates, solar and lunar positions.

The 78 metre-tall tower offers one of Gdańsk’s best views – if you can tackle its leg-buckling 409 stairs, 150 of which, to my dismay, are a claustrophobic spiral. Slightly out of breath, and jealous of a pigeon that simply flies to the top just as I complete the climb, my reward is spectacular – a sweeping panorama of pastel facades and orange rooftops.

Tucked away near the imposing Green Gate is the Historic Free Zone Museum: a compact but fascinating venue that tells the story of life in the Free City of Danzig – what Gdańsk was called during its spell as a city-state under the League of Nations, from 1920 to 1939. I spend 45 minutes here, peering at old newspapers and relics in glass cases. From here, a 10-minute walk along the Motlawa takes you to the National Maritime Museum.

In the Old Town, Radunia Canal flows past many of the area’s musts, such as the oldest church in Gdansk, St Catherine’s, which dates back to 1227 and houses many early timepieces, as well as the world’s first pulsar clock.

The Museum of the Second World War might be about a major part of history, but it lives in a strikingly contemporary building. It opened in 2017, with a permanent exhibition spanning 5,000 square metres and detailing the scale and impact of the war. As you might expect, it’s really not a ‘pop your head in for five minutes’ type of place. Save three hours for it, at least.

Nearby, I’m keen to see the Polish Post Office Museum, to learn more about one of the first acts of the war. On September 1st, 1939, Germany began its invasion of Poland, and along with the attack on Westerplatte, conducted a siege against the then-Free City of Danzig’s post office. 58 people – many postal workers – managed to hold off the Nazis for 15 hours. 

Alas, it isn’t open during my trip; closed for renovation until late 2026. Instead, I admire the silver Monument to the Defenders of the Polish Post Office outside the entrance. Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, soars above a defender laying on the ground – mail strewn around – as he hands her a rifle.

A fitting tribute to determination, and worth visiting for alone.

A modern museum about the recent past

A yellow crane looms large inside the European Solidarity Centre’s main exhibition.

It was once used by Anna Walentynowicz, an activist fired from Gdańsk’s former Lenin Shipyard for being part of an illegal trade union in August 1980 – which sparked a wave of strikes and the creation of Solidarnośc, an independently-run trade union, the first of its kind in the Eastern Bloc.

Electrician (and future Polish president) Lech Wałęsa was at the helm, and soon it evolved into a social movement leading to the 1989 Round Table Talks, and ultimately the fall of communism in Poland. 

You can even sit inside its cabin. This is one of many immersive elements of the museum, which journeys through the transformative decade, from Halls A to G. As displays detail the timeline of events, interactive screens add extra context via photos, short films, front pages and satire cartoons, even recordings of songs that were banned at the time, listenable through a handheld speaker. 

Each hall is engagingly designed; one room captures the essence of where the Round Table Talks were held, down to the huge 1980s TV cameras in the corners. Another, a giant wall of white and red cards with notes from past visitors, poignantly spells out ‘Solidarnośc’.

Two to three hours could easily be spent here – there are also some temporary exhibitions, a library, coffee shop, and an oasis-like entrance floor, a tranquil space filled with greenery, to consider.

A trip to Malbork Castle, the world’s largest made of bricks

In a nook on the side of Malbork Castle is a towering statue of the Madonna, holding baby Jesus. A holy figure, she shimmers in the distance, adorned in gold and red mosaic tiles. 

She is also, our guide Alicia explains, a reconstruction. Crafted in 1340, she was destroyed in an air raid in 1945, and restored in recent years. 

A lone severed hand from the original is on display alongside the castle’s many exhibits, which include everything from religious statues and amber artefacts to medieval armour and weaponry. As we’re shown around Malbork’s 52-acre complex – it’s the world’s largest brick castle – and explore its many rooms (chapels, a dining hall, prison cells) over three levels, I note many other handless, and headless, statues along the way.

It wasn’t just the Madonna that needed restoring, but much of the castle. Dating back to 1280, it was built by the Teutonic Order, but in the 19th century underwent significant restoration – the extent of the conservation work is part of the reason it’s inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle is beautiful, and Alicia points out where lighter, newer bricks contrast with older ones.

As the tour draws to a close, we walk past a black and white photograph of the crumbled castle from 1945, and a man from Warsaw remarks to me that he recalls seeing the castle in that state as a child in the 1950s.

