Earlier this week, a woman took to Reddit for advice on her boyfriend’s attitude towards her weight, and was met with a sweet comment from another user.

‘I am an old man now, and my wife is gone. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever known, inside and out, but she often struggled to see that,’ he wrote.

The woman, 21, who said her boyfriend makes comments about her body, asked how to deal with a partner who doesn’t appreciate her beauty.

When the old man saw the thread, he quickly made a comment to reassure the woman.

His message, which revealed he was ‘full of regret’ over his attitude towards his late wife, moved many users on the social website, garnering almost 10,000 responses so far.

In the initial post, the unnamed woman wrote: ‘I’m losing weight but my partner is still giving me a hard time about my appearance.

‘We were going swimming the other day and I commented that the water was cold. I was met with the response “trust me you have more than enough insulation”.’

Many people expressed their outrage, imploring the woman to leave him and one even joked she should lose 200 pounds – in the form of her boyfriend.

But it was the old man’s comment that stood out the most.

He said: ‘I remember there was a time during our life where we (wife and I) had some trouble (I was advancing my career and really neglecting our marriage) and she started dieting and working out extensively.

‘I didn’t even notice at the time (because I was so absorbed in my work) but we finally had a pretty severe argument, where she asked me whether I didn’t find her attractive anymore because of her weight.

‘One of my biggest regrets ever, that still haunts me to this day, is that I made her feel less than beautiful.’

‘It still hurts me to think of the days and months where she was eating less in the hopes that I’d love her more. It makes me angry at myself,’ he said.

‘As the user I’m replying to said, the weight you need to lose is not from yourself.

‘I am sure that your partner has benevolent feelings towards you but he is behaving in a fundamentally unloving way to you. He is giving you unhealthy food for your soul.

‘I think you should let him know how this makes you feel. If he loves you, I think he would be horrified to realise what his words do to you. If he does not realise that, you need to feed your soul a better diet.’

The message inspired other users, who reflected on the way they approach their own loved ones.

‘I think your post helped a lot of people that read it. It reminded us to make sure we stay supportive and attentive to our partners. Reckonings are never easy, but they can be cleansing,’ wrote one user.

Another user said: ‘You’ve somehow opened up my brain to a layer of empathy I didn’t know could exist. Thank you for sharing such a deep part of yourself with everyone.’

Many comments followed in the same vein, commending the old man and supporting the woman with positive and encouraging words.

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This August and September, our Instagram page is on a road trip across the UK.

Through your pictures, we’re travelling across the counties and on the hunt for the best and most beautiful spots, to showcase your shareable shores and like-worthy landmarks.

So far, we have ventured around the south of England, up through Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia, and now reaching the heart of England – Yorkshire.

Here are a few of our most liked images so you can keep up.

Use #MetroRoadTrip to share your pictures for the next stage of our journey, to the north west and north east.

North Yorkshire

The ruins of Whitby Abbey on a stunning background captured here by @neal.rylatt.

South Yorkshire

Clouds don’t stop adventures in the Peak District, as show here by @_ryan.morris_.

West Yorkshire

There’s a lot of history in the Yorkshire hills and this scenic shot of the Gibson Mill is just one example, captured by @gunnlin1952.

Humberside

Forget the white cliffs of Dover, we have them in the north too, as shown in this stunning shot by @anna.l.chapman.

The next stage of our #MetroRoadTrip will see us heading to the north west.

You can follow us at @Metro.co.uk, where we regularly post the best pictures from London using #MetroLDN.

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Terry Lauerman is a 75-year-old pensioner from Wisconsin, USA, who walks into a cat shelter every day to hang out with the furry residents.

He asked the staff at Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary in Green Bay if he could brush their cats, and to his delight, they let him.

So he started coming in every day to brush the kitties and now regularly ends up napping with them.

The shelter has now shared pictures of Terry sleeping next to cats on various different days and people can’t get enough.

‘We are so lucky to have a human like Terry,’ said the Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary on Facebook.

‘Terry just came along one day and introduced himself. He said he’d like to brush cats. Eventually it became every day.

‘He brushes all of the cats, and can tell you about all of their likes and dislikes. He also accidentally falls asleep most days. We don’t mind – cats need this. Terry is a wonderful volunteer.’

Ever so punctual, Terry comes in for three hours every day. He begins by greeting the cats and brushing their fur, before eventually falling asleep on one of the many sofas at the shelter.

The cats also doze off with Terry, snuggling his leg, arms, or simply just sleeping next to him.

The daily occurrence has attracted the attention of lots of different people who have donated to the shelter so that they can continue their important work.

Elizabeth, the founder of the shelter, told Bored Panda: ‘Our donations have increased. Normally, we’d make between $3,000/$4,000 (/£2,296/£3,061) per month. This week, we have reached $30,000 (£22,960). This is amazing because we do rely solely on donations.

‘The proceeds will likely go to adding additional quarantine rooms, so that we can save more cats quicker, vet bills and re-insulating the building so that we are more energy-efficient this winter. We’ll have more than enough for all of those things, so some will go to savings and be our “rainy day fund”.’

If you want to donate so Terry can continue catnapping, you can do so here.

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Last Christmas, we shared predictions of the most popular boys and girls names for 2018, which will be revealed sometime next year.

But, which names took the top spot in 2017?

For the second year running, Olivia and Oliver are the two names chosen most often, according to research by the Office for National Statistics.

The figures also show a sharp increase in names inspired by hit TV shows like Game of Thrones (GOT) and animated films like Moana.

The word Khaleesi, which is a title given to Emilia Clarke’s dragon-slaying character, occurred a record number of 76 times in the UK. Others were called Daenarys, which is the characters real name.

Sansa, another prominent figure in the HBO TV drama also saw an increase.

But Game of Thrones’ most revered name proved to be Arya, after Maisie Williams’ character.

Arya has also been popular in previous years, and is predicted to be in 18th place for the most well-liked monikers for next year.

The number of boys named after Peter Dinklage’s GOT intellectual role of Tyrion Lannister stayed the same as last year, with 11 boys called Tyrion.

At the end of 2016, Disney’s animated film Moana was released, causing seven babies to be named after the eponymous character in 2017.

Parents clearly love fantasy and supernatural dramas, as intergalactic films like Star Wars and Marvel films also inspired names.

Last year, 21 babies were called Rey and 70 were called Kylo, most probably after the characters played by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver in recent Star Wars installments.

Comic book figure Harley Quinn, who was brought to life by Marvel’s Suicide Squad, also featured on the list – with three girls taking on the name.

