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I choose to spend Christmas with my friends – the ones who are my family all year round

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Penny and her son last Christmas (Picture: Penny Wincer)

Christmas is a time for family. Except for some of us, friendship is the most important thing.

Friendship has long played a part in my Christmases since I moved to London in my early 20s, taking in stray Australian friends who happened to be in town.

After my mother died I still tried to make it back to Australia for Christmas when I could. Many years, two children (one who is disabled) and a divorce later and Christmas back home is now off the cards.

But this is not something that I spend time fretting over. While it would be nice to see my family at Christmas, quite honestly, it is my friends who are the ones that provide me with my sense of family all year round and so it’s with them that I want to celebrate.

It is my friends who come to my rescue when my childcare falls through, who buy me coffee after yet another sleepless night with my disabled son, who collect and take my daughter to birthday parties when they know my son won’t cope.

It’s friends, rather than my family, who have seen me through divorce, diagnosis, changes in schooling and far more tears than I care to remember.

With this is mind, I hold a Christmas celebration each year at our house for all our local friends.

I bake a ham and ply everyone with lots of drinks as a bit of a thank you for all the times they’ve been there for me all year. It’s become an annual event that we all look forward to, a low effort, maximum effect affair, with kids running wild and adults drinking and laughing in the kitchen.

Watching our children scramble up and down a climbing frame while turning it into a giant Christmas tree, there is not a person there who isn’t soaking up the joy of having such brilliant neighbours and friends.

There are no obligations, no gifts and no dress code.

While many around us are packing car loads of gifts and food to travel across the country to stay with family, we get the pleasure of staying in London.

Because of my son’s disabilities we avoid the usual Christmas activities. No Christmas markets, theatres or ice skating rinks. There is something wonderfully freeing about being let off the hook from any of these obligations.

We still indulge in plenty of festive fun but it centres around our local friends – like the annual guerrilla Christmas decorating that happens at one of our local parks, complete with hot chocolate and mulled wine from flasks.

Watching our children scramble up and down a climbing frame while turning it into a giant Christmas tree, there is not a person there who isn’t soaking up the joy of having such brilliant neighbours and friends.

Having a choice over who we spend our most precious time of year with has been one of the greatest aspects of spending Christmas with friends.

Around our table on Christmas Day will be another single mum and her kids, rather than aunts, uncles and cousins. But my daughter will know they were invited out of choice, that we want to share our day with them even though we have no obligation to at all.

That while we are low on family members, we are not low on love and friendship.

Our traditions revolve around inviting others to join our us at our table, especially those that don’t have a family of their own to go to.

Our family set up, with its lack of two parents and absent extended family members, may appear to outsiders to make a lacklustre Christmas but nothing could be further from the truth.

It is not without its moments of sadness, like when I wish my mother was still with us, but our Christmas is overwhelmingly filled with joy and friendship and the people who provide us with an incredible sense of belonging and community.

I happily choose to be with my friends at Christmas, the ones who are my family all year round.

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MORE: This woman is sending over 4,000 Christmas cards to support LGBTQ people


Teacher gets marshmallow gift from young student who ‘had nothing to give’

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Cute gift for teacher
(Picture: Facebook/Rachel Uretsky- Pratt)

We know Christmas is all about giving. But what do you give when you have nothing?

One little girl, a student at Amistad Elementary in Washington, U.S, wanted to do something sweet for her teacher Rachel Uretsky-Pratt but couldn’t afford to buy her anything new.

So the third-grader used the free breakfast she gets at school to pick out marshmallows from her Lucky Charms cereal and turn it into a gift for her beloved teacher.

Impressed teacher Rachel shared the heartwarming gift on her Facebook, noting that the little girl ‘had nothing to give’ and this was the only way she could gift something.

(Picture: Getty)

‘With it being the day before break and Christmas right around the corner, most teachers bring their kiddos something such as books or little treats and occasionally in return receive something from their student,’ Rachel wrote in the Facebook post.

‘Today I received some chocolates, sweet handmade notes, some jewellery, but these Lucky Charm marshmallows stood out to me the most.

‘You see, 100% of my school is on free/reduced lunch. They also get free breakfast at school every day of the school week. This kiddo wanted to get [me] something so badly, but had nothing to give.’

‘So rather than give me nothing, this student opened up her free breakfast cereal this morning, took the packaging of her spork, straw, and napkin, and finally took the time to take every marshmallow out of her cereal to put in a bag — for me.’

The Facebook post has moved thousands of people, being shared on the social media site 113,000 times and receiving 334,000 likes.

Many were moved by the fact that most children treasure the marshmallow treats in the cereal and yet the little girl saved hers for her teacher, as it may have been the only thing of value to her that she could give.

‘This kid may not have any money or many material possessions, but she has a heart of gold, thoughtfulness, and ingenuity. What a source of light in the world!’ wrote one person.

‘This makes me so happy that this child got to feel the joy of giving!’ wrote another.

Rachel ended her note with a sweet message too; ‘Be grateful for what you have, and what others give you. It all truly comes from the deepest parts of their hearts.

‘Happy Holidays.’

MORE: Stranger helps white adoptive mum to style her black daughter’s hair

MORE: I choose to spend Christmas with my friends – the ones who are my family all year round

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Man who loves Marks & Spencer doesn’t just get any tattoo, he gets an M&S tattoo

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(Picture: SWNS)

Do you love something so much that you’d commit to having it permanently etched onto your skin?

Tattoo enthusiast Chris Coates does, and so he decided to get it inked on his arm. But his tat doesn’t say the word ‘mum’ or his children, or even a dog’s name.

It says ‘M&S EST. 1884’, you know, like the supermarket.

That’s right, the 43-year-old from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, paid homage to the retailer by getting the initials tattooed on his forearm.

Chris Coates, 43 from Southend-on-sea, Essex who got an M&S logo tattoo on his arm. See SWNS copy SWCAtattoo: A fan of high street favourite M&S has paid homage to the retailer - by having its logo TATTOOED on his forearm. Body art lover Chris Coates, 43, decided to get "M&S EST.1884" inked on his left forearm to show his love for the retail chain. The father-of-four has added the tattoo to a host of others of his body, including skulls and jigsaws.
(Picture: SWNS)

If he gets bored or embarrassed by the tat in the future, then he’s not too fussed, he’ll just get another design put on top.

He learned that not even tattoos are forever after he had to remove the initials of a former girlfriend whose name he had inked at 17 years old.

But for now, he’s loving the M&S sign.

‘I love M&S. I’ve been shopping there for about 15 years. They’ve always had fantastic customer service. I also love their food.

‘I used to be a chef and the quality of the meat and everything in brilliant.

‘I’m tall, quite stocky and covered in tattoos. In certain shops, I get stereotyped and followed around as if I’m going to steal something.

‘M&S isn’t like that – the staff are always friendly. They way they treat me, I always feel special.’

Chris Coates, 43 from Southend-on-sea, Essex who got an M&S logo tattoo on his arm. See SWNS copy SWCAtattoo: A fan of high street favourite M&S has paid homage to the retailer - by having its logo TATTOOED on his forearm. Body art lover Chris Coates, 43, decided to get "M&S EST.1884" inked on his left forearm to show his love for the retail chain. The father-of-four has added the tattoo to a host of others of his body, including skulls and jigsaws.
(Picture: SWNS)
Chris Coates, 43 from Southend-on-sea, Essex who got an M&S logo tattoo on his arm. See SWNS copy SWCAtattoo: A fan of high street favourite M&S has paid homage to the retailer - by having its logo TATTOOED on his forearm. Body art lover Chris Coates, 43, decided to get "M&S EST.1884" inked on his left forearm to show his love for the retail chain. The father-of-four has added the tattoo to a host of others of his body, including skulls and jigsaws.
(Picture: SWNS)

Chris, a web designer, has 19 tattoos in total so getting another one was no big deal. He paid £60 for the 45-minute job and walked away to show the staff at his local branch the masterpiece.

