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PrettyLittleThing’s £5 denim thong shorts don’t seem particularly comfortable

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(Picture: Pretty Little Thing)

Fancy wearing a denim thong out and about? Well, head over to PrettyLittleThing.

The online retailer currently has a pair of denim thong shortson sale – and there’s been 53 sold of them in the last two days.

The shorts come in both blue, mid wash denim and black – though they’re already very nearly sold out in the black, with just size 10 left.

The blue shorts are still available in sizes 4 – 14.

Tiny denim short 'knickers' leave VERY little to the imagination - and you'll have to be brave to wear them
(Picture: Pretty Little Thing)

The shorts are made with denim and feature a high rise style and a thong back.

The product description reads: ‘Dare to wear these fierce denim knickers girl. Featuring a denim material in a seriously flattering high rise style.

‘Team these with some killer chap trousers and matching bralet for a show-stopping festival outfit that is gonna get you noticed for all of the right reasons.’

Tiny denim short 'knickers' leave VERY little to the imagination - and you'll have to be brave to wear them
(Picture: Pretty Little Thing)

If you like the shorts, you do you, but be prepared to feel a breeze on your bum cheeks and the sensation of a wedgie between.

Oh, and they’re obviously not compatible with most underwear – and we don’t really fancy walking around the streets commando.

But if you would like the excuse not to have to bother putting knickers on in the morning, the shorts are only a fiver – so even if they don’t work for you it’s not as if they’ve cost the world.

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Grab a free coffee at the new Lush pop-up – if you bring a reusable cup

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(Picture: Lush)

Free coffee is always welcome.

Lush is challenging customers to ditch single-use drinks containers with a brand new pop-up that offers free coffee to customers who come in with reusable cups.

The #carrythecup pop-up will be open from Tuesday 14 August for four weeks, so if you fancy a free vegan coffee, iced coffee or tea, head down to the Lush Soho Studio on Beak Street, London.

In collaboration with ethical coffee brand Change Please, Lush is hoping to raise awareness about the harmful impact of single use plastics on the environment and the importance of reusable drinks cups.

The pop-up will be open every weekday from 7am – 3pm but closed on the weekends, until 7 September.

Lush’s Soho studio manager Michael O’Brien said: ‘Reducing our reliance on plastic has been at the forefront of Lush’s innovations for the last 23 years.

‘Beyond cosmetics, there are habits we can break and simple changes we can make to reduce or remove single-use plastic from our lives.

‘By transforming our front exhibition space in to a friendly coffee shop, we want to invite London locals and visitors inside for a free cup of coffee (or tea) and an informative discussion on how to ditch the single-use coffee cup, and learn to #carrythecup.

‘The only catch to the free coffee? You have to bring your own cup (don’t worry, there will be exclusive reusable cups to buy if you don’t have one already).’

If you’ve ever visited a Lush store, it’s clear that the ethical soap company is committed to using as little packaging as possible.

The Bath Oil Box made completely from recycled coffee cups. (Picture: Lush)

When plastics are used, they tend to be made from recycled materials and most small products are slipped into paper wrappings before purchase.

The company’s new shower bombs and seaweed-wrapped Atmospheres are both packaging and plastic free.

You can also buy a Bath Oil Box made from recycled coffee cups that was launched last year, which is a handy way to store bath oils (or other small products that don’t come in their own wrappings).

Single use plastics are bad news for humans and animals alike.

There’s currently an estimated 150 metric tonnes of plastic polluting our oceans and killing marine wildlife.

Plastic never fully degrades and as it breaks into small pieces, it gets ingested by mammals, fish and birds. Eventually these plastics enter our food chain.

Visitors to the #carrythecup pop-up will be able to access educational materials and ideas for positive action that can be easily incorporated in their daily lives.

There are 500 limited edition reusable coffee cups up for grabs at £12 each, all made from six old cups.

If you find yourself in Soho and in need of a caffeine boost from 14 August, the #carrythecup pop-up has you covered.

MORE: Lush is launching brand new shower bombs

MORE: Lush tackles ocean plastic dumping with new campaign

Five burgers that are more about the bun than the beef

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(Picture: Heliot Steak House)

There’s only so much creative fun you can have with a burger, right? Wrong.

National Burger Day is around the corner and chefs are breaking out their most innovative creations to impress picky millennial diners.

But these days, a quirky burger is less about the meat and more about what’s holding it together – a.k.a. the bun.

Charcoal buns? Check.

Pink buns? So pretty.

Fried chicken buns? Yes, please.

The latest creation is what we’re affectionately calling the ‘Durger’, a luxurious burger made with the finest meat and held together by a sugary doughnut.

It initially launched at Red’s True Barbecue, but the upgraded version has found a new home at Heliot Steak House just a few days ago.

And chefs aren’t running out of ideas yet, because the inverted cheeseburger-stuffed doughnut and the Donug – made with chicken nuggets – were simply not enough.

So, here are five alternative buns to put around your burger.

THE DURGER

Hardcore foodies who want want to tell their mates ‘I tried it first’, should go for this one, as it’s new in London.

And it was created by the world’s first Meatologist™, Ioannis Grammenos – which gives you automatic foodie cred.

The meat is 60-day dry-aged beef and stuffed between the sugary rings is spring onion coleslaw and wild mushrooms.

You also get a side of red wine sauce to pour over the durger and your sweet potato fries.

The treat will cost you £24.

THE WURGER

(Picture: Bird)

Bird boasts itself as the creator of the original chicken and waffle burger.

Featuring crispy fried chicken topped with American cheese and drizzled with home-made BBQ sauce, hot sauce & Canadian maple syrup.

Expect a foodgasm.

And of course, it’s served between griddled waffles and you can add bacon to make it even juicier.

Will cost you £14.

THE LURGER

(Picture: Lobster & Burger)

Yeah, the Lurger isn’t a great nickname for a food dish, but we’re running with a theme here, OK?

Launched last week, the creation by Lobster & Burger was revealed as a pricier alternative to KFC’s Double Down chicken burger.

Two lobster tails, smoky bacon, cheese and a glass of champagne on the side.

Obviously, because this is lobster, darling.

Yours for £47.90.

THE RURGER

Alternative burger buns
(Picture: Instagram / @Pimpmyramen)

Deep in Greenwich market, you can pimp your burger, Asian fusion style.