And while most of us consider Lucifer as another term for Satan, some people have been inspired by the TV show with the same name.

The data showed that 11 boys were called Lucifer in 2017.

On the opposite end of the scale, nobody wants their child to be called Sarah or Harvey anymore, though the latter might not come as much of a surprise, considering disgraced Hollywood tycoon Harvey Weinstein is at the centre of the #MeToo movement.

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I was a 13-year-old girl when I realised I liked other girls as well as boys but I didn’t hear the term ‘bisexual’ until two years later.

At the time, I was excited and relieved. There was a word just for me, which made my feelings real and possible.

At around 15, I learned that other people weren’t as into the word as I was, and over the next decade, I began feeling increasingly uncomfortable using it.

Though it’s always been the easiest way to describe my sexual identity to other people, the word ‘bisexual’ has been bastardised by harmful stereotypes, meaning that dropping it casually into a regular conversation inevitably causes eyebrows to raise. Typically, straight male eyebrows.

People were and continue to be dismissive of bi or pansexuality, and often don’t really seem to understand or acknowledge it.

I’ve seen bisexual people represented as being hypersexual, kinky, greedy, slutty, attention-seeking, confused, or just ‘going through a phase’.

Women like me come up against these stereotypes on a daily basis, and though I can’t speak on behalf of bisexual men, what really floors me about unconscious biphobia is this: the biases and undermining language that court bisexual women are thickly embedded with references to pornography – ‘girl on girl’ fantasies conjured with heterosexual male fulfilment at the centre.

Identifying as a bisexual woman is not a prelude to getting the D.

Throughout my life, straight men have interpreted my sex positivity and bisexuality as being very attractive qualities but fail to realise that fetishising me in this way isn’t a compliment.

It’s actually pretty degrading, especially if you’re on a first date or you’ve just matched on a dating app.

Some men have a fun habit of opening with invasive and inappropriate questions about my sexual experiences. I can confirm that this happens to my friends who are straight women far less than it happens to me.

A minute ago I was a nice girl they’d like to date and, suddenly, I’m a faceless woman on the other end of a sexy chat line, ready to answer any and all of their filthy questions.

But I’m the same person I was a minute ago, and nothing’s changed except the way this man has chosen to perceive me. Unmatch. Next.

Porn and pop culture have fuelled the notion that women like me hook up with other women purely for a bit of fun, before we inevitably meet our husbands and live happily ever after, or that bisexual women pair up for the enjoyment of men.

I’ve walked out of several dates because of stupid comments made by beautiful straight men who’ve reduced my identity and my experiences to a hot trope, and my god do I wish I didn’t have to keep doing that.

So in honour of Bi Visibility day, I’d like to clear a few things up.

Identifying as a bisexual woman is not a prelude to getting the D.

My sexuality is not a performative gesture that I employ to excite men.

Do not de-legitimise, devalue or try to erase a part of me by suggesting it would be OK to cheat with a woman but not with another man.

Do not assume I want to have a threesome, foursome or moresome with you, and please don’t ask me if I want one mere seconds after I tell you I’m bi.

If these problematic characterisations don’t annoy me, they make me feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes I cringe when men grin at me like I’ve just revealed a dirty secret.

But also I think about how excited I was when I heard the word ‘bisexual’ for the first time, how powerful and present it made me feel.

That word is a building block in my identity, it confirms who I am, so I can’t help but feel I have a responsibility to walk out of every date with a dude who doesn’t get that.

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If you only have a few minutes and limited patience to make dinner each night but you’re a food lover, you need an arsenal of dishes in your repertoire that are quick to make but don’t compromise on taste.

Speed needn’t mean cutting corners on quality – if you choose good quality ingredients and treat them well, the end result will be just as satisfying as if you’d slaved over a hot stove and a chopping board all day.

Here are 4 super quick meals with just 4 ingredients (plus seasoning!) you can make this evening that have all the flavour you want with none of the faff.

Real food, real quick.

(Picture: Getty)

1) ASIAN TUNA STEAK WITH COURGETTI

INGREDIENTS

Tuna steak

Courgetti

Cherry tomatoes

Sugar snap peas (or any other green vegetable)

Seasoning: Ginger, garlic, chilli, sesame oil, sesame seeds, coriander (if required)

METHOD

Fry red chilli, ginger and garlic in a generous glug of sesame oil until the garlic is softened.

Add 2 x spiralised courgettes, or, get a bag of courgetti spaghetti from the supermarket to shave 10 mins from your prep time.

Add cherry tomatoes and sugar snap peas (or mange tout, pak choi, long stemmed purple sprouting broccoli – any greens at all you can lay your hands on).

Toss the vegetables in the infused oil and let that cook for a couple of minutes, keeping the vegetables moving until the tomatoes are starting to soften.

Meanwhile, heat up a griddle pan and sear your tuna steaks on both sides, seasoned with salt and rubbed with sesame oil.

Take the tuna off once it’s lightly cooked and still pink in the middle.

The entire meal should take no more than 3-5 minutes to cook – in fact, if you like your tuna rare, it will take no more than 30 seconds to a minute each side – so you’ll need to be prepared to juggle.

Toasted sesame seeds and micro herb coriander (regular coriander is fine too) sprinkled on top to serve elevate this dish into a new realm – but if that’s an ingredient too far, it’s perfectly lovely without.

(Picture: Getty)

2) QUICK CRISPY BACON CARBONARA

INGREDIENTS

Linguine, fresh or dry

Eggs (one per person)

Parmesan cheese

Lardons

Seasoning: olive oil, salt, pepper.

METHOD

Boil up a big pan of salted water and throw in your pasta.

In the 10-12 minutes you have until it’s done, 3-4 minutes if you use fresh pasta, fry the lardons in a pan until they crisp up. Crack your eggs and separate the yolks from the white, keeping the yolks to one side. Grate a few tablespoons of Parmesan (approx one tbsp per person).

When the pasta is done, drain it and return to the warm pan. Add a good glug of extra virgin olive oil and toss the pasta to coat it. Throw in the crispy lardons along with the tasty oil left in the pan. Add the egg yolks and a handful of Parmesan. Season well with salt and pepper.

Give the whole thing a good mix so the linguine is coated.

If you’re feeling fancy, garnish with a healthy handful of torn flat leaf parsley.

Serve with the crucial fifth ingredient: a glass of cold white wine.

3) SPEEDY SUMMER ROAST CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS

Spatchcock chicken

New potatoes

Tomatoes

Red onion

Seasoning: oil, salt and pepper. Fresh basil optional.

