In the market for a property… and happen to have £1,400,000 handy?

If so, you might be interested in this incredible open-plan home that started out as a Victorian church hall.

If not, not to worry – we can still look at the pictures and imagine how we’d decorate.

The James Spicer Memoral Church Hall School was opened in 1890 in Chingford, North London, and around 20 years ago was transformed into a residential property.

In 2013 interior designer Gianna Camilotti bought the property and set to work on giving it a stunning makeover.

Now it’s up for sale through Portico.

The converted church, named Spicer Hall, sits on a quiet residential street and is a short walk from Chingford rail station, Epping forest, and the golf club.

Inside it’s pretty special, with an open-plan ground floor with two living rooms, a fireplace, a baby grand piano, a dining room, and a work station. Upstairs is a long landing that faces the nine-metre-tall vaulted living area plus two bedrooms, both with their own en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms.

The master bedroom also gives access to a two-storey loft, in case you need more space.

There’s a front garden and a larger one in the back with a seating area, dining area, decking, and integrated heating so you can lounge outside year-round.

Details-wise, you’ve got amazing high ceilings, original stained glass windows, oak doors and beams, 106 spotlights throughout, and, of course, under-floor heating to keep your feet nice and cosy.

Oh, and you might like that statement spiral staircase, too.

The home has attracted three international interior design awards and has been featured in lots of magazines as a result of its looks, and now there’s the chance for someone to call it their own.

Gianna Camilotti, who’s responsible for the property’s interior redesign, said: ‘As soon as I saw it on the market I made an offer because it was absolutely love at first sight.

‘As soon as it went up for sale, the next day I was there, I didn’t think twice.’

Ms Camilotti moved in straight away back in 2013 and got started on upgrading the building, completing an extensive interior redesign and furnishing the home completely over the following six months.

Later on she also added insulation, a fireplace, a second dressing room for the master bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe for bedroom number two, as well as a state of the art CCTV security system.

‘It’s been unbelievable the way it’s caught people’s attention,’ Gianna adds.

‘It’s a house that has plenty of character and original features but at the same time, cutting edge interior design.

‘It’s very particular and absolutely beautiful – even delivery guys can never stay quiet, they always say, “wow, what a house!”‘

Gianna is selling Spicer Hall in order to move back to Brazil, where her son is getting married.

The majority of the furniture, including a five metre long crystal table, is being offered with the house.

Gianna hopes that the house will find an owner who appreciates just how special it is.

‘If I could, I would take this house with me but I can’t, it will be painful to leave it behind,’ says Gianna.

‘I never thought I would love something material but it’s something that transcends the material, it’s something spiritual that I have with this place.

‘I want a buyer who absolutely cherishes it because it is a treasure, someone that will love it the way I do.

‘This is my biggest achievement as an interior designer.’

Vikki Bennett, spokesperson for OnTheMarket, said: ‘Spicer Hall is so much more than bricks and mortar, it is the perfect definition of a home built from one person’s vision.

‘It’s an enthralling place which has considered design throughout each of its many spaces.”

Daniel Cantle, from estate agents Portico in Woodford, added: ‘The vendor has created something truly astonishing with this property.

‘It captures the imagination of everyone who sees it and I know there’s a buyer out there who will cherish Spicer Hall just as much as its current owner has.’

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Lockdown has been tough on us all – but especially for new mums and dads, who are trying to navigate becoming parents in a scary time.

Josh Boffin has welcomed a baby in a time when his friends and family can’t visit.

Josh, from Oxfordshire, is 24 and is a key worker in a prison. His partner Hannah gave birth to their now eight-week-old baby boy, Teddy, on 3 April 2020.

Teddy was born at 1.23am weighing 7lbs 6oz.

Due to the pandemic, which has caused restrictions on hospitals, Josh and Hannah requested a home birth and were lucky to be able to have one.

Josh says he was ‘so excited’ when he found out Hannah was pregnant, but as the UK went into lockdown he felt immense anxiety about the world his baby would arrive into.

The dad tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I was more than anxious but can’t quite find a word to do that feeling justice. I was scared for what could happen.

‘Very limited research into the effect of Covid-19 on babies existed at that time, so I had no idea how possible it was for the baby to become unwell and what the consequences of that would be if he did.

‘I was so worried about the birth, too. I wanted to be there more than anything to support my partner with what is, quite honestly, a pretty traumatic event.

‘I wanted to see my son as he was born, and to hold my partner’s hand and tell her that everything is fine.

‘There were touch and go moments when I thought I wouldn’t even be allowed near the hospital given all the restrictions.’

Since the UK went into lockdown, restrictions have varied in hospitals. Some hospitals have not allowed anyone apart from medical staff to be present at the birth, others have said partners can be there for active labour and C-Sections, and some partners have been allowed to stay in the room afterwards.

Some hospitals simply can’t allow home birth at the moment, but Josh and Hannah were lucky enough to be able to go ahead with the plan.

Out of fear that Josh wouldn’t see his son being born, he and Hannah ‘pretty much demanded a home birth’.