The ramen bun trend is fairly new, and in London, you can give the beautifully gross or delicious (depending on your feelings towards ramen) bun at the Pimp My Ramen food stand.

Fill it with pulled pork, teriyaki chicken, beef or the vegetables only.

THE AVURGER

(Picture: Joe’s Southern Table and Bar)

The aforementioned avocado burger is sticky, difficult to eat and as far from the original bread bun as you can get.

Though it does have sesame seeds sprinkled on the top and it’s made from avocado, every hipster’s dream.

Sadly, however, the avurger disappeared as quickly as it appeared; it was originally sold at Joe’s Southern Table & Bar, which has now closed down.

But, you could just slice an avocado in half at home and revive an old trend: The DIY burger.

MORE: 20 burgers that should not exist ranked from odd to utterly mind-blowing

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A pub is serving afternoon tea in Yorkshire Puddings

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Afternoon Tea Week commences on 13 August, and one Yorkshire pub is creating the most Yorkshire tea out there.

Dearne Valley Farm, Farmhouse Inns pub on Kestrel Way is going to be filling Yorkshire puddings with classic afternoon tea treats.

Guests will be able to enjoy a proper Yorkshire brew alongside a selection of traditional sandwich fillings, including egg mayonnaise and cheese and pickle – all of which will be served in Yorkshire puddings – as well as a Victoria sponge topped with jam and cream.

(Picture: Dearne Valley Farm, Farmhouse Inns pub)

The Yorkshire Afternoon Tea will be available at the Dearne Valley Farm on request from Monday 13 August from 2pm-5pm while stocks last.

If you want to try it you’ll have to book in advance.

It costs £14.99, or you can add a glass of prosecco for £19.99.

(Picture: Dearne Valley Farm, Farmhouse Inns pub)

Emma Hodgson, general manager at Dearne Valley Farm, said: ‘Our Yorkshire puddings are a firm favourite on our carvery menu, so for National Afternoon Tea Week, we wanted to do something different and give our humble pud a whole new taste.

‘Our special afternoon tea features a selection of Yorkshires filled with quintessential sweet and savoury treats, stacked high on a traditional cake stand, served with a cup of tea – because there’s nowt like a Yorkshire brew!

‘We look forward to inviting locals to try our new creation and are sure it’s going to be a huge hit with all our guests.’

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Too much exercise might actually be bad for your mental health

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Shot of a young attractive woman stretching in a gym
(Picture: Getty)

For a long time, we’ve been told that exercise can help to boost mental health.

While the logic might follow that the more exercise you do the better your mental health, a new study published in the Lancet Psychiatry shows that potentially, this might not actually be the case. In fact, too much exercise might even have a negative effect on your mental health.

The new research shows that just two hours of exercise a week may make a significant positive impact on your mental health.

Co-author Adam Chekroud, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale University, said: ‘one of the nice things is the accessibility of this. It seems like some of the benefits are pretty in reach for most people.’

For the study, researchers analysed data provided by over 1.2 million adults who answered questions about their exercise, health, lifestyle habits, and number of poor mental health days for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System survey between 2011 and 2015.

On average, people reported 3.36 days of poor mental health per month, but those who said they exercised experienced around 1.5 fewer bad days a month.

Digging a little deeper, researchers noticed that people who exercised for a moderate amount of time (around 45 minutes per session) saw better mental health results than those who favoured ‘marathon workouts’.

Plus, exercising three to five times a week was associated with a bigger reduction in bad mental health days than working out more than five times per week.

The study didn’t look at why too many hours of exercise might have a negative effect on mental health. Chekroud, however, had some ideas.

He said: “Some people get obsessed with exercise, and some people run themselves into the ground. You can definitely see why someone who’s exercising a lot, or maybe obsessively, might have worse mental health”.

On the other side of things, he said that people who don’t exercise at all may miss out on the positive effects, so it’s best to find a healthy balance between too little exercise and too much in order to fully reap the benefits.

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What does it mean to be a submissive?

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Picture: Getty, Metro.co.uk what does submissive mean?
(Picture: Getty, Metro.co.uk)

Until a few years ago, unless you were part of the BDSM community, submissive was just a word. 

You’d probably have thought that submissive meant meek, respectful, compliant and passive. And then 50 Shades of Grey arrived and the word took on a whole new meaning.

These days, the sexual side of the word ‘submissive’ means something else. It’s a descriptive word for a role that some people like to take during sex, role play or within their kinky relationship.

The submissive partner can be either the male or the female. It’s also possible for people to take it in turns to be the submissive one, which is known as ‘switching’.

Being submissive can be limited to during sex, when the submissive partner might be on the receiving end of masochism, bondage or other forms of domination. However, some submissive don’t limit their submission to within the bedroom, and will be a ‘lifestyle’ submissive.

Lifestyle submissive have sets of rules between themselves and their partners which govern their relationship. It might be small things such as calling your partner a term like ‘sir’ or ‘master’, it could be doing domestic labour, or it could involve spending large amounts of time naked in a cage.

Every submissive and dominant relationship is different and has different levels of intensity and different rules. It is more common to keep the dominant and submissive roles to the bedroom (or to specific periods of time) rather than living the lifestyle 24/7, as it can be difficult to sustain a relationship with an inherent imbalance, especially if you have a family.

It can be hard to understand why another person wants to be submissive if that’s not something you’re personally interested in. It’s important to try to understand and not to judge. As we have written before, there is a real difference between kinky and abusive. That difference is active consent.

Submissive relationships only work when they are based around consent. If you’re worried that a relationship has become toxic or dangerous, you should contact Relate or the National Domestic Violence hotline.

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Quit your job and get paid to jump around on an inflatable obstacle course instead

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(Picture: Monster)

Do you remember when you were young and bouncy castles were the best thing imaginable?

Well, they’re not just for kids anymore (like they ever were) and now, you can get paid to jump, slide and throw yourself from inflatable wall to wall.

Sadly, it’s not a full-time job – because life isn’t quite that good – but for a short time, you could be the official Inflatable Obstacle Course Tester for the Monster.

Pretty great title to add to your LinkedIn profile.

When they say jump, you say how high (Picture: Monster)

What does the job entail?

For one day only, you will battle the 300 metre-long Monster.

He laughs at you, the puny human, and you’ll have to enter through his blue mouth to conquer the course.

Be as rough as you’d like; this is a test – if you can’t puncture it, nobody can.