Even in warmer weather we crave a roast – but no one wants to stand in a hot kitchen for an hour and a half while it cooks.

This summery roast is lighter than a traditional roast and takes just 30-40 minutes.

You see, fast food can be good food!

If you have a gas barbecue with a lid, it comes with almost no washing up too.

If your supermarket doesn’t sell spatchcock, the meat counter will usually prepare it for you. Otherwise, a local butcher will happily oblige.

All it means is that the chicken has been cut down the middle and butterflied, so it can be cooked quicker, particularly on the barbecue.

If you don’t have a barbecue, this works just as well in a hot oven.

METHOD

Rub the chicken skin with oil and salt.

Heat the barbecue and put the chicken on, breast down, for 10-15 minutes on an indirect heat. Close the lid to roast the chicken. Turn and cook for the remainder of the time – it should be done in 35-40 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the new potatoes in a little water in the microwave until they are almost done. Drain and coat in oil, season, then put into a small roasting tin and add that to your barbecue, lid down. Give them a shake and turn them after 15 minutes – they will need around 30 minutes in total to turn golden brown and crisp up.

While that’s cooking, thinly slice the tomato and onion and layer in a dish. Dress with olive oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Add torn basil if you have.

In 30-35 minutes the chicken will be done. Use a thermometer to check the breast of the chicken is up to 165c.

Take everything off together and serve your chargrilled chicken with the speedy roasties and lovely fresh tomato and onion salad.

(Picture: Getty)

4) COD WITH CHORIZO AND CHILLI SWEET POTATO MASH

INGREDIENTS

Cod fillets

Chorizo – either raw cooking chorizo or regular cured chorizo in sausage form (not pre-sliced)

Sweet potato – allow for half each

Purple sprouting broccoli

Seasoning: Olive oil, butter, salt and pepper, red chilli flakes.

With cod taking about 7-10 minutes to cook, depending on the thickness of the fillet, this meal should take around 15 minutes to prepare and cook, all in. The cod, broccoli and potato needs no preparation before cooking, other then seasoning. The only thing to chop is the chorizo and the only elements to balance timing-wise are the chorizo and making sure the sweet potato is sufficiently cooked.

METHOD

Put a sweet potato into the microwave to cook for around 6-9 minutes, depending on size.

Slice the chorizo into rings then half them and get it frying in a pan. It should take a few minutes to start to cook and crisp up at the edges. When it’s done, remove the chorizo and place on kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil. Put the cod, skin down, seasoned with salt into the sizzling chorizo oil and cook until the skin is crisping up and the fish has started to cook through to the middle.

Turn and cook the other side.

Meanwhile, brush the broccoli with oil, season with salt and cook in a hot griddle pan until it begins to soften and colour at the edges.

When the potato is done, cut it in half, scoop out the flesh and mash it with olive oil, a knob of butter, red chilli flakes and salt and pepper.

Serve the cod on the sweet potato, dish up the broccoli and sprinkle the whole affair with the crisped up chorizo halves.

A tasty Mediterranean feast in 15 minutes.

Myths abound in the world of food.

Much of what we think we know about nutrition is no more than shaky acquired ‘wisdom’ picked up from a range of sources that likely include ancient magazine advice, wellbeing gurus on Instagram and your mum (does ‘if you don’t eat your crusts you’ll never be big and strong’ sound familiar?).

So many myths exist it’s impossible to bust them all in one go, so let’s start with 5 of the most commonly held food myths out there – and the truth.

1) Fat is bad for you

It’s not. Eating fats – both saturated and unsaturated – is part of a healthy diet. The body needs fats – namely fatty acids Omega 3 and 6 – for optimum health and, as long as you are not in calorie surplus every day, weight gain will not be an issue.

The very latest evidence shows that just as eating cholesterol does not raise your cholesterol levels, saturated fats do not lead to cardiovascular issues either.

The sort of fat to avoid or have in moderation is trans fats, which do have a link to coronary heart disease. The World Health Organisation recommends that no more than 1% of the diet is made up of trans fats. Trans fats are usually found in processed baked goods, foods with shortening or margarine and foods fried in hydrogenated vegetable oils – so just eat them in moderation.

2) Quitting carbs will make you lose weight

Carbs, along with sugar, are one of the latest food groups to be declared public enemy number one. Where diets of the 70s and 80s used to champion quitting fat, now they talk about carbs.

But actually, there is nothing inherently bad about carbs. The problem lies only if carbs – which, let’s face it, can be delicious and easy to overeat – contribute to a calorie surplus that is not being worked off.

Demonising any one food group has been linked to an increase in disordered eating and orthorexia – an obsession with healthy eating or avoiding specific foods deemed as unhealthy.

If you need to lose weight, the important thing is to consume fewer calories than you eat, not to swap carbs for fat or vice versa, or to avoid entire food groups.

3) Bread is bad for you

Bread has been demonised over the past few years and has also suffered from anti-carb propaganda. But bread itself is not a ‘bad’ food. The problem lies in the fact that it is easy to overeat bread – and eat it with calorific or high sugar accompaniments, like butter and jam – and to fill up on it at the expense of more nutritions fruit, cereals and grains or vegetables.

However, in moderation, bread will not make you fatter than any other food with the same calorie count.

As for whether you choose white or wholemeal bread, the difference is marginal, both with regards to fibre and micronutrients.

The fibre count in wholewheat bread is only a shade higher than in white so choose the one you like best – and if it’s fibre you want, you’re better off finding it in fruit, cereals or veg.

4) You should eat more often to boost your metabolism

It is true that digestion slightly raises the metabolism, which may have given rise to this popular myth. However, eating more often is likely to lead to a higher calorie intake which could lead to weight gain, negating any benefits you may have gleaned.

This government study found that what mattered for maintaining a healthy weight was the total number of calories consumed across the day and not the number of meals they were spread across.

In fact, independent research commissioned by Nestlé in collaboration with DMG* found that while most of us are aware of the recommended calorie guidelines, we claim to under-eat, when in actual fact, we are consuming a surplus of calories.

It suggests that in reality we are not aware of the calories in the food and drink we eat.

5) You need to detox

Detox diets, juice fasts and supplements that claim to ‘detoxify’ the body are big business. The clean-eating brigade relies on them – both for profit and, they will tell you, their glossy hair, slim waists and clear skin.

However, the notion that our bodies contain toxins that expensive green juice can eliminate is nonsense.

A study in 2009 found that ten major detox companies could not name the ‘toxins’ their products were supposed to target, nor how they would cleanse the body of these mystery toxins.