Malbork is just 50-minutes from Gdańsk by car, so it makes for a good day trip. And it isn’t the only one you can do. Gdańsk forms a Tri-City with neighbouring port Gdynia and seaside hotspot Sopot, which, everywhere I go, people keep telling me is a must-visit. If only I had more time…

Pierogies, pastries, and quite a lot of vodka

Heading down into the low-lit bar Piwnica Rajców, I know I’m about to get tipsy. I’m a well-established lightweight on a vodka-tasting experience, where I’ll need to down six strong shots.

Mariana, our host for the evening, asks us to reveal our favourite alcoholic drinks. Ironically, I answer “vodka” – which is true, but typically with a mixer. That also suggests I know something about it, which isn’t the case. Thankfully, she does, and we whir through Poland’s proud history of producing the spirit, dating back to the 15th century.

We clink and cheers na zdrowie! and work through the brands, among them: Żubrówka Bison Grass, which has a blade of the grass in every bottle; Soplica, a sickly sweet vodka I actually love; J. A. Baczewski, a classic potato-based spirit; and Goldwasser, a herbal liqueur with tiny gold flakes, famously produced in Gdańsk from 1598 until 2009, that goes down smoothly.

To continue our education, Mariana recommends trying Machandel, a juniper-based vodka with roots in the city, at nearby Gdański Bowke. Embarrassingly, though, I’m done – and need to eat.

At Pierogarnia Mandu, a window allows you to see the traditional Polish dish pierogi – a giant filled dumpling – being made inside the restaurant. A 20-minute queue stretches from the door to get in, but it’s worth the wait for the generous choice of types (from boiled to deep fried) and fillings (both savoury and sweet). The zurek (sour rye soup, with Polish sausage, bacon and potatoes) is delicious, too.

Elsewhere, vegan spot Manna 68 becomes a highlight of my trip thanks to its welcoming vibe, creative menu, and Silesian dumpling starter. Montownia, a thriving indoor food hall, overflows with options – Greek, Vietnamese, Georgian and Ukrainian eats are on offer, as are street food-style loaded fries, and smash burgers.

Last but not least: sweets. The guided tours and museum-hopping are great, and have given me a whirlwind impression of the city. But a chilled interlude sitting in one of its many bakeries, watching the world go by with a jam-filled pączki (doughnut) in hand?

That really makes everything just right. 

There’s nothing better than scanning your Tesco Clubcard at the end of your shop and seeing that price go down – though it would be much nicer if the prices were just cheaper to start off with.

Especially considering the fact that not everyone is allowed to use a Clubcard to save those valuable pennies.

In fact, consumer watchdog Which? dubbed the supermarket’s benefits scheme a ‘teenage kick in the teeth’, because the card has an age limit.

You can’t use a Clubcard if you’re under the age of 18, meaning younger shoppers are forced to pay higher prices.

This restriction means Tesco has been named a winner of the Which? 2025 ‘Shoddie awards’ – dedicated to exposing annoying practices in supermarket retailers.

Tesco isn’t the only one on the naughty list…

Now, it’s not the only retailer that has this age limit on its benefits card. Morrisons and Waitrose also have an 18 or older rule, and even prevent people without fixed addresses from accessing lower prices.

Lidl got a shout out too, particularly for having a loyalty card only available via an app, so those without access to ‘digital connectivity’ also suffer.

The consumer champion suggested opting for schemes offered by Co-op or Sainsbury’s. These supermarkets let you join their loyalty schemes if you’re 16 or over, and you can get a card to scan, so if you don’t have a phone, you’re covered.

Where to shop if you can’t get a loyalty card

Aldi is also a great alternative because, despite not having a loyalty card, it still regularly offers the cheapest groceries in the monthly price comparison.

It had the most affordable supermarket shop in June, charging £131.52 for a 79 item shop, although Lidl was close behind at just 37p more expensive (without the loyalty card).

Asda came third, with the same basket of groceries costing £144.82, a whole £2 cheaper than a Tesco shop with the Clubcard discount.

The exciting new Clubcard bonus

While the age limit on the Clubcard is annoying, there’s one perk we can’t stop thinking about.