‘There’s a really big security guard who works in M&S in Southend. I went in there to get my lunch and he absolutely loved it.

‘Two other staff members think it’s taking customer loyalty to the next level. My wife thinks I’m mad.’

A spokesman for M&S said: ‘Full marks to Chris for his customer loyalty. This Christmas, we’re celebrating our #MyMarksFaves and Chris is certainly one of them.

‘We’ll be marking his new tattoo with a treat next time he comes into the store.’

Chris’s right arm is mainly adorned with skulls, while he reserves his left arm for his favourite bands, films, dates of birth of kids – and now his favourite shop.

His latest addition sits at the top of his left forearm, just above a Boss Baby cartoon character from the 2017 Dreamworks children’s film.

Who knows what Chris will decide to get next.

MORE: Teacher gets marshmallow gift from young student who ‘had nothing to give’

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These London spots are offering free food over Christmas

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Google
(Picture: Google)

Christmas can be a deeply lonely time for many.

It’s important to remember in amidst all the good cheer and festivity, that there are plenty of less fortunate people denied the things we can take for granted as simple pleasures.

Whether through poverty or social isolation, it can be a difficult, harrowing experience, on what is supposed to be the most joyous time of the year.

However, a few London spots are offering free food and shelter on the day itself. From Lewisham to central London, there’s plenty of places that are doing their bit to throw a bit of good cheer to those facing Christmas Day alone.

The Alexandra in Wimbledon is a case in point. The pub has been run by couple Mick and Sarah Dores for the last decade, and started offering free pints to solo locals eight years ago, as a gesture of good will.

Google
(The Alexandra. Picture: Google)

As the kitchen staff doubled in 2015, this extended to a full three-course meal, with no strings attached. Anyone can join for the day and expect a full feed, with over 100 people expected to turn up this year.

In south-east London, Caribbean takeaway Cummin’ Up are offering a full roast for the 10th consecutive year, between 1-6pm. There will also be plenty of free jerk chicken and rice and peas, for those that make it down to the Lewisham High Street restaurant.

North of the river, there’s the volunteer run meal at Jackson’s Lane in Highgate- which is for older people, often with physical disabilities. And there’s also Crisis – one of the biggest and most effective operations that work with their volunteers to provide shelter and sustenance for homeless people across the city.

That’s by no means an exhaustive list, with more information readily available here and on the websites of relevant charities.

It doesn’t have to be a lonely Christmas.

MORE: Nearly 600 homeless people died in a single year

MORE: Is only hiring male santa impersonators discrimination against women?

London Zoo animals enjoy advent calendars, stockings and Christmas puddings

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(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)

Waking up and opening your advent calendar each morning is a pretty great way to start the day.

These gorillas at London Zoo agree.

The zookeepers have been getting the animals in the festive spirit with countdown calendars, stockings and Christmas puddings.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133k) A gorilla enjoys the treats in a giant advent calendar during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133g) A gorilla enjoys the treats in a giant advent calendar during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133j) A gorilla enjoys the treats in a giant advent calendar during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)

The keepers created a giant advent calendar for the Zoo’s troop of critically endangered western lowland gorillas. Behind each door were some Brussels Sprouts, which might be a bit disappointing for us but the gorillas loved it.

Asiatic lionesses Heidi, Indi and Rubi woke up to their very own ‘Christmas pudding’ – a giant ball scented with classic yuletide spices – cinnamon and nutmeg – gifted by the Zoo’s Land of the Lions sponsors, Liontrust.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133a) A lion enjoys 'Christmas pudding', a giant ball scented with classic yuletide spices, during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133f) Lions enjoy 'Christmas pudding', a giant ball scented with classic yuletide spices, during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)

Bactrian camels Noemie and Genghis also got in on the Christmas celebrations, with breakfast served in a super-sized stocking – a festive twist for the nativity favourites.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133c) Bactrian camels enjoy their breakfast served in a super-sized stocking during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/REX (10039133h) Bactrian camels enjoy their breakfast served in a super-sized stocking during an 'Animal Adventures this Christmas' photocall at Zoological Society of London (ZSL) London Zoo, in London, Britain, on Dec. 20, 2018. Zookeepers of the ZSL London Zoo prepared some seasonal surprises for the Zoo's residents to enjoy on Thursday. Christmas at ZSL London Zoo, UK - 20 Dec 2018
(Picutre; Xinhua/REX)

ZSL’s Animal Operations Manager, Angela Ryan, said: ‘It’s the season of giving and our keepers enjoy sharing the Christmas magic with the animals they look after at ZSL London Zoo.

‘Our lionesses loved practising their hunting prowess by playing with their spice-scented pudding ball, while our gorillas searched their hand-made advent calendar to find the treats hidden inside – just like kids all over the country as they count down to Christmas.

‘The keepers are just hoping the sprouts don’t make it a ‘windy’ day at the Zoo.’

MORE: These London spots are offering free food over Christmas

MORE: Man who loves Marks & Spencer doesn’t just get any tattoo, he gets an M&S tattoo

Childhood friends who met the day after they were born get married

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Picture: Jemma Langley CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO MET THE DAY AFTER BEING BORN MARRY EACH OTHER 30 YEARS LATER
(Picture: Jemma Langley)

Jemma and Daniel Langley, from Victoria, Australia, were born in the same hospital around the same time and met a day after their birth.

Their mothers went into labour at the same time and were placed on beds right next to each other at the William Angliss Hospital.

Soon the youngsters became childhood friends, going on play dates together and celebrating their birthdays which are a day apart.

But when they turned nine or ten, their families lost touch – until five years ago when the pair reunited at a hairdressers.

And now they’re married and expecting their first child.

Picture: Jemma Langley CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO MET THE DAY AFTER BEING BORN MARRY EACH OTHER 30 YEARS LATER
(Picture: Jemma Langley)

The duo reunited completely by chance when Jemma booked an appointment at a salon, where Daniel’s sister Rhiannon works.

‘I started following Rihannon’s Instagram page and not long after decided to track Daniel down on Facebook. We started chatting for awhile over Messenger,’ Jemma told Femail.

‘I booked an appointment with Rhiannon to have my hair coloured. Rhiannon’s salon is set up at Janine’s house which is also where both she and Daniel were living.

‘So when I was in the middle of my appointment Daniel turned up and popped in to say hello. He went in for a kiss on the cheek, but ended up with hair dye on his hat.

‘We both laughed but I think he was a little upset.’

Picture: Shot From the Heart Photography CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO MET THE DAY AFTER BEING BORN MARRY EACH OTHER 30 YEARS LATER
(Picture: Shot from the Heart Photography)
Picture: Shot From the Heart Photography CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WHO MET THE DAY AFTER BEING BORN MARRY EACH OTHER 30 YEARS LATER
(Picture: Shot from the Heart Photography)

Then, both Jemma and Daniel’s mothers insisted that they reunite to take an updated picture of themselves as a cute homage to their childhood images. But the reunion quickly turned romantic, explained Jemma.

‘From then we couldn’t get enough of seeing each other. On Mother’s Day in 2014, we officially became a couple.

‘New Year’s Eve in 2016 my friend and I decided to surprise our partners with a cute picnic dinner at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.

‘Little did I know Daniel had a surprise of his own and proposed to me. I was so shocked I said yes and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.’

They got married the following year and moved into their new home together the next day.

Three decades after they first laid eyes on each other, Jemma and Daniel are expecting their first baby.