The science-focused folk at Examine.com describe it thus: ‘Toxins are plant- or animal-based substances poisonous to humans. For many detox gurus, “toxins” also include heavy metals and everything synthetic: not just toxicants (man-made poisons, such as pollutants or pesticides), but also preservatives, high-fructose corn syrup, etc.

‘Alas, even when a substance really is noxious, a “detox diet” won’t help. Acute toxicity would likely constitute a medical emergency, whereas chronic toxicity is best addressed by a well-fed body — not one weakened by a severely hypocaloric diet.

‘The liver, kidneys, lungs, and other organs work around the clock to remove harmful substances and excrete the waste products of metabolism; detoxes can make it harder for them to work!

So, if “detox diets” are more likely to harm than help, what explains their current popularity?

One answer, as explained on Examine.com, is quick weight loss. ‘Deprive your body from carbohydrate and you can exhaust its glycogen stores in as little as 24 hours. The resulting loss of several pounds can convince you the diet had a positive effect.’

However, as anyone who has been on an extreme diet will tell you, when the diet ends and you go back to your regular eating habits, the glycogen and associated water come rushing back in, replacing all the weight you lost.

In short, you are losing pounds you’ll gain by starving your body of glycogen and losing yet more pounds by giving them away to increasingly wealthy detox companies.

*Source: Nestlé & DMG Parents Lifestyle Study January 2018

I’ve been doing some form of Punch and Judy show since I was four years old.

Although I’m the only Punch and Judy performer in the family, my uncle was a magician so there was entertainment in the blood!

My dad built me my first booth and my granny bought me a set of plastic puppets from the toy shop in Eastbourne.

As I grew, the booth grew, and now I make all my own puppets.

Being a puppeteer demands you play. You hold on to a child-like silliness that is lost in a lot of ‘grown-ups’, and I’m grateful to Mr Punch for that.

You don’t need any qualifications to be a professional Punch and Judy performer; all you need is a booth, some puppets and several hundred hours of practice.

Every performer has their own script and gags, so each time you see a show it is unique.

Parts of the show are also improvised and reactive to what an audience member might shout – think pantomime.

I have a few different characters that I switch in and out to keep things interesting.

This is also useful when I’m performing several shows in the day; it gives me the option to add new surprises for people who might have seen an earlier show and have come back for more.

As I am the director, producer and the whole cast, what I says goes.

That said, my favourite line has to be Mr Punch’s immortal catch-phrase, ‘That’s the way to do it’. I think people are born knowing this phrase.

Once you’ve got your show up to a good standard, you can have it assessed by The Punch and Judy Fellowship and become a full-member.

Your show will be judged on puppetry skill, voice characterisation, look and anything else that goes towards a good P&J.

Any new full-member is noted in our quarterly magazine and is allowed to acknowledge this on their advertising. This also helps uphold a good standard in the industry.

It’s also a way to connect the performers and enthusiasts.

Being a Punch and Judy performer means being self-employed, and everything that goes along with that.

The first part of my day I spend responding to emails, liaising with clients, sending out invoices and generally doing all the boring officey things that every self-employed person has to do.

I make sure to have a break at 11am for a second cup of coffee, and that’s when my day really begins.

If I don’t have a booking, there are always bits and bobs to do in the workshop: whether that’s sewing up rents in the costumes or touching up Punch’s nose with some acrylic.

If I’m feeling particularly creative, I might even carve a new puppet or two.

They all start out the traditional way, as a block of limewood that I rough out and then chisel in the details.

If I am out on a gig, I have to pack my van (which I have down to a fine art).

In goes my PA, my puppet theatre (known as a booth in the industry), a box of puppets, magic tricks (if the client has booked it), modelling balloons and big portable batteries if I am working outside.

I am based in Salford and take bookings all over the North West. But wherever Punch is wanted, I go (so long as the fee is right of course).

I aim to get to my gigs an hour before they open the gates, which gives me more than enough time to set up and have a cup of tea out of the thermos.

A smaller booking, such as a birthday party, can take between one and two hours to perform any combination of magic, puppetry and balloon modelling.

At a big gig like a country fair, I generally only do my traditional P&J show, which lasts 30 minutes, and can end up doing four shows in a day.

When I started performing, I used to get very nervous. These days I’ve done so many shows that I know what to expect so only occasionally do I get butterflies.

Different people charge different amounts, but a good performer could cost around £400 per day.

Warning: don’t give up your day job straight away – you have to make all your money in the summer time!

Weird things happen on this job.

A one-legged friend of mine who specialises in making papier mache puppets used to perform while wearing a papier mache false leg that he had crafted himself.

One day, on the beach, the tide came in under his booth, his leg went soggy and he fell over, taking his booth with him!

Another time, when I was demonstrating and passing out the puppets for students to handle at a school show, a little girl laughed so hard she weed on the crocodile.

You never know what to expect!

Every year there seems to be at least one newspaper article about P&J promoting domestic violence. They completely overlook the fact that the whole thing is a morality tale.

At several points in the show, the children are asked to decide whether Mr Punch has been a good man or a bad man, and they always shout ‘bad man’ as loudly as they can.

Punch and Judy no more glorifies violence than Goldilocks glorifies squatting.

In the words of the immortal Brian Conley, ‘It’s a puppet!’

Although there aren’t so many shows on the beach these days, we believe that there are more Punch and Judy performers now than ever. The art form is thriving!

There are so many things that only Punch and Judy performers know.

We even have our own language called Bona Palare. I could teach you some of the words, but if I did, I’d have to set the crocodile on you!

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Scrabble fans, we’ve got big news for you.

300 new words have been added to the Scrabble dictionary. So next time you’re in a tight corner, you’ll have a whole lot more ways to get out of it.

The American Scrabble association took the big decision to add a litany of new words including zomboid, twerk, bibimbap, botnet, emoji, facepalm, frowny, hivemind, puggle, yowza, sriracha, beatdown, sheeple and wayback.

Most major Scrabble players are excited at the addition of ‘ew’ and ‘OK’ which has, apparently, been a long time coming.

‘OK is something Scrabble players have been waiting for, for a long time,’ said lexicographer Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, who was in charge of the word being added. ‘Basically two- and three-letter words are the lifeblood of the game.’

Other newly minted Scrabble words ones to remember include qapik,a unit of currency in Azerbaijan, a word which allows you to use a ‘q’ without a ‘u’.

Yowza has also been added, giving a score of of 20, even without landing on a double letter or double word. Perhaps the most surprise addition is the word ‘zen’, which many of us might have thought would be a permitted word anyway.