To celebrate the loyalty scheme’s 30th year, a million Virgin points will be awarded to one lucky customer to be spent on holidays, flights, travel upgrades and experiences galore.

For context, this top prize is enough for three nights (for two people) at the Mahali Mzuri luxury safari resort in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, three nights at the Kasbah Tamadot retreat in the Atlas mountains, and six nights at Mont Rochelle in the heart of South Africa’s wine region.

Five runners up will also get 500,000 points each, equivalent to the value of around $7,000 (£5,174) according to Nerdwallet analysis.

To be in the running, all you need to do is auto-exchange a minimum of 250 Clubcard points with Virgin Red or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

But you’ll need to act fast, as the competition closes on July 20.

And even if you don’t win the big jackpot, all new Clubcard members who register before the deadline will get 5,000 bonus Virgin Points.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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You should know by name our achilles heel is a great bag, specifically a designer bag. But, lo and behold our budget does not allow such luxuries, so we turn to affordable alternatives instead. 

We have found high end looking bags from M&S, as well as other high street retailers, such as River Island and Mango.  But, there is a new piece of arm candy we are desperately waiting for – Tu’s Belted Bag. 

Tu’s Belted Bag, which has launched today for £20, is already the bag we want to take everywhere! From the office to post-work drinks, date night dinners, shopping sprees, and as hand luggage for our next vacation. 

Faux Leather Multi Compartment Belted Bag

Effortlessly chic and endlessly practical, this black faux leather bag is your new everyday essential. Crafted with a luxe finish, it features multiple compartments to keep your life organised on the go. The roomy interior fits all your daily must-haves, while the adjustable strap and dual handles let you wear it your way. Finished with belted accents for that elevated, polished touch.

Buy Now for £20

If you think the Belted Bag looked familiar, you’d be right as the classic silhouette previously launched at Sainsbury’s, but it has been modified ahead of the upcoming launch.

The sculptural design features winged opening, which means you can fit even more inside than you assume.  It features a short top handle that can be clasped in the hands, or worn over the arm. However, it also features a long cross-body strap so you can wear the bag over the shoulder on the long strap or across the body.  

The bag comes in a sleek black colourway and features a belt around the top with gold accents for a sleek finish. 

The bag is super stylish, versatile and affordable.  But the best part is it looks very similar to DeMellier’s The Midi New York Bag, which also boasts a winged silhouette, buckle and gold accent detail around the centre, as well as a short and long strap. However, it retails for £445, which means you could save £245 on your accessory. 

The Belted Bag can be worn day and night, and for all occasions, which is why we are counting down the days until we can shop the ‘It’ bag of the season. 

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Share your views in the comments below

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Yet more Poundland stores are about to close after the chain was acquired for £1 in a rescue deal.

Investment firm Gordon Brothers bought the struggling discount shop last last month, with Poundland going into a ‘restructuring’ process.

Poundland confirmed today that 68 shops and two warehouses will shutter as part of the plan, subject to a court’s approval.

The company told Metro that a full list of store closures though it confirmed that the end goal would be reducing the number of Poundland stores from about 800 to 650.

Poundland will also scale back its frozen food lines but also add more women’s clothing and seasonal items, the business news website said.

In the latest blow for shoppers the shop’s branch in Colchester, Essex, closed last week, with two more branches in Dudley and Telford shutting on July 18 and 19.

The bargain chain’s 16,000 staff face an uncertain future as it negotiates with landlords to reduce rents amid tough trading conditions.

In the six months leading up to March, Poundland reported a 6.5% slump in revenue to £830million.

Barry Williams, managing director of Poundland, said: ‘It’s no secret that we have much work to do to get Poundland back on track. 

‘While Poundland remains a strong brand, serving 20 million-plus shoppers each year, our performance for a significant period has fallen short of our high standards and action is needed to enable the business to return to growth. 

‘It’s sincerely regrettable that this plan includes the closure of stores and distribution centres, but it’s necessary if we’re to achieve our goal of securing the future of thousands of jobs and hundreds of stores. 

‘It goes without saying that if our plans are approved, we will do all we can to support colleagues who will  be directly affected by the changes.’

Stephan Borchert, Pepco Group chief executive, said: ‘This transaction will strongly support our accelerated value creation programme by simplifying the group and focusing on our successful Pepco business.’