(Picture: Monster)

It’s pretty much the best job in the world, narrowly beating out the guy who currently gets paid to look after a bunch of cats in Greece.

To make it that bit extra sweet, you’re also assigned the arduous task of testing the other aspects of the Monster course, such as the giant six metre-tall flamingo, the unicorn VIP areas, the jumbo ball pits and the humongous dance floor.

(Picture: Joseph Raynor / The Monster)

Candidates need to apply online and share a video on social media, showing off their best bouncing skills and tagging #TheMonsterUK.

You’d probably bounce around all day for free, but there’s no need – Monster are paying a competitive salary that could land anywhere between £150-£250.

Let’s start that resignation letter, shall we?

‘Dear so and so, I’ve gotta bounce (quite literally) and there’s nothing you can do about it. Laters.’

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The V&A is launching its own lingerie collection with Coco de Mer

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Coco de Mer X V&A
(Picture: Coco de Mer X V&A)

If you’ve ever wanted to wear lingerie inspired by an embroidered cushion cover, this is for you.

The Victoria and Albert Museum is launching a super-luxurious lingerie line, inspired by nature and artefacts in the V&A’s extensive collection.

The collaboration with British lingerie brand Coco de Mer features plenty of silky textures, lace finishes and intricate embroidery, and will showcase both the craftsmanship of the museum’s artefacts and the delicate nature of Coco de Mer’s designs.

The 32-piece The Beauty of Nature line is made up of four ranges, and includes various shapes of knickers, both wired and underwired bras, nightwear and bodysuits.

An 18th century English perfume bottle from the V&A’s archives was the inspiration for the Golden Heron print in deep blue and gold, and 17th century floral silk cushions influenced the Botanical Beauty design.

Coco de Mer X V&A - Golden Heron - Robe and Slip . The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer Golden Heron Slip RRP ?395.00 The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer Golden Heron Robe RRP ?495.00 Photo Credits: Rankin/The Full Service. The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer shot by Rankin and The Full Service will be available from the 15th August 2018 https://www.coco-de-mer.com/ and in global stockists. Pieces range from ?65 -?595 and the collection consists of 32 pieces. Coco de Mer has delved into the V&A Collections and adapted things such as William Morris' wreath-net furnishing fabrics from 1882 to make a print in silk and many more elements.
The Golden Heron Robe and Slip (Picture: RANKIN)

Traditional Korean laquer work and William Morris designs have also been used as inspiration for the collection.

The Signature range in ruby red includes a kimono and long gown, and is inspired by Morris’ Wreathnet textile, designed in 1882.

‘It is an honour to collaborate with the V&A,’ said Coco de Mer’s CEO Lucy Litwack.

‘I have always loved the museum and as two British heritage brands with a passion for beauty, we were very well matched.

‘We met and felt that we could develop a lingerie collection that would embody key elements from both our brands – luxury, opulence and glamour.’

The sensual collection combines the history held within the Victoria and Albert Museum with the contemporary silhouettes and sheer fabrics of Coco de Mer’s signature bedroom attire.

It’s not cheap though; the long kimono robe from the Signature range will set you back £595.

The Golden Heron high-waisted thong can be pre-ordered for £135 and the Midnight Vine lined balcony bra costs £165.

The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer Botanical Beauty Longline Plunge Bra RRP ?165.00 The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer Botanical Beauty Bikini Brief RRP ?105.00 Coco de Mer X V&A - Botanical Beauty - Longline Bra and Brief. Photo Credits: Rankin/The Full Service. The V&A Collection by Coco de Mer shot by Rankin and The Full Service will be available from the 15th August 2018 https://www.coco-de-mer.com/ and in global stockists. Pieces range from ?65 -?595 and the collection consists of 32 pieces. Coco de Mer has delved into the V&A Collections and adapted things such as William Morris' wreath-net furnishing fabrics from 1882 to make a print in silk and many more elements.
The Botanical Beauty Longline Plunge Bra and Bikini Brief (Picture: RANKIN)

The V&A’s head of business development and licensing, Lauren Sizeland, said: ‘The V&A and Coco de Mer share a passion for high quality, exquisite design so we were delighted when they approached us about a line of luxury lingerie.

‘From the final details and finishes of each item to the product names, we have collaborated with Coco de Mer to make sure that the collection blends the V&A brand handwriting with Coco de Mer’s aesthetics.’

The Beauty of Nature collection will be launched in September, just in time for AW19.

If you want to send a hint to your partner or treat yourself to something luxurious, items are available to pre-order items from Coco de Mer and Net-A-Porter on 15 August.

Check out the collection here.

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Boux Avenue has launched a range of yoga wear and it’s super cute

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(Picture: Boux Avenue)

Boux Avenue, who make pretty cracking undies, has created a range of yoga wear!

And you know what? They’re really nice.

The range goes from an 6-18 (an even wider range of sizes would be fab, but 18 isn’t a bad start) and ranges from £16-£24.

(Picture: Boux Avenue)

The collection features three main patterns, marble, floral and leaf print. There are a variety of tops, and the leggings come with a mix of mesh panels and solid fabric.

(Picture: Boux Avenue)

Discussing the launch, director of Boux Avenue said: ‘At Boux Avenue we are very excited to launch our new activewear range, which has perfect synergy with the rest of our Boux collection. The strength of the range is in the fashion-led prints of florals, leaves and marble with pops of solid colours, allowing those wearing Boux Active to stand out from the crowd.’

(Picture: Boux Avenue)

If you’re bigger than a size 18 and you want some decent yoga wear (because yes, plus size people do yoga), Fabletics do a brilliant variety of styles many of which go up to a size 30. You can check them out here. 

(Picture: Fabletics)

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My advice to all young LGBTQ+ people leaving their hometowns in search of acceptance in big cities

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Joe Sutherland
Joe Sutherland (Photo: Peter Fingleton)

Like many young LGBTQ+ people around the UK, the minute I turned 18, I upped and left my hometown to find acceptance, friendship and vintage clothing.

Gay flight – though it sounds like a budget airline to Sitges – is the phenomenon of LGBTQ+ people migrating to cities such as Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and London to find a sense of home among large queer communities.

It’s a great way to find places to express yourself and experiment, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to be gay (as in happy).

