It’s 2018 (all that’s left of it), and weird is good.

While we mere mortals might’ve looked at some of the trends of yesteryear with disgust once upon a time, we now look at them with sheer awe.

How did influencers and fashion-forward beauty experts pull some of these looks off? With confidence and sass, that’s what. And we stan them for it.

Because we’re not sure we’d ever try vulva nail art, or a twerking woman manicure or, you know, penis for nails.

And nearly all of it is the work of one salon; Nail Sunny.

Here are some of their wackiest creations, and a few others:

1. Feet nails

When it comes to a manicure that looks more like a pedicure, it’s almost like an optical illusion. Those that hate feet will probably want to look away.

The salon created the look earlier in the year and no one was here for it, unsurprisingly.

2. The pole dancer

Though most of us probably wouldn’t get a half-naked woman dancing on a pole, you have to give props to Nail Sunny for coming up with and creating the intricate design.

They even added a knob that allows you to twist the woman and see her move her booty up and down.

It’s a hard pass, Nail Sunny, but well played.

3. Vulva art

We’re big fans of the vag so this is one we could probably get behind but it might make people do a second take when they realise you have a vagina on one of your fingernails.

T Ngu, a designer at Project Object, teamed up with nail artist Asa Bree, of Finger Bang, to create a vulva themed nail look in honour of an event celebrating a vulva colouring book.

And, yeah, they nailed it.

4. Nailception

What’s better than one manicure? Two, right? Well probably not at the same time.

Nail Sunny came at us during the summer with another one of their horrifying creations; nails with nails.

And to add to the horror, they put three portruding prosthetic nails per nail, so giving the wearer a total of 12 nails.

Disturbing.

5. Kim Kardashian twerking 

The Kardashians can make anything fashionable, even a lingerie-clad Kim Kardashian twerking as nail art.

It’s a crying shame we haven’t seen any of the reality stars try these nails out but if they did, it would probably be all the rage.

The salon made sure that not only did the miniature doll carry an homage to Kimmy, but she also twerked. As nails do.

6. Rapunzel hair 

Rapunzel oh Rapunzel, let down your hair. No, not the ones on your head, we mean the ones on your nails.

That’s right, Nail Salon gave followers the Halloween look they did not ask for when they introduced a manicure with long black hair coming out of it.

And oh good, it came with some crystal gems for extra sparkle.

7. Ant nails 

Throughout the year we looked at the Russian salon’s looks with awe and suprise but perhaps not contempt until we saw the manicure with live ants trapped in each nail.

Though the salon assured that all the ants were eventually let go, it still didn’t bode very well to have the creatures in distress for cosmetic purposes.

Let’s hope the technicians don’t revisit the look in the new year.

8. And finally, penis nails 

This one was too rude for us to show all at once so we had to add some suggestive emojis to cover it up.

But the ‘D Nails’, created by the Kardashians’ beauty technician Chaun Legend, were not for the public.

He told Metro.co.uk he came up with the look just for a bit of fun.

Thank God then, because ain’t nobody got time for that.

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Christmas Day has come and gone, but your Christmas tree still has a few days left do adorn your living room.

If you are sticking to tradition then you will be keeping your tree and decorations up all the way till Twelfth Night.

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Although we often associate the tree, tinsel and baubles with the run up to Christmas, Twelfth Night actually comes around well into January.

So there is no rush yet, but here is when you should be taking your decorations down.

When is Twelfth Night?

There is some debate over the exact date, with some saying it’s 5 January and others 6 January.

This is because some people count Christmas itself as one of the twelve nights, while others think begin the count on Boxing Day.

Either day is acceptable, but according to folklore, if you keep your tree up after the 6 January, it has to stay up all year.

What does Twelfth Night mean?

Traditionally, Christmas celebrations lasted for twelve days after 25 December.

That’s because, after Jesus was born 6 January marked the day when John the Baptist came to baptise him, and the three kings came with their gifts for the baby. This is known as Epiphany.

If you go further back into habits and customs, some people used to believe that tree-spirits lived in the trees, holly, and ivy in their homes. These spirits would seek shelter there during the cold winter, but if they weren’t released after Christmas there would be problems with agriculture and harvests.

So, if you’re one for superstition, it’s best to do it sooner rather than later.

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Whether you are looking for last minute booze supplies on New Year’s Eve or some painkillers on New Year’s Day, you will probably need to pop to the shops at some point in the coming days.

New Year’s Day is the actual bank holiday, but most shops shut a bit earlier than normal on New Year’s Eve as well, to let staff go out and enjoy themselves.

Asda opening times for New Year's Eve 2018 and New Year's Day 2019

While not all stores across the country stick to the same opening times, here are the most common opening hours for Asda over the coming days and how to check your local outlet.

Asda stores will be opening later on New Year’s Day at 10am and then many will close at 5pm.

To get the most accurate opening hours for you local store you should use the Asda store locator which has the latest information on their Christmas opening times.

New year supermarket opening times

Morrisons

On New Year’s Eve most stores will be opening at 6am but they will then close early ahead of the celebrations at 4pm, so make sure to shop early if you need some supplies for the evening.

Most Morrisons stores will then open later on New Year’s Day at 9am and then close at 6pm.

These times could vary depending on your local store, so you are advised to check when your shop will be open on the Morrisons store finder.

Tesco

Tesco stores will generally be operating Sunday opening times on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (although most Metros will be closed on New Year’s Day).

Many stores are also likely to open slightly later on New Year’s Day but it is worth checking with your local store if you need some early morning supplies that day.

For the most accurate opening times for your local Tesco it is recommended that you use Tesco’s store locator and have a look at their Christmas page for all related information.

Sainsbury’s

Most Sainsbury’s stores will then open at 7am on New Year’s Eve but then close at 9pm or 10pm.

On New Year’s Day many of the shops will open slightly later at 9am until 9pm and then normal opening hours will resume the following day on Wednesday 2 January.

