Waitrose has some pretty fancy stuff including caviar, ostrich eggs, and of course, their exclusive Heston Blumenthal range.
The top TV chef knows a thing or two when it comes to food but surprisingly his snazzy gin didn’t perform as well as other brands in a drinks competition.
In fact, Aldi’s £10 gin was voted better than his £25 drink in a taste test for the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
And the contest is dubbed the ‘Michelin guide for booze’, so judges know what they’re talking about.
(Picture: Waitrose)
Heston’s Citrus Sherbet Lazy Gin is described as ‘natural citrus botanicals which add a lemon sherbet zest to this classic, apple-based London dry gin’.
‘Simply add Mediterranean tonic, ice and serve with a stick of liquorice, no need for the slice,’ Waitrose boasts on its website.
But judges let the taste do all the talking and did a blind test, saying both Aldi and Lidl are better than the Heston stuff.
The competition had over 600 entries from nearly 90 categories for the gin category so Waitrose should still be content with third place.
‘Heston Blumenthal produces mind-blowing flavours that tantalise his diners’ senses from plate to palate’ said food and drink expert Martin Isark, who runs the website Can I Eat It?
‘And his restaurants impress the experts from the Michelin guide who have awarded him six Michelin stars.
‘However, where his gin is concerned he failed to impress the judges.’
Aldi certainly seems to know what it’s doing with its gin as the budget supermarket recently released a passionfruit flavoured bottle, perfect for a Pornstar Martini.
When it comes to families, it’s the relationship – not the biology that matters.
But it also depends a lot on how old you are when you learn that your family isn’t as traditional as you thought…especially if it turns out that a sibling has a different mum or dad.
Pam Tina’s pre-teen brother was shocked when he found out they didn’t share the same set of parents.
So he wrote her a heartfelt letter and left her some snacks in case she was sad about it.
My little brother found out I’m not his fully sister and I came home to this.. I’m crying.. pic.twitter.com/DAC0yUUBt4
Writing on Twitter, Pam wrote: ‘My little brother found out I’m not his full sister and I came home to this. I’m crying.’
In the note, he wrote: ‘I just wanted to let you know how much I love you. I don’t care what people say, you’re always going to be my sister, my full blooded sister.
‘You are the best thing that happened to me, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for helping me on my worst and thank you for leading me on the right way.
‘I will always be there for you like you’ve been there for me.’
He ended the letter by saying ‘with love, your annoying brother’.
Naturally, the touching letter was met with a flurry of positive comments and messages from people recounting their own experiences.
One woman wrote: ‘When my little sister found out our dad isn’t my biological dad she was so upset for me, she cried and held me like she was gonna shield me from it.’
Another said: ‘When I found out my oldest brother wasn’t my full brother I said and I quote “I thought he was different. But I like him more anyway”.’
‘When my sister realised we didn’t have the same dad, she told me I could share hers and she was gonna tell him to adopt me,’ said another user.
The sweet snack-pack for Pam included Coke bottles, chocolate chip cookies, nuts, and more.
Manow Jutathip Nimnual spent weeks planning her extravagant wedding to Phakin Junjerm, even hiring a billboard to advertise their big day.
The 24-year-old, from Thailand, wanted their big day to be one to remember for more than just those invited – and so she live-streamed the occasion on Facebook.
Tragically, her husband-to-be didn’t show up. So she got up on stage, still in her wedding gown and veil, and apologised to everyone for all the fuss.
She addressed the crowd and told them the day had not gone how she planned as her partner had left her.
Naturally, she won over many of the guests – as well as winning some new fans online.
(Picture: Manow Jutathip Nimnual/Facebook)
The clip of her breaking the news to all their family and friends has since gone viral, being viewed over five million times.
Manow has been left with a flurry of positive comments and sympathy, wishing the best for her future.
‘Keep fighting, I’m rooting for you!’ wrote one person.
Another wrote: ‘Keep fighting, sister, be strong, you are beautiful’.
The bride was comforted by family (Picture: Manow Jutathip Nimnual/Facebook)
(Picture: Manow Jutathip Nimnual/Facebook)
The young couple had sent out 1,000 invites and taken pre-wedding shots to be put up on a billboard.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Manow’s cousin said the engaged couple had some arguments a week before the wedding.
It’s thought that Phakin may have had a secret lover, causing him to run away from his relationship with Manow.
Manow has now filed a police complaint about her former partner and is seeking compensation for planning and booking the wedding.
The best way to beat divorce odds is to not get married.
Or you could always marry yourself; after all, the longest relationship you’re going to have is with yourself.
Linda Doktar has had her fair share of heartbreak and so has decided to marry herself.
The 34-year-old from Australia held an intimate beach ceremony and invited only three of her closest friends.
The romantic setup had all the trimmings of a standard wedding; white wedding gown, colourful bouquet, and vows which she said while holding a mirror to herself.
(Picture: Linda Doktar / MDWfeatures)
Linda first got the idea for a self-marriage from her friend EJ who is a relationship coach and has performed them in the past.
‘I thought this was a beautiful concept to symbolise my journey into loving and honouring myself on a deeper level,’ Linda explained.
‘I believe that the most important relationship I will ever have is with myself.
‘I know and understand that the quality of the relationship we have with ourselves determines the quality of experiences we have with others.
(Picture: Linda Doktar / MDWfeatures)
Linda said she enjoyed the small ceremony where there was a red satin walkway lined with rose petals and flowers.
The whole thing doesn’t mean she’s closed off to having a relationship though, she explained, and is just a commitment to herself.
She revealed it comes after she led a life of self-loathing which the ceremony symbolised an end to, putting her on the journey to self-love and spirituality.
Who knows, self-marriages might just become a trend.
When it comes to pukka hairdos, history has had a number of fabulous icons to choose from.
Just ask Rachael Gibson, AKA The Hair Historian.
Rachael has set up an Instagram account dedicated to sharing depictions of hair history from various eras, countries and artistic schools.
