Enter Luis, an adorable bald guinea pig who thinks he’s a Sphynx cat.
The six-month-old pet has formed an unlikely friendship with a group of affectionate Sphynx cats.
Luis and the cats live under the roof of owner Oksana Baltakiene, in Estepona, Spain.
Oksana adopted the bald guinea pig because she thought he would ‘fit perfectly’ into her Sphynx family – which consists of five-year-old Puke-Chalisa, three-year-old Bandita-Shani and Chikita-Mantra and Rango-Ramses – who are both two.
Thankfully, the cats welcomed the hairless creature into their house.
Cuddle time (Credits: Liukaa Balk`s/Caters News Agency)
Bonding over their baldness (Credits: Liukaa Balk`s/Caters News Agency)
Oksana said: ‘The cats immediately adopted Luis as part of the family and they think he’s their brother.
‘Sphynx cats are unique, they are very social, friendly and very intelligent, more than one may think.
‘And now we also have Luis who brings into our family some laughter, smiles and good emotions.’
Day to day, Luis can be found cuddling the cats on the sofa or climbing on their backs.
She added: ‘Guinea pigs are very social animals and they like company, so Luis loves to be together with the cats, and loves to be patted by them as well.’
A welcome addition (Credits: Liukaa Balk`s/Caters News Agency)
Photos and videos shared on social media show Luis adjusting to family life. In the snaps, he can be seen chilling with his brothers and enjoying some food with them.
But, like most families, there can be a few sibling dramas.
Oksana added: ‘The only cat who has a little bit of a strange relationship with Luis is Rango-Ramses, who is afraid of him and always panicking around him.’
There’s a rainbow prism cake making the rounds on social media right now, created by Hiroya Tsunekawa, a Japanese pop-up restaurant owner and photographer, and it’s so beautiful you won’t even want to eat it.
People are so mesmerised by the colourful cake that the recipe has since gone viral, with 16,700 retweets and over 75,000 likes on Twitter.
The best part is that it’s super easy to make – so you can create your own piece of edible art at home.
You only need 30 minutes and five ingredients.
How to make a rainbow prism cake
First, the ingredients.
The recipe, which was originally shared in Japanese, has been translated by SoraNews24:
Water
Milk
Granulated sugar
Shaved ice syrup or fruit juice
Agar powder
Instructions
Start by creating the cake base.
Mix 4 grams of agar powder, 150ml of water and 60 grams of granulated sugar into a pot and heat until it boils. At this point, turn the stove off, and add the next ingredient: 300ml of milk.
Once the ingredients are neatly blended together, put the base into the fridge so it can harden.
Then, get a fresh pot and repeat – however, this time, skip the milk but add 300ml of water instead, along with 20ml of shaved ice syrup or fruit juice.
Once done, pop it into the fridge to cool.
How many colours you use in your prism cake is up to you, but you’ll need to use different syrups or juices and repeat the above step with each one.
Like this:
Choose whichever colours you prefer (Picture: Hiroya Tsunekawa)
It’s just so darn pretty (Picture: Hiroya Tsunekawa)
You need to keep each part of your prism cake in the fridge for 30 minutes so it gets hard enough for the final step.
Once your various colours are done, take them out and cut them into cubes – then place these on top of your base cake (the clear one – as per the first step above).
These will then blend together in your cake tin, and once you cut into it, you’ll get a “sweet and creamy” slice with a “jiggly texture” according to SoraNews24.
The future of beauty post-pandemic (Picture: Cecily Spa)
With some non-essential retailers due to open on 15 June, businesses are preparing by implementing safety measures to maintain social distancing.
One area where this will prove particularly difficult is for the beauty industry – which usually has direct contact between the customer and the seller, in roles such as nail technicians, masseurs and bikini waxers.
In an effort to stay afloat while protecting customers, one company, Cecily Spa in Hertfordshire, has launched a ‘Covid-19-secure’ experience for people to enjoy while staying safe.
What does this entail, you ask?
For starters, all team members have undertaken coronavirus training and will be offered PPE in the shape of high-quality masks, gloves and visors, which are replaced after each appointment.
There will also be divider screens at each manicure station, between the technician and the customer, which, in addition to protecting you, also means that you don’t have to sit through awkward small talk, so there’s that.
Meanwhile, customers will be required to wear face masks when entering the premises. It’s OK if you forget yours at home, the salon will have some on-site, too.
There will be floor markers across the spa to promote social distancing (Picture: Cecily Spa)
Cash will no longer be accepted (Picture: Cecily Spa)
Additionally, spa visitors will also be required to have their temperature checked and use hand sanitiser on arrival, as well as declare their medical history – specifically any coronavirus-related incidents – ahead of the appointment, through an online consultation.
Other aspects of the Covid-19 experience include:
A full-time cleaner, solely dedicated to maintaining sanitation
Social distancing markers on the floor across the spa
Staggered customer appointments
All payments taken up front to reduce contact, along with a new section on the company’s website and a booking app.
You might want to bring a snack and drink with you – lunch will no longer be offered on-site, and glasses will not be used (so forget about cucumber-infused water).
Magazines and phone chargers will also no longer be offered.
Plastic screens have been put in at every nail station (Picture: Cecily Spa)
All customers will be required to wear masks (Picture: Cecily Spa)
As for the actual treatments, not much has changed apart from the fact that couples massages will only be given if you live in the same household, and customers will be seated two metres apart at all times.
‘While opening our doors is a few weeks away, we’re making sure that we’re really prepped ahead of the 4 July,’ said Haylee Benton, founder of the Silver Fern Group.
‘We want to trial our safety measures before opening our doors to ensure the safety of our staff and our customers as best as we possibly can.
‘This will mean a loss of 300 available appointment slots per week, but by planning ahead, we can hopefully look to avoid putting our prices up and still bring our ‘hybrid-spa’ concept – affordable prices/luxe experiences – to our customers as we always have.
‘We are taking pre-bookings now and are sharing all of our safety measures with customers in advance so they can feel safe and fully prepared for the experience ahead, whilst still coming to enjoy some time for themselves after what has obviously been an extremely difficult time.’
At primary school I was constantly coming home with bruises from walking into doors, tripping over steps and bumping into tables. As a teenager it just got worse.
In my twenties I would often put the dinner in the oven and forget about it until the smell of burning filled the house. Once I fell down the stairs, hitting my head so badly that paramedics had to glue the wound shut.
Then, nine years ago, I met my now-husband Jon. He quickly got used to me bursting our tyres every time I clipped the kerb while driving and wrenching his arm as I tripped over.
I would laugh it off but Jon would get annoyed at times. I remember the week in which I managed to throw hot tea over him, not once but a few times. He would say, ‘What did you do that for?’
Thankfully, it didn’t put him off because we went on to have a daughter together and were married a few years later. I already had my two sons from a previous relationship and our family felt complete.
Jon and Charlotte (Picture: Charlotte Smith)
When I lost my engagement ring just months after the proposal no one was surprised.
I laughed off incidents like these and thought that I was just accident-prone, but as the years went by it got worse. I would lose my phone, keys, purse, bank card… the list was endless.
Our finances became so bad that a bailiff once turned up to collect an unpaid debt I’d totally forgotten about.
I would also constantly break my mobile by dropping it and, in the space of one week, I crashed the car into our garden fence twice. Yet I still didn’t go and see a doctor about it – I assumed it was just how I was.
I didn’t even get too annoyed or frustrated either, somehow I always managed to find the funny side.
Then four years ago, a family member was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease. I knew absolutely nothing about the condition so I Googled it.
Huntington’s is a hereditary condition that stops parts of the brain working properly and gets progressively worse over time. As I read the symptoms, I was shocked to realise I had all of them: co-ordination problems, fidgeting, depression, irritability, trouble thinking through things, lack of empathy… Suddenly it all fell into place.
Reading the prognosis, it said life expectancy was around 15-20 years from the onset of symptoms. All I could think about was my children. What if I had it?
It took me a year before I saw my GP and was referred for a genetic test, even though I was sure I probably was suffering from Huntington’s. I was the busy with the children and just getting in with life.
I was told that my brain was comparable to a 70-year-old’s even though I was only 31 at the time (Picture: Charlotte Smith)
When the neurologist confirmed I had it, it simply backed up my suspicions. In a weird way, I actually felt relieved to know what was wrong with me.
Because Huntington’s causes dementia, I was told that my brain was comparable to a 70-year-old’s even though I was only 31 at the time. And as I’d been clumsy since childhood, I’d probably had Juvenile Huntington’s Disease, which they told me meant I would only have about five years left to live.