These are only guidelines, so it is advised to check using the Sainsburys Store Locator to find out the exact opening for your local shop.

Lidl

On New Year’s Eve Lidl stores will open at 8am and close at 6pm and the shops will then close for New Year’s Day, except for stores within the M25 as they will be open from 10am to 6pm.

They will then return to their normal opening hours from Wednesday 2 January.

Aldi

On New Year’s Eve Aldi stores will open at 8am but then close early at 6pm and then all stores will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Marks and Spencer

On New Year’s Eve many Marks and Spencer shops will close early ahead of the celebrations with some stores closing at 5pm or 6pm, and then many of their stores will shut on New Year’s Day.

Opening times can vary between stores so it is advised that you check the opening hours for your local store by using the M&S store finder.

Waitrose

On New Year’s Eve most Waitrose shops will open at 8am but closing quite early at 6pm and they will then all be closed on New Year’s Day.

Opening times can vary so it is advised that you check your local store on the Waitrose branch finder.

Iceland

Many shops will then open early on New Year’s Eve at 7am or am but then close early ahead of the celebration at 5pm or 6pm, and then all stores will close on New Year’s Day.

Argos

There will then be reduced hours on New Year’s Eve and new Year’s Day, but Christmas Day is set to be the only day that all stores will close completely.

You can find out the exact opening times for your local shop by using the Argos store locator.

Boots

On New Year’s Day Boots shops will open slightly later than their usual opening times, but this can vary from 9am, 10am or 11am.

You can find the full details on your local shops opening times by using the Boots store locator.

You will not be stuck without any supermarkets open on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day this week, but they will have reduced opening hours.

1 January is a bank holiday, but supermarkets generally stay open anyway, at least for some of the day.

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Morrisons is no different and you will have plenty of time to pick up supplies for your NYE party or for recovery on New Year’s Day.

While not every single store sticks to the same opening times, here are the most common ones and where to check your local outlet.

On New Year’s Eve most stores will be opening at 6am but they will then close early ahead of the celebrations at 4pm, so make sure to shop early if you need some supplies for the evening.

Most Morrisons stores will then open later on New Year’s Day at 9am and then close at 6pm.

These times could vary depending on your local store, so you are advised to check when your shop will be open on the Morrisons store finder.

New year supermarket opening times

Tesco

Tesco stores will generally be operating Sunday opening times on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (although most Metros will be closed on New Year’s Day).

Many stores are also likely to open slightly later on New Year’s Day but it is worth checking with your local store if you need some early morning supplies that day.

For the most accurate opening times for your local Tesco it is recommended that you use Tesco’s store locator and have a look at their Christmas page for all related information.

Sainsbury’s

Most Sainsbury’s stores will then open at 7am on New Year’s Eve but then close at 9pm or 10pm.

On New Year’s Day many of the shops will open slightly later at 9am until 9pm and then normal opening hours will resume the following day on Wednesday 2 January.

These are only guidelines, so it is advised to check using the Sainsburys Store Locator to find out the exact opening for your local shop.

Lidl

On New Year’s Eve Lidl stores will open at 8am and close at 6pm and the shops will then close for New Year’s Day, except for stores within the M25 as they will be open from 10am to 6pm.

They will then return to their normal opening hours from Wednesday 2 January.

Aldi

On New Year’s Eve Aldi stores will open at 8am but then close early at 6pm and then all stores will be closed on New Year’s Day.

Marks and Spencer

On New Year’s Eve many Marks and Spencer shops will close early ahead of the celebrations with some stores closing at 5pm or 6pm, and then many of their stores will shut on New Year’s Day.

Opening times can vary between stores so it is advised that you check the opening hours for your local store by using the M&S store finder.

Waitrose

On New Year’s Eve most Waitrose shops will open at 8am but closing quite early at 6pm and they will then all be closed on New Year’s Day.

Opening times can vary so it is advised that you check your local store on the Waitrose branch finder.

Iceland

Many shops will then open early on New Year’s Eve at 7am or am but then close early ahead of the celebration at 5pm or 6pm, and then all stores will close on New Year’s Day.

Argos

There will then be reduced hours on New Year’s Eve and new Year’s Day, but Christmas Day is set to be the only day that all stores will close completely.

You can find out the exact opening times for your local shop by using the Argos store locator.

Boots

On New Year’s Day Boots shops will open slightly later than their usual opening times, but this can vary from 9am, 10am or 11am.

You can find the full details on your local shops opening times by using the Boots store locator.

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It’s no fun, this getting older lark.

Frankly, it seems to be an awful lot of week long hangovers, beef jerky cartilage and pangs of formerly alien concepts like ‘responsibility’.

Whatever your hang-up, there’s supposed to be at least one day where the overwhelming sense of drift evaporates in exchange for a well deserved bit of attention lasered in on you, and you alone.

Isn’t that what birthdays are for? It doesn’t matter if it’s your early-20s, or mid-30s: here lies a ready-made excuse to put yourself at the centre of your own little social universe, even if only for one night.

So spare a thought then, for the New Year’s Eve babies in our midst.

Imagine crafting that carefully curated Facebook event, choosing the perfect banner picture, sculpting the droll event description, safe in the knowledge that your special day is, at best, the fourth or fifth choice for the ingrates you call friends.

It’s a particularly harrowing kind of social irritation, rooted as it is in complete inevitability. Nothing is going to change the sad reality of being doomed to play out in the shadows of other people’s nights out.

But it doesn’t have to be a tale of unending grimness.

There are those who relish the chance to slink out of the limelight, for whatever reason. Having a birthday on 31 December is potentially an introvert’s gift, both an excuse to stay in or a chance to delegate the responsibility of planning and logistics, safe in the knowledge that any blow-back will be someone else’s problem.

For Tristan, it’s frustration that generally marks his birthday experiences, without any of the imagined potential benefits. The 26-year-old outlines a few certainties, experienced over the years.