She tells Metro.co.uk that she’s ‘interested in the cultural and social history of hair and what it says about what was going on in the world at the time’.
‘Hair has absolutely played a part in female empowerment; as with any aspect of fashion, it has often been used to send messages, stand out and rebel against the status quo,’ Rachael explains.
‘Historically, women have been told they have to wear their hair long, natural and “up”, so only their partners could see it in its loose, natural state. When women started to wear their hair short in the 1920s, it caused such outrage that one father sued the hairdresser who cut his daughter’s hair without his permission – and even to this day we see so much conversation about whether older women should cut their hair short, or if it’s OK to go grey, or countless other guidelines on how we should or shouldn’t look.
‘Anything that goes against the grain has always been a risky statement, and one that provided liberation from societal guidelines.’
After studying fashion at university, the self-proclaimed hair historian went on to do an MA in fashion journalism, which led to her eventually ending up in the hairdressing industry.
‘I used to work on a publication called Hairdressers Journal, which is a business title for professional hairdressers that’s more than 130-years-old,’ she says.
‘I used to love going through the archives and looking at historical issues, and found myself taking photos of all the most interesting bits and saving them on Pinterest. After the Hairdressers Journal, I worked for a few years with an education company called Mastered, where I created their courses with sessions stylists like Guido and Sam McKnight.
‘All of this experience led to me realising that lots of young creatives weren’t looking outside of online/fashion mags for inspiration.’
Rachael says that she was forever seeing the same images being used as references and it was just quite uninspiring.
‘I wanted to help people realise they could get inspired anywhere. I had such a huge backlog of historical hair images that I decided to put it all together and create the Instagram account.
‘I’m not saying everyone has to be inspired by art or the images I like, but rather to hopefully encourage people to look harder at sources of inspiration and turn their own passions into ideas for work.
‘I’m interested in the semiotics of hair and beauty and fashion, and how much they can tell us about a person and a moment in time’.
So, what’s Rachael’s favourite period of hair inspo?
‘I love the hair depicted in pre-Raphaelite artwork – lots of great red hair, braids and beautiful updos in images from people like Rossetti.’
And she says that she gets inspiration herself from the images she posts online.
‘I went through a real hair bow resurgence recently after posting lots of images featuring ribbons,’ she says.
‘Although I’m not a hairdresser myself, I always find the textures, shapes, styles, cuts and colours in the art that I share totally inspiring.’
A model has had her beloved dog cremated and stuffed into a replica teddy, after giving the pup a full funeral.
Daley South, 30, held a ceremony with 25 mourners, eulogies, recitals and a releasing of butterflies at sunset, before having Diavol’s ashes made into a stuffed canine clone.
Diavol, a three-year-old wolfdog, died in a tragic accident at the start of July.
‘There was no question about having the funeral,’ says Daley, from Texas.
‘You would have one for a child or friend, so why not for a dog? My husband and I decided to have fur-children instead of human children. Diavol really was like my baby. When he was born we even had a “puppy shower” for him, with games and presents.’
Daley manged to find a company which speicalised in making bespoke stuffed effigies of deceased pets, using owners’ photos.
(Picture: PA Real Life)
‘In the days after he was gone, I just needed something to fill the void,’ she explains.
‘I was searching for anything. Then I found Cuddle Clones and it was perfect.’
Four weeks and £228 later, she received her doggie doll; she zipped Diavol’s ashes in a zipped pouch in its stomach.
Although Daley admits to being worried that the doll would feel ‘too morbid’, she says that its given her great comfort.
‘I haven’t slept with it too much yet. Our other dog Devora, also a wolfdog, is also very interested in it but I’m worried she might chew it so haven’t let her get too close.’
She says that she’d be devasted if the doll ever got damaged, as it’s such a fitting tribute to Diavol, who ran off after being scared by fireworks.
Stuffed replica of Diavol, described by Daley as her soulmate (Picture: PA Real Life)
‘I will never forget how helpless we felt, after several hours of searching for him on foot and screaming his name into the night,’ she recalls.
‘Feeling utterly powerless, I then got in the car and took to the local roads, finding him covered in blood at the side of the road.
‘I pretty much blacked out from grief. My husband ran all the way from our house at 3am and found me there in the road, lying unconscious next to Diavol.’
At the funeral, there were eulogies and recitals (Picture: PA Real Life)
After his untimely death, Daley kept Diavol’s body in the freezer, before it was taken away to a local animal cremator. Daley and her husband Logan, placed the urn on the alter at his funeral alongside his baby teeth and favourite balls.
Friends, family, babysitters and dog-groomers attended the ‘spiritual’ ceremony where they bid farewell to the loyal canine.
The funeral was held at Daley and Logan’s home in Austin, Texas (Picture: PA Real Life)
‘I knew Diavol so well,’ says Dailey.
‘He was no saint, though. People try to make out that the recently departed were perfect, but in reality, Diavol was silly, moody and spoilt – a real doofus, or daft dog. That’s why I loved him, and now I feel like I’ve lost a piece of my soul.’
According to the ONS, more people than ever are working as freelancers.
Since 2001 the number of UK freelancers has more than tripled and now around 15% of the work force is freelance.
For some people this isn’t a choice. Hiring freelancers can be cheaper for employers because they’re not obliged to give you holiday or sick pay.
However, for lots of us, freelancing is a choice. Why? Because it’s a really great lifestyle. But is it for you?
I’ve been freelancing for five years this summer. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.
It’s not for everyone
I didn’t go freelance by choice, I did it because I wanted to be a journalist and I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to hire me (I had no experience or training, so not entirely unreasonable). I started taking on small jobs, and within a year I was a columnist for a National broadsheet. I would never have progressed that quickly in a 9-5 job.
That said, the lifestyle suits me. I’m very self centered, enjoy my own company and hate the idea of having my holiday or ability to travel limited by someone in HR.
