There’s a cruel joy in someone else’s terrible tattoo.
Misspelled ones are brilliant. Dodgy cover-ups, also great. There are even shows just to fulfill this need to gaze at other people’s awful inkings.
They’re not on us, so we can laugh – even if they’re the result of genius photoshop, or a well-played prank.
We don’t know for sure that this tattoo is real, but we hope it is. That’d make it a lot more fun.
According to tattoo artist Jorge, who goes by @sickcat_13 on Instagram, a man named Jose L. Torres asked him to tattoo a statement on his chest and stomach.
This statement was intended to win back the trust of Jose’s wife.
It’s a wild thing to have permanently tattooed on your body, and it’s also got a few typos.
The tattoo reads: ‘I, Jose L. Torres am getting a tattoo voluntarily on January 2, 2019 so that I can earn my wife’s trust back for the pain and suffering I have caused in our marriage.
‘I am a:
Liar
Cheater
Manipulator
Deciever [sic]
Whore/prostitute lover
Dishonest and disrespectul [sic]’
(Picture: Instagram/sickcat_13)
Why any wife would want to be reminded of these things whenever they see their husband shirtless, we’ll never know.
The tattoo artist shared an image of the work on Instagram, where it was quickly flooded with shocked comments as well as notes on the spelling of ‘deceiver’ and ‘disrespectful’.
Jorge has commented to claim that he asked Jose if he was certain about his decision several times before going ahead and tattooing him.
‘The only response I got from him was that he was sure because he mess up and he want it to prove he would change,’ wrote Jorge. ‘Even before i started tattooing I ask him again.
‘And about the spelling English is my second lenguage [sic] i have a really hard time with spelling that’s why always ask the costumers to make sure of the spelling.’
Naturally, the photo of the tattoo has been spread far and wide around the internet, and flooded with comments ranging from ‘damn bro that’s deep’ to ‘lol wtf’.
We’re hoping to speak to Jose about his decision and find out how the tattoo has gone down with his wife, but haven’t managed to make contact yet.
When Greggs announced they would be selling vegan sausage rolls, we rejoiced.
But now that high has descended into a devastating comedown, our hopes and dreams shattered like the flaky pastry casing around a mycoprotein-based sausage.
Why? Because after lengthy treks to their nearest Greggs, customers are finding that the stores have sold out of vegan sausage rolls entirely.
Picture the crushing disappointment of braving the cold to walk to a Greggs, adrenaline flooding your veins in anticipation of convincing fake meat, handing over your £1 coin, only to be told ‘sorry, pal, we’ve run out.’
It’s a fate worse than death, probably.
Almara Abgarian is one of the unfortunate souls cursed to walk the earth in search of a vegan sausage roll. She does actually eat meat, but she’s still very upset.
Almara tells Metro.co.uk: ‘After days of listening to work colleagues telling me about how amazing the Greggs vegan sausage roll is, there I was. Standing in queue to sample the delicious non-meatiness that had angered Piers Morgan, united the UK for an entire day and prompted arguments galore across social media.
‘I was ready, had my napkin in hand and my mouth had already started to salivate.
‘There was only one person ahead of me, and that’s when I heard it: “sorry, we don’t have any vegan sausage rolls today”.
‘Uhm, what? It’s only noon, surely you can’t be sold out yet? The answer is a devastating no. I was so distraught that I’ve yet to recover, and it’s now two days later and I still haven’t sampled the roll. You can’t imagine the FOMO.’
Poor Almara.
She could, of course, just get a regular sausage roll as they taste pretty much the same, but think of the actual vegans out there struggling to get their Greggs fix.
Greggs has responded to the ripple of misery across the UK by explaining that the vegan sausage rolls have been incredibly popular, but that there is hope.
They advise heading to Greggs stores early, before the mad rush of hungry vegans arrives, and note that if you’ve been unlucky today the rolls will be restocked tomorrow.
And with that, we present unto you our handy guide to getting hold of a vegan sausage roll from Greggs.
How to get hold of a Greggs vegan sausage roll:
Make sure the Greggs branch is selling the vegan sausage rolls
Go early. A breakfast sausage roll tastes just as brilliant.
If you spot a massive queue, it’s probably best to try another branch
Try less ‘trendy’ areas. Anecdotal evidence suggests East London has been hit by the shortage hard
If you’re told the store has sold out, ask if there’ll be another batch. Some Greggs will do another set of vegan rolls at lunchtime, while others will have genuinely run out until the next day
Make sure to ask for a VEGAN sausage roll. Regular meat sausage rolls still exist and it’s easy to end up taking a bite of the wrong thing
How does the Greggs vegan sausage roll taste?
We tried Greggs vegan sausage roll for ourselves, and were pretty blown away.
Avowed meat fan Jess described the vegan sausage roll as: ‘Almost indistinguishable from the meaty version. Flaky pastry, a hearty bite to the inner, and the savoury tang that keeps me coming back to my local Greggs like an addict in need of a fix.’
While veggie Ellen (that’s me) was overjoyed to finally have a solid replacement for the sausage rolls she’d missed since her childhood.
The pastry is slightly less flaky and greasy, but this just means eating the sausage roll is a less messy experience.
The sausage tastes and feels bizarrely like a regular meat sausage, so much so that biting into it you do question whether you’ve made a terrible mistake and picked up the meat version.
It’s 10p extra, costing £1 while the meat sausage roll is 90p.
But for vegans and veggies, that 10p is worth it. Finally we can dive into a Greggs on a cold, rainy day, and grab a sausage roll. All our dreams have come true.
If there’s one thing January is synonymous with, it’s abstinence.
You’re staying away from excessive shopping, because December was so utterly expensive.
You’re skipping the meat and dairy, because Veganuary.
You’re saying no to the booze, because Dry January.
There’s one activity that you can still happily partake in this month, and that’s dating. But while you can swipe to your heart’s content without compromising your reduced materialism or meat intake, can the same be said for alcohol?