‘It’s basically the one day in the calendar where you can guarantee most people you know have plans six months in advance. [Each one] better than your own’, Tristan tells Metro.co.uk. ‘[They] treat it as their own personal night to have an extreme laugh, and your birthday infringes on that.’

There’s another seasonal consideration. After the sanctioned permissiveness of December, there’s the self-imposed comedown right around the corner that means delaying birthday celebrations is often a futile hope.

Or, as Tristan puts it more succinctly: ‘It’s also sh*t because everyone does Dry January immediately after. And because your birthday has such a definite ‘end’ nobody lets you get away with doing another birthday in the days after.’

Even in the event that everyone does coalesce, ‘you’re expected to plan their NYE for them’, says Tristan. And who wants to play promoter on their own special day?

It’s the same for 24-year-old Rebecca James, who lives in south London. Being relied on to make plans, feeling responsible for other people’s nights, losing sight of what you’d actually want to do – they’re just a few of the reasonable expectations for the big day itself.

Sure, she tells me, there have been more than a handful of parties where she’s fallen asleep before midnight, not out of choice, but through subscription to other people’s ‘sh*tty plans’.

‘People don’t care that much that it’s your birthday, even though it sounds bratty,’ says Rebecca. ‘Maybe it’s a good form of ego death, as it’s much easier just taking the simple route and letting other people dictate. I’ll just be going to the local pub this year.’

If that sounds like a fairly zen resolution, it was formed in the glare of some pretty dreadful experiences over the years.

‘[One year] I was so indecisive, I was ended up pressured into a Mike Skinner drum and base night in Bournemouth,’ Rebecca tells us.

Everyone was going, it was a plan, at least it’s something to do: the usual sly stock phrases that end in well meaning social coercion.

Predictably, Becca did not have fun.

‘I had such a foul time that I spent the whole night alone plonked next to a bin in the toilets, because it seemed preferable to the gig itself,’ she remembers. ‘Everyone carried on with their evening, conveniently dropping in on me when they needed the toilet, dragging me out, only for me to scuttle back in when nobody was looking.’

Though it took a while, her friends eventually concluded that as it was her birthday she could spend it where she pleased.

You’ll catch her in that local this year, doing precisely what she usually does most other evenings. Having next-to-no expectations comes with the territory of any realistic New Year’s Eve birthday holder. After all, if the past is to offer guide, it’s that heaping more pressure on an already overhyped evening is a recipe for an inevitably dull disappointment.

Often, the most memorable nights have been the most unexpected. There was an impromptu live drummer at the pub last year, flanked by his cronies on stage, Becca adds.

‘It was the best performance ever. I was up front fist pumping, pogoing, dripping with sweat, getting a dance circle with my own mates. I had all the right people around to kiss and hold as the new year came in. I only went to the toilet for a wee.

‘Now that’s what I count as a good birthday.’

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If you’re looking to do some last minute shopping ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight then you will need to be quick.

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Many stores are set to close earlier than usual this evening and then close completely for New Year’s Day.

This means that you may need to set out early to pick up any last minute food, drink or clothes as M&S is one of the stores set to shut early today.

Here is everything that you need to know about the M&S closing times on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

What are the Marks and Spencer opening hours for New Year?

All Marks and Spencer stores were closed on Christmas Day and most of them stayed closed on Boxing Day.

Many M&S stores then went back to their normal opening hours from Thursday 27 December until Sunday 30 December.

On New Year’s Eve many Marks and Spencer shops will close early ahead of the celebrations with some stores closing at 5pm or 6pm, and then most of their stores will shut on New Year’s Day.

Opening times can vary between stores so it is advised that you check the opening hours for your local store by using the M&S store finder.

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The new year is a tough time for body positivity.

Every January we are bombarded with the same, tired new-year-new-me messaging, pushing diets, weight-loss tea and gym memberships.

Advertisers scramble to remind us how bad we should feel for our Christmas indulgence. The only way to feel better and to start the year right is to detox, purge and buy expensive wellness products. Apparently.

They want us to feel bad about our bodies. They feed off it. They make money off it.

But this year, women aren’t having it.

Style and lifestyle blogger, Stephanie Yeboah, known online as Nerd About Town, started a thread on Twitter for women to share their three favourite body parts as a way to counter this damaging culture of new year’s body shaming.

Rather than going into 2019 with a list of things to improve, shrink or change, Stephanie wants women to celebrate the things they love about themselves.

The responses were swift and plentiful. Turns out loads of women love loads of things about their bodies.

Some focused on the boobs and hips, others sang the praises of their facial features – lips and eyes were a common theme – and others were drawn to stretch marks, scars and ‘imperfections’ that make them unique.

‘I started the thread as a small way to counter the usual rhetoric that we are fed around this time year surrounding weight loss, body shaming and diet culture, which I find to be incredibly toxic,’ Stephanie tells Metro.co.uk.

‘I wanted people to focus on the things they loved about their bodies as opposed to the things they thought they needed to change or get rid of in the New Year.

‘I think it’s important to change the conversation surrounding how we feel about our bodies around this time of year, and to realise that regardless of how much we have “over-indulged” during Christmas, or how much we want to change our bodies for the upcoming year ahead, it’s always important for us to focus on the things we appreciate in the here and now, and to find solace in the small things our bodies do for us.’

A great thing about the thread was the number of women who focused on exactly that – the functionality of their bodies over the purely aesthetic.

Many women were keen to explain how much they loved specific body parts because of how well they worked, or what they enabled them to achieve.

One woman was in love with her hands because they enabled her to write and play instruments.

And it wasn’t just women who were jumping on the body positivity vibe. Men are affected by societal pressures to look a certain way as well, they aren’t immune to toxic advertising campaigns – particularly at this time of year.

Ben replied to Stephanie’s tweet, proving that it’s also beneficial for men to take a moment to appreciate the things they like about themselves; ‘I got a cute face tbh. Not handsome. Not rugged. But I’m cute though,’ said Ben.

‘My legs are pretty athletic and I’m limber as f*ck which horrifies skinny people and that makes me happy.