If you like your work to be varied, prefer to have control over what projects you undertake and are comfortable with an element of risk about your career, it’s perfect.
If you like stability, reliability, companionship and a clear cut trajectory, it’s not.
It doesn’t mean having no boss
Lots of people think that freelancing means having no boss. In reality, it means having lots of bosses. Yes, you can choose what work to do and who to tell to get lost eventually, but at least while you build a reputation you have to work for pretty much anyone who’ll have you.
On the upside, it’s a more equal relationship and the only thing that your ‘boss’ has any control over is your actual work. You’re not bound by anyone else’s holiday policy or workplace rules.
Work events are important
If you want to go freelance you need to work out how you’re going to find enough work to support yourself. Networking events are a big part of that. If you think being freelance means skipping awkward office parties, you’ve got another think coming.
You need to join professional networking groups and turn up to anything you can. If there is a piece of work going and it’s between a person you’ve met in real life and a name on a screen, it’s always going to go to the person you’ve met in real life.
Routine matters
When I started working from home people would always say, ‘Oh you must be so disciplined with your routine’ and other freelancers told me that I had to get up at a regular time and get in front of my desk showered and changed.
I don’t do any of those things. For me a good routine is waking up around half eight in the morning, working from bed until mid-morning, having breakfast, then showering and getting dressed. I think best when I’ve just woken up, so why waste that time on getting ready?
Similarly, it’s tempting to think that you can do loads of housework because you’re at home. You can’t. Work time is work time.
There is no right or wrong way
You have to find your own way with freelancing. I know freelancers who work in cafes, but I need total silence. Some freelance friends can sit in the park with their laptop, but I’d never be able to concentrate if I were sitting outside.
Trial and error is the only way to work it out. If you’re struggling to find what works for you, a local library is often a great place to try.
Get an accountant
Seriously. It’s not worth trying to do it alone. Just hire one.
Staying at home all day makes you loopy
If your partner works in an office, they’ll have been talking all day. They’ve used up their words. You, on the otherhand, haven’t had any water cooler chat about Love Island or Brexit.
There’s no perfect answer to this, other than both of you making an effort to be understanding towards each other.
You need some exercise
I work for myself three days a week, and I’m in the office here at Metro.co.uk two days a week. When I dropped my days in an office – the days where I needed to commute – I saw a noticeable difference in my weight. Whenever I’ve been doing a project outside of the house I’ve found that the seven minutes walk to the tube station in the morning and in the evening makes a marked difference to my health and fitness.
It sounds tiny, but 14 minutes a day, 5 days a week is 70 minutes of walking a week. Quite a lot to loose out on, so even if it’s a ten minute run (my specialty) you need to replace that movement and vitamin D.
It’s not all or nothing
Being freelance doesn’t have to mean working from home on one-person projects all of the time.
It’s entirely possible to get some ongoing projects where you pop into the office and work with the same people on a long term basis, as well as your own independent side hustles.
Also, you might find that being freelance suits you perfectly during a period of your life but that it’s not forever. That’s totally fine too.
Booking a holiday takes time; you want to get a good price, make sure there’s a decent range of activities, and make sure you can lounge around the pool.
So obviously you’re going to have a browse or two while you’re at work.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone as a new study revealed over 58% of Brits do the same.
Employees spend 29 minutes a week planning holidays, wasting over three working days every year, according to research by comparison website Finder.com.
Millennials especially are likely to be swayed by travel bloggers and influencers, with almost three quarters (74%) admitting they’re likely to plan the whole thing at work.
That doesn’t compare to our Australian counterparts who clearly don’t give a toss and spend 57 minutes a week looking for getaways.
While it might be saving you from cutting into your own time, it is costing your industry big bucks.
On a national scale, it costs UK businesses £180 million in wages per week or £9.3 billion annually, with 125 million working days lost on holiday planning.
Much better to do it when you’re alone so the boss doesn’t catch you (Picture: Getty)
And there’s a difference between how much men and women search too.
Male employees are more likely to be distracted by their holiday whims as 63% regularly check out potential trips compared to 52% of women.
Men also spend 33 minutes a week looking for good deals while women spend 26. Well, at least they’re not watching porn in the office.
Londoners are the most ballsy when it comes to sneaky surfing as they lose 39 minutes of work time every week (that’s probably because of the number of easily accessible airports in the city).
The West Midlands follow London, spending 34 minutes while East Anglians lose the smallest amount of time at just 21 minutes per week.
Scottish workers are too busy enjoying their work to be making social plans on the job as 46% admitted to never browsing in the office.
River Island has hired a seven-year-old double amputee to model its summer clothes.
Daisy Demetree, who had both of her legs amputated when she was just 18 months old due to a birth defect, has been chosen to model the store’s new girls’ activewear.
This change is a massive step for diversity in fashion, following on from Primark’s latest image which showed Kelly Knox, a model with one arm, modelling clothes on its Instagram account.
Daisy, who has two prosthetic legs and is also a keen gymnast, can be seen modelling joggers and T-shirts on River Island’s website.
The little girl, from Birmingham, started modelling just six months ago with Zebedee Management, which specialises in working with clients with disabilities.
(Picture: Emma Wright/Zebedee/Bav Media)
She has since appeared on the catwalk at London Fashion Week and done a number of shoots with some of the biggest retailers in the UK.
‘She is a wonderful example to us all that no matter what life throws your way we can choose to make the best of it, that life is fragile and can be short, so live every day the best you can and take a few chances in life because you just don’t know where it will lead,’ said Zoe Proctor, of Zebedee Management.
‘She and all our other models are our passion and our drive and the reason we work so hard behind the scenes, so we can help make dreams become realities for some of the best people we know.’
Daisy’s parents knew she would have to have her legs amputated after a birth defect was picked up at her second scan.
She had the operation when she was 18 months old, but her disability has not stopped her and she is also a talented gymnast and goes to the gym three times a week.