After all, it’s not called liquid courage for nothing – and British dating culture does usually include the ubiquitous ‘let’s have a drink’ statement for any first date.
Eva James*, 25, is teetotal and tells Metro.co.uk that the lack of alcohol doesn’t hinder her dating life.
‘Dating while not drinking is actually fun,’ said Eva. ‘Coffee dates are cute and casual, and if it’s not going well you can just leave and if it’s going well, you can move onto something more fun.
‘Drinks might help with nerves but it shouldn’t be a crutch or a personality replacement. It’s good to get know someone sober, because you get to know the real them.’
So, are coffee dates the way forward? Not for everyone, according to Maddie Porter, 21. She’s now in a relationship, but has never had a coffee date with her boyfriend – partly because of teeth stains and bad breath.
‘My boyfriend and I have never gone on a coffee date ever,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘In fact, I’m not sure we’ve ever even shared a coffee together, unless an espresso martini counts? My boyfriend worries about staining his teeth and I worry about coffee breath, so we tend to opt for vodka-infused dates instead.’
Valid concerns, really.
Sally Biddall, 29, is currently single but has committed herself to Dry January. She’s not gone on a date so far this year (then again, we’re only five days in) but admits she usually ‘relies heavily on a pre-date wine’.
‘So far, I’ve managed to avoid social situations and hibernate all week to get over the festive period. I’ve purposely not arranged any dates, but I am concerned about dating sober.
‘I get massively socially anxious before dates and I usually rely heavily on a pre-date wine (or two) to get me out the door. Let’s face it, first dates are a terrifying ordeal.
‘Second dates, yeah sure, I could do that sober. You’ve got a bit of a rapport by that point. But the first date? Absolutely not.
‘Having said this, I’m enjoying the benefits of being dry so far (my mental health is better and my skin is clearer) so I don’t want to throw that away just to be marginally less awkward.
‘Plus, I do have the tendency to get a bit carried away on dates in terms of drinking. Which aside from being probably quite unattractive, it means I never really know whether the supposed chemistry was just a result of Pinot glasses.
‘Perhaps having a clear head will help me make better choices? Who knows.’
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Drinking on dates has its pros and cons, but what can you do if you want to avoid falling off the wagon during Dry January?
There’s the obvious coffee date suggestion or if you’re afraid of death breath, like Maddie, suggest a daytime activity.
Visit a food market or go to the Zoo.
Take an impromptu trip to Thorpe Park.
Or, if you or your date has a dog, suggest a walk in the park.
If you’d rather not commit to something so specific (in case the date turns awkward and you want an easy escape, which is rather difficult as you’re petting zebras), you could also do like Keith McNiven, 35, and drink soda water.
‘I’m a personal trainer, so I stay away from booze during certain periods, when I want to be healthier or bulk up.
‘Sometimes I’ll try coffee, but if we’re going to a bar I’ll just choose soda water instead of alcohol – it’s less awkward than having a cuppa in the pub.’
Sean Riley, 32, got married last Thursday and met his wife four years ago when both of them were doing Dry January.
‘In my speech, I referenced having a strong lime and soda to settle the nerves on our first date. We went on to have dinner and mocktails.
‘Ours might be a special case since we went on to get married, but the lack of booze didn’t really affect the date. I was more nervous, but then also, mocktails have a sort of placebo effect. We both actually stuck to our resolution not to drink at all that month.’
Note – we can’t guarantee that abstaining from alcohol on dates will result in marriage.
At least you know you’re not alone in attempting no-drink dating.
If all else fails, you could just delete your dating apps until February rolls around (and you want to nab a Valentine).
What does the expert say?
Lifestyle, relationships and sex guru, Lianne Young, tells Metro.co.uk:
‘People drink for a variety of reasons, usually for confidence and liberation during the honeymoon period. People drink when they celebrate, embrace, and get to know someone – especially the opposite sex. Unfortunately sometimes people also end up falling into bed and some feel bad about it in the morning.
‘Remember, alcohol gives us confidence and the courage to do things we otherwise wouldn’t do. It can also suppress emotions and override our usual defence mechanisms.
‘Coffee dates are great if you’re looking to build a long-term relationship; it’s slower, more absorbing and you will have no regrets, and of course you can walk away if you’re not happy with your date.
‘However, coffee can be boring, and I don’t think it will take over dating as a new trend in place of alcohol – Dry January is simply Dry January and puts pressure on people to quit for just one month, rather than the individual wanting to give up drinking.
‘What people should do as an alternative to drunken dating is to arrange dates with smaller surroundings of people drinking.
‘My recommendations would be go dinner or cooking. If you are dating and alcohol is a big part of it, and you have feelings for your date, then I suggest arranging a daytime date. This way you have real emotions and actions, and can talk about following dates, what you like doing and maybe what you can do together.
‘Do not invest in a relationship which is built solely around a pub, it will not work. Instead decide what you want for yourself long-term.’
Don’t rely on a new year’s resolution to give you the push to finally give up social media.
That’s for schmucks.
If you’re going to give up the internet, you might as well make some money from doing so.
Rather than attempting a digital detox, just apply for this job, which will pay you £100,000 a year to ditch your mates and move to a secluded lighthouse.
The East Brother Light Station, a lighthouse built in 1874 that’s now a bed and breakfast, is on the search for a new couple to look after the property, which happens to be on an island with no internet, TV, or even a Greggs.
The salary, to be split between the couple who take the job, will be $130,000 (£102,000) a year.
The job is a little trickier than just lounging around and being smug, mind you.
(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
One person in the couple must possess a Coast Guard commercial boat operator’s license. So if you’re single, you might want to add that very specific requirement to your Tinder bio.
The couple will also need to manage and operate a five-bedroom inn, serving the guests breakfast and dinner ensuring the service provided to guests is at the highest standard. Oh, and they’ll have to ferry the guests to the island when they decide to come and stay.