‘My hair. I’m almost 36 no standout grays and it’s still thick as f*ck.’

But it wasn’t an easy task, and some admitted that the idea of publicly celebrating their own bodies was just too daunting.

Hopefully in 2019 more women will feel empowered to love their bodies, love themselves, and scream about it from the rooftops.

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It is New Year’s Eve and that means plenty of fireworks will be filling the sky tonight as part of the celebrations.

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This includes the annual London fireworks that will take place by the River Thames as Big Ben chimes for the start of 2019.

It will join many of the other capital cities around the world that celebrate the new year by lighting up the sky.

Unfortunately, tickets for the event in Central London have now sold out but there are other ways that you can watch the fireworks tonight.

The size of the fireworks means that they should be quite visible from various parts of London.

Generally speaking, any big park will give you a great view but here are some prime locations if you missed out on a ticket:

• Greenwich Park
• Hampstead Heath
• Primrose Hill
• Vauxhall Bridge, Cannon Street, or Lambeth Bridge (all of which, sit outside of the ticketed boundaries)

You can also watch the fireworks either at home or from you local pub if it has a TV as the BBC will be airing the event live just like it does every year.

Madness Rocks Big Ben Live will air on BBC One from 23.35 tonight with the fireworks going off at midnight to celebrate the new year.

The other alternative is heading to a London venue or party and hoping that you’ll be able to spot the fireworks in the sky once it hits midnight.

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In a year that seems to have been jam packed with stresses and everyday horrors, it’s important to seek out all the good and life affirming bits that slipped through the cracks.

2018 was just one of those years. An interminable blend of major dramas and baffling events that seemed to both melt by, and drag along. 12 months with a decades worth of stuff to unpack.

Thank goodness then for the animals that provided some light relief. From new born baby wombats, to the Messi the pet puma and beyond- it’s been a vintage year for good boys and interminably cute critters.

And here’s 12 of the very finest to get you reminiscing on the year that was.

Knickers, the big cow

You didn’t seriously think he wouldn’t make the cut, did you?

Knickers burst into all of our lives this November, standing at 6ft 4in tall and 1,400kg.

And while he isn’t the world’s largest – that accolade belongs to an Italian cow called Bellino – he is still an extremely large chap.

So large in fact, that it may well have saved his life. Meat processors say that he’s just too large for them to deal with.

Which is just as well, considering the depth of feeling and good cheer the oversized beast has attracted online.

Knicker will live out the rest of his days on Lake Preston feedlot in Myalup, Australia, if you fancy posting him some fan mail.

Tango the horse

Ah yes, Tango. He was dubbed by all and sundry the ‘stupidest horse’ in the world this month, for his seeming inability to do anything non-memable, or without tripping into a light comedy of his own making.

Whether that was sleeping on his back, grazing freshly bare grass patches or eschewing a warm barn for the dubious shelter of a winter tree.

It’s all in good spirits, we think.

We’re all rooting for you Tango, you gormless fellow.

Moose, the four-year-old ferret

We can’t imagine it’s that crowded a field – but we’re pretty sure that Moose might well be the breakout Ferret of 2018 (and quite possibly 2019, as well).

The four-year-old fur ball from Nebraska is brother to fellow ferrets Newt and Albert – and the three have been picked as the faces of a 2019 calendar dedicated to undiluted cuteness.

Not bad work, if you can get it.

The Pikachu possum

Oh boy. This critter doesn’t actually have a formal name.

Not that it stopped the adorable Australian possum from collecting viral fame as a dead ringer for iconic Pokemon, Pickachu.

The ‘vanishingly rare’ golden possum was discovered at the start of December in Melbourne, at the side of the road.

Thankfully, he got all the care he needed after a traumatic morning, before staying under assessment at a local vets.

A highly unusual genetic mutation accounts for the gold, by the way.

The drunk Kereru

‘Classy, gluttonous and glamorous’ in the words of the official campaign to have the New Zealand bird declared the best in the country.

Well, it worked and all. The clownish Kiwi sky botherers lapped up a whopping 48,000 votes.

Not bad for a group that frequently get ‘so drunk they can’t stand’.

Boo the dog and Mike the magpie

Wouldn’t be an end of year round-up without the obligatory odd couple.

Boo the pooch bumped into Maggie on an evening walk back in the autumn, in his hometown of Sabden, Lancashire – with the latter tending injuries, having fallen out of a tree.

Now, the two have proved to be inseparable, with a bond formed during Mike’s slow recuperation at Boo’s family home.

The two even share food, walks and occasionally, the same bed.

We smell a buddy movie in the works.

Toothless the snake

The dentist is a necessary evil for many, however uncomfortable.

And there’s no good reason why that shouldn’t apply to our reptilian friends as well.

Toothless the Australian snake, had a rather interesting year.

The pet snake saw a normal meal turn into a protracted ordeal when her left lower jawbone folded and got stuck in her throat when she swallowed.

Her owners rushed her to the vet who, instead of operating a risky surgery to correct the problem, decided to get creative.

Hence the braces.

Mimi the bunny

Mimi has never had it easy.

Born with only three legs and no ears, it would have been too easy to consign the bunny to a life of hardship and pain.

However, her owner Rodajia Welch, 22, decided to take matters into her own hands.

Now, Mimi stands out for a different reason: her vibrant knitted ears, which slot on her head whenever it’s safe to do so.

‘[Though not when] the other bunnies aren’t around, they would probably try to chew on them’, as Welch explains.

Fred the pigeon

Turns out the concept of ‘couch potato’ isn’t confined to the human race.

But a TV loving pigeon might well be a first.

61-year-old Mike Roberts probably didn’t have companionship in mind when he adopted ‘Fred’, who he found as a baby bird in his driveway.

However, young birds ‘imprint’ on humans – meaning that Fred now sees Mike as his parent, going as far as to ride about on his shoulder.

The Swindon based duo are pretty much inseparable and can usually be found watching tv together in the evenings.