(Picture: River Island/Zebedee/Bav Media)
It was Daisy’s dad, Alex, who first suggested she model. He’s always been so supportive and encouraging of his daughter.
He said: ‘I am so proud of Daisy, she has achieved so much in six months already and is a real inspiration.
‘She has always been amazing and now she has walked into the modelling world and is doing well there too. There’s no stopping her.’
Alex said that they have never treated Daisy any differently and have always encouraged her to follow her dreams.
He said: ‘I made her a promise that I would help her be the best model she could possibly be and told her that I will get her in the high street shops pictures everywhere exactly what we are achieving right now. So we sent some photos to Zebedee Management and the dream started.
(Picture: Simone Storey/Zebedee/Bav Media)
‘My original statement which I stick by now is that she will be the most influential inspiring double amputee to have ever lived.
‘The support we get through Instagram from other disabled and non-disabled people is what we are about helping to put smiles on faces and inspire people to push and follow your dreams.’
Zoe Proctor, of Zebedee Management, added: ‘River Island and Zebedee Management have worked closely together during all their diverse campaigns which have been released over the past 18 months, they genuinely care about representing diversity and differently abled models as the norm which is how every big fashion company should be.
(Picture: Simone Storey/Zebedee/Bav Media)
‘We speak regularly about how to get the best out of our talent and they have really listened which has made some incredibly positive shoots for everyone involved.’
River Island has said that Daisy was the perfect model for the job.
A spokesman for River Island said: ‘We cast our models based on who best fits the brief for the specific activity. For the new RI ACTIVE range for girls wear, we required a model who has lots of energy and who looked great in active wear.
‘Daisy-May Demetree fitted this brief perfectly. As well, as having a great, outgoing personality, Daisy-May has a genuine love of all sports.’
A man has created the ultimate northern snack using Yorkshire puddings.
40-year-old Edward Harrison has started making Yorkshire pudding pies, coming up with the idea while cooking a Sunday dinner at a family gathering
Step-dad-of-two Edward started selling the ‘light and compact’ snacks a year ago.
They’re essentially a Yorkshire pudding, but with a filling to make it a bit like a pie.
The fillings including chicken and stuffing, sausage with red onion marmalade, savoury mince made with Dexter beef and the ‘Wagyu’ cheeseburger with mozzarella.
(Picture: SWNS)
The pies also come with a side order of chips or roast potatoes and a pot of dunking gravy.
Edward began selling the pies – which are slightly larger than a common pork pie – at a food festival near his native York, North Yorks., in May last year.
Edward, who admits he had ‘never made a pastry pie in his life’, was shocked when the filled Yorkshire puddings had sold out by lunchtime on both days of the event.
The Yorkshire pudding lover estimates that during their first year in business he and wife Lynne have made and sold nearly £8,000 in Yorkshire pudding pies.
Edward revealed how he was treating friends and family to his perfect pud on New Year’s Day 2017 when the idea came to him.
(Picture: SWNS)
He said: ‘A few days later I tried it at home using left-overs and an hour later I walked into the lounge with a Yorkshire pudding pie.
‘I’d decided to stop drinking for the whole of 2017 and I was looking for things to keep my mind occupied – I had to replace alcohol with something.
‘And I’d been trying to think of something where you could use Yorkshire pudding as a takeaway food.’
Although Edward says he has not had the dish calorie-tested yet he believes the new invention is a lighter, less stodgy alternative to the traditional pastry pie.
He said: ‘They certainly don’t set-off heart-burn the way pastry does and it just gives people a different taste and texture.
(Picture: SWNS)
‘You wouldn’t sit and eat pastry on its own but you would a Yorkshire pudding – so why not combine that with a filling?”
Edward says he perfected his Yorkshire puddings at home with his mum.
He added: ‘With Yorkshire puddings, the smoke coming out of the oven has to be blue when you open the door.
‘It has to be almost unbearably hot when you open the oven and that way you get a good light batter – that and good eggs.’
While Edward’s operation is still in its infancy he hopes to expand to permanent premises and perhaps wholesale one day.
He said: ‘I enjoy it – there’s no way I would have worked 18 hours a day as a builder but if the work’s there and people want feeding, I don’t think twice about it.’
Sick of looking through egg packets to find the best lot? Well, you’ll no longer have to do that if you shop at Morrisons.
The supermarket is bringing back a farm shop style pick-your-own local eggs stand to 200 of its stores across the country.
Customers will be able to select their own free range hen eggs, based on their size, colour, shape and speckles – which means no getting to the checkout to find your eggs are actually broken.
You’ll also be able to buy anything from one single egg in a recycled box, to thirty eggs in a tray.
Morrisons is launching the stand to reassure customers that their eggs won’t be cracked, or smaller than expected.
(Picture: Victor de Jesus/UNP)
The pick-your-own scheme will also help cater to smaller or larger households and reduce waste – as currently dairy and eggs account for 9 per cent of food thrown away in the home.
So that they are easy to find, Morrisons’ pick-your-own free range eggs, which will be sourced by Morrisons from farms across Britain, will be located on special stands in its fresh fruit and veg areas.
To further reduce waste, Morrisons is encouraging customers to purchase their first set of eggs, then re-use their egg box upon each return visit.
(Picture: Victor de Jesus/UNP)
The pick-your-own free range hens eggs will range in size – from 63g-73g. They will cost 22p each, £1 for six, or £5 for 30.
Robert Hofman, Egg Buyer at Morrisons said: ‘Some customers told us they wanted to select their own eggs – to ensure none were cracked and to buy the exact amount they needed.
‘We thought reintroducing a traditional pick-your-own local eggs stand would help to do this. In trials customers have told us that they love selecting their own eggs, have found it has cut down on waste in their homes, and love buying produce from their local area.’
Festivals, when they’re in full flow, are paragons of hedonism and fun.