The inn is open four days a week, and is also available to be rented out for special events, so it’s not a cushy gig.
The current couple taking care of the place are Che Rodgers and Jillian Meeker, who will only hand over the keys to the right couple. They’ll be interviewing applicants in the coming months with the view of appointing a new caretaking couple by 1 May, with two weeks of training.
(Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As we mentioned, there’s quite a bit of work involved, and you will need an impressive set of skills.
But there are a lot of benefits, too.
You’ll be free of the internet, busy city life, and crowded commutes. You’ll wake up every morning to incredible sea views. You’ll get to meet interesting people and hang out with sea birds as you take in the fresh air. Dreamy.
The job has already been flooded with applications, but if you can find a buddy with that boat operator’s license you need, there’s still a chance you could land the job. SFGate has the application form.
In a post titled ‘divorce on table because husband and I can’t agree on baby’s name’, the woman wrote: ‘We’ve been dating for a year, been married for 2 years.
‘I got pregnant like 7 months ago so recently we started discussing name for the baby. Ever since we found out its gonna be a girl my husband wants to name it like his exes name.
‘It’s not any ex but the one he dated for long period of time and loved the most. In the beginning of our relationship we had may problems because of her but she moved away so the problems went away. He really loved her and he never hid that from me but I thought it was over once she moved away.
(Picture: Getty)
‘Now he made it clear that he wants the baby to have that name and I can name the second child.
‘When I asked him why does he want that name so badly he said just because he and his ex didn’t work out doesn’t mean he doesn’t want something to keep reminding him of her.
‘He doesn’t understand how much its affecting me and keeps saying its just the hormones. Is he still in love with the ex or its normal that he wants to name OUR child like that. Thank you!’
Wait, hold the phone.
Just to be clear, this man doesn’t want to give his baby the name of his ex just because it’s a nice name, or he had picked out that name before he met the ex… he wants that name specifically to remind him of the ex.
This man wants to look down at his child’s face and be reminded not of her mother, but of an ex who broke his heart.
And when his wife is upset about this, he dismisses her feelings as ‘hormones’?
We could rant about how appalling this is for hours, but thankfully Redditors came out in force to say that this woman’s husband is behaving in an extremely inappropriate way.
‘I’m more concerned about his lack of respect for you as his partner, his number one, his wife,’ wrote one commenter. ‘You might try relationship counseling but I suspect his disrespect extends beyond the baby naming issue.’
‘Abandon ship this dude’s a complete weirdo,’ said another.
Now, as this is a Reddit post from a throwaway account, it could be completely made up for internet points. Honestly, we hope that’s the case.
But if anyone out there is experiencing a similar situation, know that the internet at large has agreed that it’s seriously messed up to name your baby after an ex. Do not do it, and question why prioritise doing such a thing over your feelings.
If you fancy yourself a nature buff and prefer to dwell in the countryside, Kent is an excellent choice.
And this home, currently being built in Heronden, near Tenterden, has a special feature that’ll set it apart from other spots in the area. But beware – the neighbours can be quite noisy, even though there’s not another person in sight.
Hear a racket above from time to time? That’s your local deer, happily grazing on your roof.
The house, fondly named Deer House, will be nestled inside a medieval deer leap (a steep bank) and has a grass-covered roof where animals can hang out.
Designed by Guy Hollaway Architects, future residents will be able to enjoy not only the company of the locals, but also unparalleled views of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which extends across Sussex, Kent and Surrey.
It’s also an environmentalist’s dream, with architects dubbing it one of the UK’s most energy-efficient homes with “exceptionally low carbon footprint”, according to Kent Online.
Materials to be used throughout the home include concrete, steel and glass, as well as polished concrete floors.
(Picture: Wessex News Agency)
(Picture: Wessex News Agency)
(Picture: Wessex News Agency)
Planning permission was given on 7 December, which is highly unusual in this area, but Ashford Borough Council agreed to the futuristic house due to Paragraph 79 of the 2018 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) – which exempts homes that have outstanding architecture.
A spokesman for the architect firm told Kent Online: ‘The dwelling will enable the parkland to return to its former use as a deer farm, allowing the occupants and the deer to co-exist within the environment.
‘It sits parallel to the existing deer leap, an inward facing steep bank, which allowed deer to jump into the park, but prevented their escape by being too high.’
The estimated property value is yet to be revealed, but it’s guaranteed to be very high.
Not to mention what you’ll fork out on the lawn maintenance bill.
And no, that’s not just in the whole ‘being really present in the moment’ way. Sobriety can significantly improve the physical side of sex.
If you’ve ever experienced drooping after drinking, you’ll know that the curse of whiskey dick is a very real thing. Drinking booze can cause struggles to get and maintain an erection, both immediately after downing beer and in the longterm, after regular drinking.
Ditch the booze, and it’s easier to get an erection and last longer in bed. Simple.
What’s less discussed than whiskey dick is whiskey clit.
Studies have shown that women are more likely to orgasm when they’re completely sober, and their likelihood of orgasm decreases the more drunk they get.
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
That’s because booze reduces your physical sensitivity. Think about the last time you were hammered and fell over, only to pop right up again without any pain – then remember the extent of the bruises the next day. Just as you don’t feel as much pain when you’re drunk, it’s also harder to feel pleasure… and you need that for sexy stuff.
‘Drinking alcohol to excess can make having good sex difficult,’ Annabelle Knight, sex and relationships expert at Lovehoney, tells Metro.co.uk. ‘This is because alcohol reduces both men’s and women’s sexual sensitivity.
‘In both sexes, sexual response is reduced by regular and prolonged drinking.
‘In men, alcohol can cause difficulties getting and maintaining an erection – while women may experience reduced lubrication, find it harder to have an orgasm, or have orgasms that are less intense.’
