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People with asthma urged to use ‘greener’ inhalers

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(Picture: Getty)

You probably don’t think about the environmental effect of your inhaler, but a new report says it might be more damaging than you think.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said 70% of inhalers used by those with asthma in the UK emit high levels of greenhouse gasses.

In comparison, those made in Sweden make up 10%.

There are different types of inhalers which all have varying carbon footprints. While a breath-actuated metered dose inhaler (BAI) is widely used in the UK, NICE said more people could be using a dry powder inhaler.

A dry inhaler is better for the environment as it contains 25 times fewer pollutants such as carbon dioxide.

It is the first time NICE has looked at the carbon footprint of medicine and is part of the NHS’s ten-year plan to be more environmentally conscious.

The public health body published a report detailing how more people could be using dry inhalers..

What is asthma?

Asthma affects the airways and can make it difficult to breathe. It may cause symptoms such as chest tightness, wheeziness or coughing.

Inhalers are devices that deliver medicine into the lungs to help with the symptoms of asthma. There are different types of medicines available. Your healthcare professional will discuss with you which medicine is recommended for you.

Most asthma medicines are available in more than one type of inhaler. NICE says everyone should be able to choose the inhaler they find easiest to use.

NICE also says that everyone should have the way they use their inhaler checked regularly. If needed, people should be given advice on how to improve their technique.

The metered dose inhaler has propellents called hydrofluorocarbons which deliver medicine quickly to a person having an asthma attack.

This lets out 500g carbon dioxide per dose and if you take five doses, it is equivalent to the carbon footprint of a car on a nine-mile trip.

Dry inhalers only emit 20g of carbon dioxide but these types are recommended for those with milder attacks.

‘Patients need to talk to health staff about what inhalers are best for them,’ said Professor Gillian Leng from NICE.

‘People who need to use metered dose inhalers should absolutely continue to do so, but if you have the choice of a green option – do think about the environment.

‘Cutting carbon emissions is good news for everyone, especially those with respiratory conditions.’

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Woman set to undergo a £10,000 hair transplant after pulling out every hair on her body and head

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(Picture: SWNS)

At the age of 10, Claire Jenna Ory started pulling every strand of hair from her head, and then the rest of her body.

She has trichotillomania – a compulsion to pull hair – which she compares to the need to smoke cigarettes.

But after 14 years of dealing with the condition, Claire, 24, from Bristol, is set to undergo a £10,000 hair transplant.

Working as a circus contortionist, Claire worries about wearing a wig when she is performing and feels the transplant will transform everything.

‘I am really excited for the transplant,’ she said. ‘It’s about not having any worries about whether my wig is attached.

‘If I sweat it means three hours of washing my hair and changing the adhesive. It’s something to worry about every day.’

Growing up, Claire, who struggled with a lack of support for the condition, said cruel bullies called her names like ‘Alien’ at school in Switzerland.

She explains: ‘The condition is like an addiction. It’s like smoking cigarettes. It’s a need and you feel a relief when you have done it.

‘When you are ten in Switzerland, you go to middle school. It’s a much bigger school, with exams and big classes.

‘The stress of that had something to do with the hair-pulling, I think.

‘I remember sitting at my school desk and right next to it was a clump of hair which I had to clear up every day.

Claire Jenna Ory wears a wig but will soon have a hair transplant. See SWNS story SWBRhair; A woman with a rare condition that sees her pull out every single hair on her head and body is to undergo a transplant. Claire Jenna Ory, 24, has suffered trichotillomania since the age of ten and has pulled every strand of hair from her scalp, eyelashes and body over the last ten years. Swiss-born Claire, 24, who now live in Bristol describes the condition as an addiction and compares it to the need to smoke cigarettes. The unusual impulse, named started for Claire when she was ten years old. She has since battled depression and anxiety, making two attempts to take her own life, while trying to come to terms with her mum Stephanie?s suicide.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS.com)

‘Nobody knew about it, or even the name of the condition. You have no idea why it is happening. You are thinking ‘why am I doing this?’

‘The horrible thing about it is you are doing it to yourself. It isn’t socially acceptable.’

Claire’s issues began when she was nine and started to experience OCD, in the form of an overwhelming urge to clean things.

She had a bald patch on the back of her head before she was 11. By the time she turned 12, she had shaved her head and had to wear a wig.

Claire added: ‘Kids can be really cruel, playing with your wig and pulling it off in class.

‘They don’t realise how important it is to you. They make fun of you and call you ‘alien’.

Claire Jenna Ory wears a wig but will soon have a hair transplant. See SWNS story SWBRhair; A woman with a rare condition that sees her pull out every single hair on her head and body is to undergo a transplant. Claire Jenna Ory, 24, has suffered trichotillomania since the age of ten and has pulled every strand of hair from her scalp, eyelashes and body over the last ten years. Swiss-born Claire, 24, who now live in Bristol describes the condition as an addiction and compares it to the need to smoke cigarettes. The unusual impulse, named started for Claire when she was ten years old. She has since battled depression and anxiety, making two attempts to take her own life, while trying to come to terms with her mum Stephanie?s suicide.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS.com)

‘It made things really dark. I was afraid of everyone. You don’t trust people.

‘I had friends, and they were the one reason I was going to school, but I was always thinking “is that person going to try to find a way to see me bald?”‘

Claire became reluctant to meet new people and unable to enjoy her passion of performing in the circus.

‘I was afraid of my wig falling off,’ she said.

‘I tried everything to stop pulling – elastic round my wrists, pulling hair from dolls, medication, hypnotherapy.

‘It didn’t work. I had therapists but they’d never had a patient who pulled their hair before.’

At the age of 13, she twice tried to take her own life.

She added: ‘I couldn’t take being at school. The bullying didn’t help, but I couldn’t just sit in a classroom.

‘I wonder if in my whole life I spent a whole week at school without missing a class.’

Sadly, just before her 14th birthday, her mum Stephanie took her own life.

Claire received treatment in a psychiatric hospital in the months that followed.

Claire Jenna Ory wears a wig but will soon have a hair transplant. See SWNS story SWBRhair; A woman with a rare condition that sees her pull out every single hair on her head and body is to undergo a transplant. Claire Jenna Ory, 24, has suffered trichotillomania since the age of ten and has pulled every strand of hair from her scalp, eyelashes and body over the last ten years. Swiss-born Claire, 24, who now live in Bristol describes the condition as an addiction and compares it to the need to smoke cigarettes. The unusual impulse, named started for Claire when she was ten years old. She has since battled depression and anxiety, making two attempts to take her own life, while trying to come to terms with her mum Stephanie?s suicide.
(Bristol Post / SWNS.com)

‘My only goal was to survive, to go another day,’ Claire said.

After her stay in hospital, Claire enrolled at a school in Lausanne which she says was ‘like a hippie community’.

She added: ‘There was a lot of focus on things like art and singing. They were really supportive, more than at my old school.

‘They knew the kids were there for a reason, and that we needed to express ourselves.’

Despite feeling happier in school, Claire’s anxiety and hair-pulling continued.

She thinks her move to Bristol at 18, to train in the circus at Circomedia school, may have saved her life.

‘Before that I was letting other people decide things for me, and all I wanted was my mum,’ she said.

‘Moving here was me doing something for myself. I am a totally different person since coming here.

‘Bristol is like a big family. I make friends everywhere I go.

What is trichotillomania?

People with trich feel an intense urge to pull their hair out and they experience growing tension until they do. After pulling their hair out, they feel a sense of relief.

A person may sometimes pull their hair out in response to a stressful situation, or it may be done without really thinking about it.

Most people with trich pull out hair from their scalp, but some pull out hair from other areas, such as their:

  • eyebrows
  • eyelashes
  • genital area
  • beard or moustache

NHS

‘I have learned to hold myself back from panic. I try not to be stressed about things as much.’

Claire now works as a hair and makeup artist as well as performing at circuses across the country.

‘I still struggle with the picture I have of myself,’ she said. ‘I can’t remember what it feels like to have a full head of hair.’

Most of the hair from Claire’s scalp is gone, but she is planning to have a hair transplant soon.

Her dad Philippe, who has supported her through her hardest times, has offered to pay for the £10,000 operation.

Follicles in her hair will be replanted in bald spots to encourage the hair to grow again.

Claire is one of the young people interviewed in a new documentary by filmmaker Arthur Cauty, Faces of Mental Health.

The short film ‘challenges stigma and encourages open conversation around mental illness and suicide in young people’, Mr Cauty says.

Claire speaks the closing line of the documentary: ‘Open up. Don’t be scared. It can save your life.’

She said her work to raise awareness of trichotillomania has seen young people with the condition reach out to her.

‘I have had messages from teenagers saying they had been pulling their hair out for years, and they had been hiding it so no one knew,’ she said.

‘They told me that my speaking out had really helped them. It was a really nice feeling to hear that.’

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MORE: People with asthma urged to use ‘greener’ inhalers

Chunky cat Barsik is looking for a family who can help him with his fitness journey

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Extremely chunky cat Picture: Animal Care Centers METROGRAB https://www.instagram.com/bigbarsik/?fbclid=IwAR0psm85IsUjroalY5f9mie9QQ0MLnzbMvF31AuzNoVOyyGUD860g4jn-ls
As you can see, Barsik is quite large (Picture: Animal Care Centers)

Meet Barsik, the chunky cat with a lot to love.