Despite receiving such shocking news, I never broke down in tears. The diagnosis made me prioritise what was important and spending time with my children became all that mattered to me.
Part of the condition means that I struggle to feel emotions as strongly as everyone else, and I can lack empathy. I think this has helped me stay positive, and the only time I’ve really had a wobble was when we had to tell the children that I wasn’t very well.
We’ve tried to be as honest with them as possible, explaining why Mummy might not always have energy to do things or sometimes needed to sleep all day.
The year I was diagnosed we took them on a five-day holiday to Antalya in Turkey and, as we all splashed around in the pool together, I soaked up every happy moment.
After that I was determined to create many more happy memories for the children, so I began a bucket list of things I wanted to do with them, including holidays, days out and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Disney World.
I’m 33 years old and the doctors don’t know exactly long I’ve got left (Picture: Charlotte Smith)
We couldn’t afford to go away last summer, but we’ve booked a trip to Turkey for September and I’m trying to raise money to treat the children to some nice experiences once we’re there.
Now, I’m 33 years old and the doctors don’t know exactly long I’ve got left.
I’m on lots of medication to stop the symptoms, as well as antidepressants and sleeping pills, but nothing can slow down the disease.
I’m also fed through a tube because I can’t eat without choking, I have carers who come round twice a day to help with my dementia and need to use lots of smart technology around the home to help me.
Jon’s set it all up so that I can use my voice to activate the phone if there’s a problem or I have a fall and I can also turn on the lights and things around the house with commands.
He’s sorted sensors that detect if I don’t move for a certain period of time and ones that tell me if I’ve forgotten to shut the fridge door, which I do all the time.
I can get up and down the stairs to my bed, but I’m very unsteady and I need a wheelchair when we go out because I can’t walk more than about five steps without feeling exhausted.
While I’m able to do things like pull on my socks and pants myself when I’m sitting on the bed, fiddly things like doing up buttons or zips needs the help of my carer or Jon because I don’t have the coordination.
And I’ve stopped cooking now because I was burning things so often and I couldn’t remember recipes or work out the quantities of the ingredients like I used to, so Jon does all of that.
I have good and bad days. Sometimes I go out of the room and forget I’ve even got kids, but my love for them is stronger than ever. And all I want is to give them enough happy memories to last a lifetime.
As told to Rachel Tompkins
You can donate to the fundraiser for Charlotte’s family’s holiday here
Paramedic Nathan Judge and healthcare assistant Charlotte Medcalf were due to get married last weekend (Picture: Judge Family / SWNS.COM)
Paramedic Nathan Judge and healthcare assistant Charlotte Medcalf, were due to get married last weekend, but had to cancel their wedding due to coronavirus.
They ended up both working at the hospital that weekend instead,and Nathan decided to mark what would have been their wedding day with a makeshift celebration at their place of work.
The couple had exchanged cards and gifts that morning, before setting off to the hospital, but then Nathan planned a surprise for his bride-to-be.
He arrived at Jersey General Hospital in his wedding jacket with a bouquet of flowers (the exact selection they had picked for the wedding, in fact) in hand and wearing a boutonniere.
The paramedic also contacted the wedding caterer Jersey Kitchen, and asked them to deliver what would have been the pair’s starter and dessert for them to enjoy after work.
On the day that would have been their wedding, Nathan surprised Charlotte with a bouquet, champagne, and their wedding dinner (Picture: Judge Family / SWNS.COM)
During the working day he snuck home on his break to set out a nice table cloth and champagne, then went to pick Charlotte up from her shift.
‘She loved it, there were tears of happiness in her eyes – that’s how she described it,’ said Nathan.
‘Her work colleagues had put up pictures of us around and we ate the same food we would have on the wedding day.
‘I managed to get home in the day and set up a table on the balcony, put down a table cloth and covered it with flowers – and got a nice bottle of champagne.
Charlotte cried ‘tears of happiness’ (Picture: Judge Family / SWNS.COM)
‘Then the maid of honour got all our guests to record a video message saying they were sorry they couldn’t be there, and that they were looking forward to next year.’
Charlotte added: ‘It was lovely. I was taken aback by all the surprises – I don’t like surprises. I like to know everything. But it was really nice.’
Local shop Sandpiper also sent out a hamper with teas, coffees, candles and Marks & Spencer’s ‘Connie and Colin caterpillar cakes, which would have been their wedding cake.
Charlotte said: ‘As a family, we always use Colin for our birthdays, so it made perfect sense to have him and his beautiful bride at our big day.
‘We’ve been to lots of weddings where we’ve had great wedding cake, however, they’re all quite similar. We decided to be more unique and hope everyone will remember our lovely Colin and Connie cakes.’
The couple both work in healthcare (Picture: Judge Family / SWNS.COM)
The couple first got together five years ago when Charlotte invited Nathan to her leaving do, as she moved to the A&E department.
They fell in love and after three years together Nathan popped the question while they were on holiday in Las Vegas.
They planned their wedding and hoped that as lockdown restriction eased they might still be able to make the original date of Saturday 30 May work.
Nathan proposed to Charlotte in Vegas (Picture: Judge Family / SWNS.COM)
But when one of their suppliers pulled out, they decided the best option was to postpone.
Nathan said: ‘Because of the Government’s advice we knew that we would have to cancel the wedding. It was gut-wrenching. We had spent two years planning the day.
‘I didn’t really think about it until the day before, but when we realised we had been due to be married the next day, we were really disappointed.
‘I decided to make it special for Charlotte.’
The couple will now make things official on 30 May 2021.
Xavier says Marjorie is really shy, so he was worried about her saying yes (Picture: 4C Visuals Group)
The images from the Black Lives Matter protest have been painful and upsetting to witness – but out of the darkness there have been some rays of hope.
The moment when an adorable young couple got engaged in the middle of a protest in North Carolina was a particularly hopeful moment.
Amid the powerful messages and protesters demanding racial justice, Xavier Young dropped onto one knee and asked the love of his life – Marjorie Alston – to become his wife.
Being proposed to while surrounded by protesters and police and wearing a face mask because of a global pandemic, probably isn’t exactly how Marjorie pictured this magical moment – but it didn’t seem to matter at all and she said ‘yes’ before slipping the ring on her finger and embracing her new fiance.
‘I wanted to ask her at the protest because going was her idea,’ Xavier tells Metro.co.uk.
‘She even helped me play sick to get off work. So her being four months pregnant and still wanting to go and make her voice heard, that really solidified it for me.’
During the protest, Xavier just felt like it was the perfect time to ask his big question, and he did it as the crowd started to head towards Downtown Raleigh.
‘She was shocked more than anything,’ says Xavier.
‘She knew I had had the ring for about a week, but she had no idea I was going to pop the question with so many people around. She’s really quite shy.
‘I myself wasn’t nervous. I didn’t think people would care that much. I was just hoping she would say yes!’
Luckily, the proposal went smoothly and Marjorie agreed to marry Xavier. The couple are now even more excited about their future, as Marjorie is due to have their first child in a matter of months.
‘It’s important to us because we’re a black couple, with a black child on the way.’ (Picture: Xavier Young)
‘The people around us were elated for us,’ says Xavier. ‘They cheered us on more and more as the crowd grew.
‘One guy was heard in the video saying – “And look! Out of the storm comes something beautiful,” so people were really feeling it.’
‘She had no idea I was going to pop the question with so many people around.’ (Picture: Xavier Young)
The protests that have swept every state in America and are now spreading throughout the world, are really important to this young couple. They’re keen to march for justice and campaign for change.
‘We were at the protests to protest police brutality specifically against black people and protesting the death of George Floyd,’ explains Xavier.
‘It’s important to us because we’re a black couple, with a black child on the way. So situations like this hit home for us.’
It’s incredibly encouraging to see stories of hope and love emerge from the trauma of the past few weeks.
We wish Xavier and Marjorie all the best with the wedding and their new baby.
Do you have a story to tell? We want to hear from you.
Sext safely (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Let us be clear from the get-go.
Having your naked photos shared without your consent is never your fault. You are not to blame. You are the victim of an awful act and there is absolutely no benefit in going over all the ways you ‘should’ have or could have prevented it – the issue lies squarely with the person who decided to break your trust.
It’s worth noting, though, that there are ways sexting can go wrong outside of an abuse of consent and trust. Phones can be hacked or nicked. Photos can be accidentally sent to the wrong people.
Thankfully, there are steps we can take to make the act of sending nudes safer, and to lessen the impact should photos fall into the wrong virtual hands.
