‘I’ve been sworn at, jabbed with a walking stick in the ribs, pushed and shoved’: what it’s like to work in retail in the run-up to Christmas

December 19, 2017, 6:00 am

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Exhausting. Frustrating. Depressing. Working in retail over Christmas sucks all the enjoyment out of the holidays.

When I was a manager for a well-known record shop, you had to work 14 days straight before Christmas, including Sundays.

5 reasons why retail workers deserve to have Boxing Day off

On top of that, the store extends its opening hours, meaning you sometimes had to work from 7am till after 9pm.

So you can imagine what that does to your state of mind.

Early December is… Read the full story

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Britain’s loneliest pets write letters to Santa

December 19, 2017, 6:14 am

≫ Next: If you think that British meat is more humane than American, you’re deluded

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Christmas can be a lonely time if you’re an orphan.

This year, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home wants to shine the spotlight on their favourite four-legged creatures who are hoping for the ultimate gift: a loving home.

The charity has been helping some of the centre’s loneliest residents pen sweet letters to Santa.

Battersea’s Rehoming and Welfare Manager, Becky Fisher, said: ‘We do everything we can to make Christmas as fun as possible for our dogs.

‘We give them a special Christmas lunch, decorate the kennels and play carols to get them in the festive spirit.

‘But it’s not the same as being in their own home –… Read the full story

If you think that British meat is more humane than American, you’re deluded

December 19, 2017, 6:51 am

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Vegan documentaries get a bad rap.

Films like Cowspiracy and What the Health are dismissed by many Brits as being overly American, too simplified and well, unrelatable.

You see, here in Britain, we love animals.

We are a country of rolling hills, happy sheep chomping on wind-blown grass, bucolic scenes of lovely cows being gently milked.

Hell, even I like to think of Yorkshire as being home to steak pies cooked with the most free-range cows who lived their best lives right up until they slipped into a beautiful state of euthanasia.

That’s why all these horrific Earthlings-type movies are filmed in the states. They’re a nation of cow-kickers and slaughterers, not us. I… Read the full story

Of course hanging baubles on your nails is the next Christmas beauty trend

December 19, 2017, 7:28 am

≫ Next: These are allegedly the UK’s favourite board games but honestly we’re not convinced

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While you’re turning your eyebrows into reindeer, sticking tinsel in your lashes, and painting wreaths on your lids, you might as well just cover your hands in fairy lights and hang baubles off your nails. Right?

Queen of extra nail art Park Eunkyung has unveiled her take on a festive manicure: bauble nails.

Park cut shreds of tinsel to the same size as her nails, then stuck it on with glue – with plenty of tinsel hanging over the edge. She then added some teeny tiny baubles, looping and tying the tinsel through, and finished the look by wrapping… Read the full story

These are allegedly the UK’s favourite board games but honestly we’re not convinced

December 19, 2017, 7:33 am

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The survey of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by Coral Casino found that the nation’s favourite game is Monopoloy.

Yep. Monopoly. Otherwise known as the relationship ruiner.

The research found that across the UK, 84% of adults will sit down to play one with friends and family after their Christmas dinner, with people in Edinburgh the most likely to sit down for a game. 91%  of Edinburgh residents will be playing a board or card game this Christmas.

Anyway, back to this list of board games which honestly we at the Metro.co.uk office think is pretty flawed.

The UK’s top ten favourite after dinner games for UK… Read the full story

If you’re bored, how about trying this dumb ‘straight arm challenge’?

December 19, 2017, 8:32 am

≫ Next: Christmas Smut Plug: Comedians reveal their filthiest Christmas tales

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It’s been a while since the last big internet challenge had folk making asses of themselves for shares.

Remember the cinnamon challenge? Or the mannequin challenge?

Well, now we have the ‘straight arm challenge’.

All you’ve got to do is try to down a drink without bending your arm.

But it’s trickier than it looks.

You can’t bend your elbow so you need to hold your arm out rigidly above your head…and that often seems to result in… Read the full story

Christmas Smut Plug: Comedians reveal their filthiest Christmas tales

December 19, 2017, 10:00 pm

≫ Next: This is what it’s like spending Christmas in a psychiatric hospital

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Here’s your guide to shows in London by people who have definitely done a lot worse than kissing Santa Claus.

The premise is simple: comedians and cabarets artistes from throughout London have been busy telling me their smuttiest stories, and I write them up for you – the general public – to perv over.