Barsik was given to NYC Animal Care Centers at the beginning of April, when his owners moved home and were unable to bring along Barsik or his housemate Sukie.

While Sukie is a perfectly healthy size for a cat, Barsik is, well, not.

Weighing in at 41lbs (18kg), five-year-old Barsik is seriously overweight. He struggles to move around and has significant pressure on his joints, causing him pain in his legs.

He’s so large he’s nearly twice the size of Bruno, the hefty cat everyone fell in love with last Summer.

Extremely chunky cat Picture: Animal Care Centers METROGRAB https://www.instagram.com/bigbarsik/?fbclid=IwAR0psm85IsUjroalY5f9mie9QQ0MLnzbMvF31AuzNoVOyyGUD860g4jn-ls
He weighs 41lbs, making him obese (Picture: Animal Care Centers)

Shortly after his and Sukie’s arrival at the shelter, the cats had to be moved to Anjellicle Cats Rescue in Manhattan, as they simply didn’t have a sufficiently spacious area for a cat of Barsik’s size.

He’s now in foster care, and will need to undergo health checks before he’s officially up for adoption, but will be looking for a home with a family dedicated to helping him lose weight and get healthy.

Even heading to the vet is difficult for a cat this size. On Barsik’s Instagram, his carer explains that they needed the biggest carrier they could find to take the cat from the shelter to the car, with two workers needed to carry him in.

Extremely chunky cat Picture: Animal Care Centers METROGRAB https://www.instagram.com/bigbarsik/?fbclid=IwAR0psm85IsUjroalY5f9mie9QQ0MLnzbMvF31AuzNoVOyyGUD860g4jn-ls
He’ll need a special diet and exercise plan (Picture: Animal Care Centers)

So anyone who does fancy adopting the kitty will need to have plenty of upper body strength, as well as enough space in their home for Barsik to roam around.

Potential owners will also need to commit to putting Barsik on a healthy diet and exercise plan under the supervision of a vet. He’ll need to be taken for walks or given plenty of engaging activities to do at home.

All the work will be worth it, as Barsik is described as a gentle and affectionate kitty who loves cheek and belly rubs. Dreamy.

If you’re not ready to be Barsik’s owner, but would like to help him out, you can donate towards a larger carry case and an extra large litter box for him through Paypal.

Send us your cat stories!

As the media partners of CatFest, coming to London on 29 June, we're excited to share loads of stories about brilliant cats.

All cats are wonderful, of course, but if you have a story of a truly exceptional kitty, we want to hear it.

We're talking about lifesaving cats, cats who've overcome challenges, kitties who've changed things for the better.

If you've got a story to share, send us an email at ellen.scott@metro.co.uk with the details and pictures.

To book your tickets to CatFest, do head over to Eventbrite.

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Man who lost daughter to cancer photographs kids dressed as heroes to show what can happen if they are given a chance to grow up

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(Picture: Andy Whelan)

Jessica was just four years old when she died in November 2016. She had neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer.

Her dad Andy Whelan, who works as a photographer, wanted to show the world the reality of the disease and in her final days, he released heartbreaking images of what it was doing to his little girl.

After her devastating death, Andy wanted to continue to work to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the need for more research across the world.

In 2017, he worked on his first photoseries with charity World Child Cancer, a charity that works to help children with cancer and their families in developing nations.

Now Andy has picked up his camera again – this time photographing children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists, to show what children can achieve if they are given the chance to grow up.

Andy wants to see equal access to cancer treatment for children everywhere.

Cancer claims the life of a child every three minutes in the developing world, due to a lack of access to medical treatment.

In developed countries like the UK, survival rates for children with cancer can be as high as 80%, but in developing countries these drop to as low as 10%.

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Rosie the Riveter – Mischa, five (Picture: Andy Whelan)

Bangladesh has a population of over 164 million people yet there are only nine Government hospitals equipped to provide paediatric oncology care – just six of these have qualified paediatric oncologists, the majority of which are male.

Andy explains: ‘Working with World Child Cancer on their first campaign in 2017 was an incredible experience.

‘It’s an honour to be able to show what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up, and I hope my photos go some way in celebrating what has been achieved when men and women with a strong voice have stood up for what they believe in.’

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Jackie and John F Kennedy – Araiana, five and Callum, six (Picture: Andy Whelan)

The charity works with healthcare professionals to empower and inspire them to help them provide more care for their patients.

Jon Rosser, CEO at World Child Cancer, says: ‘Every child, regardless of where they live, should receive the best possible care when it comes to every stage of cancer treatment.

‘With this campaign, we’re looking back through history and celebrating the incredible things that have been achieved when strong women have been given a voice.

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Emmeline Pankhurst – Radha, nine (Picture: Andy Whelan)

‘There are already a huge number of amazing female nurses working tirelessly in developing countries, and we want to inspire them to feel empowered and heard in their healthcare practice.

‘By equipping nurses at each unit with leadership and management skills as nurse educators, we can raise their status and ensure they can continue to provide this essential care and support to the families they meet.’

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Freda Kahlo – Asha, six (Picture: Andy Whelan)

 

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Audrey Hepburn – Eva, two (Picture: Andy Whelan)

 

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Florence Nightingale – Amber, three (Picture: Andy Whelan)

 

WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Michelle Obama and Barack Obama – Ngaatendwe, 10 and Marley, nine (Picture: Andy Whelan)
WORLD CHILD CANCER LAUNCHES POWERFUL PHOTO SERIES CELEBRATING THE VOICES OF STRONG MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY Stunning photo shoot from photographer Andy Whelan raises awareness of disparity in healthcare system???s gender divides in Bangladesh where only a quarter of children with cancer ever receive a diagnosis - Photo series saw children aged 2-11 dressed as inspirational men and women throughout history to highlight what can be achieved if children are given the gift of growing up - The shoot was commissioned by charity World Child Cancer to support their campaign in Bangladesh, where 6,000 children are expected to develop cancer each year and only a quarter of these will ever receive a diagnosis - As well as building partnerships between doctors and nurses at hospitals in the developed world, World Child Cancer???s new campaign will address the gender divide in the Bangladeshi healthcare system, providing female nurses with a voice they would not have otherwise had - Photographer Andy Whelan is following up his first photo series with the charity in 2017, after photos of his daughter Jessica suffering with Neurobastoma saw an outpouring of support online For release: Tuesday 9 April 2019 World Child Cancer, a UK based charity that supports children with cancer and their families in developing countries, has released its second photo series with photographer Andrew Whelan, to highlight what children can achieve if they are given the gift of growing up. As part of the photo series, children from across the UK dressed as past presidents, role models and activists to celebrate the achievements that have been possible when men and women have worked together on something truly important, highlighting that the future of paediatric cancer care should be no different. The photo series, commissioned as part of World Child Cancer???s Gift of Growing Up appeal, aims to increase public understanding of the issue of childhood cancer in developing coun
Amelia Earhart – Elizabeth, four (Picture: Andy Whelan)

As part of its Gift of Growing Up campaign, World Child Cancer is asking everyone to get involved by donating £4 or texting GROWING to 70085 to donate £4. For every £1 donated the Government will match it as part of their UK Aid Match scheme.

MORE: People with asthma urged to use ‘greener’ inhalers

MORE: Woman set to undergo a £10,000 hair transplant after pulling out every hair on her body and head

‘Postnatal anxiety hit me like a tonne of bricks and I was convinced my baby was going to die’

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(Picture: Hannah Wilkinson/Metro.co.uk)

New mums are particularly vulnerable to mental illness.

Around one in five women will experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth.

But, despite the prevalence of post- and perinatal mental health conditions, there is still has an element of stigma and many new mothers are too afraid to seek help or admit that they are struggling after giving birth.

In recent years, awareness around postnatal depression has grown – and there is greater public understanding of the condition. But postnatal anxiety is still widely under-discussed.

As a result, many mums fail to appreciate the seriousness of their condition or spot the warning signs so that they can get help.

Hannah Wilkinson gave birth to her first child, Finley, 15 months ago.

Initially it was a joyful time. After suffering recurrent miscarriages, she and her husband finally had the baby they had been waiting for. But it wasn’t long before anxiety started to creep in and threatened to tear down Hannah’s idyllic new life as a mum.

‘When I was expecting my little boy, one of my biggest fears, was developing post-natal depression,’ Hannah tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Having trained as doctor, I had seen it in its worst forms, and I was terrified it would happen to me.

‘Thankfully, it didn’t – I was overjoyed when my little man entered the world and I have remained that way ever since. What I wasn’t prepared for was the less frequently talked about condition, postnatal anxiety. It hit me like a tonne of bricks.’

The roots of Hannah’s condition took hold long before Finley arrived in the world.

Hannah with baby Finley
All was well until Finley turned four months old (Picture: Hannah Wilkinson/Metro.co.uk)

The residual pain and uncertainty caused by losing so many pregnancies lodged itself in Hannah’s heart – ready to reemerge as pure fear right at the moment when she was meant to be at her happiest.

‘It was a struggle to have Finley,’ explains Hannah.

‘The miscarriages meant I had to have lots of investigations, genetic testing and finally medication. It was a truly heart-breaking time and my entire pregnancy with Finley was swamped with fear that I would lose him.

‘I know now that this is where my anxiety started, but I just kept thinking that once he arrived, I would feel better, because he would be in my arms and I could keep him safe.

‘By the time I had reached my due date, I was a nervous wreck and ended up begging for an induction. I didn’t trust my body as it had failed me so many times before, and I just needed my baby to arrive.