We chatted with Mia Sabat, sex therapist at Emjoy, for her advice.
Use a secure platform
If you’re on an app where images can easily be downloaded, saved, and shared without your knowledge, it’s probably not the best option for sending sexy stuff.
The same goes for apps that automatically save messages sent to the cloud, or platforms that are easily and often hacked.
‘Be sure to use a secure platform when sending personal images to help you maintain control over who sees them, as well as where and when they might be enjoyed,’ says Mia. ‘We recommend against using platforms where photos can be saved, as you have little control over where these images might end up.
‘Instead, use platforms like Snapchat, which have timed messages and notify senders any time a screenshot is taken or an image is saved, so you can keep tabs on your pics and focus on having fun.
‘If you’d like to keep things more traditional, and you are comfortable with your photograph being kept, try creating a new email address through a secure platform, like ProtonMail, that is fully encrypted, so as to protect your data and your personal information.
‘If you’d like to take it one step further, create your account under a new name, so that if your images are leaked, they can’t be traced back to you. When in doubt, go with your instincts and do what makes you feel the most safe and comfortable.’
Keep the focus on your body
It’s never a bad idea to keep your face out of nude pics, whether you just have a below-the-chin rule for poses, artfully obscure your face with a prop, or do some cropping before sending.
This helps you to maintain anonymity and can make you more comfortable, too. No need to worry about whether you’re supposed to smile or pout if your head isn’t in the frame.
There are steps you can take to protect yourself (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Try to hide identifying details, too
‘If you have tattoos, distinctive birthmarks, scars or other physical markers that could easily identify you, it’s harder to protect your identity – but not impossible,; says Mia.
‘Try out the suggestive draping of scarves, clothing, lingerie, or even sex toys to cover specific marks you’d prefer were shielded or obscured.
‘ This will help you maintain your anonymity, with the added bonus of ramping up the heat and leaving your partner begging for more.’
Turn off your location
Mia explains: ‘Location services essentially act like a fingerprint on your phone.
‘If your location services are on, every image you take will be encrypted with your location information, which can be traced back to your IP address.
‘Turn off location services for an extra measure of security, so you can exchange photos and feel care-free knowing you’ve covered your bases and kept your personal data, quite literally, out of the picture.’
Turn off automatic uploads
Trust us, you don’t want private photos automatically uploading to your iCloud account… especially if you share any tablets or laptops with friends and family, but also in case of a hack.
‘If you have an iPhone, and use the Cloud, every picture you take will automatically upload to your iCloud account,’ says Mia. ‘We recommend manually turning off these automatic uploads, so that your personal accounts are protected.
‘This way, if any of your accounts linked to iCloud are hacked, your nudes are safe.’
Avoid the camera roll
If you’ve ever experienced the sheer panic of showing your friend a photo on your phone, only to have them go to scroll through your roll, you need to change up your sexting storage.
Mia says: ‘If you’d prefer to keep your nudes all in one place, try storing your images in secure apps like Photo Vault or Snapchat’s My Eyes Only section, which let you store and protect specific pictures in the app and remove them from your camera roll.
‘If you’d like to keep your images far from your phone, try investing in an external hard-drive. These external devices are completely separate from any digital accounts (such as iCloud or GoogleDrive) and only store the images you upload onto the device.
‘Since they aren’t linked to the internet, you can store all your indelicate images without fear of the device being hacked, or your images being leaked. Whichever way you’d like to store your images, you can rest assured that you can scroll in front of others without fear of a saucy picture popping up unexpectedly.’
Know your rights
As we said, regardless of what measures you’ve taken, if a naked pic of you is shared without your permission or ends up online, you are not to blame and you have the right to get support.
Revenge porn is a criminal offence and if you’re a victim of it, it’s important to contact the police.
The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative has a lot of helpful further information about what victims can do and how to find support.
Why didn’t I hold them to account with all guns blazing? (Picture: Sam Renke)
As I replied to a text from a friend with a smiley face emoji and continued our conversation, I couldn’t help but be stung by her words.
‘You’re not like other disabled people,’ her message read.
The truth was this comment lingered at the forefront of my mind not just for the duration of our conversation but for the rest of the day. I felt sad, a little frustrated and just a tad angry too because that sentence was loaded and it should have been challenged.
How I should have replied, instead of a silly emoji, was to say that those sort of comments aren’t compliments in the slightest.
Instead, they are ableist – putting disabled people into a box and reducing them to stereotypes.
I know the person who wrote it intended it to flatter me. They meant that I defied their expectations of what a disabled person is supposed to be like – expectations shaped by years of poor media representation and reductive tropes.
Because I am confident, successful, in touch with my sexuality and – if I may say so – a rather snazzy dresser, I don’t suppose I do fit any of the labels society has handed me and other disabled people over the years.
From the moment I was born, society sought to place me into a box. My parents used to recount the doctors telling them after I was born to pray for me because I wouldn’t amount to much.
It’s ironic to be so often reduced to my disability by people like those doctors, but then be told frequently that I’m not like other disabled people.
Many of my friends have expressed similar experiences, particularly those who have invisible disabilities, such as autism. They often get told that they don’t look disabled – because all disabled people look the same way to non-disabled people, right?
I’m not angry at those who make these comments because I know that if I were to challenge them, they would recoil knowing that they had participated in such ableism and bias.
So you’re probably wondering why I didn’t immediately correct the person I was talking to. Why didn’t I hold them to account with all guns blazing?
Funnily enough, it’s because I don’t want to upset anyone or make them feel bad for saying something that came from a place of ignorance, rather than malice.
I’ve also just become so used to the comments that I’ve come to accept them as part and parcel of being a disabled woman. I’m used to daily microaggressions chipping away at my identity, self-worth and self-love.
Before I became a disability rights campaigner, I lived under the illusion that I had to shut up and put up, never challenging anyone. I simply accepted the way things were.
For example, if I went shopping and the venue wasn’t accessible, I just wouldn’t shop there. Or if I was told my physical presence was a fire hazard in a bar (it’s happened), I would simply move on to one that didn’t see me as a nuisance.
If I tell you you have said something ableist, please don’t get defensive
Nowadays if a shop isn’t accessible I will campaign until it is, like I have done with the #DontWantOurCash campaign, which highlights how inaccessible high streets are.
If I’m told I’m a fire hazard I’ll speak to the management, reminding them of the 2010 Equality Act and my rights.
However, when it comes to re-educating someone I know, it’s harder. I don’t want to be seen as the politically correct patrol, and I don’t want to make someone feel awkward or guilty.
After all, are they really 100 per cent to blame for years of misinformation shaping their views?
Yet, going forward I will be speaking up a lot more.
I’ve learned that it’s not helpful to anyone to sit back and watch – we can’t let ignorance or fear stand in the way of social change.
We all have a part to play in ensuring everyone lives in a fair and equal society, free from hate, labels or prejudice. I’ve been inspired by others within the disability community who fight for that change and who believe in a better future.
I now believe I deserve respect and to be heard. More importantly, I deserve to be listened to.
What minorities could really use right now are allies. People that really want to help bring about change, a change in society and within themselves.
To anyone reading this, please use your free time in lockdown wisely. You have an opportunity to learn and research marginalised groups, what they are campaigning for and what you can do to conquer your own biases.
If I tell you you have said something ableist, please don’t get defensive. Accept it as the truth, ask why and really listen to the answer you are given.
As a result of the conversation you can go away and make adjustments in your life, knowing you’re better informed.
Be mindful of the language you use because through words our expectations and assumptions of disability are shaped. If you aren’t sure what language to use simply ask, there is no shame in showing eagerness to learn and grow.
Just because someone doesn’t look or live like you doesn’t mean you can’t be their ally.
Moving forward, forget what you’ve learned about anyone who is ‘different’ to you. Accept that you have unconscious bias and leave it at the door. TV, film, books and papers have lied, society has lied and politicians have lied to you.
Instead take people as the unique individuals they are and get to know them for who they are, not the label they have been given.
Before you drink it, we’d like to give you some alternative ways to use this caffeinated beverage – as it turns out, coffee has many more uses beyond keeping us alert in the office.
We asked experts at Coffee Direct to share their tips and tricks with us.
From pouring leftovers in your hair to getting rid of bad breath and decorating your home, here are 10 ways to use the nation’s favourite brown liquid.
Wood stain
Fancy giving your wooden furniture a quick makeover?
Coffee Direct said: ‘As well as being a natural, non-flammable alternative to store-bought wood stains, staining with coffee will give the wood a beautiful, caramel tone.