The weirdest injuries an ex sex worker has sustained during sex

In return, I will give details of all their upcoming… Read the full story

This is what it’s like spending Christmas in a psychiatric hospital

December 19, 2017, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Woman shares how endometriosis means she hasn’t had clear skin for two years

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Christmas was on the horizon – decorations were being put up, TV programmes focused on the festivities and people were talking about present shopping and plans to see their family.

But the bright lights and baubles meant nothing to me.

This year I had turned 26 and had tried to take my life on a number of occasions. I was planning to do so again if only I was given the chance.

I started struggling with anorexia, depression and self harm in my teens and, at my worst, suffered extreme suicidal behaviour.

I’d got to the point where… Read the full story

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Woman shares how endometriosis means she hasn’t had clear skin for two years

December 19, 2017, 11:00 pm

≫ Next: Five of the most Googled health questions of 2017, answered

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Endometriosis is so much more than just bad period pains.

It can cause excruciating discomfort, extreme bloating, and intensely heavy periods.

It can also have a massive effect on your skin.

Thessy Kouzoukas, the 27 year old co-owner of fashion brand Sabo Skirt has taken to Instagram to share her reality of living with endometriosis, explaining how the illness has affected her skin for the last two years.

This isn’t the first time Thessy’s opened up about endometriosis. She previously shared photos of how much her illness makes her bloat, and is dedicated to sharing what living with endometriosis is really like after having surgery that removed… Read the full story

Five of the most Googled health questions of 2017, answered

December 19, 2017, 11:40 pm

≫ Next: Christmas around the world: Why Venezuelans roller skate to mass on Christmas Eve

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When you’re an adult feeling a bit poorly, the first thing you do isn’t call up your mum – you speedily go to consult Dr Google.

Sometimes that’s a smart move. You figure out that you have a cold, you find a cosy hot drink recipe to soothe your throat, and head back to bed.

Other times it’s not a smart move. You do a deep dive into the search results and strongly believe your scratchy throat is an extremely rare disease and you are destined to die in the next 48 hours.

To the people experiencing the latter, please, get off your laptop and book a doctor’s… Read the full story

Christmas around the world: Why Venezuelans roller skate to mass on Christmas Eve

December 20, 2017, 12:00 am

≫ Next: Parents pose for heartbreaking photos with stillborn child to raise awareness of the importance of a soundproof bereavement suite

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Of all the holidays, Christmas, as far as I’m concerned, is the most fun.

There’s cake, party games and you eat a three-course meal while telling jokes and wearing kooky hats – what could beat that?

Well, for one thing, roller-skates.

Here’s how you can help people without basic appliances this Christmas

That’s right, just when you thought Christmas could not get any merrier, the lovely people of Venezuela have gone and upped the ante with a tradition that makes building snowmen look positively dull.

For locals in the capital of Caracas,… Read the full story

Parents pose for heartbreaking photos with stillborn child to raise awareness of the importance of a soundproof bereavement suite

December 20, 2017, 12:07 am

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Losing a child is an unbearable type of pain – one that’s made all the worse when you’re surrounded by parents happily holding their children.

Imagine learning that your child has passed away as you hear other new parents greeting their healthy, happy babies. That’s a reality many have to go through in the maternity sections of hospitals – and it’s something one couple wants to change.

Maria Grennan, 37, was almost a week over her due date with her first child when she noticed that her baby was not moving. She was told by doctors that her baby had died due to an unknown condition.

Maria gave birth… Read the full story

Guy wants to re-adopt the dog he surrendered after donors paid for his care

December 20, 2017, 1:02 am

≫ Next: How woman bullied for facial deformity learned to love her looks

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Boris is a 10-year-old Chihuaha who was brought to a shelter last week after suffering a broken jaw from an alteraction with another dog.

The little dog was in extreme pain but his owner didn’t have the money to pay for his X-rays and surgery and so he was forced to surrender Boris to the shelter.

Thanks to the care and attention of the Cedar Bend Humane Society, Boris has made a massive recovery and his human is now desperate to re-adopt him.

But the animal rescue community isn’t so sure that he should be able to.

Once the Humane Society was granted custody of Boris, staff rushed him to a local veterinary clinic where he underwent emergency surgery and due to the severity of his injuries, the shelter staff were unable to raise donations to cover the surgery, follow-up care and rehabilitation in advance.

Read the full story

How woman bullied for facial deformity learned to love her looks

December 20, 2017, 1:27 am

≫ Next: Marleying is the next hot dating trend here to mess with your Christmas joy

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Cynthia Murphy was born with a rare craniofacial disorder.