What is postnatal anxiety?

Postnatal anxiety is where you experience debilitating symptoms of anxiety after giving birth.

While many people are aware that you can become depressed after having a baby, it’s less well known that many women experience anxiety during and after pregnancy. In fact, it’s common to experience depression and anxiety together.

There are loads of physical and emotional symptoms that you might feel if you are experiencing postnatal anxiety – you may experience just one of them, or many at the same time:

Pins and needles, headaches, panic attacks, churning stomach, difficulty sleeping, feeling tense or on edge, dwelling on negative thoughts, fearing the worst.

Postnatal anxiety can be the first time you have experienced a mental illness, or it can be a recurrence of something you have experienced before having a baby.

Giving birth and becoming a mother is an enormous shock to a woman’s body. Not only are you dealing with hormone fluctuations, but also sleep deprivation and high stress – which can all exacerbate the symptoms.

It’s really important that new mums and pregnant women seek help from their GP if they are at all concerned about their mental health.

‘From the moment he arrived I was just overwhelmed with love and relief that he was finally here safely. Yes, the first three months were exhausting, but those intense emotions got me through it. I was OK.

‘It was when I got to four months that everything started going wrong.

‘I started becoming obsessed with his safety and his wellbeing. I no longer felt happy leaving him with anyone, including my husband, even for half an hour.

‘I was convinced that I had done everything wrong and that he was going to die.

‘I would have an horrific vision when I laid him down in his cot – that I was kissing him for the final time in his coffin. When he was in the bath, I was sure he would somehow wriggle out of my arms and drown. I would pass by the stairs and imagine accidentally throwing him down them.

‘My biggest and most invasive fear was whenever I was in the car. I was so convinced that he would die in his car seat that I would have to stop and repeatedly check he was still breathing.

‘Even if I could rationalise these thoughts, which I mainly couldn’t, I would then convince myself that he was going to die of cancer in the future. It was horrific.’

Hannah realised something was wrong and that she couldn’t go on like this – but stigma and shame initially stopped her from asking for help.

‘I knew it was getting out of control and that I was getting worse, but I didn’t want to tell anyone because some of my visions were so disturbing, I was worried they would think I was crazy.

Hannah with baby Finley at four months old
Hannah imagined Finley drowning in the bath or dropping him down the stairs (Picture: Hannah Wilkinson/Metro.co.uk)

‘One day when I was out with some of my antenatal group friends and I mentioned how I couldn’t imagine life without Finley and worried about him dying.

‘One of them asked how often I thought about this and when I answered, “at least 10 times a day”, she said she thought I should speak to someone.

‘It all came to a head when I saw my health visitor. I used the excuse of needing to have Finley weighed to go and see her.

‘I didn’t know what to say to open the conversation, but as it happened, all she had to say was, “are you ok?” and I broke down.

‘My health visitor came to my house the following day and that was honestly one of the worst days of my motherhood journey.

‘I sat rocking on my lounge floor, howling that he was going to die over and over again. The health visitor kept trying to reassure me that he was a healthy boy who was doing well, but I was convinced he would be taken away from me.

‘I remember asking her if she thought I had postnatal depression, but as she rightly pointed out, this wasn’t a mood problem – when I was with Finley I was beyond happy, he was and still is, my favourite person to spend my time with, but my anxiety was completely out of control.

‘She gave me a lot of advice, including seeing the GP for some medication and some cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

‘I was adamant I didn’t want medication, although looking back with a clear head, I think it would have helped.

‘Using CBT techniques and the support of my family and friends, who I finally opened up to, I was able to get my fears under control.’

Mental illness can be incredibly isolating, particularly for new mums. It can be difficult to know what to do. But the expert advice is clear; speak up, get support.

‘If your symptoms are interfering with your day-to-day life or for more than a couple of weeks, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible,’ says Rachel Boyd, Head of Information Content at Mind.

‘Speak to your GP, friend or family member so you are not alone and can get the right help and support.

‘Your GP may be able to suggest support groups for new mums in your area so you can discuss your feelings with others. They might also offer you counselling, or in some cases, medication.

‘Self-care techniques and general lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of many mental health problems. Exercise, getting outdoors, a healthy diet and sleeping well have all been shown to be beneficial in managing anxiety.

‘It can also really help to let friends and family know how you’re feeling, and accept any offers of help.’

Strategies to help you cope with postnatal anxiety

  • Try doing some breathing exercises, just taking deep breaths can reduce the level of anxiety in your body. You can listen to guided meditation online to help with sleep or download helpful apps like Calm.
  • Try to go for a walk if you can, getting out the house even for 10 minutes will help calm the mind and re-enegerise the body.
  • Having some self-affirmations can be helpful such as, “this thought will pass”, and, “I’m doing my best and that’s OK.”
  • Ask for support from family and friends, mothers often think they have to do it themselves, but having company and support will make it easier to self-care even if that means getting 20 minutes of sleep while your neighbour holds your baby.

Dr. Sarah Khalid, Counselling Directory member

For Hannah, getting help was the best thing she could have done. Working closely with a therapist and talking with her loved ones helped her to devise tools and strategies to quiet the negative thoughts and prevent them from spiraling.

‘The best strategy I developed, was to count down from thirty in French whenever I would feel a vision or destructive thought coming into my head,’ explains Hannah.

‘I have never been great at French, so the concentration of doing this, distracted me enough to halt the invasive thoughts.

Hannah with Finley at 15 months
Therapy and self-help strategies helped Hannah conquer the morbid thoughts (Picture: Hannah Wilkinson/Metro.co.uk)

‘It took months to no longer have any of the visions and to be able to drive without stopping, but I got there.

‘I appreciate that I was lucky to have such a fantastic health visitor who spotted that I was struggling and could quickly come to support me. Without that visit that day, I daren’t think where I would have ended up.

‘I am no longer plagued with any of my fears and I’m absolutely loving being a mum to a now very cheeky 15-month-old.

‘My husband and I have just started talking about trying for a second child and I have every intention of speaking to the peri-natal mental health team to ensure I have some support in place to try to prevent this from happening again.

‘Obviously, this is just my story. Everyone’s is different, but I would urge anyone who is struggling to speak up and ask for help.

‘There is no shame in it, and it doesn’t mean you are a bad mum. No one should ever have to suffer with postnatal depression or anxiety on their own.’

Need support? Contact the Samaritans

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

MORE: How do you know if you’re having a slow-motion breakdown?

MORE: People with mental health issues wear their thoughts on their faces for powerful photo series

MORE: Experts tell us how surrounding yourself with plants can help your mental health

Woman wants to divorce her husband after finding out he was a sperm donor dad to 47 kids

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Closeup of a single sad wife after divorce lamenting holding the wedding ring in a house interior; Shutterstock ID 511166536; Purchase Order: -
(Picture: Shutterstock)

A woman says she wants to divorce her husband after discovering he has 47 kids.

According to the post on Reddit, the couple have been together for eight years and have a three-year-old daughter together.

The woman, who posted under the username fedupwife1234, knew that he had donated sperm as he told her when they first started dating but she never asked him how many kids he’d had.

She says she ‘just assumed it was a couple of kids’.

But last week the conversation came up and he explained that the last time he spoke to the fertility centre, the number of kids that had come from his sperm was 47.

And now she knows the number, she feels it’s changed their relationship.

She said: ‘I was… Not expecting that many.

‘It’s clearly my fault for not asking how many. At the time, I literally said I “didn’t care” about his sperm donation and “didn’t want to know”, so I can’t blame him for not telling me how many. I literally told him not to.

‘….But 47?! Christ!!!!

‘I can’t stop thinking about all the problems this will cause when we’re older.

‘WIBTA (Would I be the a*shole) for divorcing him for something that he was very upfront about?!?!’

She later added that she was particularly worried because the rules where they live mean all the kids are entitled to his contact details when they turn 18.

Most people agreed that she shouldn’t divorce him when he’d been quite upfront and some said she was behaving in quite a selfish way.

One said: ‘Having 47 kids by donation really wouldn’t bother me. He didn’t have sex with them women and then ran off after a kid had been born. My issue would definitely be the contact at 18. That’s a lot of kids to want to join the family, I’ll admit it’s not something I would ever be interested in. My family is here and now I wouldn’t want anyone else coming in our circle and me having to play some kind of step mum.’

Another added: ‘You knew in advance, specifically asked not to know how many and have been married for years. What’s the real reason you want a divorce?’

‘You asked him and he told you. If numbers were important to you then you should have asked earlier,’ someone else said.

MORE: ‘Postnatal anxiety hit me like a tonne of bricks and I was convinced my baby was going to die’

MORE: Man who lost daughter to cancer photographs kids dressed as heroes to show what can happen if they are given a chance to grow up

Why La’Shaunae is the plus-size model you should be following right now

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(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

If you’re not following La’Shaunae Steward, AKA luhshawnay, on Instagram, it’s time to fix that.

The model and designer is someone everyone needs to be watching, whether for fashion inspiration, body positivity, or for the motivation you need to be a general boss.

At 22, La’Shaunae, from Charleston, South Carolina, has already modelled for Jeffrey Campbell (with whom she also launched a capsule collection of shoes), Whatever 21, and Universal Standard – an impressive feat considering she doesn’t fit the standard size expected in the fashion industry.