Possibly the best thing about these additions is that when someone tells you ‘frowny’ isn’t a permitted word you can look at them and say, ‘I think you’ll find following the 2018 Merriem Webster adjustments to the official Scrabble words, yes it is.’

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The MS Society has just announced that the link between smoking and multiple sclerosis (MS) is clearer than ever. Research shows that not only are people who smoke more likely to develop MS, smoking can also speed up how fast people with MS might become disabled.

For a lot of people this has come as a big shock, but not for me.

I was diagnosed with the relapsing form of MS a few years ago. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn’t walk in a straight line and was always slightly wobbly.

One day, I felt my face go numb on one side, and then my arm. Soon, it was my entire left hand side. Then it was problems with my eyes, migraines etc. A trainee doctor asked if I’d heard of MS and referred me for an MRI.

For me, smoking always reminds me of the time I was diagnosed. I had a really scary experience right before it happened, where I was having a cigarette with my brother and collapsed.

The condition is unpredictable and different for everyone, but can cause problems with how we walk, move, see, think and feel. I get a lot pins and needles and numbness, and have problems with cognition and fatigue.

I lost all feeling and just slumped against the wall behind me, and slid right down, scratching my entire back. I couldn’t move.

Obviously they needed to get me to a hospital, but I’m quite a big guy and my poor brother had to drag me into the house. It put the fear in me and I didn’t smoke again after that.

I’d been smoking for years, since I was 13, so giving up was never going to be easy. But because I went into the hospital for three weeks and couldn’t walk, that helped.

After the collapse, I lost all feeling from the waist down; both my legs were completely gone.

I bought myself a wheelchair, had to have loads of physiotherapy, and had to teach myself to walk again. There were loads of tests, including electric shock tests in my legs, and a lumbar puncture.

To be honest, when they told me it was MS, I was relieved. At least I could get out and finally start to try to come to terms with it.

The condition is unpredictable and different for everyone, but can cause problems with how we walk, move, see, think and feel. I get a lot pins and needles and numbness, and have problems with cognition and fatigue.

Not everyone feels the effects of MS when they smoke, but I always suspected a link – even though I’d never heard it from a doctor. They’re supposed to tell you when you’re diagnosed, but with so many other things going on, you can understand why they wouldn’t.

Researchers at the MS Society looked at all the evidence, and found that smoking can speed up how fast you might become disabled. It can also mean more and bigger lesions and more relapses.

Since giving up, I feel generally healthier. I’ve noticed benefits to my breathing, and that I can exercise for longer.

MS still makes me dizzy and light headed sometimes, but some of the symptoms I struggled with – like my balance – have improved, and thankfully I’ve never had that feeling I got just before I collapsed.

I know it’s not easy, but giving up smoking really is one of the best things you can do. And what better time to try quitting than during Stoptober next month?

This Stoptober, the MS Society is inviting everyone affected by MS who smokes to join thousands of others trying to quit, and offering support, advice, and new resources to help. For more information, support and encouragement visit their website.

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It’s a truth universally acknowledged that weddings are expensive.

But not all couples want to spend a fortune on a day which will inevitably be memorable either way. Jenny and Rob Somerville from Raleigh, North Carolina, wanted an intimate ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

So, the couple decided to create the magical wedding they wanted, in their backyard, without skimping on the details. And they managed to do it all for $2,000 (£1,500).

They showed that it is possible to have a Pinterest style wedding that’s also affordable.

The newlyweds were able to put together the whole thing through innovation and the help of good friends.

They already owned a few things to help with the ceremony – a wooden altar, chairs, cushions, and borrowed things from friends.

From Goodwill, they bought second-hand bottles and vintage letters. Disposable cutlery and other materials were purchased from Home Depot, Amazon, Ikea, and Walmart.

And for the wedding dress, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s from a bridal boutique but the floor-length gown is in fact from boho-brand Show Me Your Mumu.

To top it off, Jenny’s mum accessorised a denim jean jacket for the occasion, adding on white lettering that read ‘just married.’

Special little touches were added such as lavender plants tied to each seat.

The  22 guests in attendance were fed Mexican food from a nearby restaurant and instead of a traditional cake, miniature blueberry pies were given out to everyone, (for a total of $100/£76).

The number-one priority and a ‘non-negotiable expense’ though was photographer Danielle Riley who captured the stunning outdoor event.

Danielle told Metro.co.uk about how impressed she was with the whole thing.

‘I loved their take on such an intimate ceremony!’ she said.

‘They originally reached out wanting to elope in the mountains but after much consideration, they decided they just couldn’t take their special day away from their families.

‘When I first arrived my jaw dropped, seeing how beautiful the entire day was set up. They made it a point to treat the day like a large wedding event.

‘Jenny got ready in their bedroom upstairs while Rob got ready at his brother’s house. They didn’t see each other before the ceremony, and afterward, they danced the night way on a Persian rug jenny had borrowed from someone to use as the dance floor.

‘They thought about every wedding tradition they wanted to keep and implemented it into their day and did away with the ones they didn’t love so much.

‘The entire wedding day was filled with love, joy, and tears of excitement. Looking back at all the weddings I’ve photographed, this is my favourite.

‘It absolutely melted my heart that these two said no to all their closet friends but kept their family in their minds and celebrated with them.

‘The design was flawless and it looked like a million dollar wedding in my eyes, just amazing. I wish all my weddings could be like this one.’

Anybody else wishing for a backyard wedding like this now?

Here are few more images from their stunning outdoor wedding:

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Summer is over, and with it goes the long evenings of sitting outside drinking rosé in a pub garden.

Whether you’re sad to see the warm weather go or delighted at the prospect of getting your winter coat out of the wardrobe, if you’re a drinker, then the chances are you’ve probably exceeded your recommended weekly units over the summer. Who can say no to a boozy BBQ?

Which is why Sober October is perfectly timed. Your liver is begging for a break, there’s finally loads of good stuff on the telly again, sobriety looks like a great idea.

Quitting drinking, however, isn’t always easy. Booze is a social lubricant, and as we all know, the UK is a nation of drinkers. So going for soda water over a G&T is a tough choice. But, it’s totally possible.

To start with, speak to your friends about what you’re doing. It’s even better if you’re raising money for charity, as you friends are less likely to try and talk you into ‘just having one’ if they know you’re abstaining to raise funds for Cancer Research.

Similarly, buddying up with someone else who is also doing Sober October is a good plan because you can provide moral support to each other, and seek out non-boozy activities.

Picking activities which don’t traditionally involve booze is a great way to avoid temptation. Sitting in the pub watching other people drink is tricky, but if you’re at the cinema, climbing and rock wall or having afternoon tea then you’re less likely to miss the booze.