You drink more beer and cider than you ever thought possible. You smoke more than you ever thought your lungs could handle. You spend three days in a constant cycle of dancing, singing, drinking, smoking, glitter-throwing in the middle of the glorious British countryside, before shuffling back home.
And after the party’s finished, all that’s left behind is a post-apocalyptic scene of environmental destruction.
At least, that’s what used to happen.
It seems like more and more festivals are making themselves into hotbeds of eco-activism these days, taking responsibility for things like plastic pollution right from the start.
It’s not before time; festivals are thought to produce around 23,000 tonnes of waste every year. And with that in mind, 61 independent music gatherings have signed a three-year pledge to get ‘Drastic on Plastic’.
When it comes to trash, it seems like it’s the one-day city festivals that have a long way to go; look at parks after events like Citadel, Lovebox or Wireless and it’s easy to see what the issue is.
But 2018 has seen a massive push to change the way we view and use plastic.
And for some festivals, it’s not enough to simply stop offering plastic straws and free cups.
Green Man, which takes place in Wales in mid-August, is ensuring that all its traders and face painters are going to use biodegradable glitter made from plant cellulose and metallised aluminium, in a bid to reduce micro-plastic pollution.
‘We’re also asking all festival goers to only bring biodegradable glitter,’ organisers say. And Green MAn is also teaming up with Help Refugees and Newport to Calais Aid Collection, by donating any unwanted, unbroken camping equipment and food that people don’t want to take home.
Bestival has a tonne of eco-initiatives this year and will be hosting Old Mout’s Kiwi Camp 2018.
The New Zealand cider company is on a mission to save the endangered kiwi, as well as protect the environment on the whole. The Kiwi camp is asking Bestival-goers to add their thumbprint to its pledge wall; each print equals a 20p donation to the cause. There’ll also be loads of crafts and activities centred around the beloved kiwi and the importance of recycling to earn kiwi patches – collect all and you’ll be in with a chance to win an ‘Ultimate Kiwi Hero’ jacket – and who wouldn’t want that?
Oh, and once you’ve done that, you can spend the afternoon grooving to the ‘UK’s most eco-friendly junk percussion band’, Weapons of Sounds, and having a go at disco yoga.
With Friends of the Earth as their environmental charity partner, Wilderness has various measures in place to reduce waste, and the vast majority of their tents are made from natural materials like canvas or sustainable wood. Ocean Sole is also coming to Wilderness, who turn flip-flop pollution into art and functional products.
Oh, and they’re asking that smokers being their own ashtray boxes rather than dumping their butts on the floor (one butt is said to pollute up to two litres of water).
And while you might expect cool initiatives from these kinds of festivals, there are plenty of green efforts coming out of more mainstream events too.
Reading and Leeds have 14 green initiatives in place to keep their spaces clean and environmentally friendly. They’re working with Julie’s Bicycle, a not-for-profit organisation working on sustainability within the creative industries, as well as Greenpeace. All the tower and festoon lights that will be at both festival sites are 100% LED, which are 95% more environmentally friendly than fluorescent and incandescent lights.
So much environmental fun!
The next step is inspiring festival goers to take what they learn and experience in these creative spaces out into the wider world.
If you’re a parent then it’s pretty likely you’ve caught your child making a mess of something they have no business playing with.
For some reason, kids seem to think mucking around with vaseline and the like is fun (we can only imagine the nightmare of getting it all out).
Mum Claire Fallon caught her son with a Nutella jar after he reached into the kitchen cupboard.
But of course, three-year-old Harrison didn’t get it out to eat; he decided to use the chocolate spread to cover his entire body.
(Picture: Claire Fallon/Caters News)
Claire, 32, was shocked when she walked in on her son mid spread as he attempted to reach from his head to toe with the gooey chocolate.
Much to Claire’s dismay, Harrison not only brushed himself with it but also splattered it all across the living room after getting the pot of Nutella from a low cupboard,
‘When I walked in and saw him I was very angry and shouted at him that his dad would be very angry at him,’ she said.
‘I was shocked that he had managed to do this when I was only out of the room for about 20 minutes maximum.
‘But Harrison continued to slap his thighs, and Nutella kept splattering all over the floor.
‘I quickly grabbed him and put him in the bathtub and showered the Nutella off of him, and luckily it came off quite quickly.
(Picture: Claire Fallon/Caters News)
(Picture: Claire Fallon/Caters News)
‘My first reaction was worry – we had just moved into a new build house and I was worried what my boyfriend was going to say,’ she added.
‘But now I can’t help but laugh at the photo, I think it’s absolutely hilarious and everyone who has seen it thinks so too.’
The mother-of-two had to call an industrial carpet cleaner to sort out the interior mess.
And of course, the Nutella was moved to a higher shelf that Harrison can no longer reach.
Tattoo Ole in Copenhagen, Denmark, is said to be the world’s oldest tattoo shop after running for 134 years.
The parlour was first opened in 1884 and had clients ranging from sex workers to Danish royals but is now threatened with closure.
Owner Majbritt Petersen has been doing her best to keep the place open and now faces a court battle to stop it from being turned into a kitchen for the restaurant next door.
‘People who own the building where we are don’t seem to be fans of tattoos,’ joked Majbrit.
(Picture: Tattoo Ole)
‘I think Tattoo Ole is too important to close. There are a lot of young tattoo fans and artists who don’t even know their own history.
‘A big part of that history is going to be lost forever if we shut up shop.’
Majbrit, who’s owned the shop since 2010, said she wants to continue the parlour’s rich history and will fight for it.
(Picture: Tattoo Ole)
Tucked into the basement of the iconic Nyhavn 17 building, Tattoo Ole’s most famous client was King Frederik IX.
Tattoo aficionados have travelled from all over the world to visit the site and have some famous inking done.
For almost a century, it was the only parlour in Scandinavia, and until the 1980s, anyone from Sweden or Norway who wanted a tattoo had to travel to Copenhagen.