Growing up in Coventry (home of a cathedral, a football club and 11 branches of Greggs) I didn’t see many other gay people – and the few school friends who did come out were often celebrated for being brave, funny and outrageous, but then beaten up in the street, sometimes by the same people.

So, I packed my bag and made the move to, as my grandma Mary calls it, ‘That London’.

I had visions of myself as Carrie Bradshaw (yes I am that basic but it was 11 years before Woke Charlotte taught me that Carrie was the problematic face of white privilege).

I thought I’d be prancing around museums in a ‘quirky’ neckerchief and stumbling into the arms of a handsome wealthy man.

In reality, I looked like a 6ft cub scout and I stumbled into more than a few men and one or two GUM clinics.

But, like an adorable newborn deer, first you must take those tentative and quivering steps before you can gracefully prance. If I’ve given you the mental image of a deer riddled with STIs, you’re welcome.

Eventually, I found my people, I found my neighbourhood, I found a wonderful manfriend, and I also found… that I miss Coventry.

It’s the place that made me, and I often wonder if I’d stayed, what might have happened?

So, to any young queers out there wondering if they’d be happier moving to a ‘big smoke’ or staying put, there are a few things I would advise you to consider.

(Photo: Peter Fingleton)

Moving to a big city gives you the chance to start over. No-one knows who you are, so you can be the REAL-est you that you can be. Or, make up a whole new you and be them instead!

Also, moving to a big city gives you the chance to start over, again.

Inevitably, you’ll make some mistakes, like thinking you could invent a whole new personality.

Who told you that was a good idea? Whoever he is I bet he’s got a brilliantly funny stand up show you should book tickets for right now. But by now you’ve learned that you don’t need to carry all your mistakes with you. Make your apologies and move on.

You’ll learn things about yourself that you didn’t think possible. Like that you actually don’t like museums, they’re just books for your legs. You also don’t like books (museums for your eyes). But that’s OK, it’s who you are.

In a big city, your main thoughts will be: where is all my money I thought I had some but now it’s gone.

Not everywhere is as ridiculously pricey as That London but sometimes the excitement of a new place means you want to do all the things, all the time.

Download a budgeting app that lets you monitor your spending and get deep into Netflix a few nights a week. My film recommendation is The Queen of Versailles if you want to witness the poisonous potential of money.

Remember, homophobia is still a thing.

The diversity that makes big cities special also means they’re still going to contain a few pr*cks. Look after yourself and each other, and remember there are numerous brave and fierce queers to inspire you just around the corner, and that together we can beat them.

You’ll be far away from your nan’s Sunday roast, although in my family it’s more of a Sunday boil – those veg haven’t seen the inside of an oven.

But nothing beats that warm hug-feeling of familiarity. If you do move away, make sure to visit. A lot.

Actually, a lot of this applies to any young person, of any sexual orientation or gender, who wants to step out into the big exciting new world and head to the big city (whichever one is closest).

I’ve learned that it wasn’t Coventry that rejected me, I moved away and saw that homophobia is everywhere, but there are some places where there’s a bit less of it.

In summary, all we can do is what makes us happy (as in gay). If you’re thinking of taking the plunge – give it a go.

If you don’t like it, you can always go back. Or somewhere else.

Joe Sutherland: Toxic is at The Underbelly Dexter, Bristo Square, Edinburgh EH8 9AG at 8.10pm each night until 27th August. For tickets go to underbelly.co.uk

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Woman who thought she had IBS actually had ovarian cancer

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(Picture: ncjMedia Ltd)

A woman whose severe stomach bloating made her think she had irritable bowel syndrome was shocked to discover she actually had ovarian cancer.

Sarah Nicholson was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 25, after two large tumours were found in her body – one the size of a rugby ball.

Her stomach was bloated and she experienced abdominal pain, constant tiredness, feeling full quickly and a change in her toilet habits.

It was initially thought she may have irritable bowel syndrome but scans later revealed two tumours in her ovary.

One was 10lbs, the size of a rugby ball, and the other was as big as an orange at 4lbs.

A brave woman has told of her battle with ovarian cancer after two large tumours were found in her body - one the size of a rugby ball. Sarah Nicholson was diagnosed with the disease - which primarily affects people over 50 - at the age of just 25. Her stomach had bloated and she had symptoms including abdominal pain, constant tiredness, feeling full quickly and a change in her toilet habits. It was initially thought she may have irritable bowel syndrome but scans later revealed two tumours in her ovary. Sarah Nicholson, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 25 after two large tumours were found in her body
(Picture: ncjMedia Ltd)

Sarah, from Cochrane Park, Newcastle, had surgery to remove the tumours and also made the decision to have a full hysterectomy, which means she will not be able to have children.

Now aged 26, she is undergoing chemotherapy and is determined to beat the cancer.

Sarah said: ‘I had symptoms which could have been of things less serious, like irritable bowel syndrome.

‘But I had a round bloated stomach, which looked as if I was pregnant, and I knew it was just not right.’

She visited her GP who carried out tests. When the tumours were discovered, she was given the news she had stage three cancer.

She continued: ‘I had prepared myself for bad news.

A brave woman has told of her battle with ovarian cancer after two large tumours were found in her body - one the size of a rugby ball. Sarah Nicholson was diagnosed with the disease - which primarily affects people over 50 - at the age of just 25. Her stomach had bloated and she had symptoms including abdominal pain, constant tiredness, feeling full quickly and a change in her toilet habits. It was initially thought she may have irritable bowel syndrome but scans later revealed two tumours in her ovary. Sarah Nicholson, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 25 after two large tumours were found in her body
(Picture: ncjMedia Ltd)

‘But it does not take away from the fact that I was absolutely devastated. Part of me crumbled inside.

‘The other part was kind of relieved that I had a diagnosis.

‘They said I was at stage three – that’s one stage away from being terminal. This was really serious and I knew it was going to affect my future.

‘I had meetings to discuss what I could do next and to talk about my fertility. I was asked if I wanted to have a hysterectomy.

‘For me it was a no brainer and I decided to have it. I did not want the risk.

‘It was a difficult decision to make and it was upsetting because it would mean I would never have children of my own.

‘But it was to give me a better chance of life. It was the right thing for me to do.’