‘Everyone thinks our story is so crazy,’ added Jemma, ‘I think we were meant to be together’.

MORE: Is this bride in the wrong for kicking a crying kid out of her wedding?

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MORE: Bride walks down the aisle with her childhood teddy bear in her arms

These are some of the incredible substitutions people have received in their online Christmas grocery shop

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(Pictures: HP/Getty)

With Christmas just two days away, it’s time to get everything you need for Christmas dinner.

And if the thought of fighting over the last packet of pigs in blankets in your local supermarket seems too much, you might think ordering online is the way to go.

You can sit back at home listening to your favourite Christmas songs and wrapping presents while someone else picks up everything you need and brings it to your door.

The perfect plan, right?

Except when things start to run out at the supermarket, it’s down to a computer to choose a suitable substitute and it does provide some hilarious results.

Clare Brown tweeted about how her cranberry sauce was replaced with HP brown sauce.

‘Are you drunk!!!???’ she joked.

Her tweet led to others sharing the weird and wonderful things they have received instead of what they ordered, both at Christmas and throughout the year, including the family who were given citrus washing up liquid instead of a lemon.

And other people have been tweeting about their own interesting alternatives.

Maybe it would be less stressful just to head to your local supermarket after all.

MORE: Childhood friends who met the day after they were born get married

MORE: London Zoo animals enjoy advent calendars, stockings and Christmas puddings

Granddad-of-six is exactly the kind of person you’d expect to have played Santa Claus for 45 years

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**MANDATORY BYLINE** PIC FROM Alison Fopeano Photography/Caters News - (PICTURED: John Wenstrup, 64, from Ohio, USA, IN 2018) - This could be the worlds longest servingSanta as hes been Father Christmas for 45 YEARS in a row without fail.Grandad-of-six John Wenstrup, 64, has been spreading joy to children since 1973 and absolutely loves his seasonal craft.The financial advisor, from Ohio, USA, made his first appearance as St Nick aged 19 to fill in for someone but, as a young man, was forced to wear a fake white beard.SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Alison Fopeano Photography/Caters News Agency)

Grandad-of-six John Wenstrup started playing Santa Claus as a teenager – when his beard was barely set and he had to wear a fake one – and has now successfully played the role for 45 years.

The 61-year-old from Ohio, U.S, has been spreading joy to children since 1973 and absolutely loves his seasonal craft.

As the decades have gone by, John has used his real snow-white hair and beard to get the authentic festive look, saying that it’s now more salt than peppery..

(Picture: Caters News Agency)

‘In 1973, my sister was working as an old people’s home and they were hosting an event but the Santa they had booked cancelled at the last minute,’ said John.

‘I went down, put on the Santa costume and I met some lovely elderly people, with different perspectives about Santa Claus and many stories.

‘I was so emotional afterward, I cried the whole way home. My sister asked me “I guess you don’t want to do it next year?” but I said “no, I definitely will”.

PIC FROM Caters News - (PICTURED: John Wenstrup, 64, from Ohio, USA, in the 80s) - This could be the worlds longest servingSanta as hes been Father Christmas for 45 YEARS in a row without fail.Grandad-of-six John Wenstrup, 64, has been spreading joy to children since 1973 and absolutely loves his seasonal craft.The financial advisor, from Ohio, USA, made his first appearance as St Nick aged 19 to fill in for someone but, as a young man, was forced to wear a fake white beard.SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Caters News Agency)

‘Over the years my beard has got more salt and less peppery – when I started I had to use a fake beard, but not anymore.

‘It’s a work of the heart to be Santa Claus, and since then it has really been a blessing.’

John who is a financial advisor year-round plays Saint Nick every winter and says he will focus on it entirely when he decides to retire.

He attends roughly 80 events every year from Thanksgiving until Christmas, including schools, elderly care homes, and malls.

John revealed that he had aspirations to be Father Christmas from his childhood days, saying that his sister caught him once sticking cotton balls with soap to appear more Santa like.

‘It’s a very fun thing to do and is nice to bring joy to families,’ he added.

‘I especially loved doing it when my children were little and for my friends’ children as well.

‘I have ways to teach kids and give them a sense of what they are not supposed to do, so they don’t make it onto the naughty list.’

And helping him with all his Christmas load is Mrs. Claus – his wife Grace.

‘Even now, when I am out with my wife, I always keep a pack of candy canes with me,’ added John. ‘You never know what is going to happen and you have to stay in character.’

MORE: Is only hiring male Santa impersonators discrimination against women?

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These cute puppies are some of Britain’s rarest dogs

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(Picture: BNPS)

These cute puppies are some of Britain’s rarest dogs.

The Dandie Dinmont terrier has become a forgotten breed over the last 40 years, with owners preferring designer dogs like cockerpoos, labradoodles and French bulldog.

The species – the world’s oldest breed of terrier – has featured on the Kennel Club’s top 10 vulnerable breeds list every year since its inception 15 years ago.

In 2015, numbers of new-born puppies in the UK sunk to an all-time low of just 79.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS Andy Kennedy with his handful of puppies. Looking Dandie...Fresh hope for one of Britains rarest dogs. One of Britain's rarest breeds of dog that is more endangered than the giant panda has received a welcome boost for Christmas with this litter of five puppies. The Dandie Dimmont terrier has become a forgotten breed over the last 40 years, with owners preferring designer dogs like cockerpoos and labradoodles. The species - the world's oldest breed of terrier - has featured on the Kennel Club's top 10 vulnerable breeds list every year since its inception 15 years ago. In 2015, numbers of new-born puppies in the UK sunk to an all-time low of just 79. Their numbers have gradually increased in the two years since then and now the arrival of a healthy litter of quintuplets has added to their recovery. Owner and breeder Andy Kennedy is caring for the five males at his home in Waterlooville, Hants.
Andy Kennedy with his handful of puppies (Picture: PhilYeomans/BNPS)

Their numbers have gradually increased in the two years since then and now the arrival of a healthy litter of quintuplets has added to their recovery.

Owner and breeder Andy Kennedy is caring for the five males at his home in Waterlooville, Hants.

He has already found homes for two of them in the New Year and is looking for buyers for the other at £1,000 each. He plans to keep the fifth.

Paul Keevil, a fellow Dandie Dinmont breeder and founding member of the Kennel Club’s vulnerable breed committee, said: ‘The population of the Dandie Dinmont terrier has virtually halved in the last 15 years.

‘We have just come off the back of the two lowest consecutive years of all time with just 79 born in 2015 and 80 in 2016.

‘We are in a very highly endangered place but in the last 18 months has thankfully seen a bit of a growth.

‘It looks like we are beginning to make a bit of a slow recovery which is why a litter like this is so very important for us.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS Looking Dandie...Fresh hope for one of Britains rarest dogs. One of Britain's rarest breeds of dog that is more endangered than the giant panda has received a welcome boost for Christmas with this litter of five puppies. The Dandie Dimmont terrier has become a forgotten breed over the last 40 years, with owners preferring designer dogs like cockerpoos and labradoodles. The species - the world's oldest breed of terrier - has featured on the Kennel Club's top 10 vulnerable breeds list every year since its inception 15 years ago. In 2015, numbers of new-born puppies in the UK sunk to an all-time low of just 79. Their numbers have gradually increased in the two years since then and now the arrival of a healthy litter of quintuplets has added to their recovery. Owner and breeder Andy Kennedy is caring for the five males at his home in Waterlooville, Hants.
(Picture: PhilYeomans/BNPS)

‘Three puppies is average and four is lucky so to have five is fantastic news.

‘We hope their new owners will be encouraged to breed them on.’

Dandie Dinmonts were established in the 1700s on the English/Scottish borders and were originally called mustard and pepper terriers owing to the colour of their coats.