Tattoo Ole has faced two previous closure threats but Majbrit hopes it’ll be third time lucky for her.
She revealed that one of the shop’s apprentices travelled to South America to open Brazil’s first tattoo parlour.
Set up by Majbrit and Frank Rosenkilde, the description says: ‘It’s disgraceful to destroy this cultural and important place of tattoo history!’
Many have lent their support, saying: ‘This is a piece of history. Anything that has been around and apart of a community for more than 100 years, is meant to stay in that community forever.’
The case is due to go to court on 14 September but petitioners are hoping it won’t come to that.
A little girl who wrote a leaflet pleading with people to stop dropping litter ended up falling out with her mum when she was told she wasn’t allowed to hand them out to strangers.
Eco warrior Ember May wouldn’t talk to mum Victoria Lawson, 28, last week after she told her they wouldn’t be able to hand Ember’s leaflet out to people in the town centre.
But the seven-year-old vegetarian, who stopped eating meat two years ago, was delighted when Victoria shared it on social media instead.
Ember now hopes that people across the world will take on board her message to take care of animals and the environment.
The Blue Planet fan’s leaflet said: ‘Litter! If you litter it could possibly go into the sea.
‘It could possibly kill an innocent turtle or it could stay on land. Capable to kill a bird!
‘Please put your litter in the bin or recycling. Please listen to this warning.’
(Picture: Mercury Press)
Mum-of-two Victoria, from Billingham, Country Durham, said: ‘On Friday she came downstairs and said “I’ve made this and I’m going to make more. Can we hand them out when we go to the park?”
‘I told her we couldn’t hand things out to strangers and if she made a lot of them it was likely they’d end up as litter as people will throw them away.
‘She started crying and stormed off to her room because I’d said no.
‘I was trying to think of other ways to let her have her sign without it contributing to the litter.
‘I thought about posting it online and asking people to share it.
‘She wasn’t convinced it would work and told me that wouldn’t be good enough.
‘She said nobody would see it and it’s important that people see it so they know to pick up litter.
(Picture: Mercury Press)
‘She has an aunty in Canada so I told her it would get shared there but we didn’t expect so many people would see it.
‘It’s been shared more than a thousand times and got hundreds of comments.
‘She was over the moon to have reached so many people. She said there was no way she could have made a thousand leaflets.
‘She’s planning to take it to school to show everybody and spread the message.’
Victoria says Ember has always been conscious of looking after the environment.
The stay-at-home vegan mum said: ‘We’ve always watched a lot of documentaries like Blue Planet so she’s always been interested in animals and the environment.
‘She went whale watching and on a bear trail while we were on a trip to Canada about three years ago so I think part of it was seeing them in their natural environment.
‘When she sees litter she will pick it up and asks why people would do that.
‘She’s done it off her own initiative, she’s so strong willed about it.
(Picture: Mercury Press)
‘She’s really aware of how things affect animals.
‘She’s always coming to me with these ideas and this was one of them – to go out and hand these leaflets out.
‘I think sometimes she gets so ahead of herself that she doesn’t see any obstacles.’
Ember says she wants people to know the consequences of dropping litter and what will happen to the environment if littering continues.
She explained: ‘If somebody saw a turtle they wouldn’t say “I’m going to throw rubbish in their home” they would think “look at that turtle, it’s lovely”.
‘When I go to the beach I see crisp packets and cans sticking out of the sand and in the water and it’s horrible.
‘I think that could end up anywhere – it could end up half way round the world and maybe kill a shark or something and that person (who dropped it) wouldn’t know.
‘I wrote the note as a warning about what could happen. I think if more people see it hopefully they will stop littering.’
Victoria said: ‘I think Ember will make a difference and will go on to be some kind of activist.
‘She’s got that strong determination and I think she’s quite stubborn and doesn’t always take no for an answer.
‘When I told her she couldn’t hand out this leaflet she was like “why not?”. She couldn’t see my reasoning because it was so important to her.
‘I’m so proud of her, she wants to get the message out there and make a difference.’
A mother who once hid her baby under a wool hat and mittens so that strangers wouldn’t stare at his misshapen head and fused fingers and toes has revealed that she has now signed up up to a modelling agency.
When Hannah Pitt first saw her son, Teddy, she burst into tears. She and her partner, Daniel, were told their son had a rare condition called Apert Syndrome, and Hannah, 36, was terrified of what people might say when they saw him.
Now she could not be more proud of her child.
Last year surgeons worked on Teddy’s hands to give him new fingers so he can now grip, and later this year it is hoped he will have an operation to open his skull to stop pressure build-up.
Hannah, from a village near Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, said: ‘I was distressed when I first saw Teddy and his hands. He looked so different. I cried and cried. He didn’t look how a baby should.
‘We hadn’t heard of the condition so we went online and saw terrifying pictures of other babies with it. We read he may not survive, but thankfully doctors reassured us.
(Picture: Cover Images)
‘Now it upsets me to think how I felt. I loved Teddy but my reaction was shock. I think that was natural.’
Teddy was born on 11 October 2016 at Calderdale Royal Hospital, in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Prior to his birth Hannah was monitored closely as her first pregnancy ended when her baby died from Turner’s Syndrome – a chromosomal condition that affects development.
She and Daniel, 34, had prayed for a healthy baby and no abnormalities showed on any tests or scans before Teddy was born.
When he arrived Hannah got to hold him for seconds – and she didn’t get to see his features clearly – before he was placed in an incubator to help him breathe.
He had been struggling after swallowing meconium – a newborn’s first faeces.
A doctor then told the couple that Teddy might have Apert Syndrome.
Features of the syndrome include an abnormal skull shape, sunken face, fused fingers and toes, and a smaller oesophague and windpipe – making breathing difficult.
Hannah said: ‘We were shown a photo of Teddy then and I said, “Is this my baby?” I was so distressed.’