A version of this article was previously published on June 17, 2025

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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‘Oh, I’m skinny fat.’

The realisation hit me like a slap in the face, but it’s not that I think I’m overweight, I know I’m perfectly healthy.

It’s because a girl who had exactly my body type posted a ‘before and after’ TikTok of her going from slim to toned, and my body was her ‘before’.

She still looked great in the ‘before’, and by great I mean totally and completely normal. Her tummy just folded over her jeans a little as she slouched, as mine does, too. The after shot shows her with very little visble body fat.

I headed to the comments expecting to see people telling her she already looked amazing and didn’t need to lose that weight, but that wasn’t what greeted me.

A girl had written: ‘I need this bc I’m like skinny fat.’ And it had close to 11,000 likes.

Society has decided being slim is no longer good enough, now we have to be lean and toned like an athlete or model. I’d always had the luxury of being born with a body that social media deems ‘acceptable’ – until now.

The widespread use of Ozempic and other weight loss jabs has ‘reset the visual benchmark’ for what is considered ‘skinny’, says Dr Suzanne Wylie, GP and medical adviser for IQdoctor.

‘It has created a disturbing hierarchy, where even naturally slim individuals feel they must go to further extremes to maintain their status or avoid criticism,’ she tells Metro.

‘Skinny fat’ isn’t a new term – historically, it’s been used to describe a body type where individuals have a higher portion of visceral fat around their organs, depsite a ‘healthy’ BMI range. But let’s be clear: this latest iteration of the phrase is about aesthetics, not health.

Whereas five or six years ago the body positivity movement made it taboo to post this kind of content, it feels somehow socially acceptable again.

And though TikTok has banned various hashtags associated with ‘skinnytok’, the algorithm has served me video after video of how to get rid of my ‘skinny fat’.

I know it’s toxic and unnecessary, so why do I feel the need to do so?

‘I’m increasingly concerned about the impact of social media trends on young people’s perceptions of health and body image,’ Dr Suzanne tells me.

‘The idea that someone who is a size six or eight and not visibly toned might consider themselves fat, speaks to a deepening misunderstanding of body composition, health, and self-worth.’

She adds that terms like ‘skinny fat’ reflect a shift in what we deem healthy or desirable, and having zero fat on your body isn’t good for you.

‘Having some body fat is not only normal, it is essential,’ Dr Suzanne explains. ‘Fat plays a critical role in hormone production and immune function.

‘Maintaining a healthy level of body fat is vital for menstrual function and fertility. So striving for an extremely low body fat percentage, in pursuit of muscle definition, can actually be detrimental to long-term health.’

The bottom line is that being toned doesn’t necessarily equate to being healthy, especially if you’re going to try and achieve it by restricting food or exercising excessively.

‘I regularly see young women with perfectly healthy BMIs and good cardiovascular fitness who nonetheless feel inadequate because they don’t match an airbrushed or filtered online ideal,’ Dr Suzanne says.

‘The pressure to be lean, rather than just slim, is intensifying.’

Serena Novelli, body confidence coach and founder of Love Thy Body, agrees, saying: ‘This trend masks that tone has as much to do with muscle as it does with shape, and muscle needs strength, not shame, to grow.’

Disturbingly, Dr Suzanne says she’s seen an uptick in young women who come to her deeply unhappy with their appearance, despite being fit and healthy.

‘It’s worrying, because this can quickly spiral into more serious conditions such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia – especially when combined with perfectionist personality traits or low self-esteem.’

Serena wants to reiterate that ‘bodies are not trends, they’re homes’ – a mantra more important than ever in an era increasingly defined by filters, AI and weight loss jabs.

‘That little fold of skin when we bend? It’s human. It’s normal,’ she says.

‘Women have been conditioned to critique themselves endlessly, but we need less comparison and more compassion.

‘Instead of chasing another standard, let’s come home to our bodies, soft, strong, ever-changing and worthy as they are.’

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The sun is out, which means our bronze game is on – and we don’t just mean how strong are the tan lines, but how much bronzer we can wear to look naturally sunkissed, and then some. 

You may have heard the term ‘blusher blindness’, which is when people apply lashings of rouge to their cheeks it’s obvious they are wearing make-up. Well, we have that but with bronzer. We can’t get enough of it.