They were bred to hunt ground vermin like foxes, badgers and otters.

Their name changed after Scottish author Sir Walter Scott’s 1815 novel Guy Mannering. The book featured the character Dandie Dimont who kept the terriers.

The novel was hugely popular and the first editions sold out in 24 hours.

Mr Keevil said: ‘Mr Dandie Dinmont was a farmer and people were charmed by his terriers and flocked to the borders to try and buy them and that is when and how their name changed.

‘They remained popular until the 1970s and since then fashionable breeds and designers dogs with endorsements from film stars and celebrities behind the and the god old fashioned British working breeds just got forgotten about.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833) Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS Looking Dandie...Fresh hope for one of Britains rarest dogs. One of Britain's rarest breeds of dog that is more endangered than the giant panda has received a welcome boost for Christmas with this litter of five puppies. The Dandie Dimmont terrier has become a forgotten breed over the last 40 years, with owners preferring designer dogs like cockerpoos and labradoodles. The species - the world's oldest breed of terrier - has featured on the Kennel Club's top 10 vulnerable breeds list every year since its inception 15 years ago. In 2015, numbers of new-born puppies in the UK sunk to an all-time low of just 79. Their numbers have gradually increased in the two years since then and now the arrival of a healthy litter of quintuplets has added to their recovery. Owner and breeder Andy Kennedy is caring for the five males at his home in Waterlooville, Hants.
(Picture: PhilYeomans/BNPS)

‘I think working breeds became redundant and had to be retrained to become companions and had to make the transition from field to fireside.

‘Some dogs did that better than others.

‘Dandie Dinmonts are a reasonable size to pick up and carry and they love human company and are affectionate and also adapts very well to life in towns and country.

‘I don’t know why they became unpopular but as they get less popular, fewer people know about them so it is a never ending circle of decline.’

Mr Kennedy, 54, is a 4th generation Dandie breeder. His grandfather Alastair, of Dumfriesshire, was a vet for the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club parents and another ancestor, John Mather, was a found member.

He said: ‘The fact that we have five puppies is quite a responsibility given their overall number.

‘We want them to do well and go to good homes whose owners will be ambassadors for the breed.’

MORE: Granddad-of-six is exactly the kind of person you’d expect to have played Santa Claus for 45 years

MORE: Childhood friends who met the day after they were born get married

Woman who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer paitents gets banned from Facebook

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(Pictures: SWNS)

A permanent make-up artist who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer patients before posting the results says she keeps getting banned from Facebook.

Gemma Winstantley offers the free service to patients who have undergone mastectomy procedures in order to give them back their confidence.

Kind-hearted Gemma posts Facebook pictures of the incredible results on her patients to advertise her service to other potential sufferers free of charge.

However, the 36-year-old has been left outraged after her professional business page – which she also relies on to contact paying clients – was banned three times in three weeks due to nudity rules.

A before and after of nipple tattoo done by Gemma Winstantley. See SWNS copy SWLEtattoo: A permanent make-up artist who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer patients before posting the results says she keeps getting BANNED from Facebook. Gemma Winstantley offers the free service to patients who have undergone mastectomy procedures in order to give them back their confidence. Kind-hearted Gemma posts Facebook pictures of the incredible results on her patients to advertise her service to other potential sufferers free of charge.
A before and after picture (Picture: SWNS)

She said: ‘I started to offer the free service because the NHS waiting list is so long and I wanted to help people.

‘Earlier in December, Facebook sent me a notification that my page had been temporarily banned for nudity.

‘I couldn’t believe it. It is not even a real nipple. I don’t show it in a sexual way, it is only a picture of the areola.

‘I think it is disgusting. They let horrific videos on the site with millions of views but when I am trying to advertise my business and help people for free, they are taking it down.”

Gemma has tattooed 20 clients and can instantly see a difference in their mood ‘when they look in the mirror’.

Tattoo artist Gemma Winstantley. See SWNS copy SWLEtattoo: A permanent make-up artist who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer patients before posting the results says she keeps getting BANNED from Facebook. Gemma Winstantley offers the free service to patients who have undergone mastectomy procedures in order to give them back their confidence. Kind-hearted Gemma posts Facebook pictures of the incredible results on her patients to advertise her service to other potential sufferers free of charge.
Gemma (Picture: SWNS)

She has been a professional tattoo artist for the past seven years and believes Facebook should focus on deleting horrific viral videos of violence from their site instead of banning pictures of her clients’ results.

The bans have had a huge impact on Gemma’s business as she relies on the page to contact her clients.

She gives up an afternoon every week at Illusions Salon in Hull, East Yorks., to perform the free procedure after being personally affected by breast cancer – as her grandmother and aunt both suffered from the condition.

Gemma added: ‘Every time they have banned me I have not been able to get on to speak to people.

‘I don’t understand why it has happened, I don’t know if someone has reported me or it is an automatic thing.

Tattoo artist Gemma Winstantley. See SWNS copy SWLEtattoo: A permanent make-up artist who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer patients before posting the results says she keeps getting BANNED from Facebook. Gemma Winstantley offers the free service to patients who have undergone mastectomy procedures in order to give them back their confidence. Kind-hearted Gemma posts Facebook pictures of the incredible results on her patients to advertise her service to other potential sufferers free of charge.
(Picture: SWNS)

‘Facebook would allow a picture of a man’s nipple to be on the site but as soon as I post one of my clients’ results, it won’t allow it.’

Gemma said she began the free tattoos two years ago to give something back to clients who can’t afford the cost or have to wait a long time for any procedure on the NHS.

She said she has helped 20 clients already who are amazed by the incredibly realistic results she can achieve.

Gemma, from Hull, East Yorks., added: ‘The tattoo can be done six-months post-surgery.

‘I can see the difference immediately in the face of the people who look in the mirror.

A nipple tattoo done by Gemma Winstantley. See SWNS copy SWLEtattoo: A permanent make-up artist who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer patients before posting the results says she keeps getting BANNED from Facebook. Gemma Winstantley offers the free service to patients who have undergone mastectomy procedures in order to give them back their confidence. Kind-hearted Gemma posts Facebook pictures of the incredible results on her patients to advertise her service to other potential sufferers free of charge.
A nipple tattoo done by Gemma Winstantley (Picture: SWNS)

‘Their lives change for the better. They change completely, I love helping people and the difference is great.

‘I currently have a lot of people contacting me for one of the tattoos.”

A Facebook spokesperson said: ‘Adult nudity isn’t allowed on Facebook, but we do make exceptions where posts are clearly intended for medical or educational purposes.

‘This can include images of post-mastectomy scarring and reconstruction.

‘In this case, the content was reported to us and incorrectly removed.

‘We have apologised to Gemma and reinstated the content immediately.’

Little girl writes letter to her dad in heaven and receives a reply from Royal Mail staff

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(Picture: SWNS)

A little girl who wrote a letter to her Dad ‘in heaven’ asking him to come home for Christmas has received a heartwarming reply thanks to caring Royal Mail staff.

Madison Danter, aged six, received the letter which said her letter had been safely delivered to her dad Thomas Danter, despite it being ‘a difficult journey’.

Her dad Thomas, 40, passed away two years ago after being operated on for a fifth heart valve replacement operation.

He left behind five children; Lewis, 23; Chloe, 18; Thomas, 16; James, 13 and Madison.

Madison Danter, 6 with her dad, Thomas Danter who died. See SWNS copy SWBRletter: A girl who wrote a letter to her Dad 'in heaven' asking him to come home for Christmas has received a heartwarming reply from Royal Mail. Madison Danter, 6, received the letter which said her letter had been safely delivered to her dad Thomas Danter, despite it being "a difficult journey". Her dad Thomas, 40, passed away two years ago after being operated on for a fifth heart valve replacement operation.
Madison Danter, 6 with her dad, Thomas Danter who died (Picture: SWNS.com)

Their uncle Shane Danter, 49, said Madison’s only wish this Christmas was to have her daddy come home from heaven.