After years of fighting for inclusion in the world of fashion and beauty, La’Shaunae launched Inclus Models, a platform that’s designed exclusively for models who don’t fit the norms of the industry, whether they’re under 5’8″ tall or larger than a size 18.

Basically, she’s a force of nature.

The model’s career started not through being scouted in an airport or having famous parents, but thanks to trolls.

la'shaunae steward poses in neon underwear
(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

A stranger made a fat-shaming meme using one of La’Shaunae’s photos, which drew people to her social media. Within a few weeks, she’d racked up tens of thousands of followers, and gained an army of fans for the way she spun online nastiness into something positive.

She began to post more photos of herself, alongside updating her stories with messages of body positivity and recaps of her day. Now, she has more than 91,000 followers on the platform.

‘I joined Instagram in 2012 which was my freshman year of high school,’ La’Shaunae tells Metro.co.uk. ‘I was bullied a lot so social media was my escape.

‘I would post selfies and stuff on my Instagram but they would be photos of me hidden and covered, because the kids I went to school with always picked on me for the photos I’d post.

(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

‘Leaving high school gave me the freedom to broadcast who I am on a more personal level and showcase me and my style more.

‘I posted a ton of cute looks on to my Instagram and girls would tell me: “you should definitely model so we could see representation of darker and bigger girls who aren’t smaller than a size 18!”.

‘The more i thought about it, the more I wanted to do it until it full on became my dream.’

Seeing the vital need for greater representation of bodies who are bigger than the industry’s definitions of ‘plus-size’, La’Shaunae chose to become more vocal on social media, ignoring the trolls and rejection that came her way to speak up.

(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

She received a lot of negative responses to her work.

‘It’s very hard when you are vocal and visibly bigger than most models,’ La’Shaunae says. ‘People discredit me all the time. Every day I’m rejected

‘I’m a short fat black girl who’s vocal about everything and a lot of people can’t stand it. But i’ts not for anyone to stand – it’s my voice and I refuse to ever be silenced.’

But the positive reaction to her photos, and the cries for more women that looked like her to be included, kept La’Shaunae going. Her confidence grew and soon she was getting attention.

(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

There’s still a long way to go and far more work needed to be done.

La’Shaunae still isn’t represented by an agency, and while she’s been featured in campaigns, getting booked remains a rarity.

She tells us: ‘I still don’t actually feel accepted.

‘I feel like people love using me in their mood boards or “inclusive” campaigns but won’t actually book me for other things to showcase who I am… or to pay me fairly.

‘I would like to actually see me and other models over a size 18 being in shoots and magazines and campaigns, and not just for shock value and likes.

(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

‘I’m always contemplating quitting but I know I could never because winners don’t quit.’

For now, she’ll continue to hustle. She’ll continue to fight to be included and valued by an industry that has turned her down over and over again.

Through Instagram, she’s able to reach people who are desperate to see bodies like hers and show them that size is no barrier to taking joy in fashion.

‘I used to hide,’ she says. ‘If I wore cropped tops to school, I’d always have a flannel [shirt] tied around my waist to hide everything.

La'Shaunae modelling a pair of blue boots for Jeffrey Campbell
(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

‘If I were in public, I wouldn’t leave the car and I would have rather sat in a car in 90 degree weather instead of facing the public.

‘I used to be terrified of how much fatphobes there were (and still are) in the world.

‘But now I’m open to wearing anything, regardless of who stares or watches me.

‘It’s hard some days because of body dysmorphia but I try hard as hell to give myself the love I deserve.’

(Picture: La’Shaunae Steward)

To those who love looking at photos of La’Shaunae’s style but don’t feel able to pull off similar outfits themselves, the model has some words of advice.

She says: ‘If you see something that you’re like, “I don’t know if I could ever pull this off because of my stomach”, shh no, buy that sh*t and rock it.

‘If you think it’s a miss, just try again until you fully discover your aesthetics.

‘Keep playing with clothes because even though are options are limited, there are so much good looks to create. We can look just as amazing as anyone else regardless of our visible belly outline or not having a “nice booty” or “perfect boobs” and curves.’

MORE: If you needed proof that fatphobia still exists, just look at the responses to Gillette’s tweet

MORE: Plus-size woman sent death threats for her weight spreads self-love and body confidence

MORE: Plus-size pole dancer hits back at online trolls who called her a ‘pig’

A granddad has fallen in love with getting tattoos in his 70s

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Grandad, Robert Luff, 73, who says he has not given a second thought to the occasional funny look since he discovered a passion for tattoos a year ago - Pictured with tattooist Mark Pennell. See SWNS story SWBRink. Robert, who has lived in Sea Mills, Bristol, his whole life, came to the world of body art late, but he is making up for lost time now. After his wife Marilyn bought him a voucher for Shirehampton?s Serious Ink Tattoo Studio for Christmas in 2017, it took him a few months to pluck up the courage for a visit. But he has fallen in love with tattoos and gradually built up a full sleeve on his left arm, spreading onto the left half of his chest. Robert, who built and repaired ships at Bristol Harbour for more than 15 years, says the ink is partly a way of honouring his former workmates, many of whom have passed away. All of the tattoos are connected to the sea. A grand ship is the centrepiece, on his upper arm, surrounded by a treasure chest, cannon, mermaid and other maritime art.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS)

A man has fallen in love with getting tattoos… in his 70s.

73-year-old Robert Luff is a granddad who got inked for the first time last year. He now has a full sleeve spreading from his left arm to his chest.

It all started when his wife bought him a voucher for a tattoo shop in Christmas 2017 – although it took him a few months to pluck up the courage to visit.

Retired Robert, who built and repaired ships at Bristol Harbour for 15 years, says the ink is partly a way of honouring his deceased former workmates.

All of the tattoos are connected to the sea – a grand ship is the centrepiece on his upper arm surrounded by a treasure chest, cannon, mermaid and other maritime art.

Robert said: ‘I had always wanted tattoos but I needed time to ponder what I was going to get. A lot of people think I’m stupid for doing it.

‘You can see on their faces, they’re thinking, “That silly old twit. Why is he doing that?”

‘Maybe they think I’m too old. At least my wife is quite happy with it.

Grandad, Robert Luff, 73, who says he has not given a second thought to the occasional funny look since he discovered a passion for tattoos a year ago. See SWNS story SWBRink. Robert, who has lived in Sea Mills, Bristol, his whole life, came to the world of body art late, but he is making up for lost time now. After his wife Marilyn bought him a voucher for Shirehampton?s Serious Ink Tattoo Studio for Christmas in 2017, it took him a few months to pluck up the courage for a visit. But he has fallen in love with tattoos and gradually built up a full sleeve on his left arm, spreading onto the left half of his chest. Robert, who built and repaired ships at Bristol Harbour for more than 15 years, says the ink is partly a way of honouring his former workmates, many of whom have passed away. All of the tattoos are connected to the sea. A grand ship is the centrepiece, on his upper arm, surrounded by a treasure chest, cannon, mermaid and other maritime art.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS)

‘She knew what she was letting herself in for when she bought the voucher, so she can’t complain.’

Robert always felt drawn to the sea. His father had worked on Bristol’s docks and Robert followed at the age of 15.

By the time he was 21, he was managing the shipyard. He describes it as “hard work, but it was a great laugh”.

Robert is now partially deaf and struggles with poor eyesight, possibly due to years in the shipyard, welding and burning materials with few safety protocols.

But he’s not bitter about it.

‘I don’t think people would work in those conditions now, but that’s just what it was like back then,’ he said.

‘My memories of the harbour are special. There was a lot of satisfaction in seeing the finished ship.

‘Every time I see a ship launch in an old film, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.’

Robert remembered a prank during the winter of 1963 – one of the great ‘big freezes’ in recorded British history which saw the River Avon turn to ice at Bristol Harbour.

‘Even the swans froze and got their feet stuck in the ice,’ he said. ‘There was one swan that just managed to get its feet free and start walking.

Grandad, Robert Luff, 73, who says he has not given a second thought to the occasional funny look since he discovered a passion for tattoos a year ago. See SWNS story SWBRink. Robert, who has lived in Sea Mills, Bristol, his whole life, came to the world of body art late, but he is making up for lost time now. After his wife Marilyn bought him a voucher for Shirehampton?s Serious Ink Tattoo Studio for Christmas in 2017, it took him a few months to pluck up the courage for a visit. But he has fallen in love with tattoos and gradually built up a full sleeve on his left arm, spreading onto the left half of his chest. Robert, who built and repaired ships at Bristol Harbour for more than 15 years, says the ink is partly a way of honouring his former workmates, many of whom have passed away. All of the tattoos are connected to the sea. A grand ship is the centrepiece, on his upper arm, surrounded by a treasure chest, cannon, mermaid and other maritime art.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS)

‘One of the men walked out onto the ice and picked the swan up, then put it in a big working box, for tools, in the yard.

‘At the end of the day one of the other workers opened that box and the swan came flying right out at him. It gave him a hell of a fright.’

Robert admits he and his shipbuilding friends would ‘call each other all the names under the sun’.

‘It’s really bad, but that’s how we used to talk,’ he said. ‘Everyone there was the same.

‘Someone else would hear us talking to each other and think, “What is going on?”‘

Robert called it ‘the end of an era’ when his employer Charles Hill & Sons, the last shipbuilder at Bristol Harbour, closed down in 1977.

‘It was a big honour to lay the keel on the last six ships built there,’ he added.

Robert, who still lives in Bristol, worked at various places around the country in the years that followed including an oil rig in Flotta, a Scottish island with a population of just 80.