I asked Metro.co.uk’s Faima, who doesn’t drink, for some tips. She said: ‘If you-re a non-drinker in London then loads of restaurants have ‘mocktail’ options or you can get a virgin version of any mixed drink on the menu.

‘Or just sip on a good ol’ soft drink or juice if you’re around drinking friends. If you find you’re tempted to go to boozy places then why not visit BYOB foodie places, that way you can’t order off the menu and you can discipline yourself not to bring any drinks in.’

But if you’re someone who likes a drink – just an occasional glass of wine but a proper drinker’s drinker, how do you handle a month off the sauce?

The important thing to work out is whether you’re a drinker, or you’re alcohol dependent.

For people who aren’t alcohol dependent, even those of us who exceed our recommended limits, giving up alcohol cold turkey shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you’re a very heavy drinker you might need to use caution or give up a little more slowly.

If you have any of the symptoms of alcohol dependence, speak to your GP before you stop drinking and they’ll help you work out the best way to move away from drinking while mitigating any risks.

Drinkaware has this useful calculator, which can advise you on whether you are in a position to give up cold turkey or require assistance in your detox. You can also speak with a drink chat adviser. 

If you have any concerns about your drinking, you should always speak to your GP. 

Pregnancy and motherhood can take its toll on the mental health of mothers.

While bringing a new child into the earth can be a glorious thing, the process is a long and arduous one.

Jessica Hood, a mum-of-three, has struggled with her pregnancies. She is now due to have her fourth child which she said is her final one.

The 30-year-old, from Western Victoria, Australia, wants to be open about her journey and mental health throughout, so she’s opened up an Instagram account to document it all.

And she will be live streaming when she goes into labour.

‘It was a scary time finding out we were going to be welcoming another baby into the family,’ she told Metro.co.uk.

‘I was sick with health issues, in and out of the hospital, suffering gallbladder attacks and suffering emotionally with severe anxiety disorder. To be honest I wasn’t even sure how my body would cope during this pregnancy.

‘A few months into my pregnancy, I decided I was going to do something completely crazy, completely out of my comfort zone and completely daring.

‘I decided I wanted to film my birth on Instagram live to fight my very own personal battles I’ve been facing.

‘I’ve been on and off medication since early 2017 trying to treat my anxiety, I’ve spent the past three years hiding away from the world and isolating myself from friends and family and I spent so long worrying about what people thought.

‘So I decided I will beat this! I was done with living my life in such a way it affected everyone in my family. So I decided to use my Instagram to bring awareness to mental health.’

Within three months of opening her account Jessica has 14.4 thousand followers.

She uses the story platform on the social media app to detail how she feels and what she is going through.

With the due date a mere 15 weeks away, Jessica and her partner are preparing for the birth of the new member of their family.

‘I decided although I’m choosing to air my birth live on Instagram that I will keep certain things private,’ she said.

‘I will not be showing myself pushing, however, everything else will be filmed and shown including contractions at home and in the hospital, our trip to the hospital and of course all the moments leading up the actual pushing stage.

‘It’s such an exciting time! At first, I wasn’t sure if I could actually do this but with the love and support from my amazing family and my incredible followers, I know that I can and will do this and I’m going to face my anxiety head on and hopefully never look back.

‘I’m getting a new lease on life. I’m making new friends and I’m getting to share an incredible experience with so many people who I will continue to have a close connection with after this is all over with.’

While Jessica will not reveal herself pushing, we revealed earlier in the year, another mother who has shown the whole process – from contractions to crowing, to after birth.

Sarah Schmid, from Halle, Germany, has six children and gave birth to all of them outside of a hospital. She has filmed herself giving birth unassisted in her backyard.

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Growing up as a trans person without any resources or people to look up to is hopefully a thing of the past.

A lot has happened in the past 10 years, and while the media is still incredibly hostile towards trans people, we have made some real progress.

Trans kids and teens are able to come out much earlier and can get the support that they need. Award-winning research from Kristina Olson, University of Washington’s associate professor of psychology, reveals that kids that receive support benefit massively and show lower levels of depression and anxiety.

In essence, supporting trans youth and affirming their identities enhances their quality of life.

Who would have thought?

We know that trans kids and teens need our support, as further research from Stonewall shows that up to 45% of trans youth are attempting suicide due to bullying, lack of support and discrimination.

In the 80s, 90s and noughties, there were little, if any, resources about being trans, and certainly not in the icy, rural picturesque landscapes of Iceland or the warm, sandy dunes of Saudi Arabia where we grew up.

It is hard to describe what that time was like in terms of being trans because we didn’t have the vocabulary, the agency or affirmation that what we were experiencing was truly real.

We both went through life feeling as if everyone else had been given the instruction manual but us.

It wasn’t until much later on that we were able to find the information that we needed, but only after having internalised shame about ourselves and having suffered a puberty that shaped our bodies in ways that we didn’t want.

When we came out, we quickly became aware that if we wanted to access medical treatment or gain some social acceptance, we had to ‘play along’

Once we finally got to the point of coming out as trans, we faced yet another barrier.

Despite society having made huge progress around trans awareness in the last decade, there is still very little knowledge about what it is to be a non-binary trans person.

Most of us have heard experiences of trans men and women but the term ‘non-binary’ still boggles people’s minds.

It is often hard to explain what non-binary is because we lack the language and the recognition to describe our identities. We are instead forced to tell you what we are not – that we are not a man or a woman.

Non-binary gender identities span a wide range from people that experience themselves as both a man and a woman, that their gender identity is fluid and shifts between the two or that they are completely outside of this binary understanding of gender.

It is worth a mention that the existence of non-binary identities has been recorded throughout history in different cultures around the world, and that non-binary people certainly aren’t a new phenomena.

When we came out, we quickly became aware that if we wanted to access medical treatment or gain some social acceptance, we had to ‘play along’ and say we were a trans man and a trans woman.

We were pushed from one box to the other, showing yet again how we as a society are obsessed with binaries.

Our experiences have inspired us to write a book, The Trans Teen Survival Guide. The name stems from a tumblr blog site with the same name, that was started by our dear friend Christina L. Bentley and a friend of hers.

The blog became a valuable resource for trans teenagers and our friend Chrissi dedicated so much time to helping other trans people, giving them life-saving advice and support.

Unfortunately she took her own life earlier this year, and our book is dedicated to her and all the amazing things she achieved during her short time on this planet.

Our wish is that this book will offer trans teens and their families a solid resource with support and affirmations about who they are, regardless of whether that is as a trans girl, trans boy or a non-binary person.