When I first started dabbling into the world of beauty as a teenager, my first go-to was bronzer, which was described to me as ‘the JLo glow’, and the phrase has stuck with me ever since. 

From matte to shimmer, powder, stick to liquid and cream bronzers, we have tried (and loved) them all. However, there is one standout formula that has recently topped the charts. According to John Lewis, searches for ‘cream bronzer’ are up by 114% in the last week alone, which speaks volumes. 

Now we know what you’re probably thinking. Cream bronzer can smudge, melt off, drip, and is not the most longlasting, or you may be thinking it will leave you with dark streaks on your cheeks and a glaring contrast to your natural skin. But you’d be wrong. Cream bronzer has come a long way since the hey days of Maybelline’s Dream Matte Mousse. 

But a cream bronzer is not to be confused with a liquid bronzer or stick bronzer, though they all have their place and purpose in our make-up arsenal. A cream bronzer is slightly more dense than a lightweight liquid bronzer, such as Glossier’s Cloud Paint. We would say a cream bronzer is a hybrid of a stick, liquid and powder bronzer in one. 

As bronzer aficionados we have tried and tested a whole host of cream bronzers and whittled down our absolute ride or die cream bronzers. 

Whether you apply with your finger tips, buff into the skin with a brush or beauty blender is entirely up to you. 

Shop Our Top Picks

Benefit Hoola Wave Cream Bronzer

If you’re a fan of Benefit’s iconic Hoola powder bronzer then you will equally love the cream version, which delivers the same sun-drenched bronze to the cheeks. With over 1,000 glowing reviews it really is a key staple. Available in five shades, from light to deep.

BUY NOW FOR £33

CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream Cream-Gel Bronzer

Arguably the most iconic cream bronzer out of all the cream bronzers. With its lightweight formula it is easy to blend on the skin, offers a velvet-soft finish and natural complexion.

BUY NOW FOR £50

NARS Bronzing Cream

We love a NARS bronzer because it is warm and offers a naturally sunkissed finish without any shimmer or iridescent finish. This cream bronzer has been formulated with Monoï de Tahiti oil, which is nourishing and makes this easy to blend into the skin without feeling oily. It comes in five shades to suit all skin tones and make-up looks.

BUY NOW FOR £38

Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Bronzer

We can always rely on Fenty Beauty to help us achieve a radiant complexion, all the way down to its bronzer. This multifunctional blusher is lightweight in texture, but holds a strong pigment that will last for hours on end. It blends beautifully into the skin, and can be combined with other cream or powder products. Available in seven shades, which you can use as a bronzer or contour.

BUY NOW FOR £24 (WAS £30)

Makeup By Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer

Beauty enthusiasts have been raving about Makeup By Mario’s blusher and bronzers of late, which offer a sponge-like texture and velvet finish to your skin. The Skin Enhancer has been described as a 3-in-1 product on the website because it functions as a cream bronzer to inject warmth into the skin and define your cheek bones, while also blurring and evening the skin tone. Sold!

BUY NOW FOR £32

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Sun-Kissed Glow Bronzer

If you know Charlotte Tilbury, and her products, then you will know this bronzer will leave your skin glowing, radiant and effortlessly dewy. This cream bronzer is a skincare and make-up hybrid because it has been formulated with hyaluronic acid and provitamin D3, which hydrate and nourish the skin. The bronzer itself is ultra lightweight and soft on the skin, it promises to be longlasting (up to 16 hours of wear), plus it’s sweat and humidity proof.

BUY NOW FOR £45

Saie Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer

This easy-to-use buttery-soft bronzer is just the chef's kiss. Enriched with skin-loving ingredients, including soothing colloidal oatmeal, antioxidant elderberry extract and grapeseed oil to hydrate your skin. While the matte finish sweeps across effortlessly for a natural bronzed skin. Available in six bronze shades.

BUY NOW FOR £28

Refy Cream Bronzer

Refy’s Cream Bronzer has garnered high praise from numerous customers, including its celebrity clientele – we’re looking at you Molly-Mae. The cream bronzer glides onto the skin, and leaves an airbrush finish. It has been formulated with vitamin E and sunflower seed oil to nourish the skin, plus it is also non-comedogenic, as well as free from parabens and fragrance for a bronzer suitable for all skin types. Available in six shades, all of which come in a sleek compact. However, it is pigmented, so a little goes a long way.