Ah, yes, the curse of cotton vagina. As well as a lower likelihood of orgasm, you might also struggle to get aroused in the first place when you’re boozing it up. Release your vagina from the influence of booze, and you get ready of the hazy numbness that’s holding you back from getting properly lubricated and ready to party.
Then there’s the impact of Dry January on the morning after.
‘Drinking alcohol can lead to riskier sexual conduct,’ notes Annabelle. ‘Studies show that people who have drunk alcohol are less likely to use protection, particularly condoms, because alcohol lowers your inhibitions.
It’s hard to look back on a night of passion fondly when you’ve followed it up with a panic about pregnancy and STIs. Go alcohol-free and you’ll be fully conscious and able to have sex responsibly, leaving you free of worries and able to enjoy that bone session to its full potential.
Drunken you may also choose sexual partners you might not actually be that keen on.
It stands to reason, then, that doing Dry January will ensure you’re choosing the right sexual partners, – people you actually properly fancy (yep, even when sober) – making sexual decisions you’re comfortable with, and having sex that you genuinely enjoy and don’t regret the next day.
Then there are the indirect effects of abandoning alcohol for a month.
‘It’s likely that giving booze a break for a month will improve your sex life,’ Adam Lewis, CEO and co-founder of Hot Octopuss, tells us. ‘Cutting out alcohol may improve your quality of sleep and overall physical health, leaving you feeling well rested and more energetic – which is likely to increase your libido.’
You’ll be astounded to know that downing pints of beer or rum and Cokes isn’t particularly healthy. Cut it out and you’ll see health benefits, which will in turn improve your sex life.
Your energy will increase, your mood will improve (remember how alcohol is a depressant?), and even your digestion could get better. Being more energetic, happier, and free of stomach upsets – all of those sound like things that’d make you more keen for sex and more likely to enjoy it.
Plus, Dry January means no hangovers, which opens up the glorious world of morning sex. Imagine starting your Sunday with multiple orgasms rather than hugging the toilet and vowing to never be tempted by tequila shots again.
Think of Dry January as a fun experiment: Go a month without booze and just see how you feel.
To fill the evenings newly free of pub trips and club nights, have sex – which handily makes you question why you ever thought stumbling around a sticky nightclub floor would be more fun than cosying up and trying out a new vibrator.
At the end of the month, you can always go back to boozing. But you might find you don’t want to. It’s entirely your choice (isn’t that great?), and you can do your own research on the benefits by having as much sex as possible sober. Fun.
Time to bid goodbye to the festive season? (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
It’s all well and good putting up the Christmas decorations when it’s still ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, but taking them down is another, far less jolly matter.
Tradition dictates that there’s such a thing as leaving your Christmas tree up for too long. Hard as it may be to face up to, we’re all going to have dull, drab living rooms again pretty soon, because Twelfth Night is almost here.
Say goodbye to fairy lights, whimsy and joy, and say hello to Twelfth Night. (Picture: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
What is Twelfth Night?
Traditionally, Christmas festivities used to last for an additional 12 days after Christmas. This is due to the fact that, after Jesus was born, John the Baptist came to baptise him on 6 January.
Old folklore also had people believing that tree-spirits could make their homes in the trees, holly, and ivy that people had in their houses during this time.
This would happen because these spirits would want shelter away from the winter cold, but if they weren’t out of the house after Christmas people believed that they’d have a difficult harvest in the coming months.
Eventually superstition and religious convention very likely mixed together, and Twelfth Night became the most universally accepted time to take down your Christmas tree.
When is Twelfth Night?
There’s some debate as to exactly which date it is, as some say it’s 5 January and others are sure it’s 6 January. It simply depends on whether you count Christmas day as one of the twelve nights, or you start counting on Boxing day.
According to the lore, either day is fine, but 6 January is the cut off. If you miss that deadline, it has to stay up all year.
Your Christmas tree can have a significant environmental impact (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
How to properly dispose of your Christmas tree
Sadly, Christmas trees can often have a negative effect on the environment. There are however are some steps that you can take to make your Christmas tree, well, greener.
Producing and shipping artificial Christmas trees consumes energy and natural resources. On top of that, according to Recycle Now, fake trees can’t be recycled because they’re made from a combination of materials. If you need to get rid of one of these, the only place for it is the bin.
As for organic trees, recycling them is pretty important, since the Carbon Trust says that the carbon footprint is 16kg CO2e for each 2 metre tall tree that ends up in a landfill. That’s a whopping total of roughly 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases produced each year.
Better alternatives than the landfill are: burning it, chipping it, recycling it, or, if the roots are still attached, replanting it.
Each council will have a different rules and regulations regarding the collection and recycling of Christmas trees, so it’s best to double check yours before you put your tree out.
When I was 30 I had plans with friends every single night of the week. Fast forward three years and it’s hard to get a mate to meet me for one drink after work.
I know people’s lives move on – and so has mine. I have a boyfriend, a good job and I’m in a good place financially. So, before you think this is about me being the last Bridget Jones in my friendship circle, this isn’t about men. It’s the total opposite. I miss my female friendships and nights out – so where have all my girls gone?
Some are married and have children so don’t have the time to come out, some are paying off huge mortgages so don’t have the money, and my other besties have moved away – some all the way back to Australia.
It’s lovely to go visit them (not to mention breaking my bank balance flying to the other side of the world every couple of years), but it’s not the same as being able to call your mate when you fancy a cheeky red wine in your local.
Then it hit me; I haven’t done that in ages. Two really good friends of mine used to live five minutes from my flat and we’d be out all the time, but they eventually moved in with boyfriends and our trio became one.
In London, friendships, no matter how strong, can be fleeting. People are transient and it’s almost accepted that at some point they’ll move away. That could be for a number of reasons; they’ve got a new job, they want to buy a house somewhere they can actually afford, they’re off travelling, or – in the case of my friends who aren’t from the UK – their visas have run out.