‘The home birth was amazing,’ says Josh. ‘Hannah went into labour fully at about 9pm. She was assessed over the phone and was told a midwife was on their way and would be there by 11pm.

‘At 11pm they arrived and came inside and set up in the bedroom, which is where Hannah said she wanted the birth to happen.

‘Both the midwife and a student midwife wore masks at all times, along with gloves and an apron, but were both so friendly it made no difference and we barely took any notice of the PPE.

‘We told them there was food in the fridge and where the tea and coffee was so they made us all tea while waiting for baby to make an appearance.

‘Hannah’s waters went at about 1.15am and seven minutes later – cue Teddy!

‘The comforts in your own home made the whole thing so easy. No transfer to hospital and she was up and about toasting crumpets an hour after giving birth.

‘It was the best experience and my partner thoroughly recommends it to everyone.’

Josh says that though being at home was brilliant, it was hard not having friends or family over to meet their new arrival.

He tells us: ‘Our parents have been dying to meet him but they haven’t been able to give Teddy a cuddle yet.

‘My partner’s parents who live in Brighton haven’t been able to see him in person at all yet which is really upsetting. Hopefully soon!’

Being a new dad in lockdown brings challenges.

Josh explains: ‘There’s very little we could do to occupy ourselves, particularly when he was first born because we were in the really strict part of lockdown where exercise was only allowed once per day.

‘We couldn’t get out to clear our heads. Couldn’t show him the outside very much. Things got difficult being cooped up all day, especially when he was crying a lot.

‘But the biggest positive is that this has made me really value my family, more than I already did. It’s made me focus on what’s important and that’s spending time together.

‘You don’t need to head out all the time to enjoy yourselves. Family time at home and playing in the garden is the best way to be and feel close.’

Because he is a keyworker, Josh has still been working, which he did throughout Hannah’s pregnancy.

‘I work in a prison so am a key worker and have been doing lots of overtime to help staff when they went off unwell, and to support those in my care’, he said.

‘My partner was fine with it and is loving being at home with the little one.

‘I would come home and have to strip off my uniform at the door, and get it cleaned immediately before getting into a long and super hot shower to make sure I was okay.

‘The only sad part was that during the first few weeks of his life, I would have to minimise physical contact with my baby just in case.’

Josh wants to urge other new dads to seek support if they need it and to know that ‘their best is always good enough’.

He says: ‘Kids are so much fun. Challenging and can be difficult at times, but more fun than anything.

‘I expected dad life to be full-on, but didn’t expect him to feed quite as much as he does! He loves his milk!’

‘I love being a parent. I wouldn’t change it for the world. It can be stressful, but there’s nothing else like it. Kids are the smartest, funniest most loving things in the world.

‘Don’t feel you need to come up with creative plans and don’t stress yourself out if you feel you have nothing to do. Spend time together. Be at home. Be happy in the presence of your family. They’re what matters.’

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Share your views in the comments section below.

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Could time in lockdown be upping the pressure for men to last longer in bed and have rock-hard erections at a moment’s notice?

A leading intimate health specialist and doctor, Dr Shirin Lakhani, says she’s seen a dramatic rise in enquiries for her P-shot procedure – a treatment that sees blood injected into the penis – since lockdown came into place.

She reckons this may be down to all the stress of the pandemic – from lost income to health-related anxieties – causing erectile issues and other struggles in bed, along with dips in sex drives.

But she also believes that all the time cooped up at home might allow previously hidden sexual issues to become apparent to the person’s partner.

As a result, Dr Lakhani has seen a huge increase in the number of men getting in touch to ask about her treatment, receiving five enquiries a day since lockdown began.

The P-shot procedure, also known as the Priapus Shot, involves injecting the penis with a patient’s own platelet rich plasma, which it’s thought can stimulate the growth of new tissue and increase blood flow, thus strengthening erections and enhancing the penis’s appearance, too.

It’s similar to the vampire facial you’ve likely heard about… except the needle is going into your penis instead of your face.

The treatment costs £1,200, so yes, it’s on the pricey side.

‘A lot of the men I’m hearing from have struggled with sexual intercourse for years but have until now managed to hide the fact that they are unable to get an erection or can’t ejaculate,’ says Dr Lakhani. ‘Before lockdown they managed to hide their problem behind the fact that they were tired from work or because they were physically away a lot due to work.

‘Now though with the country stuck in lockdown problems such as these are impossible to ignore.

‘Once upon a time sexual dysfunction, or the difficulty by an individual or couple during any normal sexual activity, including pleasure, desire, preference, arousal or orgasm, was very much a taboo subject.

‘At times like this people are turning to social media more and beginning to realise how many options there are out there to help treat sexual dysfunction. And with studies showing that at least a third of us have experienced these types of problems at some point in our lives, it’s certainly widespread.

The P-shot is among a large swell in cosmetic procedures aimed squarely at boosting men’s genitals, from one type of injection that a surgeon claims can increase the size of a penis by two inches to the trend for getting filler to make the testicles larger.