A brave woman has told of her battle with ovarian cancer after two large tumours were found in her body - one the size of a rugby ball. Sarah Nicholson was diagnosed with the disease - which primarily affects people over 50 - at the age of just 25. Her stomach had bloated and she had symptoms including abdominal pain, constant tiredness, feeling full quickly and a change in her toilet habits. It was initially thought she may have irritable bowel syndrome but scans later revealed two tumours in her ovary. Sarah Nicholson, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 25 after two large tumours were found in her body
(Picture: ncjMedia Ltd)

Sarah is now urging other young people to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

She said: ‘This is something that normally affects people aged over 50.

‘But it clearly can happen to younger people which is why I feel so strongly about getting the message out to younger women. There’s not enough known about it.

‘I would ask people to listen to your body, You know your body best and if you think something is not right, get it checked out.

‘Ovarian cancer is known as the ‘silent killer’ because the symptoms are often put down to less severe medical issues.’

How common is ovarian cancer?

According to the NHS, the risk of ovarian cancer increases as you get older, with most cases occurring after the menopause.

About eight in every 10 cases are diagnosed in women over 50. But hundreds of younger women also suffer from the disease.

The Eve Appeal charity says more than 7,300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer annually and 1,000 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed with it every year.

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Love Strongbow Dark Fruit? You can now get it tattooed on your body for free

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(Picture: Edelman PR)

Fancy reminiscing over those evenings spent in the park as a teenager necking back a 2L bottle of Strongbow?

Well, a Strongbow Dark Fruit tattoo might be just the thing for you.

Yep, fruity cider tattoos are an actual thing and you can get one for free by tattoo artist Alice Perrin (you know, the one from Tattoo Fixers).

Strongbow Dark Fruit is opening the doors to its popup tattoo studio, Dark Fruit Ink, on 17 and 18 August.

Strongbow dark fruit pop up tattoo tent pics sent exclusively via Edelman PR
(Picture: Edelman PR)

It’ll be open from 12pm – 7.30pm on the Friday and 10am – 6pm on the Sunday.

You’ll be able to choose from two limited edition designs which can be inked anywhere on your body for free.

Strongbow dark fruit pop up tattoo tent pics sent exclusively via Edelman PR
(Picture: Edelman PR)

The tattoos have been designed by Alice, taking inspiration from fans across the UK and one particular superfan, Alfie Smeaton, the proud owner of his own 15cm Strongbow Dark Fruit can thigh tattoo.

Emma Sherwood-Smith, Cider Director for Strongbow said: ‘People love Strongbow Dark Fruit so much that they are actually getting it permanently adorned on their bodies – this serves as an epic reminder of how much the brand means to our fans.

Strongbow dark fruit pop up tattoo tent pics sent exclusively via Edelman PR
(Picture: Edelman PR)

‘We wanted the best tattoo artist in the business to pay homage to these guys so we’ve teamed up with Alice to create these incredible designs’.

Apparently, there’s already been a lot of interest in the tattoos (which isn’t surprising, I mean they are free), so if you want to secure your spot before they all get taken, you can do so here.

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Here’s a sneak peak at this year’s Yankee Candle advent calendars

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(Picture: Yankee Candle)

It’s only August, but Yankee Candle is already getting into the Christmas spirit by revealing the advent calendars set to go on sale in October.

The candle company is going to be releasing not one but three advent calendars filled to the brim with candles.

Each calendar features a 24-day countdown of festive scents, and they all sound amazing.

We’ll start with the cheapest calendar (yes, they get very expensive), The Holiday Sparkles Advent

The Yankee Candle advent calendars for 2018 are here! Credit: Yankee Candle
(Picture: Yankee Candle)

This calendar costs £24.00 and comes in the shape of a wreath.

It features 24 Tea Lights, including the new Icy Blue Spruce and Glittering star fragrances, as well as a tea light holder.

Next up is The Fold Out Advent

The Yankee Candle advent calendars for 2018 are here! Credit: Yankee Candle
(Picture: Yankee Candle)

This calendar is slightly more luxurious, and slightly more expensive, retailing at 34.99.

The box folds out to reveal a Christmas scene, and contains a mix of 12 Votives, 12 Tea Lights, and candle accessories.

Finally, the introducing the deluxe calendar: The Christmas Tower Advent

The Yankee Candle advent calendars for 2018 are here! Credit: Yankee Candle
(Picture: Yankee Candle)

This calendar is super expensive at £74.99.

This calendar contains 24 treat-filled boxes. Inside it is two small jars, 12 Votives, six Wax Melts, a Smart Scent Vent Clip, a Wicker trimmer, a Snuffer and an exclusive Votive Holder.

The advent tower is the most luxury calendar Yankee Candle have created to date, revealing an exciting new present each day. There are 24 treat-filled boxes for the count down to Christmas, and the calendar contains two Small Jars, 12 Votives, six Wax Melts, a Smart Scent Vent Clip, Wicker Trimmer, Snuffer and one exclusive Votive Holder. It’ll also set you back £74.99.

However, you’re not really making a saving with the calendar – as each item, bar the exclusive Votive Holder as it hasn’t been revealed which one will be in the box – adds up to around £67.

But of course, if you’re going for a Yankee Candle advent calendar you’re probably not looking at the cost – because let’s face it, we all know it’s a pretty expensive brand.

Despite the calendars having already been revealed, they won’t be available to buy until October 2018, where you’ll be able to find them on the Yankee Candle website.

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One in four pets bought or adopted will be rehomed

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close up of a kitten staring at camera with gentle and sad expression
(Picture: Getty)

New research by Admiral Pet Insurance has found that one in four pets purchased or adopted will be rehomed, with a massive 66% of dog owners admitting that they regret acquiring their fluffy best mate.

The research found that summer is the most popular time to abandon pets, with 50% being rehomed or cruelly dumped during that time.

This is because owners go on holiday and, failing to have considered that they might ever want to go away for the many years they own a pet, don’t want to pay for animal care while they’re away.

A quarter of pet owners were also said to have at least considered rehoming their pet. 10% said that they had abandoned their pet because it ‘prevented holiday plans’.

The primary reason for dumping animals beside general inconvenience appears to be financial, with 40% of owners saying that the expense of vet’s bills, holiday care and general costs make pet owning difficult.

The head of Admiral pet insurance, Sian Humphreys, said: ‘Our customer statistics show that dogs are still the most popular pet, but they do tend to take a lot more time, effort and money than cats do.

‘We’d urge anyone thinking of getting one to consider all the options and implications before making such a big commitment so they don’t regret it later on.