Stoic though he is, Robert still remembers the cold of Flotta with a shiver.

Grandad, Robert Luff, 73, who says he has not given a second thought to the occasional funny look since he discovered a passion for tattoos a year ago. See SWNS story SWBRink. Robert, who has lived in Sea Mills, Bristol, his whole life, came to the world of body art late, but he is making up for lost time now. After his wife Marilyn bought him a voucher for Shirehampton?s Serious Ink Tattoo Studio for Christmas in 2017, it took him a few months to pluck up the courage for a visit. But he has fallen in love with tattoos and gradually built up a full sleeve on his left arm, spreading onto the left half of his chest. Robert, who built and repaired ships at Bristol Harbour for more than 15 years, says the ink is partly a way of honouring his former workmates, many of whom have passed away. All of the tattoos are connected to the sea. A grand ship is the centrepiece, on his upper arm, surrounded by a treasure chest, cannon, mermaid and other maritime art.
(Picture: Bristol Post / SWNS)

He spent his final 15 years repairing ships in Avonmouth before retiring around five years ago.

Robert enjoys a reunion with his old colleagues every couple of months at the Commercial Rooms pub in Corn Street.

‘There are not many of us left now,’ he said. ‘We are down to about 12. We used to have enough to fill a couple of coaches and go on trips.’

Robert’s tattoos are not only a tribute to the workmates he has lost, but also to his cousin Mike Weller, who died in 2017.

The pair used to go diving together and had some ‘great memories’, and Robert wanted something to remind him of his loved one.

He recalls finding seven cannons on the seabed off Mullion Cove in the early 1970s.

Robert said: ‘It was a special moment. We went back the next year and they weren’t there. They must have been buried underneath the sand again.’

The pensioner has a tattoo on his chest of a sextant, an instrument used for navigation on the seas.

‘I didn’t know this, but my grandson had ordered a real sextant to give me the Christmas before, which never turned up,’ Robert said.

‘Within a week or two of me getting that tattoo, the sextant turned up at my door. I thought something uncanny was going on.’

Asked if he plans to get more body art, he replied: ‘I don’t know about getting a lot more.

‘I want to get some that go down the left side of my torso, or my right arm.’

‘I never expected to get so many tattoos, so I don’t really know how many more I will get.’

MORE: These tattoos are badly done on purpose and people love them

MORE: International Women’s Day: Celebrating the women who are empowered by their tattoos


Bumbags are a thing of the past, we’re now wearing necklace bags

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(Picture: Jacquemus)

Why wear your bag on your shoulder when you could be wearing it around your neck?

If you just about got used to fannypacks being trendy then you’ll have to adjust your fashion sense again, because necklace bags are now the it accessory.

A necklace bag is pretty much what it sounds like; a bag the size of a wallet connected to a strap that goes around your neck.

Models on the runway have been showing off the trend, and with major designers creating their own versions of it, we might just be seeing more people on the streets rocking the necklace bag.

Luxury brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Gabriela Hearst are set to drop their necklace bags after French brand Jacquemus brought out a few in their new collection.

A necklace bag might be perfect for festivals or even a night out when you can’t be bothered to carry a handbag, but need to take the essentials.

But judging by the size of the Jacquemus designs, a necklace bag might not fit your phone. For some reason, tiny bags are all the rage at the moment.

'Necklace bags' are now a thing, and they're an upscale take on fanny packs The "necklace bag" is becoming a hot new accessory. Jacquemus/Shopbop The fanny pack first came out as a fashion statement in 2012. Seven years later, the necklace bag, literally a small bag worn like a necklace, is becoming a new trend as models begin walking on the runway with it. The necklace bag appears classier and more formal than the fanny pack, and has already emerged on the lineup of several luxury brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Gabriela Hearst. The bag comes in varying colors and shapes; you can wear them as a square or a round purse.
When you need a bag to draw attention to your perfectly sculpted chest (Picture: Jacquemus)

The French retailer has styled the bag on a male and female model, suggesting that perhaps the necklace bag could be the gender-neutral product that unites us all.

Whether you’re wearing a necklace bag with trackies or a dress on a night out, the small bags can hold your money, your bank card and perhaps a few bits of makeup… and that’s about it. Like we said, they’re pretty small.

The Jacquemus range comes in white and gold, baby blue or yellow.

'Necklace bags' are now a thing, and they're an upscale take on fanny packs The "necklace bag" is becoming a hot new accessory. Jacquemus/Shopbop The fanny pack first came out as a fashion statement in 2012. Seven years later, the necklace bag, literally a small bag worn like a necklace, is becoming a new trend as models begin walking on the runway with it. The necklace bag appears classier and more formal than the fanny pack, and has already emerged on the lineup of several luxury brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Gabriela Hearst. The bag comes in varying colors and shapes; you can wear them as a square or a round purse.
(Picture: Jacquemus)

It’ll cost you a pretty penny, as the Le Pitchou leather coin purse is available for £198 on Matches while the Le Gadjo XS is up for £275. 

But hey, convenience costs.

We don’t imagine other designer versions will be any cheaper. But if the trend takes off, we might be seeing it in high street stores soon enough.

MORE: Behold the next fashion trend: tiny handbags that hold barely anything

MORE: If you thought paying 5p for a plastic shopping bag was bad, ASOS is selling one for £15

MORE: People are saying this Fashion Nova romper looks like a toe

Teen can’t wait to marry best friend’s mum – who he’s known since he was 11

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(Picture: Jaimee Brown/Caters News)

A teenager can’t wait to marry his best friend’s mum despite her being two decades older than him – and he’s already proposed ‘hundreds of times’.

18-year-old Chase Gabbard first made a move on mum-of-three Jaimee Brown, 39, after they met when Chase was 11, through him becoming best friends with her son Jaice, now 16.

The pair, from Corbin, Kentucky, USA, spent years getting to know one another and became closer from 2013 when they began jogging together to help her lose weight – running up to ten miles a day.

Within a year Jaimee had shed more than seven stone, but it wasn’t until Chase turned 18 that he realised he was attracted to his best friend’s mother and kissed her.

Shocked by their attraction to one another, the pair began dating and found they had more in common than not. They claim Jaice is happy for them.

Jaimee, a claims agent, said: ‘I had no idea about Chase or my feelings before he kissed me, it was a total shock but since then we have been inseparable.

‘I have three kids, so the first thing was that I had to be sure they were OK with it, as they are my number one priority.

PICS BY JAIMEE BROWN / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: The couple say they have more in common than they dont despite their 20 year age gap, the pair love spontaneous trips, visiting abnandoned locations and general fun - they have been confused for mother and son but not received too much in the way of offensive comments about their love. The engaged pair hope to get married in future, to ensure this happens Chase has proposed nearly every day since she initially said yes two months into their relationship) - A teenager cant wait to marry his best friends mother who is two decades older than him and has already proposed hundreds of times. Chase Gabbard, 18, first made-a-move on, mum-of-three Jaimee Brown, 39, after they had spent years getting to know one another on long runs and hanging out. The pair from Corbin, Kentucky, USA, first met when Chase was 11, through him becoing best friends with her son Jaice, now 16, after bonding over videogames. But from 2013, Chase and Jaimee became closer after they began jogging together to help her lose weight - running up to ten miles a day. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Jaimee Brown/Caters News)

‘But none of them had a problem, we all loved each other anyway and when we told Jaice he was fine with it too – they are still best friends.

‘The first proposal happened during a scavenger hunt was a surprise, I had no idea, I went all over town to end in my bathroom closet.

‘I don’t think you can put a time limit on love, if you know you know.

‘I have to wait for my divorce to come through, but we have already planned our beautiful wedding and written our own vows.’

Chase cannot pinpoint when his feelings for Jaimee turned from friendly to romantic but took a ‘gamble’ weeks after turning 18 when he kissed her.

Chase proposed after two months through a scavenger hunt and since claims he has asked her to marry him up to 300 times – nearly once a day.

His proposals have ranged from popping the question in a relaxed way to having ‘Marry Me’ written on a hot sauce packet.

Chase, a handyman, said: ‘I love Jaimee’s personality, I knew I wanted to marry her straight away.

‘There are so many things I like about her, she has a great sense of humour, she stops me from being lazy and there are so many other things.’

Despite each of the couple’s mothers initially struggling with the relationship – as Jaimee went to school with Chase’s mother – they now give their blessing.

PICS BY JAIMEE BROWN / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: The couple say they have more in common than they dont despite their 20 year age gap, the pair love spontaneous trips, visiting abnandoned locations and general fun - they have been confused for mother and son but not received too much in the way of offensive comments about their love. The engaged pair hope to get married in future, to ensure this happens Chase has proposed nearly every day since she initially said yes two months into their relationship) - A teenager cant wait to marry his best friends mother who is two decades older than him and has already proposed hundreds of times. Chase Gabbard, 18, first made-a-move on, mum-of-three Jaimee Brown, 39, after they had spent years getting to know one another on long runs and hanging out. The pair from Corbin, Kentucky, USA, first met when Chase was 11, through him becoing best friends with her son Jaice, now 16, after bonding over videogames. But from 2013, Chase and Jaimee became closer after they began jogging together to help her lose weight - running up to ten miles a day. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Jaimee Brown/Caters News)

The couple admit they have been confused for mother and son, but believe this is just part of being in an age-gap relationship.

Now the whole family hang out together, with the couple even going on double-dates with oldest son Jaice.