If you do choose to go down the route of injections or other cosmetic treatments, remember that these are medical treatments that need to be done by a professional in a safe and sanitised setting. Just because we’re talking about injections rather than in-depth surgery doesn’t mean the risks disappear, and getting shots from a dodgy practitioner could leave you with far more severe penis problems than you started with.

But while such cosmetic treatments could help to tweak certain parts of a man’s appearance and sexual performance, it’s vital to explore all options before rushing into any procedure.

Longterm difficulties getting or maintaining an erection can be caused by all sorts of factors, including depression, stress, heart disease, and high cholesterol – all of which need addressing by a medical professional.

If erectile dysfunction is a symptom of another issue, it’s crucial to talk to your GP to get to the root of the problem rather than just tackling one more obvious way an illness might be rearing its head.

Plus, you could end up saving yourself time, pain, and money by figuring out a more obvious cause and solution for problems in the bedroom – reducing your stress levels and improving communication with your partner are both free, FYI.

‘The main thing is that in this day and age no man should suffer these symptoms in silence,’ says Dr Lakhani. ‘They can not only impact on a man physically but also over a prolonged period of time place a huge pressure on mental health.

‘Being comfortable in your own skin is a major factor in promoting sexual health. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about body confidence, good health and communication with your partner.

‘Many men and women don’t talk about their intimate health and find it embarrassing to seek help but it doesn’t have to be a taboo subject.

‘We should feel comfortable enough to talk about the issues we experience with intimate health and everyone should be allowed to enjoy sex.’

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Share your views in the comments section below.

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A mum in her late fifties believes going to the gym and staying super fit is the reason she beat cancer.

Tricia Totten, 54, began her fitness journey in her early twenties, initially focusing on aerobic classes before she fell in love with weightlifting.

She stayed dedicated to fitness throughout her two pregnancies and as a stay-at-home mum, managing to squeeze in at least three days of training a week.

Being in such good health, Tricia was shocked when she was diagnosed with stage 1B ductal carcinoma breast cancer in March 2017.

But even that wouldn’t stop her going to the gym – and she credits continuing to stay fit with surviving cancer and remaining strong through a partial mastectomy and reconstruction, 16 rounds of chemotherapy, and 33 sessions of radiotherapy.

‘At the time of my cancer diagnosis, in 2017, I was literally in the best physical shape of my life,’ said Tricia, from Houston, Texas. ‘My energy levels were sensational and my life at home was as close to perfect as it’s ever been.

‘My children were both in college, so I was able to focus a majority of time on training in the gym. My cancer was identified as, stage 1B ductal carcinoma in my left breast.

‘Once the cancer treatments began, I had to adjust my workout plan, but I did not stop.

‘Time in the gym was a huge contributor to my survival, both physically and mentally; it was one of the few places where I could forget that I had cancer.

‘The control over my workouts and of my nutrition made me feel stronger than the cancer.

‘Even though I was not physically strong during the cancer treatments, mentally I was still dominant. This feeling of mental control spilled over into all aspects of my life.’

Tricia says she used to see herself as a ‘victim’ of cancer and believes that once she changed this mindset, she began to heal faster.

‘Cancer did change me,’ she says. ‘It made me a better person by putting me in touch with my mortality. I learned to be grateful for every moment I get to be with the people that I love.

‘The moment that I stopped seeing myself as a victim of cancer, I found my purpose. Once I re-phrased the question from a helpless, “why did this happen to me?” to an empowered, “how can I use this obstacle to make my life better?”, the fear dissipated, and courage took charge.

‘Cancer became an opportunity for me to put all of the motivational quotes that I had been using over the years into action.

‘This was my chance to live by faith, hope and strength whilst navigating through one of the most challenging times of my life.’

Tricia is sharing her story to encourage others with cancer to stay strong.

She shares the lessons she’s learned, along with workouts and pictures of her super-toned body, on Instagram to thousands of followers.

‘I am more present than ever, and I certainly do not waste energy on negativity,’ says Tricia. ‘Cancer solidified my faith in all things good and put me on a mission to spread hope, love and strength to other cancer fighters and survivors around the world.

‘My first goal was to limit what cancer was going to take from me. Surgery took part of my breast and the chemo took all of my hair, but I refused to let it steal my positive attitude, my love for family and friends, or my passion for health and fitness.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Pride is celebrated during the month of June every year because it coincides with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, but the anniversary of that historic day and associated marches will look a little different this year. 

According to the European Pride Organizers Association, nearly 500 LGBT events scheduled to celebrate Pride Month have had to be cancelled or postponed because of the current global pandemic and associated restrictions.  

However, there are still many different ways to take part, and lockdown hasn’t stopped hundreds of digital Pride celebrations from being organised across the world and . 

Here are three ways to find Pride events happening online or get your own event listed for others to join in and celebrate with you.

Three different ways to find events celebrating Pride during lockdown

Pride Inside 
Sunday 28 June – Sunday 5 July

Amnesty International has partnered with UK Black Pride, Stonewall and ParaPride to bring a full calendar of Pride celebrations online this year. 