So, when your girl gang is no more, how do you make new friends when you’re in your thirties?
A study published this week by the Young Women’s Trust found that young people are now more lonely than older generations, with one in four 18 to 30-year-olds saying they feel isolated.
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
London, where I live, was named the second loneliest place after Yorkshire and the Humber. Good news for people in Wales though – they’re the least lonely, according to those polled.
Among the reasons for loneliness are a lack of close friendships, with one in five saying they feel they have no one to turn to.
The question is, how do you form new friendships at this age?
2019 is the year I get back out there and make some amazing new pals – and I’ve got a plan of how I’m going to do it.
My lovely new housemate, who has just turned 30, has introduced me to a lot of her friends in the past couple of months, and they told me about a WhatsApp group they’ve set up for exactly this purpose; girls that don’t necessarily know each other, but have met through mutual friends and still want to go out and party. Whenever a good event comes up, a message is sent out to the group, people buy their own tickets and turn up.
That in itself feels like a bit of a lifeline for me, but here’s a few other things I’m going to do to try to get the girls back together this year.
Bring individual friends together
I’ll organise a girls’ brunch and invite the pals I usually hang out with individually. If it goes well, I’m hoping this could turn into a monthly or quarterly event, which I’m happy to plan.
Go to a networking event
I’m not the only one struggling to make new friends, which is why there are now events for this exact purpose.
Websites like Meet Up have groups for pretty much every interest you could think of; from running marathons and learning to cook, to wild nights out. You can even start up your own group and see what happens.
Try a friends app
Like dating apps, but for finding your new BFFs, there are now loads of friendship apps on the market. Bumble BFF, Friender and Hey! VINA can all be used to make new pals in your area. Just swipe right!
Volunteer
I actually started volunteering last year, and each week I visit Elsie, who is 95 and lives in my area. There’s sure to be lots of volunteering opportunities where you live, which can be found with a simple google or via websites like Do It (do.it.org) Any group activity with people of shared interests is a start, and you’re doing the world a bit of good at the same time.
Take up a new hobby
I’m still debating what this is yet, but joining some kind of craft group scores high as I love being creative and fancy myself as a bit of an Angel Adoree from Escape to the Chateau.
Realistically, it should be exercise as I’ve eaten way too many mince pies this Christmas.
Make the first move with conversations
I plan to go out and do more cultural things by myself and get chatting to people who share the same interests. This will involve being brave and actually starting up a conversation with someone, rather than just liking Instagrams of people I admire and wish I could actually hang out with).
For me, 2019 is about mates dates. Whatever happens this year, I’m not going to be sat at home on a Friday night. I’ll be out with the girls. Don’t wait up.
The odd thing is that it all happened by accident when I attended a friend’s costume party as Mr. T in 2009.
Before I knew what was happening, I was filming a commercial for Drayton Manor, and then one for ASDA. On those jobs I met all the lookalikes I would later know as the Chippendoubles, who I now consider my brothers.
It’s been one heck of a surreal roller coaster since then.
As a job, it’s one of the more unique ones. My roles include anything from public speaking at a cardiologist convention, to being photographed eating a steak.
I always jokingly say to other entertainers, ‘Picked up your unicycle yet?’ I say this because it is as surreal as that; we don’t always know what is in store for us when we turn up to a job.
My roles include anything from public speaking at a cardiologist convention, to being photographed eating a steak (Photo: John Lashley)
I have had to be Mr. T on roller skates (and I have never roller-skated before). I have been Mr. T on a Segway, Mr. T on a boat and even Mr. T delivering tea with my A Team tea trolley.
A lot of people now associate Mr. T with Snickers, and so I’ve had to bite into my fair share of bars, which is actually pretty scary because I am deadly allergic nuts. It means I do one take for the video clip, biting into the Snickers, then run to the sink to wash out my mouth.
You may think this is the hardest part of my job, but in fact, when I first started it was getting ready that was the biggest pain.
It used to take me around an hour every time I wanted to get in character, but now I have it down to 10 to 15 minutes – and that includes the hair, which is custom made by my sponsors.
Mr. T is also known for his physique, so I do spend considerable time working out. I go to the gym four to five times a week, for an hour and a half at a time. I picked up Krav Maga and I have been focusing on boxing for the past two years using a Nexersys boxing machine – unlike Clubber Lang, I went digital.
John has been a Mr. T lookalike for 10 years (Photo: John Lashley)
Bookings as a lookalike can come directly, if you are good on social media and have a website, but a large amount of them come through the agents I am booked with.
One of my favourite bookings was T in the Park, which saw me on stage in front of 75,000 screaming fans alongside The Script.
However, the one that stays with me most is when I was booked to spend time with a terminally ill disabled person, with dementia, on what would have been their last birthday.
That day still has such a huge impact with me. I was booked because the patient’s most vivid memory was when they met the real Mr. T in the 80s, when he came over to the UK, and she believed he was her husband.
I found it so unfair that her memories were being stolen from her, and it was an honour to be there on such a significant occasion.
She was a huge fan, with posters, mugs and keyrings all over her room, so when I came in with a birthday cake and Mr. T stuffed plushie, the smile on her face… well, it’s burnt on my memory.
That is a moment I will treasure and never forget. I was later told she was laid to rest with the doll I gave her.
When I became a Mr. T lookalike, I was approached about becoming a bodyguard by a company that wanted to be known as the only institution that trained ‘Mr. T.’ (Photo: John Lashley)
But being a Mr. T is actually my part-time job; I balance it with my passion, lecturing, which I have done for six years. I actually have a masters in digital media design and a BFA with a minor in computer graphics.
My background has also massively helped my success as a Mr. T lookalike. I’ve used my knowledge of VFX to help me create custom video messages for corporate and personal clients.
And that’s not my only job! When I became a Mr. T lookalike, I was approached about becoming a bodyguard by a company that wanted to be known as the only institution that trained ‘Mr. T.’