We don’t want anyone in our community to go through what we have.

We want everyone to be able to celebrate who they are, and together strive towards a world where the new generation of trans people can be healthy, happy and proud.

The Trans Teen Survival Guide is now available on Amazon and most major bookstores in the UK. 

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We ummed and awwed over Meghan Markle’s bridal gown earlier in the summer during one of the most spectacular royal weddings.

Not everyone was a fan of the Givenchy gown and while it led to a 60% increase in searches for the designer, Kate Middleton‘s Alexander McQueen number had more of an influence on shopper’s habits.

So, everyone’s a critic when it comes to wedding dresses. BBC Radio 1 personality Greg James recently tied the knot with his journalist fiance Bella Mackie Rusbridger and many commented on her unusual attire on the special day.

Bella wore a floor-length baby yellow gown with a knot at the front during the intimate ceremony.

Whether you would wear it on your wedding day or not, here are a few more stylish dresses with knotted detail that you could wear to a special occasion:

Peace + love yellow drape one-sided mini dress, £60, Missguided

Knot front midi dress, £25, Miss Selfridge

Plus size teal wrap knot front maxi dress, £40, Missguided

Maternity High Neck Tie Side Midi Bodycon Dress, £15, Asos

Orange slit sleeve knot front wrap dress, £20, Missguided

Maternity Twist Knot Front Long Sleeve Bodycon Dress, £13, Asos

PIXI Mustard Yellow Stripe Jumpsuit, £24.96, Vibrance Boutique

Plus Sarah Knot Front Midi Dress, £13.67, Boohoo

Twist Knot Front Detail Bodycon Dress, £18.24, Boohoo

Solid Long Sleeve Twisted Knot Front Casual Dress, £22, ChicMe

Women’s Jersey Dress With Twist Front, £30, Land’s End

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A couple have tied the knot in a lavish double wedding. The other half of the double? Their pet rabbits.

(Yes, really.)

When 29-year-old Emma Zucker, from New York, moved in with her now husband, Ben, also 29, they wanted a pet and decided to go for a rabbit.

They bought Sherpa, now nine in 2010 for a rescue, and took her speed dating just a few weeks later at an adoption centre, where she selected Hal, eight, as her bunny beau.

And when Emma married Ben in August 2016, she said they opted for a joint ceremony with their romantically involved rabbits, saying: ‘Sherpa and Hal love each other just like we do.

‘They are such a big part of our lives that we knew we wanted them to be a part of our wedding day. We decided to have a ceremony for them, too, and our guests loved it.’

Meeting in 2009 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in the trendy Chelsea district of Manhattan, New York, USA, Emma and Ben soon fell in love and moved in together.

They wanted pets but Ben had never had any growing up as his brother was allergic to fur.

Emma said: ‘We were walking in Chelsea in Manhattan and some people were having a yard sale, selling their old stuff. We happened to see a rabbit hopping around on their patio and we immediately looked at her. We were thinking about a dog but that moment changed everything.

‘Growing up, my neighbours had rabbits in their back yard. They were treated as farm animals and would never have been allowed inside. They were not spayed or neutered, so they had lots of babies, or you ate them for dinner.

‘It couldn’t have been more different to the way in which we keep our bunnies.’

After falling for the bunny in the yard, further research helped the couple to discover that rabbits could live inside and be litter trained, so they started looking at some local rescues.

‘My husband is a researchaholic. He did a lot of research and ended up on the House Rabbit Society webpage. I had a very uneducated view of rabbits being a farm girl,’ Emma continued.

‘We looked into rescue and adoption and it seemed right for us. We found Sherpa and just fell in love with her.’

Aware that rabbits need to be bonded after settling her in, they then set out to find her a mate.

‘A few months later, we brought her to the animal shelter and we had a bunny speed date with the boy rabbits,’ said Emma.

‘The staff introduced her to all the potential neutered bachelors and she bonded with Hal right away. They fell in love so we adopted him officially.’

After getting engaged in July 2015, Emma and Ben started planning their wedding – but knew they couldn’t leave their other favourite fluffy couple out.

She said: ‘They were so much a part of our life. They are our children. They had to be at our wedding. We thought it would be really cute to have them get married at the same time.

‘We both said, ‘We can’t get married without them’. Rabbits are very fearful animals and my husband was quite nervous about making sure we incorporated them responsibly, so they were never in danger. They can easily spook and run.’

The couple constructed a cushion covered with an old milk crate and decorated it with flowers, to ensure the rabbits could be carried down the aisle, without risking them running off.

And when the big day came on 6 August, 2016, Emma walked down the aisle to meet Ben, followed by Sherpa and Hal, in front of their 140 guests, at their ceremony on a friend’s farm in upstate New York.

Emma explained: ‘We walked down the aisle, then my friend brought the bunnies down the aisle in a carrier and we put them on a pedestal. The man who was marrying us said vows for them first. They officially got married first. Then my friend carried them away and we got married. It was really perfect.’

After the ceremony, the two sets of newlyweds spent some time together and had pictures taken, before the rabbits were taken to rest inside, while Emma, Ben and their guests enjoyed the reception.

‘During the reception, the rabbits were inside the house where we got married because I didn’t want them to be around drunk people. It was loud. There was a DJ and lots of noise, so not suitable for them,’ she said.

Even with their pets indoors, they were hardly out of sight and out of mind, as Emma and Ben had everything from a bunny shaped cake toppers to rabbit shaped cookies.

Emma said: ‘Lots of our guests thought it was the most charming part of our wedding.

‘People felt it was very unique, but also that it was very us because we are crazy rabbit people.’

Now the couples are happily settled into married life and have even added another bunny to their family.

They adopted Boomkin, now six, last year, and he has bonded with the other two and they happily live as a trio.

Oh, and they enjoy lots of attention both inside and out of the house – as Emma and Ben now have Instagram accounts which document their bunnies’ lives.

Emma said: ‘They are such fantastic pets and we are so glad we have them in our lives.’

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A magpie and a whippet have formed the unlikeliest of friendships which sees them doing everything together, from going on long walks to sharing food and even a bed.

Mike the magpie and Boo Radley the whippet’s unusual friendship first blossomed after distressed Mike was found four months ago, just two weeks old.

Boo’s owner, Steve Rostron, was out on an evening walk when the inquisitive pup sniffed out tiny Mike behind a telephone junction box.

Steve, 44, who is an artist, believed poorly Mike may have fallen out of his nest from a tree above and was worried he might not survive.