‘Coffee reacts with the tannins in wood to help reduce blotchiness and give the wood a uniform colour.
‘Simply wait for your brewed coffee to cool, sand down your surface and use a rag to evenly coat the wood. The darker you want the stain, the more coffee you use!’
Plant Fertiliser
Are your plant babies looking a bit dull? Give them a hit of caffeine.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Diluted coffee can be extremely beneficial to plant health.
‘As brewed, black coffee contains potassium and magnesium, it acts as a nutrient to plants allowing for stronger stems and a vibrant, green growth.
‘To use this as fertiliser, dilute your brewed black coffee so that it is a 1: 4 ratio (coffee: water) and feed your plants once a week with this solution.
‘Make sure there is no sweetener that could attract pests, and that your coffee is not too strong when “watering” your plants, as it could be too acidic for the soil.’
Coffee syrup
Prepare to have your mind blown – you can use your old coffee to make your new coffee even tastier.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Why not use your leftover coffee to upgrade your next coffee? Use coffee syrup to drizzle over your next coffee frappé!
‘Simply boil brewed, black coffee with an equal amount of sugar until it becomes reduced and thick in texture.
‘This syrup can last in the fridge for two weeks, so you can also use this to upgrade desserts such as ice-cream and pancakes too.’
Leave-in conditioner
Has your hair lost its shine? Forget expensive beauty products, and invest in great coffee.
Just make sure the coffee is cold before you pour it over your head.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Caffeine in coffee is great for hair. Not only does it encourage the hair roots to grow, but it stimulates the roots and improves scalp health too.
‘After shampooing your hair, simply pour cold coffee over your head and scalp.
‘So that the coffee doesn’t stain your bathtub, make sure you do this over a bucket. Put your hair in a shower cap and leave the coffee in for half an hour before rinsing off with warm water.
‘Do this once a week, and you will notice an improvement in the thickness and texture of your hair.’
Indoor decor
For this one you need beans, not brewed coffee.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Old or leftover coffee beans make rustic and beautiful vase fillers for the home.
‘Gather light and dark variations of coffee beans in clear glass vases, checking if they have a nice scent when combined.
‘Arrange your flowers in the vases, and you will find that the coffee beans hold the stem upright. If you do not have enough coffee beans to fill the vase, you could try layering them with other small stones, dried petals or glass beads for visual interest.’
Marinade
Coffee isn’t just for drinking, you can use it in your cooking, too.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Few people know that with the right spices, brewed coffee can provide a pleasant and delicate taste to steak, pork or fish.
‘Sauté one medium onion and four minced garlic gloves and add it to a bowl.
‘To this, add 240ml strong coffee, 60ml balsamic vinegar, 55g of brown sugar, 60ml Dijon mustard, three tbsp olive oil, pepper and salt to taste.
‘Cover your fish or meat in the marinade and leave it in the fridge for at least an hour before cooking.’
Natural pest repellent
Have an infestation problem? OK, you’re probably best off calling the professionals, but while you wait for them to arrive, you could try this trick for yourself.
Coffee Direct said: ‘The smell of coffee is great for repelling common household pests such as mosquitos, ants, slugs, cockroaches and more.
‘All you have to do is set bowls of coffee grounds out, and this should keep the pests away. We recommend freshly ground coffee for this, as the aromas will linger longer.
‘You can also put some of these coffee grounds in your pet shampoo to help naturally prevent fleas.’
DIY air freshener
If you don’t like the smell of coffee, this isn’t one for you.
Coffee Direct said: ‘Coffee is fantastic for neutralising other odours, which is why it makes a great DIY air freshener.
‘Simply place some coffee beans in a mesh bag and stash it away under the passenger seat.
‘The coffee’s natural scent will be released slowly, and the beans will absorb any unpleasant, overpowering odours.’
Ice cubes
Tired of watered-down ice coffees? This is the hack we all need ahead of the summer heatwave.
Coffee Direct said; ‘If you don’t want to water down your iced coffee, pour your leftover brew into an ice cube tray.
‘Freeze the cubes, and then pop them out whenever you need to make your iced drink extra cold and flavourful.
‘Depending on your coffee flavour, you can also add or adjust the ingredients in your ice cubes to upgrade your drink.
‘For example, you can whisk together sweetened condensed milk and leftover coffee for a Vietnamese coffee variation, or add some caramel to your leftover coffee before freezing for a Macchiato variation.’
Eliminate bad breath
We were surprised at this suggestion, since coffee can actually give people bad breath – but there’s a nifty explanation for this.
Coffee Direct said: ‘While those old coffee beans may not be good enough to make coffee with, they may still be edible.
‘Some may attribute their bad breath to drinking coffee, but it is actually the caffeine to blame – not the bean.
‘Believe it or not, sucking on a coffee bean can help eliminate bad breath.
‘As well as being much cheaper than a breath mint, it also tastes great and neutralises even the strongest scents such as garlic.’
The social media trend aims to spread hope in these dark times (Picture: Getty)
It has been a hard week to be Black.
We are being bombarded with images of racial injustice on social media, protesting in the streets for basic human rights, and taking on a lot of the burden of educating friends and colleagues about the history of racism.
It is a lot. And it is truly exhausting. Many Black people are sharing just how mentally drained they are from the events of the last few weeks, and the toll it has been taking on their mental and emotional well-being.
But a new trend is emerging on social media to try to counteract the torrents of negativity – and it is absolutely what we need right now.
Black women are sharing what they love about being Black – on Twitter threads or on Instagram stories – and they’re tagging their friends to keep the cycle going.
They are sharing everything from their physical characteristics, to food and music culture, and it really is the soothing balm we all need during this challenging time.
Valerie Isaiah Sadoh, from north London, was inspired to start an Instagram chain of positivity after noticing how many of her Black friends were hurting.
‘I noticed a lot of Black people feeling overwhelmed or tired from re-living the painful side of being Black so that we can educate non-Black people who wish to be allies and fight for the cause,’ Valerie tells Metro.co.uk.
‘I realised it’s important to remind ourselves that there is joy, laughter, excitement and a uniqueness to who we are as a people.
‘We have to remind ourselves that the hate towards us is such a small part, and that there is so much more to us.
‘When non-Black people are learning about us and our experiences, they cannot glaze over the art, the storytelling, the greatness and joyfulness of our experience too.’
The messages have already begun flooding in for Valerie on her Instagram page and via Whatsapp.
There is no quiet party for us
‘One of the things I love about being Black is our party culture,’ wrote one woman.
‘We love our gatherings. I love the way we just drop by at a party with no special invitation, just follow a friend and you’re welcomed.
‘There is no quiet party for us. It is fun, passionate and lively. We love big and enjoy big.’
There is no mum like the Black mum
‘Another thing I love about being Black is the mum experience,’ added another.
‘There is no mum like the Black mum. She is everything. Wonderful, strong, exudes “big love”. She is your biggest cheerleader, but also your biggest disciplinarian.’
The aim is to tag your friends and keep the positive messages spreading (Picture: Valerie Sadoh)
Positive competition
‘I love positive competition,’ said another.
‘Whether it’s sports or in the classroom. I’m proud to say I have found so many of my brothers and sisters striving for excellence and keeping me on my toes in those departments.’
Humour
‘No matter where I go, I come across bright, witty and hilarious Black people,’ wrote one woman.
Community
‘I am privileged to have Black people in my life who have had my back and made me feel like family,’ she continued.
Valerie says seeing these posts has bouyed her and helped her begin to feel hopeful. She says her strength is ‘renewing like the eagle.’
‘It may be a long road to justice and reparation, so let’s fuel ourselves on nostalgia, love within the gift of being born Black whenever we are feeling low or worn out,’ she adds.
On Twitter, Black women are sharing their favourite things about being black after one user put a call out for women to express their joy.
Being Black is so lit, but I love that Iâm ambitious, passionate, caring, driven, intelligent, beautiful. I appreciate my skin, my hair, my eyes, my beautiful full lips and big batty and curves. I love my culture, my music. Also iâm funny as fuck. Black Women weâre amazing!!!! https://t.co/G1hOwVlDug
— Jessica “Black Lives Matter” Morganâ¢ð¯ð² (@jnoahmorgan) June 5, 2020
‘When Chaka said “I’m every woman” she was talking about me,’ wrote one woman in the thread.
‘I’m a bomb ass mom, smart, funny, beautiful, knowledgable about current events and pop culture.
‘I can hang with anyone, in any environment, classy, bougie, ratchet. I snort when I laugh, my hair is amazing.’