The course was amazing and I have gone on to protect presidents, royalty and VIPs.
While the opportunities I have been awarded due to looking like Mr. T are incredible, this job has shown me how many people still judge others based on looks.
Being a Mr. T lookalike has taught me to expect the unexpected and to never judge a book by its cover.
For more information about John and what it takes to be a Mr. T lookalike, click here.
Pokemon has been all the rage in the last couple of years, thanks to the game being rebooted and a new film dropping starring Hollywood’s Ryan Reynolds as everybody’s favourite yellow detective Pikachu.
While you might’ve thought the cute cuddly character was a just bit of entertainment, Pikachu has also become pretty fashionable after being featured on the runway during the London Fashion Week Men’s show.
High-end designers showed off their latest sartorial creations and dear old Pikachu got a shoutout during the Men’s Autumn/Winter 2019 show.
(Picture: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
British designer Bobby Abley kept his ears to the streets and created Pokemon-inspired gear, including shirts, tracksuits, boiler suits adorned with characters such as Squirtle, Charmander, and the elusive Mewtwo Pokemon.
The line also included Pokéball ponchos and backpacks.
A life-sized Pikachu danced up and down the catwalk, transforming the fashion floor into a Pokemon playing ground.
It’s not the first time the designer has used childhood nostalgia as inspiration for his work.
In the past he has used other cartoon and animated pop-culture characters, using a Teletubby, Disney characters, and Power Rangers for previous runways.
(Picture:Terry Scott / Barcroft Media)
After missing the last runway in the bi-annual LFW show, Bobby Abley made his comeback – not only with Pokemon but also with another range, inspired by Christina Aguilera.
It might seem like a random combination to the less fashion-forward among us, but Bobby explained the American singer remained his style muse over the years.
During the Autumn/Winter show, Bobby put out odes to her hit single Dirrty, brandishing the song name on the male model’s stomach.
Her iconic double-denim ensembles and bandanas also made an appearance.
(Picture: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
(Picture: Brett D. Cove / SplashNews.com)
She wasn’t the only big name to be affiliated with the men’s fashion week as style icon David Beckham is also part of it, as ambassadorial president of the British Fashion Council (BFC) this year.
The former footballer will present a show for his brand Kent & Curwe today.
You can find out all about the Autumn/Winter show here.
Lindsay* was thrilled she she was asked to be her best friend’s maid of honour.
And when she was asked to give a speech at the big day, she spent ages perfecting what she was going to say, adding cute anecdotes and sweet touches to the speech to honour the friendship with the bride.
Unfortunately, it didn’t have quite the impact she wanted because when she stood up to speak, the guests had heard almost exactly the same thing from the bride’s other best friend Sandra*, who was the co-maid of honour.
Despite not being there for most of the stories she talked about, Sandra’s speech was almost word-for-word the speech Lindsay had written.
And it meant Lindsay had to go up next, right after her speech had been plagiarised in front of all the guests.
(Picture: Ella Byworth)
‘I planned my speech for weeks. I wrote about one of the first interactions between the bride and groom where I happened to be there when it happened,’ Lindsay told Metro.co.uk.
‘About two weeks before the big day, Sandra called because she wanted to talk about her speech. She didn’t really know what to say. So I offered up some advice that it may be great to talk about childhood stories with the bride, how great they are, etc.
‘She said that’s a great idea. And she asked me about my speech so I gave her the Cliff Notes version along with the story I planned to tell.
‘Fast forward to the big day: guess who still hasn’t planned her speech? If you guessed Sandra, 10 points for Gryffindor. She whips out her laptop that morning and begins drafting. Bride and I roll our eyes and start getting ready. I didn’t check in with her to see what she planned to say.
‘The reception starts and so do the speeches. Sandra goes first. BUT IT WAS MY SPEECH. The same exact story I had planned, the compliments, the jokes, everything. And there was nothing I could do about it right there in the middle of the reception.
‘I panicked, because who prepares a backup speech in the event yours is plagiarised? With only 30 seconds between speeches, I didn’t have a lot of options nor any time to ask the DJ to let me go last. I ended up just telling my speech as is, adding in a few extra details. I felt super lame and I was pissed.
‘I wish I could end this story with a dramatic tale of Sandra and I duking it out in a mud pit, but I didn’t end up doing anything about it.’
Though Lindsay didn’t get the sweet revenge she could’ve got, she told the bride some time later that her speech had been plagirised.
The two friends laughed over it, with the bride agreeing that it was lame to copy someone else’s speech.
She even added that Lindsay’s ad-libbed speech was better than the one Sandra had read out.
A lot of it probably didn’t make sense anyway, you know, considering Sandra hadn’t been there when the events took place.
The Lush Valentine’s collection is here – and it’s a little bit steamy.
We turn to some cheeky emojis when you’re not quite sure how to say what you mean with words.
And now you could say it with these bath bombs instead.
The aubergine emoji bomb, which costs £3.95, certainly has some big energy.
It’s scented with uplifting bergamot and ho wood and will shot green and blue foam from both ends.
And the peachy one also costs £3.95 but is filled with scents of juicy grapefruit and sweet davana.
These are some of our other top picks from the range:
(Picture: Lush UK)
Continuing the slightly tongue-in-cheek theme, the six bubble bar (or is it a nine) comes in two colours.
It’s filled with spicy clove bud and floral ylang-ylang and costs £5.50.
(Picture: Lush)
If you’re feeling a little horny, the unicorn horn bubble bar might be for you.
This one, which costs £5.50, is filled with lavender oil and neroli, which apparently increases serotonin levels in the brain making you feel contented and cheery.
(Picture: Lush)
The Big Banana massage bar is perfect for rubbing all over your partner (or yourself).
It’s filled with hydrating cocoa and shea butter, which melt on your skin, as well as spicy clove bud oil and refreshing Brazilian orange oil will help stimulate and rejuvenate.