Jaimee said: ‘We are not about that in public, even with ‘regular relationships’, but we hold hands and kiss one another on the forehead, nothing inappropriate. We’re just a regular couple.

‘Nobody has openly said anything, we may get a funny look sometimes or “Can you ask your mom” something.

‘It’s to be expected, I understand, I’m nearly the same age as his mother, but as far as people saying anything negative it hasn’t happened.

‘He is my son’s best friend and I went to school with his mother.

‘There was friction, but now she doesn’t seem to care and is a lot more supportive now.

‘I can see that being a concern of any parent, but I guess any relationship is a gamble whether it’s same age, same sex, different ages or anything.’

Part of joining the family has required Chase to embrace the role of stepfather to Jaimee’s three children – where he walks the line between friend and father.

But Jaice said he and Chase are still ‘best friends’ – despite Chase now technically being his stepdad.

Jaice said: ‘We are still best friends, because we still hang out, have fun and play video games together. Just like we did before.

‘They were happy so that’s all that mattered. They are a cute couple.’

Chase added: ‘Thankfully it hasn’t affected Jaime and I as best friends really, I don’t think we could stop being friends, we are just so close.

‘I have embraced being stepdad, nothing has really changed though as they are great and good-minded kids, so I don’t have to get onto them too much.

‘I’m at the point where I don’t care what anyone else says or thinks, as long as we are happy that’s all that matters.’

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Head & Shoulders accused of cultural appropriation with ‘English braid’ hairstyle

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(Picture: The Braid Bar)

Head & Shoulders has been accused of cultural appropriation after naming a hairstyle comprised of three slim braids the ‘English braid’.

The hair care brand say that they created the look in partnership with The Braid Bar in support of the Fifa Women’s World Cup this summer.

The three braids are meant to represent the three lions and fans are encouraged to wear the look when watching the Lionesses play this June.

However, some critics have taken issue with the name – ‘English braid’ – when the style appears to look exactly like cornrows or canerows – a traditional African style, specific for those with Afro hair.

Writing on Twitter, Nadine White, who spotted the launch of the style in Hello Magazine, said, ‘These look like cornrows/canerows … There’s concern that this “rebranding” is cultural appropriation.’

‘Brraid [sic] it like Beckham. Jesus wept, we can’t have anything,’ replied one Twitter user.

‘English braid it IS NOT. Its centuries old and AFRICAN,’ added another.

As much as we all want to get behind the England team this summer, we’re sure there’s a way of doing that without erasing the rich history of this ancient, African style.

But Head & Shoulders says that was never their intention.

Responding to the criticism, a Head & Shoulders spokesperson explained the thinking behind the style; ‘Head & Shoulders partnered with The Braid Bar to create the design.

‘It has three braids on the scalp to signify the three Lions on the England football shirt, the three braids can be worn in any preferred braid style. Head & Shoulders is encouraging fans to wear the braid to show their support for the English Women’s Football Team this summer.

‘Head & Shoulders did not intend to undermine any existing cultural hair heritage with the naming of this style, it was designed to allow fans to show their support for the team.’

The spokesperson went on to tell Metro.co.uk that the name of the style is now being reviewed.

A spokesperson from The Braid Bar added; ‘Head & Shoulders briefed The Braid Bar to create a design that can be styled on all hair types to show a healthy scalp which is the core benefit of Head & Shoulders.

‘The braid will be used to encourage support for the English Women’s Football Team this summer.

‘In response to the brief we created a style that has three braids on the scalp to signify the three Lions on the England football shirt. The three braids can be worn in any preferred braid style.’

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People are roasting this model in an ad campaign with an incredibly tight shirt

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(Pictures: Father & Sons)

We’ve all got a piece of clothing that is just a bit too tight – but we love it so much we insist on wearing it anyway.

Well apparently that is a look.

One clothing company has released an ad campaign featuring models wearing incredibly tight shirts – and people think it’s hilarious.

Father & Sons seems to specialise in super slim fit clothes for men.

According to their Facebook page, their range is ‘designed by a Father & run by the Sons. Exclusively made fitted shirts with unique designs including classic & casual style.’

The shirts are available in a range of colours but they are all very skintight, leaving little room for imagination.

They’ve also branched into very tight jeans and jumpers.

METRO GRAB FACEBOOK People roast model for hilariously tight shirt https://www.facebook.com/FatherAndSons/
(Picture: Father & Sons)

After posting the images from the campaign on Facebook, they received hundreds of comments making jokes about the outfits.

One post in particular, featuring bodybuilder and model Shaun Rezaei got lots of attention.

A commenter posted a picture this their shirt from Saturday night with the caption ‘I had the same sort of fitting shirt on at the weekend.’

METRO GRAB FACEBOOK People roast model for hilariously tight shirt https://www.facebook.com/FatherAndSons/
(Picture: Facebook)

One person joked: ‘Does the shirt come in a spray can?’

Another added: ‘Legend has it that’s he’s stuck in that pose because he can’t move his legs.’

‘That top button is going to take someone’s head off if he dares to move his arm,’ a third said.

‘Couldn’t find a shirt that fit, so borrowed his wife’s,’ another laughed.

A long sleeve shirt costs £44.99 – but of course you could just try an XS from another brand.

We contacted Father & Sons and will update the article accordingly.

MORE: Head & Shoulders accused of cultural appropriation with ‘English braid’ hairstyle

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First pictures from inside the world’s biggest Primark in Birmingham

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(Pictures: BPM)

The world’s biggest Primark opens this week – but these pictures are a sneak peak if you can’t wait until then.

The store includes a Disney themed cafe with Mickey Mouse ear shaped arches and interactive tables.

There’s a custom t-shirt lab with prices starting at £5, so you can print the perfect Disney themed shirt for a trip to the cafe, which is the only Disney licensed eatery outside their them parks and cruises.

The store will feature all the usual kids, womens and mens clothing accessories and shoes, as well as technology, stationery and toys sections.

If you need some time to relax on your marathon shopping trip, there’s Mills barbers and the Duck & Dry Xpress beauty studio.

There’s a second cafe, a restaurant and two coffee kiosks so there are plenty of opportunity for refreshments.

What is inside the new Primark?

Floor 2 – Kids, lingerie, Primark cafe with Disney
Floor 1 – Womens, home, Custom Lab T-shirt printing, Primarket with tech, stationery, toys, Primarket Cafe
Floor 0 – Womens – clothing, beauty, Duck & Dry Xpress Beauty Studio
Floor -1 – The Mezz Restaurant, coffee kiosk
Floor -2 – Mens, Mills Barbers, coffee kiosk

Outside the shop, digital windows display the latest things you can buy, including their new Friends homeware collection.

There’s also a personal shopping service and free WiFi throughout.

With 160,100 square foot of space, the Birmingham branch is 5,000 square foot bigger than their previous biggest store in Manchester.

The grand opening takes place on Thursday at 10am with around 5,000 people expected to turn up.

Over 1,000 people will work in the store once it opens.

Caption: Inside the world's biggest Primark store, which is set to open on High Street in Birmingham on April 11, 2019
(Picture: BPM Media)
Caption: Inside the world's biggest Primark store, which is set to open on High Street in Birmingham on April 11, 2019
(Picture: BPM Media)

But elected ‘friends and family’ got to visit the store yesterday and they seemed to be impressed.

One visitor said: ‘No expense has been spared – it’s going to take on the Bullring as the city’s No. 1 shopping destination.

‘It’s an amazing shop compared with what was here before.’

Caption: Mills barbers, which is housed inside the world's biggest Primark store, which is set to open on High Street in Birmingham on April 11, 2019
(Picture: BPM Media)

Another said: ‘The shop is truly transformational. It will be the top destination in Birmingham.

‘Children will love going through the Disney archways shaped like Mickey Mouse ears on their way in to the themed cafe.’

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Maternity service uses Easter eggs to show how far a cervix is dilated

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Facebook / kalmababytherapy https://www.facebook.com/kalmababytherapy/photos/a.464968140301783/1582534995211753/?type=3&theater
(Picture: Facebook / kalmababytherapy)

Chocolate eggs are apparently for more than just eating.

One maternity service has shown how you can use all the different sizes to have an idea of how far your cervix is dilated in labour.

The Royal Devon and Exeter maternity services posted the picture of the ‘Eggstraordinary Cervix’ chart on Facebook.

It starts with the 1cm mini egg, then the 2cm Lindt egg and the 3cm Dime egg, which is just a little too soon for any pushing.

Things increase a little more with the 4cm smarties egg, 5cm boiled egg and 6cm Kinder egg.

We then get onto the proper Easter eggs – the Milkybar egg is 7cm, the buttons egg 8cm, the Rolo egg is 9cm and finally the Cadbury egg is 10cm.

So when you reach the Cadbury foil covered egg, it’s time to get your baby out.

In their post they said: ‘For all the chocoholics out there a good way of knowing how dilated the cervix is in labour.’

But people said the visualisation was putting them off their Easter eggs.

One person said: ‘Happy Easter. The human body is amazing! I also think this might help me not ‘treat yoself’ with the eggs this year!’

Another laughed: ‘Excuse me lady midwife, how many centimetres dilated am i? Ermmmmmm roughly the size of a kinder egg my love lol hahaha.’

‘I’ll never be able to hold a Cadbury’s Easter egg and feel the same way again!,’ someone else posted.