(Picture: Cover Images)
Teddy had to remain in hospital so that doctors could monitor his breathing and check that he ate, as both are affected by the condition.
During this time, Hannah did some research into the condition.
She said: ‘We read there was a low life expectancy, that babies may not survive due to issues linked to the condition. We were terrified.’
Ten days later Teddy was allowed home, but for the first six months Hannah struggled.
She said: ‘I hid him because I was scared people might stare. I worried. Would he be bullied for his appearance? Would he make friends?’
It wasn’t until she spoke to other parents of children with Apert Syndrome that she felt better.
‘We realised that all we’d wanted was a baby and that’s what we’d got,’ she said.
‘Teddy was breathing, his heart was working, we knew we’d love him no matter what.’
Hannah’s pupils also asked to see him, and though she worried what they would say, none said anything that made her feel uncomfortable and they actually helped her talk about him.
(Picture: Cover Images)
She recalled: ‘They weren’t horrible or unkind, they were curious.
‘Since, no one has ever made a nasty comment about his appearance.’
Teddy has had operations to allow him to live a normal life, including having his fingers separated and having skin grafts taken from his groin to patch his wounds.
Bone from his hips also helped straighten his thumbs.
He’s had his right big toe fixed to stop it bending away from his foot – however medics will not operate on his toes as they consider this procedure cosmetic and Teddy will be able to walk regardless.
Currently – as Apert Syndrome slows development – Teddy does not walk.
But he has weekly physio sessions to help him move around the floor. He also has restricted arm movement.
Hannah and Daniel hope that later this year surgeons will correct the positioning of the plates of his skull, to allow space for his brain to grow.
Without this, pressure will build-up, causing brain damage.
(Picture: Cover Images)
Apert Syndrome also affects the immune system so last winter Teddy was on antibiotics to help prevent chest infections.
Hannah believes Teddy’s misshapen hands and feet ‘held him back’ at first, but since he started nursery in November, and mixed with other children, he has seemed more motivated to get up and not let his disability stop him.
And it certainly isn’t stopping him – as Teddy has now signed up to be a baby model.
Back in March, Hannah approached Zebedee Management – a talent agency for people with disabilities – and Teddy went on to do a photoshoot with them.
Teddy’s mum is now sharing his story to raise awareness of the condition she had not heard about.
She said: ‘I think people only stare because they don’t know about it.
‘Some people say, ‘How do you cope?’, but it’s normal for us.
‘They say, “You wouldn’t change him”, but I’ve said, I would. Not for the way he looks but so he hasn’t had to have surgery, chest infections, and spend weeks in hospital.
‘Still, we want him to be proud and feel comfortable about his condition, and joke about it, and I think that will happen because everyone is always saying how gorgeous he is.’
A woman created the ultimate care package for her best friend after her partner left her and the kids.
The ‘breakup survival kit’ is everything a person needs after going through a rough time, and it’s further proof that your best friend will always be the one to count on when you need cheering up.
The care package included a number of items to cheer the heartbroken woman up, including face masks, plasters, glitter, mascara, chocolate and shampoo – which were all written on a list with an adorable reason behind each item.
The note, which was shared on Facebook, read: ‘To my beautiful friend,
‘Here is a little care package I put together to help you cope with such a heartbreaking time for you and the kids.’
The note then included a list of the items in the hamper with a reason as to why she chose each one.
This included face masks, to ‘hide from the world when you need to’, candles, to ‘light up the darkness’, Skittles to ‘remind you that after every storm comes a rainbow’ and shampoo, to ‘wash that man right out of your hair’.
Each reason was heartfelt, funny and brilliant – and we need a friend like her.
The woman, who doesn’t wish to be named, told Yahoo7 her friend of about four years was ‘completely shocked and shattered’ by the breakup and ‘it came out of the blue’ – and so the care package meant more to her than anything.
Apparently, she was ‘overcome with emotion’ on receiving the gift and reading the note.
‘There were tears of sadness and I guess knowing that I had her back,’ said the friend.
I’ve been on many boats but this is the first time I’ve had to wade into the sea to get into one.
Thigh-deep in the ocean, I’m trying to balance my breakfast and my bag as I clamber rather inelegantly on to the speedboat that will take us to the island of Nusa Penida.
There’s no pier at Sanur harbour, which is why I have to launch myself on to the vessel as it bobs up and down.
For the rest of the 30-minute journey, we’re entertained by thumping dance remixes of Adele’s Someone Like You before we reach the shore.
Nusa Penida is one of the three Nusa islands just off the southeastern coast of Bali, Indonesia.
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are closer and more developed but it’s Nusa Penida, the biggest and most remote island with its picturesque beaches and rugged beauty, that is fast becoming the most photographed out of the trio.
See, it does look like a T-Rex (Picture: Getty)
Bali has fully embraced the culture of Instagram like no other place I’ve been to.
If you’ve ever looked at a friend’s Insta pics from the country and wondered why it’s so perfectly framed with no one else in the shot, well, it’s because there’s an unspoken etiquette that exists for tourists that I’ve not seen anywhere else.
Instead of everyone jostling for selfies (which admittedly does happen in Bali), there are certain photo opportunities that are set up so travellers can get that perfect shot.
Bali Swings, for example, are very popular. They’re extreme swings set up in front of a picturesque backdrop, which you have to pay to go on so you can take your next profile picture.
There are no swings on Nusa Penida yet but there are plenty of photo opportunities.
The first thing you need to know about the island is that the roads are bad. Filled with pothole after pothole, your bum will not be thanking you after you’ve been jostled around in a car all day.
And the second thing is, you will need that car as it’s a big island. Motorbikes are also an option but probably not the best idea in the searing sun.
An aerial view of Angel’s Billabong (Picture: Getty)
Despite the uncomfortable journey, it’s absolutely worth it when you first clap your eyes on Kelingking beach, arguably the most snapped beach in Bali.