Pride Inside will see artists, musicians, comedians, DJs and activists come together for a series of performances, talks and workshops.

Sen Raj, Amnesty International’s Rainbow Network committee member, said: ‘Covid-19 won’t stop us celebrating LGBTI+ rights. This year, Pride will be inside – in our homes and in our hearts.

‘Around the world, the pandemic is having a disproportionate effect on LGBTI+ people who have been historically discriminated against in their access to healthcare, housing and employment.

‘That’s why this year, it’s more important than ever that LGBTI+ people and their allies have a chance to come together, celebrate how far we’ve come as a movement and support each other where we still have further to go.

‘We invite all friends and allies to join us for Pride Inside to show that we’ll always be proud – no matter what, no matter where.’

Visit prideinside.uk to see what events are planned or to add your own planned event to the line up. 

Global Pride 
27 June

The only worldwide virtual Pride event curated and hosted by Pride organisations this year, Global Pride will celebrate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots with a 24 hour stream of speeches, performances and Pride content, starting on 27 June 2020. 

Musical and artistic performances, speeches from activists and campaigners, and addresses by public figures will all form part of the content streamed through Youtube and the organisation’s website.

Well-known names taking part in the event include Courtney Act, Deborah Cox, Olivia Newton-John and Ava Max and Global Pride are still accepting content submissions if you want to take part by being involved in the live stream yourself.

For more information visit globalpride2020.org

Pride in London – ‘Staying In’ digital queer events for the queer community
Ongoing 

Pride in London, like most other event organisers across the UK, decided to postpone the Pride in London parade until the summer of 2021.

However the organisers have taken their celebration of Pride and the LGBTQ+ community online, listing a plethora of events on their platform that are taking place for people living anywhere in the UK to tune in to and take part in. 

From theatre performances to painting parties, panel discussions and even a girl band pub quiz with Cheryl Hole, there is something for everyone, no matter how you’d like to celebrate and mark Pride month at home this year. 

To see the full list of events or get your own event listed visit prideinlondon.org/events

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Here’s proof that you don’t need to spend a load of money if you fancy a DIY project this weekend.

Just take a leaf out of expert upcycler Hellan Pearce’s book.

The former payroll manager from Melsham, Wiltshire, managed to craft herself a lovely garden bench and a shelf for her plants without spending a penny.

Hellan, 56, started by picking up a bed frame for free on Facebook Marketplace.

With some hard work, creative vision, and crafting skills, she was able to turn the unwanted old frame into two snazzy new items.

Hellan, who has six kids and three grandkids, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: I saw the bed advertised on Facebook and thought it would be great to turn into a bench for the garden as we’ve had our current bench for years and it was rotting on the legs.

‘My hubby wasn’t convinced and thought I was mad.

‘We picked it up adhering to social distancing rules. The headboard made a perfect back for the bench and the size was great too. I cut the bed end down to the size of the bench arms I’d decided on: roughly 18 inches each.

‘I used all the fixings that came with the bed and I just had to drill new holes to attach to.

‘I used the slats as the bench seat which were the right size as the bed and bench were the same width.

‘Easy! Then I painted them to match the rest of our garden furniture.’

Once Hellan had made her new bench, she wanted to put the remaining bits of wood to good use.

She decided to use the blow torch she and her husband had bought recently to deepen the wood’s colour, then cut the pieces into shapes she liked.

The mum popped the pieces together to form a set of shelves to display her plants.

‘I had some slats left over and had an idea of a shelf I wanted,’ Hellan explains. ‘We had recently bought a blow torch as my hubby thought it would be good to bring the grain out in the wood.

‘I used this on the pine slats after cutting to random shapes that I liked. I decided on the width and how many shelves I wanted.

‘The slats were held together at the back with two pieces of wood screwed across, which the shelf can be hung with too.

‘The shelves were attached with screws too. Then it was varnished. The effect using the blow torch is beautiful.

‘I had two lovely things made from a free bed! There are still a few slats left, so watch this space.’

Hellan says this sort of project is an ideal way to flex your creativity in lockdown, and urges everyone – even beginners – to give a crafting project a go.

Picking up unwanted materials for free on Facebook is an easy way to keep costs down – and that means you won’t be too heartbroken if your DIY efforts go a bit wrong.

‘Personally, I love making new things from old and all the better when they are cheap or free,’ says Hellan.

‘It keeps me busy and I hardly even remember we’re in lockdown as I always have something new to design and make.

‘Facebook is a great source to find items that can be transformed easily and at hardly any cost if not for free.

‘If you’d like to do the same, go for it. There’s nothing to lose. Find inspiration and take the plunge!’

Tom Church, co-founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, adds: ‘Even when I don’t need to buy any furniture or anything for my house, I still spend far too much time scrolling through Facebook Marketplace because of all the fabulous deals on there. If you get something, just be sure to maintain social distancing when picking it up and perhaps cleaning the item down with anti-bacterial wipes when you get home.