So he and five-year-old Boo took the bird home and, along with Steve’s partner, Janine, the trio nursed Mike back to health.

However, when it came letting Mike back into the wild he refused to fly the nest – and decided he wanted to stay friends with Boo instead.

Mike and Boo’s friendship has gone from strength to strength and the pair often nestling up on the sofa to watch their favourite TV shows together.

During daily walks for Boo, Mike often joins, flying ahead and waiting for Boo to catch up with him in the local park.

Mike even refuses to sleep in his cage, as he loves snuggling up in Boo’s basket.

Speaking of Boo’s and Mike’s friendship Janine, 49, said: ‘It’s a bizarre but wonderful friendship.

‘When Steve first brought Mike home I didn’t think he’d make it through the night he was so tiny.

‘He was really struggling I think he must have fallen out of a tree as he couldn’t have been older than two weeks old, he had virtually no feathers.

‘We syringed fed him for weeks and weeks until he started to regain strength and bond with us and Boo, once he realised that Boo was a big friendly giant.’

Since Mike was rescued, he has become a member of the family.

Janine, who works as a teacher, said: ‘It was heartbreaking but also amazing when he had regained enough strength to go back into the wild.

‘Me, Steve and especially Boo had formed such a weird but wonderful bond with him but we knew he had the right to be free as he was a wild bird.

‘However, he refused to leave and now even when he does go for a fly wherever he wants, he always returns to the house.’

Mike has become somewhat of a celebrity in his village of Sabden, Lancashire, and is often caught stealing sips out of pints and flying into shops.

He even has his own Wikipedia page.

Janine said: ‘He loves people, he is always flying to the pub and stealing pints.

‘He is such a social little man he is drawn to anywhere with a crowd, he goes to the park on Boo’s back to see the kids – everyone in the village knows and adores him.

‘We have bought him a cage but he tends to prefer to sleep with Boo and through the day he is always free to go out and do what he wants.

‘He is a little superstar and his relationship with Boo is just magical. I couldn’t imagine our lives without him.’

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We’ve written about many dating trends over the past couple of years: submarining, fishing, zombieing and of course ghosting – where it all started.

For those who don’t know (and seriously, it’s 2018 people, where have you been?) ghosting is where the person you’re dating or talking to pretty much vanishes out of thin air.

No texts, no calls, no answers, no nothing.

For some, being ghosted by someone you really like is the stuff of nightmares – and unfortunately a pretty regular thing for millennial daters.

But, you can now channel your dating disaster into your clothing this Halloween – as one online store has just released the ultimate ghosting themed dress.

Party City is selling the Womens Ghosted Costume – for anyone who’s been ghosted or who has ghosted someone.

The dress is white and comes with a jagged design, and features a number of ‘sent’ iPhone messages from someone being ignored – including ‘R U OK!?’, ‘See u tonight?’ and ‘Guess not’.

Heartbreaking, we know.

The dress costs $24.99 (£18.99) – though if you don’t fancy paying that price, you could always recreate it yourself by finding an old white dress and sticking some cut-out messages on it (you could even personalise it with your own ghosted messages, if you fancy going all out).

This dress won’t be for everyone – but anyone who does wear it will definitely be in with a chance of winning Best Dressed.

Just don’t go drunk calling the person who ghosted you.

That really is the stuff of nightmares.

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Starting university can be really hard.

Whether it’s feeling lonely, struggling to make friends or just going down with a case of Fresher’s Flu, lots of people find it a hard couple of weeks.

Linguistics student at York University, Laura, is unwell during Fresher’s Week. She’s also feeling homesick.

But greeting card company Moonpig has made her day.

When she tweeted that she wasn’t having the best time and just wanted her parents and a roast dinner (we feel you, Laura), Moonpig decided to step in.

They said they would send her a bouquet of flowers to cheer her up.

‘We can’t send a roast dinner as it’d probably get cold, but maybe we could pop over a nice bouquet to help cheer you up?’ they asked Laura.

She then replied in disbelief, saying: ‘Is this for real?! You’ve made my day! #relationshipgoals’.

Moonpig then told her it would be too cruel to fib and asked her to directly message on the social media site for more details on how to receive the surprise present.

And the generous act won’t just stop there for Moonpig as they’re planning more random kind gestures.

‘We’re doing a lot more surprise gifts on Twitter,’ a spokesperson told Metro.co.uk.

‘It can be a hostile place sometimes and we’re always looking out for people having a rough time, feeling blue or getting bogged down with illnesses.

‘”Caring” is not something every company can do, but it’s in our nature. We live in stressful times and the least we can do is try to make people’s days via a place they like hanging out, so stay tuned for lots more.’

So keep your eyes peeled, you might just be sent a bouquet, well-wishing card, or even chocolates.

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Cadbury is marking 100 years since the end of the First World War with a limited edition bar of Dairy Milk.

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Remembrance Bar comes in partnership with the Royal British Legion.

Just as it did 100 years ago, Cadbury is playing its part in supporting those who have been affected by war.

The 360g bar features the same wrapper design that Cadbury sold during the war – except it’s adorned with poppies.

From every bar sold, Cadbury will be donating 30p to the Legion, supporting the British Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

In addition to this, Cadbury is also supporting the Legion through a year-round calendar of fundraising events and activities, as well as its Thank You movement.

The campaign aims to thank all who served, sacrificed and changed our world during the First World War.

Cadbury will be sharing the remarkable stories of the First World War generation who shaped the world we live in today – including those of the Cadbury workforce who supported the war effort on the battlefield and the home front.

This included the ‘Cadbury Angels’, women who took up roles within the business during war time and sent almost 30,000 care packages to men serving on the front line.

While more than 2,000 Cadbury employees joined the armed forces, many others provided critical care for injured soldiers through the Friends Ambulance Unit, established by Laurence Cadbury.

Many of the wounded were brought back to Bournville where Cadbury properties were converted to hospitals.

Beth Cameron, Brand Manager, Cadbury said: ‘Through our Remembrance Bar and partnership with the Royal British Legion, we are saying ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War.

‘The remarkable stories of the Cadbury workforce 100 years ago have shaped the business we are today and are particularly important for us to remember at the centenary of the end of WWI.’

Catherine Davies, Head of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion added: ‘It is right and fitting that Cadbury is a Thank You partner given its proud history dating back to the First World War.

‘Cadbury made a great contribution to the First World War by sending morale boosting gift packages to soldiers on the front line and converting Cadbury buildings to hospitals for the injured back home.

‘We are grateful to Cadbury for continuing its long standing support for our Armed Forces community and donating to the Legion through the sale of this special chocolate bar.’

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