The cleaning firm boss said: ‘The letter meant so much to Madison, this particular Royal Mail worker has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

‘What a wonderful thing for a complete stranger.

‘We arranged for Father Christmas and his elves at Whitehall Garden Centre to give her a special message in a bottle from her dad.

That night after receiving the message from her dad Madison sat on her own in her room and wrote a reply.

The letter sent by Madison Danter. See SWNS copy SWBRletter: A girl who wrote a letter to her Dad 'in heaven' asking him to come home for Christmas has received a heartwarming reply from Royal Mail. Madison Danter, 6, received the letter which said her letter had been safely delivered to her dad Thomas Danter, despite it being "a difficult journey". Her dad Thomas, 40, passed away two years ago after being operated on for a fifth heart valve replacement operation.
The letter sent by Madison Danter (Picture: SWNS.com)

‘It was so sad,’ her uncle said.

He added: ‘She asked me how we could send her reply to her daddy and I told her that we would leave it out at night and let the magic of Christmas do its thing.’

The next day Shane popped the letter addressed to his brother in heaven in the post.

Two days later a letter dropped on Madison’s doormat from a delivery office manager at the post office.

The letter Madison got back from the Royal Mail. See SWNS copy SWBRletter: A girl who wrote a letter to her Dad 'in heaven' asking him to come home for Christmas has received a heartwarming reply from Royal Mail. Madison Danter, 6, received the letter which said her letter had been safely delivered to her dad Thomas Danter, despite it being "a difficult journey". Her dad Thomas, 40, passed away two years ago after being operated on for a fifth heart valve replacement operation.
The letter Madison got back from the Royal Mail (picture: SWNS)

The letter read ‘While we’ve been delivering the Christmas cards, we became aware of a very special letter from yourself.

‘So, I just wanted to take this opportunity to contact you about how we have succeeded in the delivery of your letter to your dad in heaven.

‘This was a difficult challenge avoiding stars and other galactic objects on route to heave.

‘However please be assured that this important item has been delivered safely.

‘Royal mail’s priority is to get our customers mail delivered and we know how important your mail is to you.

‘We will continue to do all we can to ensure delivery to heaven safely.

‘Hope you have a wonderful Christmas.’

Madison will spend Tuesday with her mum and siblings before visiting her dad’s grave before Christmas dinner.

Shane added: ‘The older she gets the more she questions why her dad isn’t here.

‘But this has really has made dealing with the loss a lot more bearable.

‘The fact that someone took the time to send a very special little girl a reply that has given her a reason to smile, and some comfort.

‘Thank you Royal Mail.’

MORE: Woman who tattoos nipples on recovering breast cancer paitents gets banned from Facebook

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It’s not just racism that workplaces must break down, it’s unconscious bias

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(Picture: Getty)

If you walk into a room full of people you’ve never met before, you’re most likely to sit down next to a person who looks friendly, approachable or trustworthy.

Whether you chat with them or not, chances are you’re going to opt for a ‘safe’ option – someone of the same sex maybe? Or someone who looks like you in terms of skin colour, age, dress sense or perhaps the same social class as you?

That’s unconscious bias – when you’ve made assumptions based on preconceived notions or stereotypes. We don’t pick up on these subconscious choices because our brains make so many decisions, that in the interest of time and efficiency, some of them go under the radar.

But that can mean our attitudes and behaviour toward people can be influenced by our instinctive feelings as they are by our rational thought processes. So if you’re used to hearing that people in dreadlocks are inherently lazy or dangerous for example, or they all smoke weed, you’re unlikely to go near them.

This way of thinking is especially dangerous when some groups – for example, those in leadership roles perhaps in a white-dominated industry – continue to recruit/promote those of the same group.

When applied to recruitment, education, healthcare, and the media, unconscious bias can not only be detrimental to people of ethnic minority backgrounds, it can be dangerous.

 

Positive action schemes are good for helping BAME people get their foot in the door of their chosen industry but how do they get to leadership positions? (Picture: Getty)

The term was coined by psychologists at the University of Washington and Yale who said unconscious bias affects 90-95% of people.

Some of these biases are racial; Job applicants with names that sound like they may be from an ethnic minority are less likely to be called for an interview, white male students are more likely to get attention from university professors than their counterparts, Black Americans are systematically undertreated for pain relative to white Americans, black men’s faces are more likely to be seen as threatening, ethnic minorities are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental health disorders despite not being genetically predisposed to these.

And these are just studies into the phenomenon of unconscious bias – there are countless other firsthand accounts of people’s lived experiences with this that has stopped them accessing educational tools, the right healthcare or from progressing in their careers.

Of course, some of these instances are a consequence of hard-lined racism but others a case of ‘can’t quite put my finger on it’ unconscious bias from well-intentioned people who can’t explain why they don’t like, get along, or believe in certain people.

And if you’re wondering, the difference between racism and unconscious bias is that with the latter, we all do it, and it can be done by the most well-intentioned people. We can all be guilty of gravitating to those who look like us or are from the same social circles as us.

But both phenomena are to the detriment of minority ethnicities, especially when the latter means the powerful elite are only recruiting and progressing those in their circles.

The media is one profession which can be accused of both; racist in the way it reports certain things, for example contempt for Raheem Sterling’s ‘lavish’ lifestyle which white players are absolved of, unforgiving shots at Diane Abbot and linking singer Jamelia Davis to a man convicted of murder who had very little association with her.

But unconscious bias goes on inside newsrooms when it comes to recruiting journalists and when allowing them to progress into decision-making, top-level roles. If there was a more diverse range of writers, it would change the way some topics and issues are covered or addressed.

Raheem Sterling says writers have painted him in a worse light than young footballers who are white (Picture: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)

The majority of those in leading the UK’s top professions like journalism, law, politics, and medicine are from private school backgrounds (54% of journalists were privately educated) while only 7% of the UK population went to private school.

Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism also revealed that only 0.4% of British journalists are Muslim and 0.2% of working journalists are black (people from Asian ethnic groups made up the second largest percentage of the population at 7.5%, followed by Black ethnic groups at 3.3%)

The evidence showed that this is not due to a lack of available graduates from ethnic minorities – it’s simply that they are being overlooked for these jobs.

So that means the media is not even close to reflecting the society we live in – how can it be our voice?

As a result of the dire stats, more than 100 black and minority writers have recently written to editors to call for better representation forming a group called the Black Journalists Collective UK (BJCUK).

Marverine Cole is a journalist and academic who’s helped to set up the BJCUK which has written a manifesto on representation.

‘Unconscious bias is everywhere in society but journalists have to learn to recognise it and tackle it,’ she explained to Metro.co.uk.

‘Entry-level schemes for BAME background people are brilliant, some publications need to set these up and show their intentions – the BJCUK wants to help any news organisations with that if they want us to.

(Picture: Getty)

‘But there’s also a wider issue about the retention of staff that news organisations already have. In the same way BAME people are leaving the media, there are underlying issues of journalists being paid less, being undervalued, and being overlooked for promotion, some people are so worried that they don’t want to speak up for fear of losing their job.’

‘We need journalism that better serves all communities in the UK and therefore we need newsrooms that reflect the society they serve.’

And to do that, news organisations and other workplaces need to go beyond tokenistic hiring of BAME employees, they need to nurture, understand, include, and treat minorities in the same way they do their white counterparts.

Only in this way will we start seeing changes in leadership positions.