‘I love my tenacity,’ adds someone else.
‘My silliness, straightforwardness, the ability to stand up for myself even teary-eyed and voice shaken.’
Another woman wrote: ‘My ability to make it all look so easy and always find the humor in something. Because it is getting harder.’
While it’s important to stay engaged with current events and speak out against injustice wherever you can, it’s also crucial to remember that there is more to being Black than pain and struggle.
We hope these uplifting threads about the joys of Blackness will help to spread some hope and act as a reminder that the Black experience is multifaceted.
Have you got a story to share? We want to hear from you.
Memories of tropical beaches and balmy European courtyards seem like a lifetime ago.
Sadly, we might have to wait a little longer before international travel is an option – but UK staycations could be on the cards over the coming months.
Thankfully, the UK is home to a plethora of beauty spots – many of which have adorable Airbnbs nestled among them.
So, if lockdown has got you dreaming of your next getaway with friends, we’ve rounded up some of the country’s dreamiest spots for groups.
British beaches are often overshadowed by their European counterparts, but this property in Camber proves the UK has some notable coastal retreats.
The beach-front house has space for up for eight guests and is equipped with a bespoke kitchen, Apple TVs and high-end beds. But, obviously, the standout feature of the property is the stunning views of the sandy shore.
This Grade II-listed windmill looks like the stuff of fairytales.
At seven-storeys high, the towering mill features a circular dining room and a glass walkway overhead. There’s plenty of space for guests, too, with a master suite, triple room and a family room in the main house – plus three circular double bedrooms on the third, fourth and fifth floors of the mill.
In terms of things to do, the property has an outdoor pool and a viewing tower which boasts 360′ views over the Norfolk countryside.
This lavish Grade I-listed Georgian country house will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a Jane Austen novel.
The stunning plot – which stretches for more than 100 acres – features a large swimming pool, tennis court, orangery colonnade and two lakes.
But the interior is just as impressive. Think decadent staircases and Roman columns – which Elizabeth Bennett herself would have something to say about.
For a smaller party, this riverside cabin is ideal for a rural retreat.
The charming cabin has all the features you could ask for, from a woodland garden with a fire pit for outdoor cooking to swings and a stream to paddle in.
Just be prepared for an authentic countryside experience, with compost loos and an outside hot-water shower.
Like something off a chocolate box (Picture: Airbnb)
This Manor House ticks all the boxes of an idyllic countryside retreat. It boasts a kitchen with an Aga and a drawing room with open fire, amongst other quaint features.
The rooms also have a homely feel to them – perfect for games nights with friends.
Like other theme parks around the world, Belmont Park in San Diego closed its doors in mid-March to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
But it seems a global shutdown hasn’t stopped the park’s Giant Dipper roller coaster from running.
The historic ride – which is almost 95 years old – needs to run on the tracks several times a day, to stop the machinery from tightening up.
However, instead of letting a very lonely-looking roller coaster run every day with empty seats, employees decided to throw some cuddle toys into the mix.
With humans out of the picture, staff strapped stuffed animals in to ride the roller coaster instead.
Around a dozen toys – some of which were three to four feet tall – were belted and secured with lap bars, before they set off.
Steve Thomas, general manager at Belmont Park, has said that the ride could very easily run without the toys, but that staff were keen to give passers-by something to smile about.
Senior marketing manager at Belmont Park Daniela Bower told Business Insider: ‘We decided to keep the plush animals in their seats and use it as an opportunity to spread joy to passers-by.
‘The community has really enjoyed it and it doesn’t fail to put a smile on everyone’s faces as they see the roller coaster train go by with rainbow llamas, purple elephants, and giant teddies enjoying the ride.’
The incident has also seen protests across the globe, including in London’s Hyde Park, where on Wednesday (4 June), people attended to voice their anger and frustration, and call for change.
However, given the current lockdown in the UK, not everyone feels comfortable leaving their home to take part – and so some are instead taking to social media to show their support instead.
Others are donating funds directly to the cause.
If you’d like to give a few pounds – or indeed even more – we have rounded up eight anti-racism charities and organisations here in the UK, so that you can put your money where your mouth is.
Black Lives Matter UK
In just three days, Black Lives Matter UK has raised £439, 643 out of its £500,000 target.
‘Black Lives Matter UK (BLMUK) is a coalition of Black activists and organisers across the UK,’ the GoFundMe page description reads.
‘We’ve been organising since 2016 for justice in our communities.
‘We’re guided by a commitment to dismantle imperialism, capitalism, white-supremacy, patriarchy and the state structures that disproportionately harm Black people in Britain and around the world.’
The organisation has also outlined how the funds will be used, including pushing for changes in the law to support Black people, developing and distributing educational resources, training, police monitoring and much more.
Some of the money has also been earmarked to support the United Family & Friends Campaign (UFFC) in ‘accessing justice for friends and loved ones killed at the hands of British police’, as well as provide help for Black communities that have suffered the worst in the pandemic.
Belly Mujinga’s Memorial Fund
Belly Mujinga was a 47-year-old Black railway worker who died as a result of Covid-19 on 5 April 2020.
While she was at work at London’s Victoria station, a man spat and coughed in Belly’s face, with many alleging that this is the reason she died.
British Transport Police investigated the incident and said it did not lead to her death, however, The Crown Prosecution Service has been asked to review the evidence further, due to the extensive public interest in the case.
The GoFundMe page was set up by a representative from the station on behalf of Belly’s family, with an initial goal of £1,000.
At the time of writing, the amount raised stands at £190,009.
‘We’re expected to deal with police brutality, racism, discrimination and keep strong at all times,’ Leah Sinclair, a freelance journalist, wrote.
‘But no one is built or expected to withstand that except us and there are moments when we need to step back for our own sake.’
Black Minds Matter provides free therapy for Black people and their families with Black certified mental health professionals.
To support the charity’s work, you can donate to its current fundraiser. The aim is to hit £200,000 – so far, £141,450 has been raised.
Black Protest Legal Support UK
This campaign, which offers free legal advice and representation for the UK’s Black Lives Matter activists and protesters, had a modest goal of just £300.
As with most of the other causes on our list, it has smashed its target with the amount raised standing at £30,987 at present.
The next march in the UK is due to take place this coming Sunday (7 June) and there will be a group of ‘legal observers’ from the organisation at the event.
Stop Hate UK
Finally, there is Stop Hate UK, which launched in 1995, operating as a ‘service for victims of racial harassment’ – and in response to the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a Black man who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in 1993.
The organisation has an ongoing fundraising campaign to keep it going, including running its Stop Hate Line – a helpline for victims and witnesses of racism in the UK.
A donation of £35 will help run the phone line for an hour, while £150 will support five hours of ‘additional advocacy support to a victim of Hate Crime’.
Meanwhile, £4,000 means Stop Hate UK can run awareness sessions in up to eight schools, to educate young people about racism.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
Up until a few months ago, I had always been pretty accepting – then the menopause came (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, but over the last few weeks I’ve grown to accept you, my body, for all you are.
Hormones have thrown a lot at us, but despite it all your resilience and strength have prevailed. It’s been a long journey to love you again, but we’re getting there.
I can still remember the Sunday morning in November when my husband walked into our bedroom and found me sobbing on the bed, surrounded by crumpled dresses.
I had been trying to find something that would make me feel confident and comfy for a friend’s baby’s christening
But as I studied my reflection in the mirror in each one, everything just looked wrong. Everything felt wrong, my painful stomach made me look pregnant and frumpy. I felt disgusted by myself.
It is not uncommon for women to struggle to find an outfit for a special occasion – thanks to societal ideals, how a certain body type is idolised and body shaming, we are taught to hate our bodies. But up until a few months ago, I had always been pretty accepting of my own.
Then the menopause came.
At the age of 28, I elected to have a hysterectomy after a decade of excruciating pain caused by my periods and ovulation. From the age of 17, I would menstruate heavily – each time lasting a fortnight. Then, after a week, I’d start ovulating, which was even more painful.
I’d been tested for polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis, and although the results came back negative, I still had pain that matched descriptions of the conditions. I’d tried a whole range of birth control and pain relief, but nothing worked. At my wits’ end, I got a hysterectomy.
The worst thing about going through menopause was how my body shape altered (Picture: Rachel Charlton-Dailey)
As I was so young, my doctors didn’t want to remove my ovaries for fear of the long-term problems and risks, such as osteoporosis and dementia. But keeping the ovaries meant I still ovulated.