‘If you’re keen to try your hand out at some DIY, keep your eyes peeled for second-hand furniture that’s totally free because someone is decluttering.

‘There are so many incredible bargains to be had, and with some step-by-step online tutorials, you can make your own totally unique piece of upcycled furniture!’

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

If you’ve completed a DIY project that deserves showing off, we want to hear about it.

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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As working from home becomes the norm (or so many of us hope), we’re having to adjust to the reality that we might not have the space for the dedicated home office of our dreams.

While you could just make do with one of those little wooden fold-out desks you can find online or trying not to wreck your back while lounging on the sofa with a laptop, a design and architecture practice has come up with a more out-there solution.

JaK Studio have unveiled a snazzy L shaped sofa that, along with functioning as a pull-out bed, transforms into a mini office pod you can cocoon inside whenever you want to shut out your housemates or children and get on with work.

Designed to look like a regular bit of comfy furniture, the L20 sofa can be manoeuvred into a quiet working space with a seat, a drop down desk, a reading light, USB and laptop charging points, and a cork pinboard.

It works with a quick release system and sliding rails so the transformation is easy, with the intention that you can easily change up your space for work versus rest.

The fabric has also been chosen to provide a bit of noise control, so when you’re inside the pod you can get on with Zoom calls without too much background noise screaming through.

The design isn’t available for purchase yet, so we don’t know how much it will cost, but we imagine quite a bit more than the standing desk you’ve crafted from cardboard.

It’s worth noting that while the sofa/mini office allows for an adaptable space, obviously when you’re using it as a working pod the sofa disappears – so unless you happen to have another bit of living room furniture, your housemates might get a bit pissed off when you fold up their sofa just so you can work.

Jacob Low, the director at JaK Studio says he was inspired to create the sofa after struggling to get stuff done while working from home.

‘I watched my kids build endless dens from what they could scavenge in our home,’ he explains. ‘It dawned on me that the limit to what we can use our homes for is infinite if we are creative.

‘The sofa bed was a revolutionary piece of furniture when it was first designed but it has not evolved further. The L20 concept would bring the ‘L’ shaped sofa into this new era in which we are living, providing individuals with the flexibility that they require particularly as we continue to demand more from our homes.’

JaK Studio is now looking for a commercial partner to mass-produce the prototyped design and have pledged all profits from the design rights to the Architects Benevolent Fund.

Keep your eyes peeled – this could be the future of remote-working.

Or you could just put up an office tent in your kitchen so you can at least pretend your housemates aren’t around and create some distinction between work and rest. When the tent’s a-rockin’, don’t come a-knockin’… because the rocking is caused by my furious typing and I’m trying to work. That’s the phrase, right?

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Share your views in the comments section below.

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Remember the good old days, when you stumbled out of a bar or nightclub, dripping with sweat after a night out with your mates?

Or spent an entire night in a pub garden flirting with fellow punters and enjoying the sociable atmosphere?

Hold on to those memories, because it could be a long time before you get to do anything like that again.

The pandemic has inflicted catastrophic damage on the ‘experience industry’ – from pubs to festivals, bars and nightclubs, the way we party has changed dramatically over the past few months (that is, if we party at all).

Here, we investigate what partying could look like after lockdown. Prepare yourself, it’s not great news.

Festival-goers may have to prove they are coronavirus-free

Festival summer, especially, has taken a big hit as governments set restrictions that forbid large groups of people to gather, making events such as Glastonbury – which was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year – Lovebox, Parklife and many more impossible to host.

However, one benefit that music festivals could see in the future is that the majority of them are hosted outdoors, and it’s believed people are less likely to catch the virus in this type of environment.

On the flipside, social distancing will be near-impossible.

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, which runs Latitude, Download and Wireless, among other festivals, explained to BBC Newsbeat that it would be ‘impossible’ to have social distancing as festivals need to be ‘full houses’ in order to operate financially.

According to Benn, one option would be to organise testing for anyone who wants to attend – with festival-goers being required to produce a negative Covid-19 result to be granted access, through the NHS test and trace app.

This solution has its drawbacks – firstly, there is still no definite proof that you can’t contract coronavirus twice and if you are a carrier, you could still infect others in the vicinity – for instance, on public transport en route to the event or while queueing up as people pass by the park or open space where the festival is held.

Furthermore, festivals would have to implement safety measures for staff – from security to food vendors – which could take a big chunk out of the overall budget, and make it harder for them to remain economically viable.

That being said, testing is an option that others in the industry are considering, too.

‘There’s been talk in the sector about the option of testing before entry, and I fully support Melvin’s proposal on this,’ Sacha Lord, founder of Parklife festival, The Warehouse Project, and night time economy adviser for Greater Manchester, tells us.

‘Obviously this is something that needs to be granted approval, and the logistics clarified, but if organisers can guarantee that guests have tested negative for Covid-19, social distancing between them in that particular event can be temporarily and safely relaxed. 