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Couple swap tinsel for snake skins on their Christmas tree

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(Pictures: Caters News Agency/Brisbane Snake Catchers)

We all love to add a personal touch to our Christmas tress.

But this reptile-mad couple have taken it to the next level by decorating their Christmas tree with snake skins instead of tinsel.

With Christmas just around the corner, Lauren Rose, 27, and her snake-catcher partner Stewart Lalor, 28, wanted to do something ‘a little bit different’ to celebrate the holiday and showcase their passion for snakes.

The teenage sweethearts from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, have 36 pet snakes in their home – with 20 pythons in one room and 16 of some the world’s deadliest snakes in the other, including king browns, taipans, tiger snakes and death adders.

PIC FROM Brisbane Snake Catchers/Caters News - (PICTURED: Lauren Rose, 27, with her christmas tree) - A reptile-mad couple have taken their love of serpents to the next level by decorating their Christmas tree with SNAKE SKINS instead of tinsel.With Christmas just around the corner, Lauren Rose, 27, and her snake-catcher partner Stewart Lalor, 28, wanted to do something a little bit different to celebrate the holiday and showcase their passion for snakes.SEE CATERS COPY
Lauren Rose, 27, with her christmas tree (Picture: Brisbane Snake Catchers/Caters News)

And with that many snakes, the pair have managed to collect loads of snake skins from their shedding throughout the year – which have now been perfectly placed upon their Christmas tree.

Lauren said: ‘It was just a little bit of fun to do something different this year. We thought why not do something a bit quirky.

‘We have around 36 snakes, so we always have a large collection of snake skins. We like to keep the perfect sheds, so it just came into my head to put them on the Christmas tree for decoration.

‘To me it’s nothing major, but some people think it’s crazy. But I just love our reptiles so why not make them a part of Christmas too.

 

PIC FROM Brisbane Snake Catchers/Caters News - (PICTURED: Lauren Rose, 27, and her snake-catcher partner Stewart Lalor,28, from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, have decided to decorate their Christmas tree using snake skins) - A reptile-mad couple have taken their love of serpents to the next level by decorating their Christmas tree with SNAKE SKINS instead of tinsel.With Christmas just around the corner, Lauren Rose, 27, and her snake-catcher partner Stewart Lalor, 28, wanted to do something a little bit different to celebrate the holiday and showcase their passion for snakes.SEE CATERS COPY
Lauren and Stewart have decided to decorate their Christmas tree using snake skins (Picture: Brisbane Snake Catchers/Caters News)

‘We have venomous snakes in one room, and pythons in the other. They’re all different sizes, so we managed to get a good mix of various skin sheds.

‘I just decided to get a mixture of sheds from all our snakes and pop them together on the Christmas tree to give it an interesting look.

‘I like to be different. I think people should just relax a bit more around this time of year and not take things so seriously.

‘It’s a time for having a bit of fun, so why not go against the norm and break tradition to do something crazy.

‘Some people put dog treats on their tree and things like that. This just reflects who we are.’

Chef Lauren said she and Stewart have always adored reptiles, with the pair both having pet snakes when they were children.

Their mutual passion for snakes paved the way for their decision to begin keeping them in their home back in 2010.

And Stewart even took his love for the reptiles one step further by becoming a snake catcher – and run his own business called Brisbane Snake Catchers since early 2016.

Lauren said: ‘We have around 20 pythons and 16 venomous snakes. We give all the venomous ones all cute names to take away from their image of being so dangerous, such as Henry, George, Lucy and Margaret.

‘To some people they look intimidating but to me they’re like puppy dogs, and they’re severely misunderstood.

‘It’s just a way to honour our snakes at Christmas time. We love them so much.’

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How to wrap your Christmas presents with minimum effort

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(Picture: Getty Images/Hero Images)

It’s Christmas Eve and you probably have a million and one last minute things to do.

So if you haven’t wrapped your presents yet, you probably don’t have hours to waste trying to get some paper around that hand cream you bought for your gran.

Luckily, these tips tell you how to create beautifully wrapped gits in minutes without too much effort – and some of them even use less paper.

Youtuber But First, Coffee posted tips including the diagonal wrapping method to help you out at Christmas time.

She shows how by turning your presents diagonally across a piece of paper that you think is too small, you can still cover your gift.

She also shows how to create gift boxes for small items out of toilet roll tubes and for larger, oddly-shaped items out of Pringles tubes.

And if you don’t want to give away what your gift is because of the distinctive shape, she shows you how to create your own gift bags in minutes to put your present inside.

Don’t panic, you can still have Christmas wrapped up in no time.

MORE: Couple swap tinsel for snake skins on their Christmas tree

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Christmas Eve increases the likelihood of having a heart attack by about 37%, experts say

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(Picture: Getty)

Christmas is a great time of year; you get to see loved ones, feel the joy of giving and receiving (hopefully things you actually want), have time off work, and generally eat to your heart’s content.

But the hecticness of the festive period can have its downsides too.

As it’s a social month, you might be eating, drinking, and smoking more. That, combined with stress, can take its toll on your body.

And your chances of having a heart attack, may even increase on Christmas Ever, experts say.

(Picture: Getty)

A study, published in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal, found that the chances of a potentially fatal heart attack increases by approximately 37% around 10pm on Christmas Eve, particularly for older and sick people.

This could be down to stress and anxiety which are heightened during this time, the research added.

These are already risk factors for suffering a heart attack, no matter the time of year, but it can be more likely during periods of heightened emotion, like Christmas.

But other instances of heightened emotions don’t have the same effect, the study found, looking at periods before and after the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Championship, and the Olympic Games. They found that the risk was not any higher during these times and for other holidays such as Easter.

They did find that Monday misery is an actual thing though, as people have are at a higher risk during early mornings and on Mondays.

Results were more pronounced in patients aged over 75 and those with diabetes and a history of coronary artery disease.

Symptoms of a heart attack

Symptoms of a heart attack can include:

  • chest pain – the chest can feel like it’s being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object, and pain can radiate from the chest to the jaw, neck, arms and back
  • shortness of breath
  • feeling weak and/or lightheaded
  • overwhelming feeling of anxiety

It’s important to stress that not everyone experiences severe chest pain; the pain can often be mild and mistaken for indigestion.

It’s the combination of symptoms that’s important in determining whether a person is having a heart attack, and not the severity of chest pain.

For women the symptoms may be different, you may experience pain across the upper back, shoulder blades, and down both arms. Signs can also include burning and aching.

Call an ambulance if any of these symptoms are showing and persist.

While waiting for an ambulance, it may help to chew and then swallow a tablet of aspirin (ideally 300mg) – as long as the person having a heart attack isn’t allergic to aspirin.

The aspirin helps to thin the blood and reduce the risk of a heart attack.

The study included 283,014 cases of heart attacks reported to Swedeheart, an online Swedish cardiac registry, between 1998 and 2013.

It falls in line with previous research, which has found that during Christmas, New Year festivities, and Islamic holidays, there is a peak in the number of heart attacks.

Authors of this research concluded that other things like physical activity and lifestyle choices also affect the likelihood of a heart attack and that people should be more aware of the symptoms.

They did note that although it’s a large study, it is still observational research and does not establish cause and effect, for now, it shows correlation. More research is needed in the area.

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Man who found ‘look after my house’ note from little girl tracks her down after a decade

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(Picture: SWNS)

When dad Martin Johnstone moved into his new home in Southside, Glasgow, he didn’t expect to find traces of the previous owners.

But the dad-of-two was pleasantly surprised when he found a sweet little note from a previous young occupant of the house.

‘Look after my house for me’ said the letter, hidden inside the floorboards of one of the bedrooms.