I was given the mini pill and then contraceptive injection, but they didn’t stop the crippling ovulation pain, which sent me to A&E twice. So instead, they gave me injections of Zoladex monthly, which nevertheless shut off my ovaries, plunging me into a medical menopause.
Lots of things changed when the menopause hit. My moods transformed at the flick of a switch, my body ached, my sex drive disappeared, I had to change my diet, and all the strain on my body left me constantly exhausted.
But the worst thing about going through menopause was how my shape altered. Having lupus, as well as arthritis and osteoporosis, it’s hard enough for me to love you as my body, when you’re trying to kill me, but I had made my peace with that. However, now, the menopause had made you unrecognisable.
My already small boobs shrank to pretty much nothing, yet ached constantly. My hips grew rounder and ached too. My stomach swelled, making me look pregnant. Ironic, right?
I wore almost exclusively big and baggy jumpers that hid my shape (Picture: Rachel Charlton-Dailey)
My changing body shape and the effects of the menopause also took their toll on my pre-existing health conditions. My arthritic joints were swollen all the time, so that some days I couldn’t even use my phone. My legs and hips became sore from walking and, for the first time in a year, I had to start using my cane to walk again.
Diet-wise, I had to cut out gluten and dairy as they made me bloat even more. Already being a vegetarian by choice, this limited my diet further.
All this extra strain made me permanently exhausted. As my body, you felt alien to me and not like you were mine at all. I felt trapped.
These sudden changes added to my already bad mental health, and convinced me that I was ugly and frumpy. I hated the idea of anyone seeing what my body actually looked like, and wore almost exclusively big and baggy jumpers that hid my shape.
Because of all the hormones and my mind being in the toilet mental health-wise, my relationship with my husband suffered. He was the person I spent the most time with, so he got the brunt of my bad moods. He had to deal with me crying at the drop of a hat, spacing out at times and forgetting the most ridiculously obvious things.
As is common during the menopause, my sex drive hit rock bottom. I had no sexual urges at all and felt incredibly guilty that I couldn’t sleep with my husband. At the same time he, fearing rejection, stopped trying to seduce me. This led me to feel unwanted and unsexy, which was ridiculous as it was I who had shut the idea of sex down in the first place.
I forced myself to stop scrutinising myself in the mirror each day (Picture: Rachel Charlton-Dailey)
But then, the sun shone. Literally.
As it started to get warmer again this spring, I realised I could no longer hide in my trusty shapeless jumpers – I had to accept myself. The hotter weather meant I was forced to confront my body or be sweltering all day. And I was sick of hating myself.
It was hard, but sitting down with my husband and explaining how much I was struggling really helped our relationship. While the catalyst for this was trying to accept my body, I’d had the niggling feeling that we needed to be more open for a while. I’m glad I was able to talk to others about my issues.
I forced myself to stop scrutinising myself in the mirror each day, and instead dressed in what I loved, instead of what it made me look like.
But it’s lockdown that has really helped with the process and moved it on much quicker than it might’ve done.
The time alone has made me confront my feelings head on. I knew I couldn’t continue hating myself so much. If I wanted to change I had to do it myself. When I had bad thoughts, instead of letting them win I had the time and space to confront them and rationalise my thoughts.
When my mind told me my thighs were frumpy and too big I was able to remind myself of how strong they were. When I agonised over my swollen stomach I was able instead to think about how much I’ve been through and how much my body continues to push through.
I still have bad days with my body image, especially as – like a lot of people – I’ve put some weight on during lockdown, but I try not to be as hard on myself.
My relationship with my husband has improved a lot too. Though silly squabbles are expected, we try not to let them escalate and I try not to take my moods out on him.
Over time, I stopped seeing the imagined flaws and remembered just how much you, my body, has got me through. Now I don’t hate what you have become, but feel grateful that you have been able to adapt so much to change.
My body has become stronger and I have become even more resilient.
LETTERS FROM LOCKDOWN
If there was one letter you could write during this time of shielding, social distancing and self-isolation, what would you want to say?
In this new limited series, Metro.co.uk are sharing the notes people have been inspired to write by their own lockdown experience.
If you would like to contribute, please email claie.wilson@metro.co.uk with the subject: Letters From Lockdown
A model wears a personal protection mask designed by Mulberry. (Picture: Edward Smith/BFC/Getty Images for the BFC)
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the UK Government are now advising that non-medical face masks should be used by the general public when outside the home.
Not intended to replace other protective measures, such as social distancing and hand washing, the British public have been told that from 15 June it will be compulsory to wear a face mask on public transport and those who do not comply could face a fine.
Although it will only be mandatory to wear face masks on public transport from this date, experts are calling for this to be extended to all public spaces where social distancing is not possible.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends: ‘wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.’
But where can you buy a face mask if you don’t have one already and is it safe to make your own?
Both reusable and disposable face masks are available from retailers such as Boots, Amazon and Lloyds Pharmacy, but you can also buy cloth face masks in different patterns and colours from websites like Etsy.
Jumping on the demand for face masks that are both practical and colourful, there are also brands that have started making masks instead of their usual product range.
Face masks are now available in a variety of colours and patterns. (Picture: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Such retailers range from bedding manufacturer, Comfy Group, who are selling non-medical protective face masks you can buy online, to luxury French textiles accessories brand Le Colonel Moutarde who are selling Liberty Print pieces.
Are homemade face masks safe to wear to help prevent the spread of Covid-19?
The CDC advise that homemade face masks will help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and say that: ‘Cloth face coverings can be made from household items’.
They also recommend that a bandana or old t-shirt can be used to make face masks if you don’t have a square cotton cloth to hand.
Just make sure that whatever fabric you use to make your mask is machine washable at 60C to kill germs and help maintain freshness and hygiene.
Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
Economically speaking, young people have had it tough over the past few years – what with university tuition fees tripling, house prices soaring and the cost of travel continuing to rise.
But how will the pandemic impact younger generations in the UK, who have been struggling to stay afloat the past few years as it is?
Edward Cartwright, a professor of economics at De Montfort University in Leicester, tells Metro.co.uk that young people should be ready for some negative economic consequences.
‘When the pandemic hit there was hope that we could essentially “pause” the economy and “go back to normal” when the pandemic passed – but that hope has long gone,’ Edward tells Metro.co.uk.
He explains that younger generations should brace themselves for long-term issues.
Edward adds: ‘Consumer confidence, business confidence, investment, employment, international trade are all taking a hit and that means there will be no short-term recovery.
‘On top of that we have a large increase in government debt which will inevitably put pressure on the government to reduce spending or increase taxes. So, the effects of the pandemic are likely to be felt for at least 10 years, in terms of employment and income.’
However, while it might seem all doom and gloom there are some positives which could come out of it, too.
An economic collapse could create a once-in-a-generation opportunity for young people to buy house prices.
One thing is certain – young people will be significantly affected by the economic fallout of this devastating pandemic
House prices could fall
Just the very mention of ‘house prices’ is enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone under the age of 35.
So, for anyone hoping that – after years of depressing headlines explaining how youngsters will be renting into their 40s – a fall in house prices could be on the cards, you’re in luck.
Richard Stone, chief executive of retail stockbroker the Share Centre, explains: ‘A sharp rise in unemployment is likely to be accompanied by an increase in supply into the housing market as many may be forced to sell their homes to relocate to reduce outgoings, lower their mortgage or move into rented accommodation. House prices will likely fall as a consequence.’
But he does stress that a fall in prices may be a superficial win, as there are still mortgages and deposits to consider.
He adds: ‘A house price decline in the current circumstances may not be much of a help as the affordability of those properties will depend on having the income and savings (deposit) to support the purchase – something which will be challenged if unemployment is higher among this group.’
This is something backed up Harjoat Bhamra, an associate professor of finance at Imperial College Business School.
She says: ‘From a housing perspective, the economic fallout from Covid-19 is unlikely to benefit younger people unless they already have enough savings for a deposit.’
Of course, a fall in house prices will also be bad news for those who already own a house.
Unemployment for graduates
Graduation is a milestone life event – a day filled with an enormous amount of pride, hope and optimism about the future.
But 2020 graduates are entering a new era – one of immense economic uncertainty.
Professor Harjoat Bhamra tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Younger people entering the job market are likely to have a tougher time than in the previous few years.
‘Entering the job market during a recession tends to have long term negative effects on a person’s career trajectory.’
Edward adds that we are already starting to see this take place.
‘We can already see that the young have been disproportionally hit by the lockdown, primarily because they are in jobs that cannot be easily done from home.’ he says.