‘[But] if festivals and events have to abide by social distancing measures, I can’t see how they would be viable. Not only in terms of policing, but more importantly in terms of general enjoyment. We all go to festivals to have fun, to listen and dance together, and generally have a great weekend.

‘Having to stay two metres apart from our friends is not something I can see masses wanting to spend money on.’

Others suggest the only way to keep the festival industry alive is to wait for a vaccine to be launched.

There are currently around 80 research groups in the world working on developing a vaccine, but it is unlikely that these will be released until at least mid-2021, according to scientists.

Park hangs and house parties could become the norm

One way to reduce anxiety around socialising is to manage the groups of people you party with.

It’s therefore likely that people will continue to party in parks – as has been incredibly popular over the past few weeks, as an early heatwave struck the UK – but also, once the government allows social bubbles indoors (they are currently allowed outdoors of up to six people in total), house parties will once again become a possibility.

This way, people can limit exposure by being selective with who they invite, supply hand sanitiser on arrival and use disposable cups, as well as opt for BYO drinks, etc. to avoid cross-contamination.

Whether it will be safer – as there is no telling who is a coronavirus carrier without a test – or simply act as a placebo effect, giving the illusion of safety, is another question.

Alcohol is also a factor, as it will also make people feel more at ease, but could also make them reckless, i.e. ignoring social distancing once they are drunk or accidentally using the same bottles, toilets and other items that are shared at parties.

House parties can be a more personal way of partying.

With the nation having been deprived of socialising, these could offer a more comforting environment, compared to pubs and bars. Not to mention, they’re cheaper.

‘Personally – I have always loved house parties, both throwing them and attending them’ explains Natalie, who is currently isolating with her boyfriend in their flat.

‘So I am all for a future that features wild gatherings at people’s houses on a regular basis!

‘Think about it, the best part of a night out is so often the pre-drinks – you actually get to talk to people you like, you don’t have to pay a fortune for drinks, or wait for your Uber in the rain. Also you don’t have to wear heels.

‘I love the informality of being in someones house, it allows for more intimacy, more fun, people can be sillier, get drunker without stressing as much about getting home.

‘As long as the neighbours don’t mind the music – house parties are amazing.’

But what about our dear Zoom parties and raves?

Brian O’Connell, founder of BeoirFest, an online craft beer festival, believes that virtual partying will still remain once lockdown lifts.

‘While people will want to get back to physical partying I think virtual parties will remain a feature,’ he says.

‘They will be attractive to widespread communities based on interests or experiences. But they’ll move beyond monolithic Zoom calls to more casual, interactive events.’

Some companies that are unable to maintain social distancing may also utilise virtual drinking as a method to keep their businesses afloat, while people who are in the extremely vulnerable category may be more inclined to continue virtual hang-outs in order to stay safe.

Bars, pubs and nightclubs will open, but they won’t look like they used to

When lockdown came into force on 23 March, pubs and bars across the UK were forced to shut their doors.

Timing-wise it was a disaster, with the spring and summer seasons – the most profitable for most hospitality businesses, aside from Christmas – all but cancelled.

At the time of writing, some pubs and bars, especially those with gardens, may be allowed to open around 15 June (this date was initially set at 4 July) but there has been no definite answer from the government yet.

Social distancing screens, single-use menus and one-way systems

Your local haunt will likely look very different in 2020, with some businesses already putting in safety measures including glass or plastic screens to separate customers at tables and at the bar.

The Betsey Wynne pub in Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire, for instance, owned by Oakman Inns, has created ‘snugs’ where people can sit at a two-metre distance, along with disposable menus, gel dispensers throughout the venue and a one-way entrance with a separate exit.

Other pubs have followed suit with the King & Co in Clapham Common also implementing a one-way system, while Wetherspoons too has installed screens, floor markings to maintain social distancing and replaced ‘sharing items’ such as condiment bottles, with single-use sachets and as per Oakman Inns, introducing disposable menus.

Clubs will close earlier and will be the last to open

‘We’ve already started to see bars and restaurants adapt their layouts to adhere to social distancing,’ says Sacha.

‘Measures such as screens between tables, paper menus and table service instead of queuing at the bar are all expected, but for night clubs, it’s much more difficult and they will probably be the very last places to open.

‘However, I have seen small steps being taken across Europe where the rate of infection is lower. The clubs that are more focused on personal service, for example which have separated booths, or showcase music acts and performers could potentially find it easier to reopen as their crowds are less likely to mingle, but it’s the clubs and student bars that rely on crowded dance floors that will be the hardest hit.’

Sacha explains that clubbing may require capacity restrictions and earlier finishing times, but that this will likely depend on the area – and how affected it has been.

‘In Israel, capacities of 100 are allowed, while Italy will allow live music events for up to 200 people from mid-June,’ he adds.

‘Just yesterday, Switzerland announced they are reopening clubs but will have a 300-person capacity and they have to close at midnight. 

‘For now, I think we’ll see an adaptation towards smaller groups in nightclubs, and advice to stay within your social circle while on site, but how to police that is another matter.