‘Make sure you get your pet for the right reasons, whether that’s companionship, because they need a loving home, or because of the mental and physical health benefits of owning a pet.’

As always, a pet is for life: not just until you realise that it’s kinda expensive and inconvenient to take care of another creature.

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Lovehoney reveal the funniest searches on their website

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metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Look, it’s no secret that people’s brains get a bit jumbled when they get horny.

As such, sex toy retailer Lovehoney have seen some pretty funny search terms in the last 12 months.

In a time that’s seen six million searches, many of which are perfectly normal and standard, Lovehoney have also seen some pretty… unusual searches such as ‘pies for woman to get horny’ and ‘vibrators with noodles’.

Others made it apparent that shoppers didn’t realise quite where they were – some searched for ‘bike rake inside caravan’ and ‘meeting pointing in Bangkok airport’.

Here are the 21 most ridiculous search terms Lovehoney have seen in the last 12 months, from ‘pension extender’ to ‘dave’:

The strangest searches on LoveHoney:

  • Hide your drink in bra
  • The loo of love
  • Pension extender
  • Blowtorch stroker
  • Bike rake inside caravan
  • London to whitehaven train times
  • Peparami lube
  • Pickled onion condoms
  • Meeting point in Bangkok airport
  • Turnip vibrator
  • Love twiglets
  • Machine guns
  • Lego restraints
  • Vibrators with noodles
  • Sorry panties
  • Extra wine vibrator
  • Loyal pyjamas
  • Dave
  • Darth Vader condom
  • Pies for woman to get horny
  • Make you duck longer

Deep down, don’t we all want to know how to make our duck longer?

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Homeless people are wearing barcodes so they can take cashless donations

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by REX/Shutterstock (9675430t) Homeless people in Windsor Preparations for the Royal Wedding, Windsor, UK - 16 May 2018
(Picture: REX/Shutterstock)

How often do you have to tell a homeless person that you’re sorry but you don’t have any change?

More and more often lately we’re leaving the house without any cash on us at all, and it’s affecting the homeless population.

A new charity scheme hopes to put an end to this by giving rough sleepers wearable barcodes so the public can donate money with their smartphones.

Greater Change, backed by Oxford University Innovation and Oxford’s Said Business school, is behind the innovation.

Founder Alex McCallion told the BBC that the lanyard’s QR code would solve the problem caused by Britons relying on cards for payments.

He said: ‘The solution we have come upon with is a giving mechanism through your smartphone to a restricted fund’.

He added that this might also help homeless people to save for long-term financial goals.

Each rough sleeper is assigned a case worker who co-manages their account to ensure that the money is spent on agreed targets. People donating will also be able to learn more about the recipient’s circumstances.

Some people, however, are naturally uncomfortable with the idea – while it could be beneficial to some rough sleepers, it also involves scanning and keeping track of them.

Additionally, some homeless people will be punished for being addicts or having circumstances deemed less than acceptable, either through the app or through a case worker controlling their income.

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Mum’s infected C-section wound left her with sepsis

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(Picture: PA Real Life)

A new mum who was diagnosed with sepsis after an emergency C-section wound became infected is desperate for other mums to know the telltale signs of the infection.

29-year-old Harriet Shearsmith says she’s lucky to be alive after waking to find her nightie soaked in pus two weeks after the birth of her first child Reuben.

Having been pumped with antibiotics for months after the trauma, the mum, from North Yorkshire, is now campaigning for better education around maternal sepsis.

She said: ‘I truly thought I was going to die and leave my husband Adam a single dad.

‘That cannot happen to other families, so I want to raise as much awareness as possible, to ensure that no one has to go through what I did.

‘I want to encourage people to always ask, “could it be sepsis?” when they experience any of the symptoms or recognise them in their family members.’

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, kills 44,000 people in the UK each year, and, without quick treatment, it can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

Symptoms include slurred speech or confusion, extreme shivering or muscle pain, passing no urine in a day, severe breathlessness, feeling like you are going to die, and mottled or discoloured skin.

How close Harriet came to death is something her husband Adam – now 33 and a stay-at home dad to their three children Reuben, seven, Tobias, five and Edith, three – cannot bear to think about.

Harriet, who works full time as a family and lifestyle blogger, said: ‘My husband cannot even talk about that time, as the thought of being left as a widowed dad at 25 is just too horrifying.’

Harriet just after her sepsis ordeal (Collect/PA Real Life)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

The couple, who met in 2007 in a nightclub and have been together ever since, were ecstatic when Harriet fell pregnant with Reuben in 2010.

Her labour was difficult. After 36 hours of contractions, her 8lb 3oz son became stuck and he was delivered by emergency caesarean on March 3, 2011, at York Hospital.

When Harriet held her newborn for the first time, she says it was magical.

She said: ‘It was an amazing moment. There was the usual excitement around having a brand new baby and, after two days in hospital, we were sent home feeling perfectly happy and healthy.’

Two weeks later, Harriet was struggling to produce milk and developed a headache.

She went to her GP, but just assumed she was a rundown new mum who needed more rest.

A day later she developed a migraine-like headache so severe that she could barely open her eyes and was drenched in sweat whilst also shivering.

She also noticed her C-section wound felt enlarged and lumpy.

Harriet went to bed but woke up around 11pm, finding she was soaked in what she at first thought was menstrual blood.

She recalled: ‘Adam was asleep next to me so I asked him to get me some clean sleepwear.

‘I hadn’t opened my eyes properly, but when Adam saw me he said, ‘That’s not blood,’ sounding terrified. He said it was pus.’

That is when the seriousness of the situation hit Harriet, with the adrenaline awakening her senses.

Baby Reuben (Collect/PA Real Life)
Harriet’s baby (Picture: PA Real Life)

She said: ‘It smelt putrid, like rotting flesh, coming from my C-section wound.

‘The pus and blood mix had covered my nightshirt from above the knee to my chest and it was still seeping out.’

Adam gave Harriet a maternity towel, like a sanitary pad, to stop the flow and went to get her mum Georgina Arkle, 68, a retired nurse who lives with the pair.

‘She took one look at me and told Adam to drive us to the hospital as there wasn’t enough time to wait for an ambulance,’ said Harriet.

‘Mum came too so she could take Reuben if we needed her to.

‘I stumbled into A and E and said my C-section wound was leaking fluids.