Though Fred has since been taken into a specialist sanctuary, the memories remain.

Asha the Golden Retriver

Not content with being a very good boy, Asha also proved something of a hero in September.

The five-year-old from Victoria, Australia saved a baby koala bear from a freezing night on the porch.

The marsupial snuggled into Asha’s fur, most likely saving its life.

Owner Kerry McKinnon found them both nestled on the porch the next morning.

See, not all heroes wear capes.

The Thames whale

Yeah, this one was mad.

The mammoth creature was spotted in Gravesend, Kent by a local ecologist who took to social media with some snaps.

Fascinating it may have been, but not particularly good news for the whale involved.

Beluga whales usually inhabit the Arctic Ocean – so a detour to the comparatively sunny climes of south-east England could have proved disastrous.

However, news reports from November indicate that the whale is still thriving – even if it’s unsure if they’ll ever make it home.

Britain’s biggest puppy

Forget your typical Great Danes or bog standard Alsatians.

Arnie trumps them all.

As of 2018, the award for Britain’s biggest puppy goes to the South Lanarkshire based pooch.

Julie and Colin Reid adopted him from Dogs Trust back in the autumn, although they weren’t quite prepared for the scale of the new family member.

The Great Dane stands at 6ft on his hind legs and weighs at over 43kg, making him the semi-official ‘biggest puppy in the UK’.

It’s said he could potentially double in size in adulthood, though for Julie it’s still a case of ‘bigger means better’.

It was, she says, ‘love at first sight’- even if their already existing litter of French Bulldogs and Dougue De Bordeaux took a bit of time to get used to their new housemate.

Todd, the official Dog of the Year

Ultimate good boy Todd shielded his owner from a rattlesnake, and came out with a swollen face.

As well as being a hero, Todd kept smiling and luckily he was on the mend 12 hours later.

He was (quite rightly) crowned Dog of the Year by biscuit brand Milk-Bone in October for his ‘bravery, overcoming obstacles, and strong personality and loyalty traits’.

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Women don’t inherently get along, right? They’re bitchy and catty, and can’t help but gossip about one another can they?

If you still hold these beliefs then either you’ve learned to internalise your misogyny or you’re straight up sexist.

You would never say all men love to gossip if a few of the lads in your office enjoy a cheeky tittle-tattle now, would you? So then how come women get branded as so many different things by virtue of a few personal experiences?

Because life has so many limitations for women (I don’t mean to sound so woe-is-me) but it is hard for us, at the start of this year, I decided that I would make a conscious effort to empower, represent, and when needed, pass the mic to marginalised women, strong women, women who had things to say, women who had things to show off, brilliant women, and all of the above.

So now at the end of 2018, I’ve connected with so many wonderful women and a lot of these interactions started with a small compliment.

Though many of these conversations happened face-to-face and with women I knew, I also made sure that over the past year, I lifted my fellow ladies online.

What I ended up with were friends or at least acquaintances with whom I share a sweet story. And it was beautiful to see how they, in turn, ended up nurturing and supporting me and my work.

When you’re bombarded with so many images on social media, it’s easy to like it or leave a little emoji on your friends’ pictures.

But sometimes it’s important to tell people who you don’t know very well that they look really good or that you like how they’ve done something.

It’s not about empty gestures or saying things to curry favour or seem nice, it’s about telling someone you don’t otherwise speak to (or perhaps do) that you appreciate them.

And it always means so much more when it comes from someone you don’t necessarily interact with all the time because you know it’s real. They’re not doing it out of loyalty or for friendship’s sake.

I bonded the most with these women when earlier in the year, I requested for people to get in touch with me for a story about being sexually abused.

To my surprise, and my dismay, many women and girls ranging from old colleagues, school friends, acquaintances, and friends of friends got in touch with me to tell me some of their most personal and horrific stories.

After our conversation, one of these women even had the courage to tell her family of her own sexual abuse – something I can’t take credit for as she had that in her all along, she just needed the push.

And I realised that women are bound together by so many of our shared experiences. From everyday sexism to institutionalised sexism, internalised misogyny, sexual harassment and abuse, racism, ableism, health, opportunities and much more.

2018 was certainly the year the world started paying attention to women, from allegations of sexual abuse by powerful figures to lifting bans on abortions in certain countries. But we need to do so much more.

Black women are still being ignored when they report worrying symptoms and being denied healthcare, among so many other things. Muslim women are constantly policed for what they wear. Trans women have a shockingly low life expectancy. There’s period poverty, bra poverty, the pay gap, and so many issues faced by us just because we’re women.

Men have their issues too but generally work by a ‘bro code’ or gentleman’s club whereby they swear unconditional loyalty to one another, help to raise each other up and then maintain their powerful positions.

We as women need to dismantle this system. Of course, men need to be allies too because, let’s face it, the problem won’t go away with the work of women alone nor should we be solely responsible for solving a problem the majority of us had no hand in creating.

I’m not saying a few compliments here and there will fix the problem either – it’s not one we created – but it might just help us unite and mobilise and chip away at the foundations of the patriarchy, which is set up not only to disadvantage women but also harms the very people it seeks to prop up (men are still denied feelings, and emotion and sexual fluidity).

One little action might make women feel believed, heard, empowered. And we’re all capable of creating that feeling.

So in 2019 let’s keep doing it and spread it like confetti.

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New year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep. Particularly when it comes to fitness.

We always have the best intentions. Really, we do.

This year we’re going to be fitter, we’re going to go to the gym three times every week, we will go running even if it’s raining, we are definitely, 100% signing up for that half marathon.

But before long, usually around Valentine’s Day, we start to falter. Our motivation fades, our resolve weakens and, suddenly, we’re right back where we started. On the sofa.

So what is the trick to sticking to your new year’s fitness resolutions? Well, it’s all about setting achievable, realistic, sustainable goals.

If you can do that, then half the battle is won.