MORE: First pictures from inside the world’s biggest Primark in Birmingham

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There’s an amazing Airbnb where you can sleep in this dreamy pastel ball pit

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There’s an incredible Airbnb in China where you can sleep in a ball pit.

The room features a ball pit space with a bed hidden among pink, white and grey balls.

Fluffy clouds and hot air balloons hang from the celing and there’s some cute pillows for you to relax among the fun.

The room overlooks Changsha city so there’s plenty to see outside as you have your fun.

If you want to keep your feet on more solid ground, the other half of the room is ball free but it is filled with floor cushions so you can relax.

Cherise Yau is staying in the room for one of her stops on a trip around China.

Cherise Yau
(Picture: Cherise Yau)

After posting the pictures in her Whatsapp group, her friend posted the pictures on Twitter and people are both amazed and distressed by the room.

Cherise explains: ‘I found this place on Airbnb whilst I was looking at accommodation online for my travels in China. I’ve never tried an Airbnb in China before so I thought “why not”. It’s also way cheaper than hotels – for one night, it’s £28.

‘I saw a preview with the photos on the website and thought it would be fun & unique! Plus my boyfriend is visiting me for this part of the trip, I thought it would be absolutely hilarious to surprise him with a pink girly place.

Cherise Yau
(Picture: Cherise Yau)

‘The place is exactly like the photos. It’s also pretty surreal, as it’s based in what seems like an old commercial tower block and the lift feels like it’s going to break down any minute as you’re going up. I was slightly concerned at first but as soon as you enter the apartment, it’s like I’ve walking into a rainbow. An explosion of pink and sailor moon themed decorations everywhere.

‘My favourite thing about this place is of course the ball pit surrounding the bed. It’s every child (and adults) dream.’

A few people said it looks exciting but most people were concerned about the logistics of stumbling through a ball pit when you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Probably worth it though. This is Airbnb goals.

MORE: Maternity service uses Easter eggs to show how far a cervix is dilated

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Sainsbury’s launches 1.8 metre long BBQ sausage

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(Picture: Sainsbury’s/Getty)

We may have only just hit April, but we’re already getting super excited for summer – and BBQs in particular, thanks to Sainsbury’s.

The supermarket is launching a new BBQ Sausage Sqwirl, and it’s set to be massive.

The sausage is 1.8 metres long and can serve six people. Or, it could just make one absolutely gigantic hotdog.

Curled around in a square spiral, the sausage can simply be put on the BBQ to cook evenly.

The pork sausage is made using tomato, smoky paprika and chilli seasoning to give it a Memphis style taste.

And, thanks to its easy cooking style, it’s a lot simpler than frying up an entire packet of sausages.

Sainsbury's set to launch an 1.8M long spiralled sausage just in time for BBQ season
(Picture: Sainsbury’s)

According to Sainsbury’s, the best way to enjoy it is served up in a hot dog style, in soft buns, with salad and coleslaw. Yum.

Rebecca Deeley, Product Developer for Sainsbury’s, said: ‘Our new BBQ Sqwirl is undoubtedly a showstopper for this season, and we think that no summer barbeque is truly complete without it.

‘Those wanting to serve up a juicy sausage to family and friends this year can simply fire up the Barbie, place the sqwirl conveniently on it and then flip it over– which means no more chasing sausages around the grill.’

The Memphis style BBQ Sausage Sqwirl is priced at £3.50 and is already available in stores across the UK now.

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Puppy with chronically swollen legs finally gets his loving forever home

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(Picture: Michael Swan/Caters News)

An adorable puppy with potentially deadly double-sized paws has his ‘fat legs’ to thank for finding him a loving home.

39-year-old Michael Swan adopted Sherman due to his large legs, which he said resemble those of Eddie Murphy’s character in The Nutty Professor.

The eight-month-old pup has lymphedema, a condition which causes a blockage in the lymphatic system – meaning fluid builds up in his hind legs, swelling them out of proportion.

The father-of-three, from Staten Island, New York, admitted the pitbull’s ‘fat legs’ attracted him to the dog, describing it as ‘love at first sight’.

PICS BY MICHAEL SWAN / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Sherman is believed to have large legs due to lymphedema caused by bad breeding that make his legs double the size - it caused him no pain but can make him tired more quickly on walks) - An adorable puppy whose potentially deadly double-sized paws has his Fat legs to thank for finding him a loving new home. Michael Swan, 39, from Staten Island New York, adopted the puppy whos now named Sherman due to his large limbs resembling those of Eddie Murphy character in The Nutty Professor. The eight-month-old has lymphedema, which caused lymphatic fluid to build-up in his hindlegs due to blockages swelling them out of proportion. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Michael Swan/Caters News)

If Sherman sustains a cut or infection to the area it could prove fatal, but Michael is determined not to let this risk limit his life – and wants to ensure the pup has his ‘best possible life’ for however long he lives.

Michael, a bus conductor, said: ‘Sherman is great, he’s a great big lug that’s for sure, we love him and it feels like he loves us too.

‘We noticed his legs will bother him if we run around a bit because he gets tired and will lay down.

‘But apart from that it doesn’t affect his everyday life, I don’t think he realises he has big fat back legs.

‘I thought that if god forbid, he lasts only five or six years, I will make them the best years of his life with me.

PICS BY MICHAEL SWAN / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Sherman now in his new home with Michael Swan his large legs dont seem to affect himn too much, if he got a cut there it could be fatal) - An adorable puppy whose potentially deadly double-sized paws has his Fat legs to thank for finding him a loving new home. Michael Swan, 39, from Staten Island New York, adopted the puppy whos now named Sherman due to his large limbs resembling those of Eddie Murphy character in The Nutty Professor. The eight-month-old has lymphedema, which caused lymphatic fluid to build-up in his hindlegs due to blockages swelling them out of proportion. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Michael Swan/Caters News)

‘If he gets a cut on his back legs it could be fatal, I don’t want him to stop running around or going through sticks though so I try not to limit him.

‘He could die if he gets a cut, I don’t send him into rose bushes but don’t want to stop him being a puppy and living his life.

‘I looked up the disease online, it’s something you see more often in humans than canine, but it’s what drew me to him.

‘If I hadn’t seen those big fat legs I may not have honed in on him that day.

‘I take him on long walks in the wooded area and to the dog runs, I will give him the best doggy life that I can.’

Sherman, who at the time of rescue was named ‘Mikey’, was rescued by Fur Friends In Needs – a team that has being running for over two decades.

PICS BY MICHAEL SWAN / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED: Sherman is believed to have large legs due to lymphedema caused by bad breeding that make his legs double the size - it caused him no pain but can make him tired more quickly on walks) - An adorable puppy whose potentially deadly double-sized paws has his Fat legs to thank for finding him a loving new home. Michael Swan, 39, from Staten Island New York, adopted the puppy whos now named Sherman due to his large limbs resembling those of Eddie Murphy character in The Nutty Professor. The eight-month-old has lymphedema, which caused lymphatic fluid to build-up in his hindlegs due to blockages swelling them out of proportion. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: Michael Swan/Caters News)

The condition has been caused by ‘bad breeding’ according to Suzanne Cappetta, 52.

Suzanne, from Middlesex County, New Jersey, was tipped off about Mikey through connections and decided to take in the dog.

She said: ‘I guess they were just breeders for money who didn’t want to spend money.

‘The owner told my contact that he wouldn’t take the dog to the vets and that he could have him if he wanted, that’s when I was called.

‘I was told he had a swollen leg, which I thought maybe a sprain or something, but when I got him, I realised they were both swollen and knew something was wrong.’

While Sherman has since been on medication, there is lot research into helping to battle the condition, which is more typically seen in humans.

Suzanne said: ‘It was an exorbitant amount of fluid in his legs.

‘I was told it’s rare to appear in dogs, could shorten his life and that we had to be very careful to avoid it getting infected.

‘People often shy away from dogs with special needs but it’s not always as it appears, in the right hands love can perform miracles.’

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Morrisons launches packs of rare double yolker eggs for £1.50

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Pictures to show how this Easter, Morrisons are releasing rare double yolk eggs in boxes of four. It???s no surprise that finding a double yolk is seen as lucky, given there???s less than one-in-a-thousand chance of finding two yolks in a single egg. The eggs are hand selected by Morrisosn eggsperts who carefully hold larger eggs up to a special high powered lamp to spot the outline of an extra yolk. Morrisons Double Yolker eggs will be available in boxes of four for ??1.50 from today. They can be bought in 11 selected stores; Aldershot, Bradford Enterprise 5, Camden Town, Chingford, Erith, Failsworth, Harrow, Maidstone, Plymstock, Preston Riversway, Redditch. For more information, please contact the Morrisons press office at The Academy on 020 7100 7100 or morrisons@theacademypr.com
(Picture: Eliza Fitzgibbon/Morrisons)

Morrisons has launched double yolker eggs just in time for Easter, giving you extra to dip your soldiers into.

Double yolk eggs are incredibly rare – with a one in 1,000 chance of finding one.

This is due to only a certain number of chickens being able to produce them.

Double yolks happen more frequently in young chickens, when they’re in the early days of egg production. So a chicken will usually be around 20-28 years old to hatch them.

These chickens produce a double yolker once every 100 lays.