‘Going forward we will almost certainly see a reduction in training opportunities and apprenticeships.’
Edward explains that a particular fear is that the country will see an increase in casual labour (zero-hours contracts) and low earning self-employment.
This is exactly what happened after the 2008 financial crisis. The country saw a surge in self-employment – primarily led by the young (25 and under) and old (65 and over) and much of this was low paid work.
He continues: ‘We may well see a further increase in young people’s dependence on low paid and poor quality work.
‘It is really important, therefore, that we channel resources to young people in order to avoid a generation of people permanently economically scarred by the pandemic.’
Professor Harjoat Bhamra suggests an option for younger generations could be to pursue further education, if possible, to delay entering the job market during a recession.
So, for those who have always wanted to study, now could be the perfect time to do so.
A tightening of purse strings but low inflation
Will we have to watch our spending post-pandemic? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro. co.uk)
Be it nights out, ASOS deliveries or hungover Deliveroos, millennials and Generation Z like to spend money.
But with experts suggesting that a UK recession is imminent, spending habits are going to change.
Richard says: ‘The younger generations – millennials and Gen-Z – are more likely to be employed in the hospitality industry, more likely to be renting accommodation and committed to contract purchases such as mobiles, cars and entertainment.
‘As a consequence they are more likely to be facing a drop in, or loss of, income and have more difficulty in reducing their expenditure.’
But Richard adds that it’s not all bad news.
‘In my view it looks likely the UK will be facing a prolonged period of low inflation. Indeed, we may even see deflation for a brief time,’ he says.
Low inflation usually helps a country’s economy recover from depression or recession.
Richard adds: ‘The pandemic has created a demand shock – people have stopped spending because they have had to do so.
‘The result will be significant discounting in shops to try and clear stock which is now old, and offers to try and encourage consumers back.
‘This may help make those purchases more affordable for those still in employment or with savings.’
Newfound interest in savings and investing
Society at the moment is a culture of convenience – where money is easily spent if it means we get results quicker.
Just think about how often we use ‘next day’ delivery on clothes, get food delivered to our doors or use Amazon Prime for virtually every other need.
There seems to be a focus on instant spending rather than long-term saving. Some might argue this is because millennials and Gen Z-ers know they’re financially screwed in the long-term, anyway.
However, the pandemic has definitely made all of us think about our money a lot more – especially having some saved for a rainy day.
‘The importance of having a pot of savings to help withstand unforeseen shocks and risks has never been more evident,’ Richard says.
Young people could find a new interest in savings and investments, as a result of it.
‘The savings ratio was at a low level going into this crisis and perhaps on the other side of it savings and investments will increase and be seen as an essential activity rather than a pastime for a few.’
What does the economic forecast look like for younger generations?
The economic fallout of the pandemic could create a one-in-a-generation opportunity for millennials and Generation Z.
A drop in house prices post-pandemic could lead to young people (finally) getting on the property ladder.
While this is a definite positive, graduate unemployment and cuts on spending couple are likely to make the next few years incredibly tough.
What Comes Next?
After months of strict lockdown measures, isolation and anxiety – we’re beginning to look to the future.
What will life look like when we emerge into our new normal?
Can things ever be the same as they were?
Do we even want them to be the same?
What Comes Next is our series of in-depth features unpicking the possibilities for the future. Every day for two weeks, we will look at the future of work, dating, mental health, friendships, money, travel, and all the other elements that make up our existence.
Our lives have been turned upside down, but change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
Michael McCaw, from Belfast, and Lucrecia Landeta Garcia, originally from Argentina, were the second couple to get married at City Hall in Belfast since lockdown began (Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Congratulations are in order for magazine editor Michael McCaw and banker Lucrecia Landeta Garcia, both 36, who have become the second couple to marry at Belfast City Hall since lockdown measures began.
The couple tied the knot with just six people present and observed social distancing measures, celebrating the big day with clapping and cheers instead of hugs.
But of course, the couple still sealed the ceremony with a kiss.
The six people in attendance included Michael’s best man Norman Ross and Lucrecia’s bridesmaid Ruth McNaughton, as well as their photographer and the registrar.
They were originally due to have a wedding on Sunday with 130 guests flying in from all over the world – then the coronavirus pandemic hit and their plans had to change.
Witnesses Norman Ross and Ruth McNaughton had to stay two metres apart from the couple (Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
‘We were due to have 130 at our wedding, maybe 70% from Argentina, quite a lot of people from London where I used to live and we have family in France,’ said Michael.
‘We’re at the age where we have a lot of friends getting married, many of them have pushed their dates to later in the year or next year, but with the uncertainty we just wanted to crack on.
‘It was a matter of just doing what we could. This has been, so far, a really enjoyable day, but also for me, thinking about this this morning – compared against a different wedding – I’ve never had a wedding before, so for me this feels good.’
The couple will have a blessing on Sunday with guests watching over Zoom (Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Michael said his grandmother died a few weeks ago in the Covid-19 wing of Antrim Area Hospital, and said he thinks she would have appreciated their wedding going ahead.
The couple is set to have a blessing on Sunday when many who had been due to attend their wedding will join them virtually.
‘So this wedding part one, wedding part two is on Sunday as per the original date,’ said Michael.
‘We’ve got everyone from Argentina, Australia, Japan, France, England via Zoom.
‘We’ll have a blessing, a few drinks, a bit of a dance. I can’t wait for that one.’
Isabella’s grandparents clapping for carers (Picture: Isabella Silvers)
Two weeks before lockdown was announced, I moved out of my Wimbledonflatshare to live with my grandparents in Hounslow.
I said goodbye to my housemates, my leafy location and my independence to save up for a deposit for my own house. I gave myself a year’s deadline before I had to move out.
Having previously lived with my grandparents when I first moved to London after university to chase my journalism dreams in 2014, I knew the risks of taking up my old room again: a sore throat from repeating myself (despite their supposedly-functioning hearing aids), the TV permanently playing Indian dramas and there being nothing in the fridge but dahl.
But there would be good things, too. My washing would be done, there’d be no rent to pay and no more arguments about whose turn it is to clean the kitchen.
I’d weighed up my options, and I felt that I could handle a year back at the place I felt was ‘home’.
Then, on 23 March, Boris Johnson announced that the UK was going into lockdown.
Gone were my chances to get a break from Hounslow; at the age of 27 I was about to spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week with my grandparents, and I was worried.
Lockdown is like Love Island, but for families (Picture: Isabella Silvers)
Would I be able to withhold showing my frustration at their lack of technical knowledge? Could I handle explaining, yet again, that while I am at home, I’m still working and not on holiday?
I didn’t want to snap at the people putting a roof over my head, but the struggle would be real.
As it turns out, I’m actually glad I made the move before this all kicked off.
We’ve settled into a routine – I grab my breakfast while Granny does her morning prayers and Grandad ties his turban for the day. While I work, they garden, then we come together again at mealtimes.
I’ve become the house bouncer when my stubbornly socialable grandparents want to break the lockdown rules and go out shopping or to see friends and family.
I’m their postwoman and pharmacist, dropping off and picking up their prescriptions, and their relationship counsellor when they argue over what we’re having for dinner.
I’ve also introduced them to a whole new world of online banking (something Grandad never knew was possible) and supermarket deliveries.
‘Do all supermarkets do this?’ they asked me. ‘Can you ask them for peanuts?’
It’s not all been easy. There have been heated debates over why I think women shouldn’t be the only ones in the kitchen and why I really don’t need to ‘find a boy’ to be happy.
But despite our disagreements, we’re grateful for the opportunity this lockdown has given us to get to know each other on a deeper level. It’s like Love Island, but for families.
I’ve learnt my granny is a total cheat at Scrabble and has a wicked sense of humour (Picture: Isabella Silvers)
Newly empty diaries have given me and my grandparents evenings and weekends together, one night a week dedicated to a family quiz with my parents, based in Birmingham, over Zoom.
They try to get me into Indian comedy shows; I try and get them into intersectional feminism.
They tell me about their experiences as refugees, struggling through the partition of India and racism after arriving in the UK; I then feel bad about shouting at Granny for not recycling the yogurt pots.
These moments have allowed me to understand their stories and my history more, but also learn that my granny is a total cheat at Scrabble and has a wicked sense of humour.
Hopefully they’ve learned a bit about me, too, including why I retreat to my bedroom if I’m feeling anxious. They’re now seeing me as a young woman, not just their grandchild anymore.
When I see friends quarantining with partners and flatmates, I feel jealous about being too far out for even a socially distanced meet-up, as I don’t want to get on public transport.