We spoke to some fitness experts to come up with some fool-proof resolutions that even the biggest slackers should be able to maintain.

If the journey is 20-minutes or less, walk it

Walking is a gentle and incredibly accessible way to build more exercise in to your daily routine.

You don’t have to invest in hiking boots, or disappear to the countryside every Sunday to get your fix – small adjustments to your everyday schedule can help you hit that step count.

A great goal to set is promising to walk any journey that will take you 20-minutes or less. Check out your route on Citymapper or Google Maps before you set off, and see if there’s any portion of the journey that you could walk instead of jumping on the bus or tube.

It will soon become part of your routine and you’ll find the time to leave a bit earlier if necessary. A 20-minute walk is also way less daunting than going to the gym, if that’s not your thing.

Sign up for a 10K

If you have a basic level of fitness and no significant injuries or ailments, you’ll almost certainly be able to run a 10K.

Signing up for a marathon or half-marathon is beyond intimidating if you’re not a seasoned runner, but a 10K is a great way to ease in to it.

You’ll still have to train, but it doesn’t demand the same level of rigorous discipline and sacrifice of training for a marathon – so it’s much easier to fit around your normal life.

Signing up for an actual event should give you a serious push in the motivation stakes. You’ve signed up, your name is on the ballet, your parents are coming to cheer you across the finish line – there’s no backing out now.

There are loads of non-scary couch-to-10K training schedules online which will get you started.

Never miss a Monday

Designating a specific day when you will always work out is a great way to create a schedule that you’ll stick to.

Rather than saying you’ll hit the gym three times every week, just give yourself one day where you’ll definitely go, come rain, shine or nuclear apocalypse, it’s easier to hit this target and success will encourage you to keep going.

We all know that life has a way of ruining our plans, and it can be really hard to maintain three or more workouts every week – starting with just one regular workout sets your intentions and helps you develop positive habits.

Choose a day that fits in with your work and life schedule, but Monday is a good one. Start the week with good intentions, and anything that comes after that is a bonus.

Try one new fitness activity every month

Mixing it up is a great way to keep yourself interested in fitness. We have minuscule attention spans and get bored really easily – trying something completely fresh every few weeks presents a new challenge, something new to get excited about.

Not only will trying new things keep you motivated, it can also help improve your fitness results as well.

No matter how grueling a class, once our muscles get used to it, it stops being quite as effective. New movements force you to work different groups of muscles, in different ways – which will mean you keep toning and building strength and endurance.

Once you’ve tried all the classes at your gym, give bouldering a go, head to the coast for surfing lessons, or try some martial arts. The more inventive you can be, the better.

Perfect a two-minute plank

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as nailing a new move. Why not make 2019 the year you get really, really good at planks?

Planking is an amazing exercise that works your core, back, shoulders, legs and glutes, pushes your endurance, builds strength and stability. And you don’t even need to leave your bedroom to do it.

Form is everything when it comes to a plank. Speak to a PT or watch our form-perfecting video before you get started.

The key is to try every day, and start building up how long you can hold it once you’ve nailed your form. If you can push for two-minutes or more, your core will be in fantastic shape by the end of the year.

Start a fitness diary

Having a tangible, written record of all the fitness your doing can really help you to focus your goals and keep on track.

It’s easy to lose sight of your progress or forget how far you’ve come – so when you’re feeling a lull in motivation, looking back at your fitness diary can give you the exact boost you need to get your trainers back on.

You don’t have to just use it for scheduling – you can also track your PBs, monitor your deadlift progress, make notes on your next HIIT session. The more anaysis you do on your performance, the more invested you will become.

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Many of us will be spending our New Year’s Eve at home this year and celebrating with friends and family.

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This usually means that a takeaway will be ordered to supply some food for the evening with pizza being a popular choice.

Many Pizza Hut restaurants will be open around the country throughout the evening ready to deliver your pizza as part of the celebrations, but most will be shut for a few hours surrounding midnight.

If you’re planning to have a pizza delivered tonight then it is worth checking when your local pizza hut will be open.

When will Pizza Hut be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day?

Many Pizza Hut restaurants are set to close at 9pm on New Year’s Eve, however some will remain open later including some of larger chains that will stay open throughout the night.

Most Pizza Hut’s will then be open for delivery from midnight on the morning of New Year’s Day and remain open for a full 24 hours.

So if you are looking to get pizza delivered any time during New Year’s, then you have a good chance of finding an open Pizza Hut near you.

For the most accurate opening and closing times for your local Pizza Hut restaurant you should check the Find a Hut page.

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Becoming a vegan might mean you stick to a plant-based diet but what about your pets?

Sarah Dallera, from Sydney, Australia, became vegan in 2014 and has since changed the diet of her beloved canine Brioche too.

Brioche now lives on a meal plan which includes cooked sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, broccoli, and zucchini.

Sarah wasn’t aware that dogs could live on vegan foods but began researching when she decided to give up meat and dairy products herself.

After working as a veterinary nurse for ten years, Sarah decided she no longer wants to support the meat industry because of its treatment of animals.

The 36-year-old did some research and she found that dogs are omnivores so soon transitioned Brioche’s diet.

‘In (Brioche’s) dog food there is a lot of quinoa, there’s broccoli, a lot of types of fruit, and she has some hemp seeds which are really full of protein,’ said Sarah.

While pets can live on plant-based diets, the main concern for vegan dogs is a lack of protein and amino acids.

Meat is regarded as an important source of protein for dogs and humans alike. If a dog receives too little protein, calcium, or vitamin D, his or her health could be jeopardised. The change in diet can also result in weight loss and reduced growth.

That means anyone hoping to feed their pet vegan foods will need to make up for it by adding supplements and making sure they’re fed well.

According to veterinarian and former president of the U.S. Humane Society Dr. Michael Fox, some adult dogs do adapt and even thrive on well-balanced vegan diets, but most do best with a variety of foods that include some animals fats and protein.

‘Still, dogs could benefit from a vegan meal at least once a week to detox,’ he said.