This one costs £5.95 for each bar.
(Picture: Lush)
And finally, this Strawberry Whip soap, which costs £6.50, is filled with strawberry, geranium and jasmine to leave your skin smelling sweet.
If you want to treat your partner this Valentines, or just want to give yourself some self-love, there’s a whole range of new things to try.
YouTuber Julia Zelg met her partner Eileen on Tinder and connected because of her ‘intelligent profile’. Despite their 37-year age difference, the lesbian couple has no age-related issues, bar one.
The only worry for Julia, 24, and Eileen, 61, is that one will most likely outlive the other.
‘The major difference between ours and most other relationships is the fact that we must accept the strong likelihood that Eileen will outlive me,’ Julia told Metro.co.uk.
‘We must be prepared for a “built-in” ending to our relationship that wouldn’t necessarily be there for a non-age gap couple. We know and accept that reality.’
But that’s not deterring them from enjoying their time together now and they have just got engaged, with plans to marry in 2019.
(Picture: Julia Zelg)
‘We came together over love and not an obsession with or fetishisation of age. The difference in our ages has almost no impact on our relationship,’ added Julia.
‘Although we make no judgment about anyone else, we don’t focus on our age difference but rather our exquisite similarities. We have the good fortune to have an extraordinary bond and attraction, the likes of which I’ve never experienced before. Although neither of us is religious, we both feel blessed to have found one another.
(Picture: Julia Zelg)
‘We’re an ordinary couple in love. We face the same struggles as everyone else. We’re two women in a relationship with a very large age difference, we face struggles unique to our uncommon dynamic.
‘The other struggle includes the derision we face online from people who don’t understand our love for one another. While the greater share of responses to our videos is supportive and loving, there is always a small portion that are uniformly unpleasant and uncomprehending. In short, they’re trolls.
(Picture: Julia Zelg)
‘When we get negative comments we mostly ignore them because we don’t want to “feed the trolls”. However, we have on occasion endeavoured to answer in the hope of changing minds. We’ve succeeded in this regard a handful of times and each means a lot to us.’
(Picture: Julia Zelg)
Julia, a lifestyle blogger, has documented the journey of their relationship on her channel.
She tells stories about her life online, sharing her passion for music too (both as a classical singer and a singer in an eponymous rock band) and alternative fashion and bright, vibrant hair colours, among other things.
Classical musician Evelina De Lain went where no person has ever gone before with a grand piano – up the Himalayan mountains.
The 41-year-old from London set the world record for the highest ever classical concert after she performed Chopin during a 90-minute performance in the Himalayas, India.
Though she smashed the record, it’s not Evelina’s biggest achievement – she has also performed in front of the likes of Prince Charles, Michael Jackson, and Tony Bennett.
At the end her ‘Concert in the Clouds’, Evelina said the hardest bit was the wind, not the cold, which felt like it was penetrating her bones while she pressed each key.
(Picture: Evelina De Lain / SWNS)
The performance was to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and the piano was donated to a local school.
Evelina’s set included Nocturnes No. 2 in E flat major, No. 20 in C sharp minor and Raindrop Prélude Op. 28 No. 15 as well as compositions from her solo album Soul Journey.
The musician was joined by a team who helped drive and carry the Challen piano to the Singela Pass.
‘I would never in a million years ever think I’d play classical piano again let alone play the highest classical concert,’ she said.
(Picture: Evelina De Lain / SWNS)
‘It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, and it was such an honour to be asked to play my music in the clouds.
‘It was incredibly cold but actually the cold was not as problematic as the wind.
‘It felt like it was penetrating my bones. It was extreme.’
(Picture: Evelina De Lain / SWNS)
Originally from Ukraine, Evelina was taught how to play and enjoy classical music by her mother. When her mum died in 2017, Evelina bought a piano one day from trip organiser Desmond Gentle, who owned a shop for refurbished pianos, Camden Piano Rescue.
‘I wanted a piano chair but then saw this beautiful grand piano. It was beige and quite unusual, so I started to play and Desmond fell in love with my style.
‘I knew that something like this would get me out of my grief, give me something to focus on.’
Desmond is the one who convinced Evelina to give the record-breaking trip a go.
Though exhilarating, it didn’t come without its difficulties, added Evelina.
(Picture: Evelina De Lain / SWNS)
‘I definitely had to pool my resources to keep going. Desmond had warned me I may not last long with the altitude.
‘At the time the altitude wasn’t bothering me much but the next day I fainted in the airport.’
The concert was the ultimate tribute to her mother, who was also her best friend said Evelina.
Blind dates are a bit like Marmite; you either love it or hate it (usually the latter).
Usually, though, both dates have a similar idea of how it went.
Two University of Newcastle students who had been set up soon learned that their idea of the evening was pretty different to one another when it was published in the student newspaper, The Courier.
Danny Tapper and Sophia Kypriotis both agreed that they weren’t compatible but while Danny’s account sounded cordial, Sophia’s was a bit more politically charged.
He wrote: ‘I thought she was a nice person and easy to talk to. I think there was just nothing romantic there though.’
While Sophia wrote: ‘We definitely won’t be meeting again. I was shocked at his archaic, sexist views.’
So Newcastle Uni's student paper does a 'blind date' section and I thought from the guy's POV that it wasn't a good date but it wasn't terrible, then I read the girl's POV and yikes pic.twitter.com/uw7bYL4lA2
A picture of the university paper was shared on Twitter where others shared in the misery of the date which ended with Sophia saying: ‘He was a Tory and an anti-feminist’.
‘He called feminism “toxic” which allowed women to behave as “slags”. I found this very insulting and I was actually very offended.’ she continued.
Though his views offended her, he reported that they spoke about politics without locking horns.
In his account, he said: ‘We were both interested in politics and started talking about it and found that we had quite different views. I think the fact that we were both into politics meant that we talked about it but it was more of a discussion than clashing.’