Determined Martin set about trying to track down the writer which he did with the help of Twitter. Less than 24 hours later, he managed to track down the girl, identified as Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner, who was aged 13 at the time and now lives in Bath, Somerset.

Charlotte Gardner, as a child, around the time she wrote a letter to the new owners of the Glasgow flat where she lived between the ages of two and 13. See SWNS story SWSCletter; A homeowner who discovered a letter written by a little girl asking the new family to ?look after my house for me? managed to track her down more than a decade later. Martin Johnstone found the note beneath floorboards as he tore up carpets in his son?s old bedroom in a tenement flat in Southside, Glasgow. The dad-of-two was stunned to find the note, in an envelope marked ?A little letter?, hidden in the spare room of the flat. Determined Martin set about trying to track down the writer, who identified herself as Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner, who was aged 13 at the time. Within less than 24 hours of posting an image of the letter on Twitter, Martin was in touch with Charlotte, who now lives in Bath, Somerset.
Charlotte was 13 when she wrote the note (Picture: SWNS)

‘I stumbled across the letter from the spare bedroom, it was hidden under the carpet which I was ripping out,’ said Martin.

‘We moved here in 2007 and it was my son’s room but since he moved out to go to university, it became a spare room.

‘It was such a lovely letter and in some ways, it was a letter you would expect a 13-year-old to write.

The note read: ‘My name is Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner and I have lived in this house for 11 years and this was once my bedroom.

‘I moved in when I was two and I am now 13. I have a sister as well who is 11 and she lived here all her life.

‘I am moving out in two days on Friday and I am really upset and sad.

‘Look after my house for me. And happy Valentine’s Day.’

The letter written by Charlotte Gardner when she was child for the new home owners of the flat in Southside, Glasgow where she lived between the ages of two and 13. See SWNS story SWSCletter; A homeowner who discovered a letter written by a little girl asking the new family to ?look after my house for me? managed to track her down more than a decade later. Martin Johnstone found the note beneath floorboards as he tore up carpets in his son?s old bedroom in a tenement flat in Southside, Glasgow. The dad-of-two was stunned to find the note, in an envelope marked ?A little letter?, hidden in the spare room of the flat. Determined Martin set about trying to track down the writer, who identified herself as Charlotte Olivia Jane Gardner, who was aged 13 at the time. Within less than 24 hours of posting an image of the letter on Twitter, Martin was in touch with Charlotte, who now lives in Bath, Somerset.
(Picture: SWNS)

Making its way down to Bath, the online post reached Charlotte, now 24, within 18 hours.

She was alerted to it by her mum and quickly remembered all the fond memories she had of the house.

‘It seems your post made its way to me,’ wrote Charlotte to Martin.

‘What a lovely surprise waking up this morning to see this. I have such fond memories of that flat in Glasgow.

‘It was a big gorgeous tenement flat, with lovely high ceilings and as a child, it felt huge, we didn’t have a garden but we had the run of the house and always had lots of friends back after school.

‘I hope you have loved it as much as I did. Thank you Martin.’

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Dad cooks entire Christmas dinner on a fire in the middle of a forest

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(Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

This outdoor-loving dad cooked an entire Christmas dinner complete with three meats, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and even self-baked mince pies for 35 guests – in the middle of a rainy forest.

Dad-of-two Paul Harvey, 48, organised the three-course feast for 35 of his pals last Saturday as an annual festive celebration.

Paul, who runs outdoor survival classes and loves cooking outdoors, kicked off the feast with a ‘quartet of crostini’, including brie and cranberry.

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: FRIENDS PAUL HARVEY AND JONATHAN TAIT PREPARING SOME OF FOOD FOR FESTIVE FEAST) This outdoor-loving dad cooked an entire Christmas dinner complete with three meats, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and even self-baked mince pies for 35 guests - in the middle of a rainy FOREST. Dad-of-two Paul Harvey, 48, organised the three-course feast for 35 of his pals last Saturday as an annual festive celebration. Paul, who runs outdoor survival classes and loves cooking outdoors, kicked off the feast with a 'quartet of crostini', including brie and cranberry. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266
Paul Harvey and Jonathan Tait preparing some food for the festive outdoor fest (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

All the classic vegetables featured in the festive feast including honey roast carrots and parsnips, Brussels sprouts, fire roasted onions and stuffing.

And it wouldn’t have been a true Christmas meal without pigs in blankets, which accompanied the trio of meats on offer – pork, beef and chicken.

Paul, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, said: ‘I’ve always loved cooking, but I’m no trained chef.

‘The meal is a full-on Christmas dinner. I do the cheffing, the food prep – it takes around eight hours before we sit down to eat.

‘This year we got there at 8am, because we have to carry all the gear in and set up a parachute above us to deflect the wind and rain.

‘We had beef, pork, chickens – everything. Mashed potatoes, boiled, roasted.. Even pigs in blankets.

‘Each little thing has it’s own cooking time – it’s hard going.

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: APPARATUS INVOLVED IN SOME OF COOKING) This outdoor-loving dad cooked an entire Christmas dinner complete with three meats, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and even self-baked mince pies for 35 guests - in the middle of a rainy FOREST. Dad-of-two Paul Harvey, 48, organised the three-course feast for 35 of his pals last Saturday as an annual festive celebration. Paul, who runs outdoor survival classes and loves cooking outdoors, kicked off the feast with a 'quartet of crostini', including brie and cranberry. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266
(Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

‘The hardest thing is fire control, because you haven’t got any temperature nobs like on a hob.

‘And people have certain needs. Some people are vegetarians, or they can’t eat certain things.

‘This is our fourth year and everyone loves it. It’s great.

‘Cooking nice food out in the woodland is always quite special, but cooking a full-on Christmas dinner is brilliant.’

Previously, Paul worked as an engineer but gave in his full time job last year to become a bush-craft instructor.

Now he runs outdoor survival classes and regularly cooks for growing crowds in forests around Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

But his annual Christmas dinner has become a surprise hit – swelling to 35 hungry guests to feed this year.

The menu

Starter
Quartet of crostini (garlic mushroom, brie and cranberry, Parma ham and goats cheese and salmon and cucumber)
Main
Pork, beef or chicken with pigs in blankets
Mashed, boiled and roast potatoes
Mixed vegetables
Honey roast carrots and parsnips
Brussels sprouts, green beans, fire roasted onions
Stuffing
Yorkshire puddings
Homemade gravy
Dessert
Mince pies and cream

Paul said: ‘A group of us visit the same site each month but coming up to Christmas we get together for a special festive dinner.

‘Some people even say it’s better than the Christmas dinner they cook at home.

‘The numbers grow each year, everyone is amazed at how we not only cook the Christmas dinner in the woods, but do it in bad weather too, as it often rains.

‘It’s about keeping these skills alive. You can light a fire by rubbing sticks together and cook a meal – we used to live like this for many, many years.’

Paul has been cooking since a child when his granddad took him foraging in nearby countryside.

He learnt how to build shelters, make fires and even how to hunt.

It’s those memories of his childhood that inspired him to teach wilderness skills to the general public.

Paul said: ‘We do things in different ways.

‘We’ve got dutch ovens, mainly for the meat. Chicken is cooked on a spit-roast and in the dutch oven.

PIC FROM Kennedy News and Media (PICTURED: FULL PLATE OF CHRISTMAS DINNER SERVED TO GUESTS) This outdoor-loving dad cooked an entire Christmas dinner complete with three meats, roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds and even self-baked mince pies for 35 guests - in the middle of a rainy FOREST. Dad-of-two Paul Harvey, 48, organised the three-course feast for 35 of his pals last Saturday as an annual festive celebration. Paul, who runs outdoor survival classes and loves cooking outdoors, kicked off the feast with a 'quartet of crostini', including brie and cranberry. SEE KENNEDY NEWS COPY - 0161 697 4266
(Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

‘Then we have an underground oven that has fire in there. We put the meat in and cover it over.