Anyone hoping to change their pets’ diet should consult with a vet and do their research into the safest options available to them.

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If you’re out celebrating the new year tonight then you will likely be searching for a post-drinking snack once your party comes to an end.

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KFC is often a popular choice for many but will the chicken restaurant be open during the new year celebrations?

It looks like most of their restaurants will be shut for midnight celebration but many of them will be open during the hours prior and the hours after the fireworks.

Here is everything that you need to know about the KFC opening times for New Year’s Eve and new Year’s Day.

When will KFC be open on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day?

Most KFC branches will be closing at 9pm or 10pm ahead of the celebrations on New Year’s Eve.

However many of the bigger restaurants are set to open their doors again in the early hours of New Year’s Day which means there’s potential for you to buysome chicken for your journey home.

This does mean that a midnight KFC meal is unlikely unless you collect it extra early but most branches will then remain open for the rest of New Year’s day and return to their normal opening hours from Wednesday 2 January.

It is advised that you check with your local branch if you want to find out the exact opening and closing times by using the KFC finder.

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Babysitting is that age-old way of getting some extra money when you are a teenager.

It might not bring in a lot but when you give up your time to keep an eye on little ones all day, you do expect to be paid.

But one mum refused to pay the woman looking after her children for eight hours.

She thought her babysitter wouldn’t mind not being paid as she ‘got free ice cream and a day of fun’. But the sitter had actually been expecting $16 (£12) an hour.

The conversation between the two was shared online on Reddit by the babysitter’s sister and many sympathised with the sitter who was owed over $100 (£78).

After being reminded that she had agreed to the set amount prior to the job, the mother replied that she often deleted her messages and had no memory of the deal.

After the sitter pushed for payment, the mum even went on to call her ‘stuck up’.

‘Well, you’re acting kind of stuck up aren’t you? Can we compromise at $20?  I’m not paying you $128 (£100.70) for a single day! They’re easy kids!’ she wrote.

To which the sitter replied: ‘I’m sorry, but as much as I love seeing your kids I am doing this for payment. Exclusively.’

The sitter then pleaded, saying she needed the money for books and she would be willing to take $100 instead of the full amount.

But the mum wasn’t budging, telling her she would be blocking her and should not contact her any further.

‘I wish I didn’t have such a stuck up c*** watching my kids. I am going to block you now – please do not contact me again,’ said the mum.

Since the post was made on Reddit, it’s received over 4,000 comments with many saying the babysitter should take action in a small claims court.

But the sitter’s sister revealed she is unwilling as it seems like a lot of effort for $100.

She is hoping she can get through to the dad instead.

People still encouraged her to take it further. One person wrote: ‘She can take them to small claims court and with the text messages, she has nearly a 100% chance of winning. She’ll get the original amount plus court fees.

‘Until then and even after, she can drag their name through the mud. Tell the neighbours, tell her own friends and co-workers, post the screenshots on her own and the couple’s social media, send some emails to any local daycare or babysitting agencies.’

Others joked that ‘Judge Judy would have a field day.’

However, at the minute, it’s unclear what the babysitter decided to do.

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The New Year celebrations are now getting underway in various parts of the world with fireworks filling the skies.

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If you’re planning to send a message to your friends or post an uplifting quote on your social media account then there are plenty to choose from.

Once the clocks strikes midnight make sure you have the perfect quote to share and start your new year with some inspiration.

Here are some messages and quotes that you can send out as we enter 2019.

10 New Year quotes to send to your family and friends

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one. – Brad Paisley

A year from now, you’re gonna weigh more or less than what you do right now. – Phil McGraw

There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind – CS Lewis

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. – Albert Einstein

New Year’s most glorious light is sweet hope! – Mehmet Murat ildan

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day. – Michael Josephson

Life has no remote , so wake up and change it. – Sushil Singh

There are greater things to be achieved in every new year, and each and everyone must prepare themselves to be great, not by words of the mouth, but by alot of sacrifices. – Michael Bassey Johnson

Most people will passively do exactly what they did last year.Whatever you do, don’t let that person be you. – Richie Norton

New Year 2019 messages

New year, new feels, new chances. Same dreams, fresh starts.

We are all stories in the end – let’s make ours a good one

365 new days. 365 new chances

You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream

This is your year to sparkle

Believe you can and you’re halfway there

This is the beginning of anything you want.

It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings

This is your year to sparkle. Happy new year!

Page 1 of 365. Happy new year!

The best is yet to come. Happy new year!

This is the beginning of anything you want. Happy new year!

Live long and prosper!

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A mum was horrified when she cuddled up with her three-year-old son to watch Disney films, only to find out they were watching The Exorcist instead.

22-year-old Beth Golding bought Treasure Planet from Poundland for her son Eli to watch before bedtime on Christmas Eve.

However, she started panicking when the 18-rated horror film came on instead.

Her partner Callum Ellis immediately reached for the stop button.

Little Eli was looking forward to watching his new pirate film but was faced with the opening scenes of the 1973 horror.

Beth, of Adisham in Kent, said: ‘My partner noticed there wasn’t a menu and thought it seemed a bit weird that the film wasn’t animated,

‘It looked dark and scary so he turned it off straight away and when we looked at the disc we saw it was The Exorcist.

‘Luckily my son didn’t see anything, but he could have seen something he shouldn’t have.’

Beth bought the DVD which contained the wrong disc from Poundland in Canterbury, Kent.

The primary school supervisor was ‘horrified’ when she realised her son almost watched The Exorcist, a film where a girl is possessed by a demon and stabs herself with a crucifix.

She said: ‘I’d bought it on December 20 and wrapped it ready for Eli to open as a Christmas Eve gift.

‘He was really looking forward to watching it but by the time he’d opened it and we saw it was the wrong DVD, the shop was shut so there was nothing we could do.’

Beth spoke to somebody at the discount store’s head office who said she could return the film and get her pound back.