BUY NOW FOR £18

Do you have a favourite out of the ones we’ve chosen? Let us know, or if we’ve missed on out – which!

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Just before little Indy Glover celebrated her fifth birthday in the summer of 2023, she had a seizure so severe she appeared to stop breathing and turned blue.

Her frantic parents were forced to administer CPR for 10 minutes to keep her alive as an ambulance rushed to the scene.

‘It just came out of nowhere,’ explains her mum, Hayley Davies. ‘Before that, she’d always been fit and healthy. I’d picked her up from school, it had been a really hot day, and I could tell, beforehand, something wasn’t right with her. What happened just flipped our whole world upside down.’

Fortunately, Indy survived that terrifying ordeal – yet it would prove to be just the tip of a traumatic iceberg which would, ultimately, lead to her having seven-hour surgery to remove a quarter of her brain.

Because over the months that followed, the family, who live in Whitstable, Kent, would see the number of seizures escalate, albeit with less severe symptoms. At its peak, she was suffering more than 50 a day – incredibly able to tell her parents, Hayley and Paul, when one was about to strike.

Hayley says: ‘She would say, ‘Mum, one is coming’. It happened, day and night. And then, as soon as it finished, she’d say ‘it’s gone’.’

Initially, medical teams at the QEQM Hospital in Margate assumed it was epilepsy and started to treat the symptoms.

‘Her longest seizures lasted an hour and a half but none of the drugs they gave her to stop them worked, ‘ says Hayley. ‘Then she’d go through what’s known as a ‘honeymoon period’ where she’d be seizure-free for a day or two – then they’d start again.

‘She ended up being on five different epileptic medications, three times a day. This huge burden of medication meant she just had zero quality of life.
She was almost comatose on the sofa every day or a hospital bed. She had no spark – she was just a shell of herself.’

For her parents, the pressures were intense. Her mum says: ‘Because she was having seizures all day and night, there was no opportunity to sleep. We also had her younger brother, who was two at the time, who wasn’t even in nursery. I lost count of the times we had ambulances here. It was just constant.’

Hayley had to stop working for her jewellery design business to focus fully on her daughter. Eventually, after ‘fighting tooth and nail’, Hayley managed to get her daughter referred to specialists in London.

Staff at Evelina London Children’s Healthcare took her case on. Working alongside experts from Great Ormond Street Hospital and King’s College Hospital, her parents kept intricate records of the seizures, while medical gear was attached to Indy to try and gather data as to just what was happening to her.

Eventually, a scan revealed a slight enlargement on one side of her brain. The dilemma was the specialists couldn’t be sure of what they faced without a biopsy – which meant brain surgery was the only option and only at the point of surgery would they be sure of what the underlying problem was.

They determined the potential best course of action would be the removal of her left temporal lobe – a large chunk of the brain which they believed was causing the seizures. But that came at a potential risk – to her eyesight, mobility, memory and future learning ability. The consultants also had to weigh up if the benefits outweighed the risks.

‘That was probably my most terrifying point because it was very much if she can’t have surgery, then there isn’t anything they can do,’ remembers Hayley. ‘None of the drugs were working. Each time she had a seizure – especially the long ones – it was damaging her brain. I knew she couldn’t go on like that.’

Finally, in January, six months after that first seizure, the medics agreed she should go on the waiting list for the operation. It wasn’t until the following February that she could have the operation.

For seven nerve-wracking hours, her parents waited as surgeons removed almost a quarter of her brain. Not only did they remove the left temporal lobe but also the hippocampus too – part of the brain which helps with memory.

Hayley explains: ‘When they went in, the surgeon told us there was so much scarring they had to remove more than what they had expected. So they removed everything that was scarred that seemed to be safe.’

But there was one final cruel twist. Shortly after she awoke from surgery she suffered two further seizures. They would, however, be her last. Doctors had expected it as a result of such an operation and, two years later, she’s not had one since.

Indy’s balance and short-term memory were impacted in the months that followed, while it took a year to wean her off the powerful drugs she had been on in an effort to treat the seizures before the operation. She missed an entire year’s schooling as a consequence.

Hayley is now trying to help other children and parents in a similar position with a new business MyRealFairies selling fairy ‘companion kits’. The idea was inspired by the magical messages she used to comfort her daughter in hospital.