From a distance, the mountain that cradles the glistening white beach looks like the head of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
It’s a good 45-minute walk down to the beach – a hair-raising experience due to the rocky steps with only the hand rail made out of bamboo to guide you (although it is sturdier than it looks).
It’s steep and when I say steep, I mean it’s almost vertigo-inducing at points. But the cliffside hike is all part of the fun.
The minute you step onto the pillowy white sand and look out at the vivid turquoise waters, all that’s forgotten.
Nusa Penida has stunning beaches (Picture: Getty)
The beach is incredibly beautiful and completely unspoilt – because it’s such a trek to get there, there’s usually not many people there either. There’s a huge cave, which provides shade from the scorching sun.
Most visitors choose to remain at the top for photos, which means you might have it all to yourself, bar one or two other sunseekers.
You might also see the occasional boat docked there for snorkelling. The day I went, I spotted several giant manta rays serenely gliding along.
Angel’s Billabong is another popular sight on the island. The spectacular rock formation creates a natural infinity pool against the southwestern cliff edges.
It’s very popular, so expect to wade about in the shallow, crystal clear water rather than getting a chance to swim. It’s also a great spot to watch the waves dramatically crashing into the rocky shoreline.
Crystal Bay is a great place to go diving and snorkelling (Picture: Getty)
A few minutes walk along from there is Broken beach.
The pretty spot features a natural arch created by the rock cliffs. The arch actually used to be a cave, until its floor collapsed. The hole in the cliff allows the ocean water to flow through, creating a stunning and secluded natural pool. Get a photo opposite by the cliff edge (but not too close).
Another popular sight is Crystal Bay. The secluded cove has a 200-metre stretch of black sand, and thanks to its relatively calm waters, it’s an excellent place for diving.
There’s a bat cave nearby and it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see the rare species of fish known as mola mola.
Also known as ocean sunfish, they can grow to be the size of 3 metres and weigh up to 2,000kg. It has the distinction of being the heaviest known bony fish.
The best time to see them is between July and September.
No mola mola sightings for me, but as I get ready to board my boat back to Sanur, it’s already been one of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve had in Bali.
Bali may be a tourist haven, but in Nusa Penida, you can still pretend you’ve been shipwrecked away from the crowds on your own private island.
Where to stay in Bali and how to get there
Most people that come to Nusa Penida do it as a day trip from one of the major tourist hubs on the south coast of Bali. Tour operators usually pick you up and take you back to your hotel from Sanur.
Be warned though, many only take two people as a minimum, so if you’re a solo traveller, be prepared to pay double.
Here are a few places to stay on the mainland that gives you easy access to Nusa Penida.
Jimbaran – if you like seafood and beaches
Take in the view (Picture: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali)
Mövenpick has a hotel in Jimbaran, a small fishing village known for its excellent seafood and now home to many plush resorts.
It’s very much geared towards families, with water slides in their pool, but it’s all done in a very refined way.
Their rooftop bar, Above Eleven Bali, is the perfect place to watch the sunset and take in the panoramic views of the beach nearby.
Added bonus: there’s a free chocolate fountain for guests, along with chocolate hour. What more could you ask for?
Rooms start from £122 per night.
Seminyak – if you like fashionable boutiques and hip nightlife
A studio room at FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach Seminyak (Picture: FuramaXclusive Ocean Beach Seminyak)
It’s simply decorated with wooden furniture, and if you grab a larger flat, it’s more than enough room for a family. Plus, some of them have the biggest outdoor terraces you’ve ever seen.
Book one facing the ocean for a stunning view to wake up to.
There’s also a fun pool that wraps around the hotel like a moat, which you can see even while you’re in the reception thanks to the see-through walls.
It also has a fantastic location opposite the beach, near to lots of restaurants and shops.
Suites start from £75 per night.
Nusa Dua – if you like swanky 5 star resorts
The incredible beach at The Mulia (Picture: The Mulia)
Everything about The Mulia is grand. From the giant statues presiding over one of the many pools to the enormous rooms, this sprawling resort – the largest in Bali – doesn’t do things by half.
Huge doesn’t even cover it. There’s more space than you’ll ever need, which means even when the hotel is busy, you never feel like it’s crowded.
Decorated in marble with Indonesian art dotted around, it screams opulence.
If you’re felling very fancy, you can book a private villa with your own butler.
Don’t forget to check out their spa to get a soothing Balinese massage, which features Asia Pacific’s first Ice Room, so you can cool down after a tough day’s sunbathing.
If you’ve ever experienced the burning pain of chub rub, you’ll know that it’s not as cute as the name sounds.
Having your thighs rub against each other can be painful. After a day in the sun you can end up waddling and wincing as you try desperately to avoid your right thigh meeting your left, discovering a bright red graze on your legs when you finally get to lie down and go to bed.
It hurts, pals. And it’s what very often prevents us from wearing the floaty dresses we’d like to put on when it’s bloody hot outside.
Instead we trap ourselves in jeans and shorts to provide our poor sore legs with some protection.
Yes, they’re too hot for the weather, but we’ll put up with that discomfort to avoid the pain of chafing thighs.
But what if you’re a fashion-lover who wants the worst of both worlds?
What if you’d like the unnecessary heat of wearing jeans in the summer, with the added thrill of chub rub tearing up your thighs?
We’d just call them ‘jeans with hellish cut-outs’.
The black jeans jump on the ridiculous cut-out trend by snipping out the exact place you’d quite like your denim to cover – the top section of your inner and outer thighs.
The jeans were first brought to our attention by asbos_sos, and we haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since – they’re that upsetting.
Picture: ASOS)
Yes, they look cool, but the cost of red raw legs is too high a price to pay for rocking some snazzy festivalwear.
The jeans are currently on sale for £17.50, which is probably a wise idea considering we could make our own by going on a long hike wearing a thin pair of jeggings (if your thunder thighs have never rubbed with such fury that they’ve created a hole in your jeans, you’re missing out).