‘When the nurse at York Hospital took the maternity towel off and looked at the wound, it spurted forwards towards her and smelt vile.

‘The last thing I saw as the room faded black was the nurse grabbing a team to help keep me alive.’

Harriet was kept in hospital for four days whilst her wound was drained and she was pumped with antibiotics.

‘I really thought I was going to die,’ she said.

‘It was four terrible, drowsy days without my newborn or husband. Four days where I couldn’t care for myself and had to have bed baths.

‘I was just hoping that my scar would close and that I could go home soon.’

Harriet with new baby Reuben (Collect/PA Real Life)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

Harriet admits she had never heard of sepsis before a doctor confirmed her diagnosis, but it is now a word she will never forget.

She said: ‘The consultant told me if we had left it even just a few more hours, then I could be dead.’

After being discharged, Harriet was given antibiotics to take home to keep any infection at bay.

She admits she initially struggled to bond with her eldest son because of the time they spent apart.

Harriet explained: ‘I struggled to hold him as easily, I never breast fed him and I often feel like I’ve let Reuben down in some way, like I haven’t been enough of a mum to him.’

But thankfully she had complication-free pregnancies with her youngest two, who were both also born at York Hospital.

Harriet is grateful to the hospital for saving her life and for the care it gave her during all her pregnancies.

Now she wants to raise awareness around maternal sepsis and has started a campaign called Suck It Sepsis.

Aiming to raise funds for charity The UK Sepsis Trust, Harriet wants to prevent other mums from facing the same life-or-death ordeal.

She said: ‘There needs to be more education so people think of sepsis straight away, and it doesn’t become deadly.

‘I was so lucky that we caught it early, but sadly others are not as lucky.

Dr Ron Daniels, Chief Executive of the The UK Sepsis Trust and a global sepsis expert, said: ‘Sepsis strikes indiscriminately, affecting the young and old alike.

‘Harriet’s frightening story highlights how, for every child we hear about in the media whose life has been claimed by sepsis, there is another who is grieving the loss of their parent.

‘If caught early, sepsis can be easily treated with antibiotics but without quick diagnosis and treatment, the consequences can be devastating.

‘We’re very grateful to Harriet for helping to raise awareness of an illness that affects so many yet is so poorly recognised. Together we can encourage everyone to be able to just ask: could it be sepsis?’

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The Camel in Bethnal Green is the best pet-friendly pub in the world

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(Picture: The Camel)

One thing that makes a pub a must-visit – other than cheap pints: the presence of a pub cat or dog.

A day cooing over a kitty or stroking a dog while boozing and chatting with pals is a day well spent, we reckon.

So it’s handy to know the places where you’re likely to do some good pet-spotting.

Thankfully TrustedHousesitters has shared their list of the 100 most pet-friendly places in the world, based on the places recommended by the site’s members.

We’re in luck, as a load of places in the UK make the list.

And Londoners, we’re especially hashtag blessed as a humble pub lands a spot at 65 worldwide.

The Camel in Bethnal Green was voted the best pub for pets in the world, not just because they allow dogs and cats to come in and have a bowl of water, but because they have to pub cats called Pie and Steve.

‘We’re a really pet friendly pub,’ says Debbie Connor, the Camel Pub’s owner. ‘We’re near parks with lots of outdoor seating.

(Picture: The Camel)

‘Dogs and cats are very welcome inside and we always offer them bowls of water.

‘My cats are called Pie and Steve and Steve particularly loves dogs. There was a bulldog under the table the other day and Steve went to sit with him and drink out of his bowl, we have a really friendly animal and human community.’

From over 54,000 locations that were recommended worldwide, 30 British pet-friendly places made the top 100, making the UK the most pet-friendly place in the world.

Other pet-friendly spots that rated highly included Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, cafes in Brighton, and the Eden Project; where dogs love being taken on walks.

The list has been released to celebrate the new TrustedHousesitters app, which helps people to match with verified house and pet sitters, as well as find places to take pets on walks.

You can see the full list of the top 10 pet-friendly places in the world on the TrustedHousesitters website, but we’ve listed the best places in the UK below.

No judgement if you now plan to go to each one to meet friendly doggos.

The top pet-friendly places in the UK:

  1. The Eden Project, Cornwall (world #1)
  2. Watercress Line, Hampshire (world #4)
  3. Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall (world #6)
  4. Lake Vyrnwy, Wales (world #13)
  5. Avebury Monument, Wiltshire (world #14)
  6. Gail’s Bakery, Hove (world #17)
  7. Scone Palace, Perth, Scotland (world #20)
  8. The Bay Cafe, Weston-super-Mare (world #22)
  9. Springfield Mill, Midlothian, Scotland (world #23)
  10. Brimham Rocks, Yorkshire (world #24)
  11. Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset (world #27) 
  12. Foxton Locks, Market Harborough (world #32)
  13. Baker & Graze, Gloucestershire (world #34)
  14. Loch Ness, Scotland (world #35)
  15. Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian, Scotland (world #37)
  16. Flour Pot Bakery, Brighton (world #47)
  17. Portobello Beach, Edinburgh, Scotland (world #51)
  18. Brickwood Coffee & Bread, London (world #52)
  19. Glastonbury Tor (world #53)
  20. Trentham Gardens, Stoke-On-Trent (world #54)
  21. Bluebird Café, Ferring (world #55)
  22. Charlestown Shipwreck, Cornwall (world #58)
  23. Small Batch Coffee, Brighton (world #60)
  24. The Helix, Falkirk, Scotland (world #63)
  25. The Camel Public House London (world #65)
  26. Castle Drogo, Devon (#68)
  27. Sips & Bites, London (world #69)
  28. Lynwood & Co, Lechlade (world #72)
  29. Alexandra Nurseries, Penge (world #78)
  30. Cragg Sisters Tearoom, Suffolk (world #89)

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Where are the UK’s one night stand hotspots?

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metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

We now know the best cities for casual encounters.

Belfast has been named the one night stand capital of the UK in a new survey where over two thirds of respondents (74%) said they’d gone home with a new partner for casual sex.

Northampton was revealed to be another one night stand hotspot, with 22% of those surveyed said that they’d had more than 30 overnight relationships.

In contrast, Sunderland was the place where people were least likely to have casual sex, with only 25% of people claiming to have had one night stands.