For each one purchased, a care fairy box will be donated to a child in the Evelina London Children’s Hospital or Great Ormond Street Hospital – who played such a key role in Indy’s recover

Today, Indy, now seven, has made, remarkably, a full recovery.

Hayley says: ‘The surgery in itself was a miracle, but it completely worked; it healed her. She had thousands of seizures before the surgery and it’s a miracle that didn’t cause any long-lasting brain damage.

‘She is just the most wonderful child – beautiful inside and out.’

It looks so simple, but holding a plank is anything but.

No matter how long you’ve been horizontal for, it feels like an eternity.

The annoying thing, is that the plank really is good for you. Loved by yoga mums, army cadets and everyone in between, the core strengthening exercise is undeniably effective. But just how long are you meant to be able to hold it?

The record for the longest plank was set by Josef Salek from the Czech Republic in May 2023 – an unbelievable 9 hours and 38 minutes, around an hour longer than a flight from London to New York. 

Arms shaking just thinking about it? Well, thankfully, the average person doesn’t need to spend a full day in agony.

Rowan Clift, training and nutrition specialist at Freeletics, tells Metro that the exercise is about ‘quality, not quantity’. However, there are some parameters, depending on your age, which can be a useful guideline for your next workout.

Aged 20-39: 45-60 seconds

‘In your 20s and 30s, being able to plank for 45-60 seconds is a solid marker of good core endurance,’ says PT Joseph Webb, who has been in the fitness industry for 17 years.

But, Joseph adds: ‘The purpose of a plank isn’t to chase an arbitrary number. It’s to build usable core stability that supports what you want to do outside of the gym.’

It might take some trial and error achieving a plank. As a starting point, put yourself in the position of, well, a plank. Use your forearms and toes to hold yourself parallel to the ground, with your back and legs straight (not arched).

Joseph adds it’s important to ‘keep hips level with shoulders, squeeze glutes and engage thighs, and maintain a natural neck position.’

He says: ‘Brace your abdominals as if preparing for a punch, but keep your breathing fluid, as if you’re sitting on the couch.

‘Sagging hips, flared ribs or strained shoulders mean you’re no longer training the muscles you think you are.’

Ages 40-59: 30-45 seconds

Joseph says: ‘From my experience working with hundreds of clients in this age range, I’ve found that maintaining a 30-45 second plank with excellent form demonstrates very respectable endurance and trunk stability.’

That doesn’t mean you can’t push yourself though. ‘If you’re able to confidently reach 60 seconds, that’s generally a sign of excellent core control for this age group.’

Adjusting to the technique can be more difficult as you age, however. This can be due to various reasons, including loss of muscle mass and strength.

‘As muscles around the hips, pelvis and spine weaken, or become less coordinated, it takes more effort to stabilise the plank position,’ says Joseph.

‘Those in this age category may also find planking difficult due to joint stiffness or previous injuries, which can make it harder to hold a rigid position.’

Age 60+: 15 to 30 seconds

Joseph advises his clients aged 60 and over to aim for 15 to 30 seconds of a full plank with good form.

‘If you can build up to 30 seconds, that’s an excellent marker of strong functional core endurance at this stage of life.’

Rowan adds that if you’re 60+ and finding the plank difficult, you can modify the exercise to make it a little easier.

He explains: ‘Plank on the knees or with hands elevated on a bench to build strength while reducing pressure on the wrists, shoulders and lower back.’

Remember: quantity over quality

The most important question to ask yourself is: What’s the goal?

Joseph explains: ‘The purpose of a plank is to to build core stability that supports what you want to do outside of the gym.

‘Whether that’s running, lifting or simply moving well in daily life, the question is: “Is my core doing its job when I need it?”.’

How often should you plank?

Rowan advises incorporating planks into your workout regime three to five times a week. He says: ‘Your core benefits from regular activation, but you do also need to allow time for rest and recovery.

‘Performing planks daily can be fine, especially if you are varying the intensity and duration, but if you’re experiencing fatigue or tightness, have at least one day’s rest.’

You should be careful of pushing yourself too much, Rowan adds. ‘If you experience shaking, holding your breath, pain in your lower back or shoulders, or your hips begin to sag, it’s time to stop. These are signs that muscles have fatigued and your form is breaking down.’