‘I expect restrictions will differ depending on location and the rate of infection or outbreaks within that city and region, and we may see venues opening and then closing again due to a local outbreak.’

People will avoid social spaces due to anxiety or become ‘rule-breakers’

The potentially biggest factor in how partying will change is people’s mental health.

Where once we happily rubbed up against strangers in nightclubs and bars while breaking out our best dance moves, there’s now a lingering anxiety around socialising that will remain long after lockdown is lifted.

Research published in The Lancet revealed that we are already suffering mental health effects due to Covid-19 and that this ‘will become increasingly evident in the coming months as the effects of social measures such as physical distancing, loneliness, death of friends and family members, and job losses manifest.’

Additionally, a new study has warned that the pandemic could have a ‘devastating impact’ on people’s mental health.

We will have a lot of chaos in the future; we’ll have rule-breakers doing things that aren’t safe and health-anxious people who are overcautious to the point where it’s preventing them from living their life in a fulfilling way

While we may want and be able to hang out with our friends post-lockdown, anxiety could prevent us from doing so – or, as Dr Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic, explains, experience the complete opposite effect with social ‘chaos’ ensuing as people are split into two camps.

‘For a large number of people, as soon as they get invited to a party they will jump straight on it and embrace in feeling free again,’ she says, ‘and there’s definitely a whole group of people who just want to feel like they belong.

‘For that reason, they’ll be able to push their anxieties aside, follow the crowd and break rules, and feel quite good about breaking those rules and quite rebellious.

‘There are a lot of people right now who are just waiting to be invited somewhere, and particularly when alcohol is consumed they will feel at ease, let their hair down and forget to socially distance.’

This could cause a clash with people from the other camp, who will avoid social interaction as health anxiety takes over.

Dr Spelman adds: ‘Then there’s the whole other group of people who have really high levels of health anxiety as a result of coronavirus, and these people will avoid situations to an unreasonable degree.

‘They won’t go to places they are invited to or if they do go they will maintain exceptional behaviours to keep themselves safe, such as wearing too much protective gear and staying too far away from people.

‘These behaviours will mean they are just reducing their anxiety in the short-term but maintaining their health anxiety in the long-term.

‘For this reason, we will have a lot of chaos in the future; we’ll have rule-breakers doing things that aren’t safe and health-anxious people who are overcautious to the point where it’s preventing them from living their life in a fulfilling way.’

Whatever the future holds, take comfort in knowing that there is one thing that will always remains the same.

Whether there’s a pandemic or not, people will always find a way to party – even if it means sitting two metres apart behind a plastic screen with a face mask, a can of G&T and a straw.

The UK’s commitment to having a good time is solid.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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For many, 2020 will go down in history as a year of forced firsts and I’m no exception. 

Since February, I’ve administered my first haircut, I’ve been commissioned to write my first obituary, and, last week, in the most somber of debuts, I took my first virtual visit to an East Yorkshire funeral home from the comfort of a Manhattan apartment 3,400 miles away. 

I moved to New York about two and a half months ago, to a neighbourhood that I’m told is perpetually abuzz. Today it’s not. Everywhere is shut. Few people are out.  

The sirens of ambulances and police cars wail through the streets as usual, but they mainly serve as a bleak reminder of the dire state we’re in – a major health crisis and deep social unrest. 

When you decide to move country in the middle of a pandemic, with the world in lockdown, it’s hard to get settled. The little things like getting to know your neighbours, the local hot spots and settling into routine are put on hold.  

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

At the end of last year my husband and I decided to make the move across the Atlantic. I’d lived in London for almost a decade and he’d been offered a good job in the States.

I’m a freelance writer and our daughter – who’s just turned two – wasn’t yet locked into the British school system.  

We were renting and had no other major commitments in the UK, so all we had to do was give notice, sell the car and say goodbye. 

Home has always been a pretty transient concept. I grew up in Switzerland and have lived in large and small cities and towns. I’ve traveled quite extensively so the prospect of a new adventure after years of staying put appealed immediately.

But when that prospect became a concrete reality I started to dread our departure. 

The logistics of relocation, so breezy in my early 20s when – snail-like – all my belongings fit into two easyJet-friendly suitcases, were far more stressful now. I had to undergo unexpected minor but inconvenient surgery, and then my grandfather died.

The funeral was five days before our scheduled flight and as I stood by the graveside I knew I wasn’t just mourning the loss of a family member. 

Amid the farewells, last-minute work deadlines and end-of-tenancy admin, coronavirus had constituted little more than stubborn background noise I’d not had the bandwidth to really register.  

It wasn’t until one night after we’d moved out of our house and were staying in a relative’s flat, that I found out Donald Trump had restricted travel into the US.  

Unsure of how quickly the situation would escalate, we changed our flights to leave the following day, curtailing sentimental separations and opportunities – perhaps – to give everything a second thought. 

But even as I arrived exhausted and discombobulated at John F. Kennedy Airport, I knew the tough part was just beginning. 