Having suffered years of being bullied and beaten over her looks, she’s had over 16 surgeries to transform her appearance.

And that abuse has plagued her into her adult life.

But the 32-year-old from California now says that, finally, she has accepted herself – thanks to her husband of 11 years.

She says that because of him, she no longer feels like ‘someone who could never find love’.

Cynthia has Treacher Collins Syndrom, which causes deformity of the eyes, ears, cheekbones and chin. It only affects one in 50,000 people and there’s no cure.

‘It wasn’t until I started advocating for… Read the full story

Marleying is the next hot dating trend here to mess with your Christmas joy

December 20, 2017, 1:46 am

≫ Next: Guys takes his wife’s name when they got married and now everyone thinks he’s a hero

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Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without some kind of intensely aggravating relationship drama.

Perhaps you hooked up with someone inappropriate at the Christmas party. Maybe you allowed the festive spirit to break your strong barrier against f***boys and accidentally messaged to see if that one terrible guy who ghosted you might still be interested.

Or, just maybe, your dating woes could be horribly on trend and you could be a victim of Marleying – a catchy new term for people’s generally awful dating behaviour.

Not to be confused with the Urban Dictionary definition of Marleying – ‘when something is jamming’ – The Independent reports that the dating… Read the full story

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Guys takes his wife’s name when they got married and now everyone thinks he’s a hero

December 20, 2017, 1:59 am

≫ Next: 6 sex toys that make the perfect Christmas presents

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Changing surnames after getting married is still a pretty contentious issue.

If you don’t want to end up with a bombastic double-barrelled situation, you’re forced to weigh up the ramifications of taking your husband’s name – which many increasingly regard as being pretty archaic.

On the one hand, you don’t want to lose your own identity. On the other…it’s the done thing and you don’t want to insult your life partner.

But Grant Phillips’ wife has been spared such a Sophie’s Choice.

Because he’s decided to take her surname instead. And people are treating him like some goddamn hero online.

‘After much time and consideration, I have made the… Read the full story

6 sex toys that make the perfect Christmas presents

December 20, 2017, 2:00 am

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I don’t know about you, but I miss the days of flipping through toy catalogues to see what I wanted Santa to bring me on Christmas Eve.

Now, however, I find myself with some very different stockings to fill, and enough money to spend on treats for myself without worrying about whether I’ve been good or very, very naughty.

So I’ve sought out some great sex toys for solo use, as well as ones you can enjoy with a partner.

After all, this is a time of year that’s all about giving.

Sex Toy Advent Calendar

Read the full story

Here’s how to support someone with an eating disorder at Christmas

December 20, 2017, 2:00 am

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When I struggled with anorexia, I became acutely aware that every single celebration centers around food.

Just give it a couple of minutes’ thought.

Even after recovering from my eating disorder, I’m left with serious physical side-effects

There is absolutely no celebration, from baby showers to baptisms, weddings to wakes, Christmas, Easter and birthdays, where food isn’t a top priority.

What food shall we have? How much food do we need? How do we cater for different diets?

Now, imagine one of those celebrations if you’re obsessed with food, whether it’s how… Read the full story

If you’re too indecisive to get a tattoo, try this tattoo clothing instead

December 20, 2017, 2:26 am

≫ Next: The Tea Terrace in London is now serving selfieccinos

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Tattoos can be mega beautiful and chic but if you’re the kinda guy who can’t decide what to have for lunch let alone what art to etch into your body forever, they’re not for you.

But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out entirely.

Because one fashion line has started designing tattoo-inspired garments that will transform to make you look like a proper badass.

Tattoosweaters is the brainchild of costume designer and fashion editor Anna Osmekhina, and ‘sees clothing as the second sin and tattoos as the only true way to decorate it’.

Every year, Tattoosweaters releases a line of basic garms (dresses, underwear, sweaters, etc.) which is then decorated with… Read the full story

The Tea Terrace in London is now serving selfieccinos

December 20, 2017, 2:48 am

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Ever feel like your extra hot salted caramel latte with soya milk and a pump of spiced syrup just isn’t personal enough?

‘Course you have. Because you’re deeply self-obsessed, just like the rest of us.

Thankfully, you don’t need to make your caffeine hit more personalised by requesting camel milk or adding on even more barista-infuriating extras.

Instead you can just head to The Tea Terrace, in House of Fraser’s Oxford Street branch, and grab a selfieccino.

Yes, this indeed a cappuccino topped with a selfie. Your face printed in foam, resting on top of a cappuccino.

Read the full story