This article was originally published in May 2025.

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We think it’s fair to say the majority of the population don’t know what to do without their phones and tech gadgets. And no shade because we include ourselves in that too. 

Whether you are heading to a festival, camping or not, maybe you’re embarking on an unforgettable road trip, or getaway with the whole family, chargers will be in high demand to avoid your phone running out of battery. 

Cue Jackery. Jackery is a leading tech company that has created a whole host of tech gadgets that are clean and environmentally friendly to save the day. The devices range from Portable Power Stations to Solar Generator, and much more, so you can ensure your tools never run out of juice.  

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station

With 1070Wh capacity, 1500W output, and multiple outlets, this powerful power station can charge numerous devices at a time. It weighs approximately 10kg, is compact in size and boasts a foldable top handle to make it easy to transport and store. It is also silent to charge.

BUY NOW FOR £449.00 (WAS £899)

Jackery has launched a huge sale with up to half price on select items, including the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station, which is a green, reliable and ultra-convenient compact power solution. 

The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station is now only £499, reduced from £899, which makes a whopping 50% off.  

It’s the perfect companion for outdoor lovers, serving as a back-up during a power outage, or simply to power your weekend in the wild. With zero emissions, quiet operation, and a five-year worry-free warranty, this silent generator is as kind to your ears as it is to the planet. It’s also a smart way to cut energy bills by tapping into solar power for the house or garden.

With 1070Wh capacity and a powerful 1500W output, and its multiple outputs, means you can power your campsite and power up numerous devices out of the one device. 

As well as powering the contents of your RV or camping kit, it is also ideal for home emergencies to keep your fridge, freezer, computer and other electrical devices powered up. 

The Explorer is ultra lightweight, weighing approximately 10kg, and it’s 18% smaller than other devices. This means it is compact enough to store in the home, or your car for emergencies, and it is easy enough to carry with you when pitching up in a remote field for the weekend. The Explorer also features a foldable handle to make it easy to carry. 

With Jackery’s cutting-edge portable power stations and solar generators on sale you will never miss a call, turning on your hike, or a morning coffee – if you’ve packed your kettle. All you need is camping equipment and you’re good to go. 

The best part is the half price sale sees the price heavily reduced, but we have a discount code that will save you more. Simply enter ‘JAMETRO’ at the checkout to claim an extra 5% off your entire order from now until 1st August. 

This deal can be used alongside existing deals, and no minimum spend is required. You can thank us later. 

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If you were planning on heading to Abu Dhabi this autumn, you might want to look a little closer at your travel options, as Wizz Air is set to stop all flights to and from the city.

From 1 September 2025, the budget airline will no longer serve the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi is known as the ‘Orlando of the Middle East’ due to its many theme parks, including Warner Bros World and Ferrari World. Disney is set to open a new resort there in 2032.

But it’s bad news for travellers who had already booked some winter sun. Wizz Air say existing bookings won’t be honoured — but customers shouldn’t find themselves out of pocket.

In a statement to Metro, the carrier said: ‘Passengers with existing bookings beyond 31 August 2025 will be contacted directly via email with options for refunds or alternative travel arrangements.

‘Customers who booked through third-party providers are advised to contact their respective agents.’

The airline confirmed that no other flights to other destinations will be affected.

Wizz Air has been operating out of Zayed International Airport for four years, but says it is now focusing on ‘Central and Eastern Europe and select Western markets’ instead.

The carrier added that the decision was made due to ‘a comprehensive reassessment of market dynamics, operational challenges, and geopolitical developments in the Middle East.’

Travel across the region was thrown into chaos in June, after Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran.

Qatar temporarily closed its airspace and hundreds of flights were cancelled and diverted, with many redirecting to the UAE hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, said: ‘We have had a tremendous journey in the Middle East and are proud of what we have built. I thank our highly dedicated employees for their relentless efforts and commitment for developing the WIZZ brand in new and dynamic markets.

‘However, the operating environment has changed significantly. Supply chain constraints, geopolitical instability, and limited market access have made it increasingly difficult to sustain our original ambitions.

‘While this was a difficult decision, it is the right one given the circumstances.

‘We continue to focus on our core markets and on initiatives that enhance Wizz Air’s customer proposition and build shareholder value.’

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