‘It’s very much a team effort.’

Paul currently runs several bush-craft and wilderness skills group online and has even been invited to cook for weddings or parties.

Paul said: ‘We get a lot of city people, from London, who need to get away from the hustle and bustle so they come up north.

‘I’ve always done bush-craft and camping since I was young. My passion developed from there.

‘It’s about trying to bring these two things together – you want people to be more adventurous.

‘Often I’ll see people going out there and cooking Super Noodles and sausage on a stick, so we do bread-making and proper cooking.

‘You’re building the shelters, out in the woods, out there on your own – it’s about self-reliance.

‘We go every month of the year – we’re like an extended family and it’s a range of ages.

‘I cook all over the UK. I work in Leicestershire and we run courses there on campfire cooking, but the place I go to every month is in Nottingham in a huge woodland.

‘I get invited out all the time to cook and do demonstrations.’

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To the milk donors that helped to feed my baby: I cannot thank you enough

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Paula, right, was diagnosed with cancer at 16 weeks, leaving her unable to breast feed (Photo: Paula White)

Cancer during pregnancy is a rare occurrence and one that isn’t often understood or spoken about, but it happened to me.

Aged 33, I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) breast cancer in January this year at 16 weeks pregnant.

I was completely shocked, especially as I had no family history and no risk factors. I spent the remainder of my pregnancy worrying.

Through advice from my breast surgeon, I learned after diagnosis that I couldn’t breastfeed because having milk in your breasts may complicate and lengthen the planned mastectomy surgery.

This was one of the most difficult hurdles because I breastfed our son and naturally wanted to do the same for our daughter. Knowing I was not going to be able to breastfeed her went against every maternal instinct within me. I struggled with it and felt helpless.

I was induced early in my pregnancy at 35 weeks and five days, and we welcomed our daughter, Clara Grace, into the world on 3 May 2018.

The long-awaited moment we met our daughter was one I’ll never forget. The sense of relief that she was finally here, healthy and safe, was immense. I felt now I could mentally prepare myself for my forthcoming treatment.

My sister had flown to the UK just days before I was planned to be induced and was able to express enough milk for us to feed Clara for the early days of her life.

However, Clara’s demand quickly exceeded what my sister was able to supply, given she was still feeding her 10 month old. We resorted to formula but much to our dismay, Clara didn’t take to it as her premature digestive system wasn’t able to digest the milk easily.

‘The difference the donor milk has made to Clara is nothing short of miraculous.’ (Photo: Paula White)

As we struggled to settle her, I felt increasingly frustrated and began looking for other options.

I’d heard of milk banks and decided to search for our nearest one – my heart sank when I was told that they don’t provide donor milk to the public.

However, the lady I spoke to called back and read out a leaflet she had been given about the Hearts Milk Bank. I spoke to my husband and we decided to find out more.

Anxiously, as I sat up in the early hours that morning, I decided to text the out of hours Hearts Milk Bank phone number asking for a call back.

One of the founders, Dr Natalie Shenker, rang later that morning and we had a long chat about the incredible work they do to support mothers who cannot breastfeed for medical reasons.

We were reassured that the donor milk provided is safe, screened, pasteurised, contains antibodies that are not found in formula and adhere to NHS NICE guidelines.

To acquire the milk I had to send Natalie a letter confirming my diagnosis, details for my GP, midwife, obstetrician and our address.

Amazingly, Natalie arranged for us to receive seven litres of donor milk that very evening. She even personally drove the three hour round trip to deliver it to us.

This was a huge boost and relief to us as we were able to defrost a bottle immediately. At just nine days old our daughter was fed the donor milk.

Although for me nothing could have replaced the joy of breastfeeding my baby, donor milk enabled us to do the next best thing.

The difference the donor milk has made to Clara is nothing short of miraculous. She was able to easily digest the milk without the constant struggle we saw her have with formula.

The pleasure of being able to feed Clara donor milk and seeing her put on weight has been so positive, and has helped me overcome the difficult emotions of being unable to breastfeed Clara myself.

I cannot thank the milk donors enough. It really has made a huge difference to our life and to Clara’s. If I could say something to the donors, it would be thank you for making what was impossible for me, possible for our daughter.

You can follow more of Paula’s story at breastandbeyond.com.

For more information on human milk donation, visit humanmilkfoundation.org.

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Sexist radio presenter has to host feminists every day on his show as punishment

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Instagram Photo

An Argentinian radio host who has been accused of misogynistic slurs has been ordered by prosecutors to have feminist guests on his show.

For five months, Angel Etchecopar must have gender experts on his Radio 10 show and he cannot interrupt them when they speak nor criticise what they have to say.

As part of the probation-based solution, he must also avoid making discriminatory comments for a year and has to make regular donations to a Catholic charity.

The unusual penance came after prosecutors charged him with gender discrimination when he referred to feminists as ‘feminazis’ and ‘disgusting people’, reported Le Monde.

Prosecutor Federico Vilalba Diaz said Etchecopar had been charged with ‘disrespectful, insulting, denigrating and discriminatory’ outbursts against women to an Argentine daily newspaper La Nación.

‘But Etchecopar came to the inquiry with a repentant attitude and showed himself to be very different from the personality I had seen in the media,’ Mr Diaz said.

The judge decided to drop the case against him but will resurrect it if Etchecopar breaks any terms of the agreement.

A special gender violence prosecutor in Argentina, Veronica Guagnino, will decide the topics for discussion on the radio show and Etchecopar has to go with it.

The move comes after Argentinian parliament passed a law that says all officials have to undertake gender equality training.

It was introduced after 21-year-old gender activist Micaela García was raped and murdered sending shockwaves through Argentina.

It is hoped that the gender equality training will reduce violence against women.

Metro.co.uk has also contacted Etchecopar for comment and will update this article if he replies.

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Starbucks opening times for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2018

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KRAKOW, POLAND - 2018/05/30: The Starbucks logo seen in Krakow. American chain Starbucks closed more than 8,000 stores in the U.S.A on May 29 afternoon to provide racial-bias education for its employees. (Photo by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(Photo – Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Christmas is a busy time of year with many stores working overtime in the lead up to the big day.

thumbnail for post ID 8281104Lib Dem politician with 'magic healing hands' donates electronically without a card

It then usually means that many stores work reduced hours on Christmas eve and Boxing Day, as well as close completely on Christmas Day.

If you’re planning to grab a coffee from Starbucks over the festive period then it could be worth checking ahead of time to make sure that your local coffee shop is open.

Here is everything that you need to know about the Starbucks opening times during the Christmas holidays.

Starbucks Corp.-labeled mugs are stacked inside the company's first India outlet in Mumbai, India, on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. Starbucks, which opened its first store in India today, will maintain its partnership with Tata Global Beverages Ltd. and plans to take some of that company???s products to new markets, Starbucks??? Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz said. Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images
(Photo: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

What are the Starbucks opening hours this Christmas?

Starbucks is set to not be too affected by the Christmas period with many of the coffee shops facing closures only at certain branches on Christmas Day according to their website.

Many Starbucks stores will close at at 6pm, but this can very with some closing as early as 4pm while others are set to stay open as late as 11pm tonight.

Most Starbucks will be closed on Christmas Day but some look like they will still be open if you need a coffee, including Earls Court Road in London, Mount Street in Manchester and Old Hall Street in Liverpool.

Most of their coffee shops will then run with their open normal opening times for the remainder of the Christmas period.

Before setting out to your local Starbucks for a coffee we advise that you check if it is open by using the Starbucks store locator.

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