Her version went: ‘I really don’t like to talk politics when I’ve just met someone and stayed as calm as I could and tried to educate him on his rather misogynistic views.
‘I want to say it was a matter of ignorance and I don’t think he is a bad person but his views certainly are not okay by any stress.
‘I think it was pretty awful but he messaged me saying he had a pretty good time which I found confusing!’
The date ended when Sophia lied and said she’d arrived at her house which was actually her friend’s. For the blind date roundup, which was part of a feature for the paper, the pair were asked what alcoholic drink the other would be.
Danny suggested a vodka shot which he doesn’t love but doesn’t hate either. Sophia simply wrote: ‘Probably a piña colada. Unsophisticated and a bit embarrassing.’
Epicurious, a digital home cooking brand which is part of Conde Nast, creates quick video guides to teach people how to make snacks and treats.
Usually, the American website’s videos are applauded on social media where it has almost three million followers on Twitter but recently it got a middle eastern dish a bit wrong.
They created a dip with miso and scallions but called it a green hummus, which means chickpeas in Arabic, but they failed to include any chickpeas.
Users called Epicurious out on Twitter saying they had ‘gentrified’ a traditional food.
‘Hummus means chickpea in Arabic. Hummus is a blend of chickpeas.,’ wrote one user on Twitter. ‘This isn’t hummus. Adding olive oil to edamame does not make it hummus. This is a sad little dip. See what happens when you gentrify for the sake of wanting to sound cultured and cool. You look stupid.’
‘You can’t just smush things and call it hummus. I’m not eating potato hummus with roast pork and a little apple hummus on the side. Have a long, hard look at yourselves,’ implored another.
Hi. Hummus means chickpea in Arabic. Hummus is a blend of chickpeas. This isnt hummus. Adding olive oil to edamame does not make it hummus. This is a sad lil dip. See what happens when you gentrify for the sake of wanting to sound cultured & cool. You look stupid @epicurioushttps://t.co/3jFHtgN91n
Followers on Epicurious’s Twitter page replied to the post with jokes and gifs to question how they’d gotten the simple dish wrong.
One person suggested that the edamame dip was closer to guacamole than a hummus, but that was quickly thwarted by another user.
‘Guacamole comes from the Nahuatl word for “avocado sauce” (auacamulli), so that’s the same problem in another direction,’ they explained.
Others tried to make non-food related analogies, with one writing: ‘Let’s play football but let’s make the ball spherical and try to throw it into a basket. Oh and no tackling.’
How to make hummus
According to website The Mediterranean Dish, there are four main ingredients that make hummus: chickpeas, tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, and a little fresh garlic.
If you can, use dry chickpeas (they will require soaking overnight, then cooking for two hours or so). Canned chickpeas will also work. Remove the chickpeas skins.
Add ice cubes. Blend the mixture for four to five minutes, add some hot water.
Voila, you have a protein-packed delicious snack.
And if you want to know how to pronounce the word, in the Levant where it originates, it’s pronounced hoom-uhs, not hum-miss as most of us have been saying. As for spelling, it also varies between hummus, houmus, hummous.
We’ve contacted Epicurious for a comment on the post and will update the article once they reply.
It’s Veganuary and finally brands are getting on board.
From the Greggs vegan sausage roll to M&S adding a range of over 60 vegan items to stores, things are changing.
But allergy sufferers are concerned that the new M&S Plant Kitchen range isn’t quite dairy or egg free.
Despite not using any dairy or egg ingredients, the range is made in a factory alongside other products and there is a risk of contamination so the supermarket has recommended that they are not suitable for milk or egg allergy sufferers.
A message on the back of one packet said: ‘For allergens see ingredients in bold. Not suitable for Nut and Peanut allergy sufferers. Prepared to a vegan recipe. Not suitable for Milk or Egg allergy sufferers because these allergens are present in the environment.’
People with allergies have complained on Twitter, saying although they appreciate the stringent allergy labelling, they are disappointed that these items couldn’t be made safe for them to eat.
Hi Edel, Our Plant Kitchen range is 100% suitable for vegans and we engaged with both the Vegan Society and Allergy UK when developing it. However, vegan products may not be suitable for people with severe
I'm disappointed that this range is not suitable for milk and egg allergy sufferers. I appreciate that it's difficult due to the manufacturing processes but I'm surprised that you'd launch a vegan range without considering this.
Disappointed to learn some of our new M&S "Vegan" range aren't actually vegan, a truly vegan food won't contain any dairy or eggs product. Real vegan foods are safe for dairy allergy sufferers to eat.
They're a plant based product withthe ingredients/ allergies clearly listed on the the product, for our customers to view and decide if they are right for their needs. If an item is made in a factory where allergens are handled, we won't label as suitable for these allergens.
I’m allergic to eggs and got SO excited for this range but loads of it says it’s unsuitable for egg allergy sufferers…that’s not vegan and makes me 😢😢😢😢😢 xo
An M&S spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Our Plant Kitchen range is 100 per cent suitable for vegans and we engaged with both the Vegan Society and Allergy UK when developing them.
‘However, vegan products may not be suitable for people with severe allergies because allergens may be present in the environment in which they are made.
‘This is clearly flagged on the packaging as a steer to those who need it.’
M&S have been contacted by Metro.co.uk but did not respond. We will update the article accordingly.
Awards season has officially kicked off. And that means we get to look at the beautiful people, in their most beautiful outfits.
The sparkly, star-studded season begins with the Golden Globes, which this year are taking place at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
Hollywood’s biggest, brightest stars will all be in attendance, hoping to pick up a trophy for their work in film or TV over the past year.
It’s a chance for the celebs to go all-out, and show off their most daring, show-stopping looks.
And, after the all-black dress code of last year – a gesture inspired by the Time’s Up movement – it’s no surprise that this year’s looks have swung back to bold colours and vibrant designs.