According to the ONE Condoms survey, more than half of Brits (56%) have had a one night stand at some point during their lives.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having a one night stand, as long as both partners are consenting and you’re protected against STIs and unwanted pregnancy.

Casual encounters can be exciting and satisfying, and don’t need to come with moral judgement attached.

Men were more likely to say that they’d had nights of one-off sex than women, perhaps due to lingering and sexist ideas about women’s worth being compromised by engaging in casual sex.

The UK’s one night stand hotspots:

1. Belfast – 74%
2. Wrexham & Durham – 68%
3. Walsall – 66%
4. Swansea – 65%
5. Gloucester – 64%
6. Lisburn & Middleborough – 63%
7. Glasgow – 62%
8. Kingston upon Hull – 61%
9. Blackpool, Derby & Newcastle upon Tyne – 60%
10. Nottingham – 58%

63% of men claimed they’d had a one night stand in the last month, while only 48% of women said the same.

The men surveyed were also more likely to call a one night stand their ‘sexiest relationship ever’, with 21% agreeing with this statement compared to just 7% of women.

The top two reasons for having a one off sexual encounter were (unsurprisingly) instant physical attraction (53%) and instant chemistry (35%).

You don’t need to fall in love or have a relationship with someone to enjoy the thrill of a sexual encounter – sometimes it’s just about being in the moment and having fun.

ONE Condoms sex and relationships expert and co-host of BBC Radio 1’s Unexpected Fluids,  Alix Fox, said: ‘Sexual partners do not necessarily have to be people you stay with for a lifetime in order to be the ride of your life.

‘One-night stands tend to happen breathtakingly fast and whisk you away on a wave of hedonism, horniness and heat. They can feel exciting, adrenalised and thrilling.

‘If you suspect that you’re probably never going to see your lover again after the sun rises, you may feel more liberated to live out a fantasy, try a new trick or technique, or do something daring.

‘On the flipside, since ONS hook-ups involve people who may well not have had time to get to know each others’ bodies and tastes, they can involve a lot of clumsy fumbling and awkward bumbling!

‘Whatever you get up to before getting up and getting outta there, make sure you protect yourself from both unplanned pregnancy and STIs, including HIV, by always using a condom.’

The UK's cities where you're least likely to have a one night stand:

The UK’s least likely cities for one-night stands:
1. Sunderland – 25%
2. Peterborough – 35%
3. Carlisle – 36%
4. Norwich – 46%
5. Leeds – 48%
6. Cardiff, Birmingham, York & Northampton – 50%
7. Chelmsford – 53%
8. Oxford – 54%
9. London – 55%
10. St Albans – 56%

Whether you live in horny Belfast or more sedate Sunderland, it’s important to be prepared when you go out on the pull.

Don’t rely on the other person to have a condom with them. Safe sex is both partners’ responsibility.

If one night stands are your thing, stay protected and have fun.

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After my daughter had cancer, I developed an app to improve the hospital experience for all children

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Dom’s daughter Issy was diagnosed with cancer aged 13 (Photo: Dom Raban)

In the UK around 1,800 children under 15 are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Compared to adult cancer rates it’s not a headline-grabbing number. But if you’re that child, or a friend or relative of that child, then hearing the diagnosis is an absolutely devastating event, and one that will change your life from that day on.

My life changed on 29 November 2011. Sat in a small, windowless room, my wife and I listened in stunned silence as we were told that our 13-year-old daughter, Issy, had a rare and aggressive bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.

That marked the start of a terrible year of treatment for Issy that included six different hospitals, 18 rounds of chemotherapy, numerous blood transfusions, a failed stem cell harvest, an operation to remove her sacrum and a 10 week-long, NHS-funded trip to the US for proton beam therapy.

Thankfully the treatment was a success and today my daughter, now 20, is a picture of health and studying for a degree in management.

But when she was ill, nobody told her what to expect and that made her feel scared, anxious and alone.

What information there was, was directed at us as parents, which left my daughter feeling isolated and ignored.

She was resistant to treatments because their purpose wasn’t explained to her and she was scared of new environments because she didn’t know what to expect.

The long term effect of that on my daughter is that now she is reluctant to engage with health services.

Of course, I knew from my daughter’s experience the effect that the lack of information had on both her and us but I wanted to see whether there was any evidence that this could have an adverse impact on health outcomes.

(Picture: Sutherland Labs)

I started trawling through academic papers and discovered that there is lots of research and it all clearly supports the common-sense assumption that patients who have a better understanding of what will happen, experience reduced stress and anxiety which can lead to better clinical outcomes.

What’s more, I discovered that improving a child’s understanding of health interventions can lead to better long-term engagement with health services.

That got me thinking about what I could do to address this problem, not just for child cancer patients like Issy, but for any child, anywhere, who is about to go in to hospital.

What I wanted to do was put health information directly in the hands of children in a way which makes them feel empowered, engaged and informed – whilst having fun at the same time.

In my day-job I’m the director of a digital innovation agency that makes apps, games and software so it seemed only natural to create an app.

My team and I started by asking children what they would want to see if they were going in to hospital.

Then we took these ideas and built some very rough and ready prototypes. With a small amount of funding from the NHS, the very kind donation of some free research time from Sutherland Labs and the support of Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, we were then able to test these prototypes with patients, parents and clinicians.

The testing demonstrated that there was a very real need for what we intended to do and that gave us the confidence to apply for more funding to help us develop our ideas into a fully functional application.

Now, three years later, we’ve raised over half a million pounds and we’re almost ready to release our app which we’re calling ‘Xploro’.

Xploro aims to reduce stress and anxiety by introducing children to hospital environments, staff and processes, using 3D augmented reality interactive models, an artificially intelligent Avatar Guide that can answer children’s questions and a series of games that help to demystify complex technology – think of it as Pokemon Go meets The Sims.

Our first release, available in the spring of next year, will be aimed at children who have received a cancer diagnosis but this will be followed by versions that focus on other long term conditions like diabetes and asthma.

This has been a cathartic journey for me. Immersing myself in this project for the last three years has allowed me the space to reflect on what Issy went through without having to get too close to the painful memories.

I’ve been able to use that awful experience to think about how we can learn from the shortcomings of Issy’s experience to benefit other children embarking on a journey through the hospital system.

I have big ambitions for Xploro – we’re aiming to reach more than 1.5million children worldwide within the next five years. If, as a result of using the app, those children have a better hospital experience then I will be a very happy man.

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