But Beth said she ‘does not care about getting her pound back’ and wants to ‘take things further’ and seek compensation after her son’s Christmas Eve treat was ruined.

Poundland spokesperson Andrea Ross said: ‘We thank the customer for getting in touch and are awaiting the necessary documentation to pass on to the supplier to investigate.’

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A medieval-mad couple have spent £5,000 transforming their dining room into a Middle Ages-themed banquet hall – to host a meal for their friends.

Jayne and Martin Townley moved to the four-bedroom semi-detached home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, two and a half years ago – and decided to give it their own fantasy twist straight away.

Within days they had enlisted a mural artist to paint the walls of their dining room to resemble stones, and used mirrors, archways and real lights from stately homes to create an authentic medieval feel.

And the couple have found the most unique way to celebrate the end of the year – by hosting a medieval-style dinner served on wooden boards and slate slabs with mulled wine and ale from flagons and goblets as an annual tradition.

Even better, their 19 guests also dressed up in medieval outfits, crowns, hats and headdresses before posing outside the back of their home, which an artist spray-painted to make it look like a castle.

Jayne said: ‘We both like anything that’s quirky or different, but Martin is the one who is more knowledgeable about what is authentic for the era.

‘Martin really likes crowns, knights and everything medieval so he was the reason we did this.

‘We had a medieval dining room in our previous house but that was primarily just the props such as the suit of armour and flags – it wasn’t until we moved here that we actually painted the walls and ceiling.

‘I wanted it to look like a castle, but specifically not like a dungeon. I’m really pleased with it – we wanted it to feel like a film set or a museum.

‘We didn’t want it to look tacky or have just pictures of medieval things, we really wanted it to ‘feel’ medieval, so we even burn log fire scented candles.

‘When most people enter the room they are usually in stunned silence.

‘They don’t expect our dining room to go like this because the front of the house is normal, so it’s hidden.

‘People who do know we’ve got a medieval dining room thought it would be tacky and cheesy but it isn’t, it’s tranquil. They like to sit in there and soak up the atmosphere and listen to the lute music.’

The couple’s love for the medieval era comes from landscape gardener Martin’s beloved hobby of jousting.

The former jockey took up the sport four years ago after Jayne bought him a jousting experience as a birthday present and since went on to win the British Amateur Jousting Championships.

Martin and Jayne, 49, a professional magician, have also filled their home with secret doors and magical illusions.

But they admit their teenage twins, Max and Evie, 16, are ‘not especially interested’ as they ‘eat in the dining room every day anyway’.

Jayne said: ‘We do it for ourselves. We do eat in there every day.

‘People are usually pretty amazed as you can’t tell from the outside.

‘Our friends and extended family are always super excited about coming over and our neighbours love it, they come to visit all the time.

‘I just wanted to do something different for meal rather than a simple dinner, so I thought a cold meat and cheese platter would be more ‘medieval’.’

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The start of the year almost always means trying to be better whether it’s fitness or food related.

Putting their best foot forward, many people are trying Dry January or Veganuary to see the benefits on their body.

And data from a charity shows exactly how popular the latter is, with one person signing up to be meat and dairy-free every six seconds.

Veganuary is the charity that started the eponymous month to get more people to consider a plant-based diet.

Last month, the charity predicted that 2019 was going to the biggest yet in numbers of people showing an interest in veganism.

They predicted 300,000 people will take part with some going onto sticking to it for good.

Veganuary’s CEO Simon Winch has even said the majority take the month-long pledge and turn it into a lifestyle.

Now in its fifth year, the Veganuary campaign has seen participants more than double each year.

Rich Hardy, Head of Campaigns at Veganuary, said:’Veganuary is dedicated to changing public attitudes while providing all the information and practical support required to make the transition to veganism as easy and enjoyable as possible.

‘Going vegan in 2018 has never been far from the news headlines, and trying the Veganuary pledge is often one of the first references used in backing up the headline itself. But 2019 will be the year of the vegan, particularly because the supply of vegan products available will meet the demand.’

If you did want to give it a go, you can request a starter guide from the charity which includes meal plans, shopping guides, as well as local support groups.

If you want to know why you should, Veganuary says there are so many reasons.

‘For most, a love of animals is the catalyst,’ it states on the website.

‘Some people want to feel better about themselves and the impact they make on the world. Others would like to set themselves a challenge, and many combine Veganuary with their New Year’s resolutions and see trying vegan as the healthiest start to the year.’

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A Scottish couple who spent £9 million transforming a 14th Century castle into a 5 star luxury hotel have now put it up for sale.

Steve Timoney and Alison Reid-Timoney’s Georgian property features a 12-metre air-conditioned swimming pool, bar, a gym, cinema, stables and a hot tub for eight – all for £1.9 million.

The B-listed mansion near Glasgow also has seven acres of land and a treehouse, complete with electricity, that is bigger than many London studio flats.

The Timoneys were widely praised after buying and restoring 14th Century Crossbasket Castle in High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire in 2011.

The castle was on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register but is now a successful luxury hotel and wedding venue.

Knight Frank, the agency selling the property, say the sale of the castle is a ‘unique opportunity’ to purchase a beautifully restored Georgian family home ideally located to experience village life whilst being super close to Glasgow city centre.

Bothwellpark House, which is on sale for offers over £1,875,000, is situated in a private position on the edge of Bothwell just north of the River Clyde but is only 10 miles southeast of Glasgow city centre.

Designed by Scottish architect James Playfair, the house was constructed in the late 18th century with two symmetrical wings added in 1991 and 2006.

The property has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms in total and all over an impressive three stories.

Within the seven acres the house offers, there is a courtyard of traditional outbuildings including a large garage, with space for four cars, an RV garage or workshop and attractive purpose built kennels.

By the entrance to the gates, the equestrian facilities including 8 stalls, tack room, hay barn, feed store and a summer house.

There is also a three-tier tree house with wood burning stove, and a floodlit multi use games area used for tennis, basketball, and football – complete with spectators pavilions.

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