Pictures to show how this Easter, Morrisons are releasing rare double yolk eggs in boxes of four. It???s no surprise that finding a double yolk is seen as lucky, given there???s less than one-in-a-thousand chance of finding two yolks in a single egg. The eggs are hand selected by Morrisosn eggsperts who carefully hold larger eggs up to a special high powered lamp to spot the outline of an extra yolk. Morrisons Double Yolker eggs will be available in boxes of four for ??1.50 from today. They can be bought in 11 selected stores; Aldershot, Bradford Enterprise 5, Camden Town, Chingford, Erith, Failsworth, Harrow, Maidstone, Plymstock, Preston Riversway, Redditch. For more information, please contact the Morrisons press office at The Academy on 020 7100 7100 or morrisons@theacademypr.com
(Picture: Eliza Fitzgibbon/Morrisons)

But you no longer have to get lucky to find one, as Morrisons is selling packs of four in 11 selected stores from today.

The participating stores include Aldershot, Bradford Enterprise 5, Camden Town, Chingford, Erith, Failsworth, Harrow, Maidstone, Plymstock, Preston Riversway, and Redditch.

The eggs are priced at £1.50 a pack – which is pretty good considering a large pack of six normal eggs costs 90p.

Robert Hoffman, egg buyer at Morrisons said: ‘You know it’s a lucky day, when you crack open an egg and find it has two yolks.

‘So we wanted to bring egg-lovers extra luck by offering a four pack of double yolk eggs. We hope they bring customers some good fortune this Easter.’

Pictures to show how this Easter, Morrisons are releasing rare double yolk eggs in boxes of four. It???s no surprise that finding a double yolk is seen as lucky, given there???s less than one-in-a-thousand chance of finding two yolks in a single egg. The eggs are hand selected by Morrisosn eggsperts who carefully hold larger eggs up to a special high powered lamp to spot the outline of an extra yolk. Morrisons Double Yolker eggs will be available in boxes of four for ??1.50 from today. They can be bought in 11 selected stores; Aldershot, Bradford Enterprise 5, Camden Town, Chingford, Erith, Failsworth, Harrow, Maidstone, Plymstock, Preston Riversway, Redditch. For more information, please contact the Morrisons press office at The Academy on 020 7100 7100 or morrisons@theacademypr.com
(Picture: Eliza Fitzgibbon/Morrisons)

Due to the rarity of these eggs, there are only 1,000 boxes available nationwide.

So, if you want to get your hands on one, you’ll have to act fast.

Happy egg hunting!

In other Morrisons news, the supermarket has launched some vegan mozzarella dippers.

The ‘cheese’ within the sticks is made from a mixture of coconut oil and potato starch, coated in a crispy parsley breadcrumb and cooked until brown.

The No-Moozarella Sticks are currently available in the majority of Morrisons stores, costing £2.50 for a packet of eight.

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How to spend 48 hours in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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At 2355m, Addis Ababa is one of the world’s highest capitals so it doesn’t get too hot. In 48 hours, you can see its palaces, museums, churches and the largest open air market in Africa.

I arrive early in the morning at the rather shambolic airport and after a short trip to my hotel to freshen up, I’m off to the St Mary Church.

Today is the climax of the Festival of Assumption of the Virgin and hundreds of people, dressed in their finest whites, are making their way to the celebrations.

Outside the church, they’ve brought out the sacred Ark of the Covenant, and there’s chanting, accompanied by Ethiopian rattles and large drums, before the priest gives his sermon. Worshippers approach and make donations in exchange for blessings. I’m the only foreigner and I feel privileged to be here.

The main wide boulevard in Addis is called Churchill Avenue, as the famous man helped rid them of the Italians and all the major sights lead off from here. Traffic is chaotic – vintage Lada taxis vie for space with ancient single decker buses spewing fumes. Ramshackle stalls lining the pavements sell everything, often in the shadow of unfinished buildings.

It takes some getting used to but it’s an attractive capital, surrounded by a crown of hills. If it all gets too much, there’s good coffee on every corner – not surprising as the beans are endemic to Ethiopia.

The Piazza district, built by the Italians is the upmarket shopping area with excellent restaurants. Food is often served on Injeera, a spongy sour dough flatbread, and you tear off a piece and scoop up meat and sauce. Wash it down with Teji, a traditional honey wine, or one of the excellent local beers.

(Picture: Rupert Parker)

Museums

The National Museum of Ethiopia features archaeology and anthropology exhibitions, as well as a collection of contemporary Ethiopian art. It’s also home to the skeleton of 3.2 million-year-old Lucy, the ‘grandmother of humanity’ discovered in 1974. The real bones are under lock and key, but two casts are on display, one lying down while the other is standing – our ancestors really were small.

The Ethnographic Museum was once Emperor Haile Selassie’s palace, and the royal bedrooms and bathrooms have been left untouched. The museum’s exhibits are arranged thematically, starting from childhood, then adulthood to death. Upstairs there’s a selection of traditional musical instruments from across the country.

The Red Terror Museum is a memorial to the victims of the communist Derg who ruled from 1974 to 1987. The walls are papered with photos and names of some of the estimated half a million killed. Many were buried in mass graves which have been exhumed and some of their gruesome contents are on display.

Churches

Holy Trinity Cathedral

(Picture: Rupert Parker)

Built in the 1940s to celebrate liberation from the Italian occupation of WW2, this pinnacled Cathedral, with its large copper dome, is the most important church in the city. The ornately decorated and painted interior contains the massive granite tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie and his wife Empress Menen Asfaw. Alongside are the imperial thrones, made from white ebony, ivory and marble.

St George Cathedral

(Picture: Rupert Parker)

This stark neo-classical octagonal church style, was commissioned by Emperor Menelik II to celebrate his 1896 victory over the Italians, and dedicated to St George. Inside, gilded stars twinkle in the sky blue ceiling and the walls have paintings and mosaics by the renowned Ethiopian artist Afewerk Tekle. Haile Selassie was crowned here in 1930 so it’s a pilgrimage site for Rastafarians.

Mount Entoto

(Picture: Rupert Parker)

Addis is surrounded by five hills and Mount Entoto, at 3,200m, is the highest. It’s where Emperor Menelik II founded the city in 1881 and his humble palace is just painted mud, with a tiled roof covered in green moss. More interesting is the museum, stuffed with imperial furniture, heirlooms and photos. His octagonal church is the oldest functioning building in Addis.

Shopping

Merkato

You can easily spend a day in the rambling Merkato, the largest open-air market in Africa. It takes up an entire neighbourhood and on first sight it appears completely chaotic, although eventually you find that goods have their dedicated areas. It’s second-hand everything and they say if you can’t find it in the Mercato, it probably doesn’t exist.

Nightlife

African Jazz Village

Situated in the basement of Addis’s historic Ghion Hotel, the retro African Jazz Village is a large, circular venue with a sunken dancefloor. It stages regular live music and Mulatu Astatke, the godfather of Ethiopian jazz music, often plays here.

Fendika

In the old district of Kazanchis, Fendika is a traditional bar known as an Asmari Bet where people come to listen to traditional music. This tiny club resembles a Bedouin tent, adorned with animal hides. Music comes from the Masenko, an Ethiopian one stringed fiddle, with drums and singers prompting you to do the Eskista shoulder dance.

How to get to Addis Ababa and where to stay:

Rooms at the Jupiter International Hotel cost around $100 per night including breakfast.

48 hours with Dinknesh Ethiopia Tour, including vehicle hire, guide and admission fees, costs around $170

Visas are available at the airport on arrival.

Ethiopian Airlines flies direct from Heathrow to Addis Ababa and fares start from £565.

These vintage baby names are making a comeback

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Mother and baby sleeping in bed peacefully

If you don’t fancy naming your baby after a Game of Thrones character or looking to the trendiest options, it might be wise to look to the past for inspiration.

Handily enough, Nameberry reports that antique baby names are making a comeback. So even if you go old-fashioned, you’ll still be on trend.

‘Vintage baby names have been on the rise for several years now, with some antique names climbing popularity lists and reaching the heights of style,’ write the baby name site.

‘If you like vintage or classic baby names that have been in hiding for a few generations, one of these may appeal to you — but don’t be surprised if you meet a lot of other babies with these historic names.’

So, what are the top options right now?

Top 10 antique baby names:

  • Arthur
  • Atticus
  • Audrey
  • Clementine
  • Eliza
  • Emmeline
  • Jasper
  • Margaret
  • Rose
  • Theodore

Names beginning with A are always popular, and that preference is no different when it comes to vintage names – Arthur, Atticus, and Audrey top the list.

We’ve seen Rose popping up on loads of lists, so it’s no surprise it’s in this top 10, but we are surprised to see Margaret hitting above it at number eight.

You’ll spot some old-fashion names in the most popular baby names of 2019 thus far, pointing to vintage names as a fully-fledged trend.

Posie and Amelia are both in the top ten for girls, while Jasper and Atticus appear in the list of the most popular boys’ names of the year.

Most popular girls' names of 2019 so far:

  1. Posie
  2. Isla
  3. Olivia
  4. Aurora
  5. Maeve
  6. Cora
  7. Amara
  8. Ada
  9. Amelia
  10. Charlotte


Most popular boys' names of 2019 so far:

  1. Milo
  2. Jasper
  3. Atticus
  4. Theodore
  5. Asher
  6. Silas
  7. Jack
  8. Finn
  9. Henry
  10. Felix         

MORE: These are the most popular Disney inspired baby names in the UK

MORE: Nameberry shares their list of the most popular baby names of 2018

MORE: Baby names inspired by gems, neutral colours, and the letter F will be big next year

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