But coronavirus has also given me an even more urgent appreciation of life, so I’m trying to tune out from Instagram and really listen to my grandparents’ stories, knowing that one day they won’t be here to tell them.
As lockdown and shielding eases, I’m still too scared to let them go outside until I’m sure we’ll all be safe.
My granny keeps telling me to work from home forever, while I dream about those first overpriced after-work drinks at All Bar One.
Our ideals for what life will look like after lockdown might be different, but I hope we can both think back to this time as when we became friends as well as family.
Shannon Nelson and Scooter the cat are best friends (Picture: @amileinourwheels / Caters News)
Meet best friends Shannon Nelson, 49, and Scooter, one.
They have a lot of differences. Shannon is an adult human woman and Scooter is a tiny cat, after all.
But they’ve been brought together by the things they have in common.
Both Shannon and Scooter are disabled and both use wheelchairs to get around – Shannon has been quadriplegic since 1995, when she fractured her spine at the age of 24 while diving into a swimming pool at night, while Scooter is paralysed due to a back injury.
Scooter was rescued from the streets in Bolivia, South America, back in 2018 and was adopted by Shannon and her friend Rose Millan, 48.
The pair managed to borrow a set of wheels for Scooter so he was able to easily get around and enjoy the outdoors.
Scooter is paralysed due to a back injury (Picture: @amileinourwheels / Caters News)
Shannon, who is now living in New York said: ‘Scooter is my little best friend, he’s a fighter just like me.
‘We are survivors that have battled through our struggles to be here today.
‘When people see us in the street together in our wheelchairs they always smile at us, I can see in their faces that they are saying wow.
‘Me and Scooter are wheelchair warriors. He’s the most loving cat I have ever known, I love him to death, he’s definitely my best friend.
‘I think it’s important for people to know that adopting animals that don’t look perfect can still be the most perfect pets.’
Rose and Shannon are fundraising for stem cell treatment for Scooter in a bid to get him back on all four paws.
Shannon hopes to raise money to fund Scooter’s stem cell treatment (Picture: @amileinourwheels / Caters News)
Rose, a travel guide, said: ‘Scooter has an enlarged heart which is why he’s not a good candidate for surgery to repair his broken spine.
‘However, he was deemed a great candidate for stem cell therapy! Two specialists we visited recommended it. They believe that Scooter could possibly regain significant movement in his paralysed limbs’
Rose says Shannon and Scooter’s bond is extra special due to them both having a disability.
She added: ‘Scooter is an incredibly special little guy. Full of personality and scary smart! He loves to cuddle at night and wrap his little arms around his favourite humans. He absolutely loved sleeping with auntie Shannon
‘Shannon suffers from chronic insomnia and that little guy seemed to be the cure she needed as she’d relax and fall asleep when he started purring with his little face against her neck.
‘Hi, my name is Jo and I am 28 years old. I’m a single parent, I can only concentrate for 15 minutes at a time because I’ve recently finished 13 months of chemotherapy – oh, and I have one boob and I don’t trust anyone.’
After much consideration, I decided this might not be the best opener for my new Tinder profile.
I was reluctant to go on the dating app full stop, but things had changed so much since I was last single, it seemed like the only way I was ever going to meet someone again.
Five years ago I’d had a great job as a professional carer for Children’s Services, I was recently married to my partner of six years, we had an 18-month-old daughter and had just bought our first house.
But on 3 November 2015, I was diagnosed with Stage 3, Triple Negative Breast Cancer. I started chemotherapy the week before Christmas, and went on to have it three times a week for six months. That’s not to mention the steroid-induced psychosis, operations, blood transfusions and radiotherapy I also had to endure.
By the time I finally went into remission in December 2016, my illness had resulted in depression, anxiety, the loss of my breast and my hair, and had sadly taken a toll on my marriage.
When you get ill, ‘husband’ can become ‘carer’ almost overnight. It’s not exactly romantic to have your other half jump in the shower with you, electric shaver in hand, because your hair is falling out and you’re frozen in panic.
But I felt like my husband blamed me for changing the rules of our relationship. changing where we had been heading and how we were going to get there.
My illness had resulted in depression, anxiety, the loss of my breast and my hair, and had sadly taken a toll on my marriage (Picture: Jo Turner)
He was right when he said that our relationship had been pulled off course but the cancer had done all that, not me – I’d had no say over any of it.
It didn’t matter. Despite numerous trips to a marriage counsellor, our relationship was beyond repair.
It took months to even imagine having another man in my life. So many bad things had happened that I had become guarded, and extremely protective of my daughter, and when my friend Katie* insisted that I join Tinder (after a gin or two), I didn’t even know where to begin.
Pre-diagnosis, I had been slim with long, blonde hair, but cancer had changed me on the inside and out. I wanted my profile pictures to show who I was now and my new-found attitude to life but in most of my selfies I had no hair and a grey complexion.
I decided on a mix of pre- and post-cancer shots, including a photo where my hair had grown back into a cute pixie style. It didn’t take long for one guy to respond, asking if I had alopecia.
I told him the truth, and he blocked me.
Over the next few weeks, several other men ghosted me as soon as I mentioned that I’d been ill.
The older men were far worse than younger guys. They seemed to have a fixed image of what a woman should look like, which was apparently glamorous Pamela Anderson-types with hourglass figures and big boobs. With just one breast, I obviously didn’t fit that, and after everything I had been through it was incredibly upsetting.
I longed to be looked at the same way I had been before I had cancer, rather than the ‘soft smile’ of empathy (Picture: Jo Turner)
To my surprise the men in their 20s seemed more open to imperfection and were so much less judgemental about my body. One 27-year-old said that he simply didn’t care; another messaged reassuringly asking ‘who hasn’t been through crap in their lives?’
It totally went against the millennial, looks-obsessed, selfie culture we’re always told about.
Over the course of nearly a year, I must have chatted to 100 hundred people but had only been on two dates, neither of which went anywhere.
After going through such a huge amount of pain during my treatment, my only aim was to stay alive and protect my daughter. For so long I couldn’t trust that it would work, that the cancer wouldn’t come back, or that I would survive to see my little girl turn two.
That translated into not being able to really trust anyone in love. I would be opening myself up to more pain and hurt if anything went wrong, which made it impossible for anyone to stay in my life.
I realised I needed a break from dating apps – and from wanting to be accepted again as a woman. Looking back, I’d only really joined them because I was looking for validation from the opposite sex. I longed to be looked at the same way I had been before I had cancer, rather than get the ‘soft smile’ of empathy.
It’s hard to get used to the realisation that you will never look the same as you once did or that you’ll ever be the same, so after my treatment ended, I went to some ‘self help’ classes. While they were inspiring for my mental health, it didn’t have the same impact on how I felt about my body. I still needed to learn how to love my post-cancer self-image.
Pre-diagnosis, I had been slim with long, blonde hair, but cancer had changed me on the inside and out (Picture: Jo Turner)
Just as I had made the decision to delete the apps, I heard the familiar ping of a Tinder notification. I had matched with a friend of a friend, Lewis, and he had sent a message:
‘I saw your request on Facebook for some gardening work you needed – I’m a tree surgeon.’
It wasn’t exactly the lightning bolt moment I had dreamt of, but I arranged for him to come round and look at the work I had been asking about… and that was it. Despite a six-year age gap, the attraction between us was instant and he has barely left since.
Since we shared friends I presumed he knew that I’d ultimately ended up with one breast. He didn’t.
In fact he didn’t find out until our third date, when I spilled red wine down my remaining right breast and blurted out, ‘I’d be dangerous with boobs!’
It should have been one of those moments where I wanted the ground to swallow me up. Instead, Lewis asked, ‘Oh, right, what happened there then?’
Two years on and we are still going strong, and looking to buy our first home together.
Lewis has shown me how to laugh again and how to plan ahead – two things I lost after the fear and uncertainty of breast cancer.
He’s shown me I am a good mum, helped me regain my drive to succeed in my career and, most importantly, how to trust and rely on someone I love again. He’s also helped me to find a new love for my body.
I understand now that I am in a new place after cancer, and it means I love in a different way.
I still have wobbles and wonder if I am good enough for the man I love, but Lewis’ care and support has allowed me to realise that it’s fine for me to be me, whatever I look like, and it’s OK not to be OK.
Love, Or Something Like It is a regular series for Metro.co.uk, covering everything from mating and dating to lust and loss, to find out what love is and how to find it in the present day. If you have a love story to share, email rosy.edwards@metro.co.uk