In the weeks leading up to the move, a consoling thought I’d kept revisiting was that I can always come back to London or – better still – visit my family in Switzerland for a few restorative days.

Now I don’t know when we’ll next be able to leave the US. I’ve never felt further away from the people I want to be closest to. 

A week ago on Sunday my other grandfather died. I said a teary goodbye over video call. A few days later I sat on the windowsill of our bedroom in Manhattan and comforted my grandmother and parents through the screen of my mobile phone as they stood by his coffin and said their final goodbyes half a world away.  

Jazz played in the background and I tried to imagine what the flowers smelled like. 

But the challenges haven’t just been emotional. Our shipped belongings took weeks to arrive and who knows when we’ll be able to get a couch.  

Even locating the basics in an unfamiliar supermarket is far harder when face mask-clad shoppers are trying to stockpile hand sanitiser, many too concerned about hygiene to stop and offer help.

I have a tendency to become anxious and emotional when any part of my life is in flux, but until now I’d never found myself tearing up in the frozen goods aisle triggered by a song I’d last heard while walking through Leicester Square station playing on the in-store radio. 

Coronavirus seemed to have tipped a threshold – from unsettling inconvenience to all-encompassing pandemic – just as I was trying unsuccessfully to coax a wriggly toddler to sleep at 38,000 feet, without annoying every other angsty passenger in the cabin.

I left a London that was fairly docile and landed in a New York I had naively expected to be stubbornly humming with that unique energy everyone who’s lived here talks about.

It’s gritty and resilient, I reasoned. But instead it turned out to be consumed with panic. 

Despite being able to log onto social media at any moment for evidence that the situation is precarious just about everywhere, I can’t help but long for the other side of the world and the order I instinctively associate with it. 

Although I’m mourning, we’re making do. Though pure domestic bliss is aspirational at this point, we’re healthy, have work and I feel safe within these four walls for which I’m profoundly grateful.  

I’ve been running the circumference of Central Park whenever I get a chance. Of course I miss London’s Royal Parks and I’ve had visceral longings for the muddy vineyard tracks behind my Swiss childhood home, but I can’t imagine getting bored of the high-rise skyline reflected across the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir on a crisp, cloudless morning. 

When I first told friends I was moving to Manhattan many swore I would love the vibrancy of the city that never sleeps. It’s in an agitated slumber now.  I’ve not encountered the strangers who I was told would become my instant friends.

I’ve been snarled at for not observing the six-feet rule and – thanks to our apartment’s paper-thin walls – I’ve fallen asleep to a chain-smoking eccentric shouting down the phone that she’ll ‘break every bone in your body’ unless she can speak to a doctor.  

At least that part is straight out of a Woody Allen movie. 

But I also met Rich from the fifth floor in the lift – or elevator – the other day, and he let my daughter coo at his dog. To hell with social distancing, he said, we’re all in this together. We are indeed.

Unusually troubling times – death, riots, a paralysing sense of weariness, an aching for something very far away – can bring out the worst and best in people but it will eventually pass. 

In the meantime we should use it to learn about our true needs and what we so easily take for granted: hot baths in unfamiliar tubs, timeless music, cheese that tastes like childhood, friendships across time zones that defy crackly phone lines. 

I’m eager to give New York another chance at first impressions. Perhaps one day it will feel just a little bit more like home.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk 

Share your views in the comments below

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It’s an age old debate – what do you put on a scone first?

Some prefer jam them cream (the Cornish way), others like cream then jam (the Devon way).

A Yougov survey in 2016 found that 61% of people prefer it the Cornish way but it’s still sure to cause conflict.

M&S has decided to settle the argument by just combining the two and creating a strawberry clotted cream.

Made with Jersey and Guernsey milk, the new product costs £2.50 for 200g.

It combines the thick rich taste of clotted cream with sweet strawberries.

Posting on social media, M&S said: ‘What comes first – jam or cream? Now you don’t have to choose thanks to our new strawberry-flavoured clotted cream. It’s a sweet scone game changer – and it’s in store now.’

The supermarket added: ‘Whether you do it the Cornish way or the Devonshire way, the age-old debate of what to top a scone with first, often results in a heated debate over a cup of Earl Grey. Until now!

‘M&S introduces the first-ever product to silence both parties, by combining jam with clotted cream and making one ultimate afternoon tea delight.’

But the idea proved to be pretty controversial.

One person said: ‘What an abomination.’

Another added: ‘No. Just no. There are some things you simply don’t mess with – except you just have.’

But others were eager to try and asked if it was available in their local store.

Some pointed out that despite the new product, M&S had still put jam on the scone, followed by the flavoured cream.

What are your thoughts on the new clotted cream?

Share them in the comments below.

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Rebekah Bragdon Adamson had surgery aged 20 to remove part of her bladder after suffering from interstitial cystitis.

But it wasn’t until 14 years later that she discovered that it meant having a baby could kill her.

Now 34, Rebekah, from Florida, USA, and husband Bobby, 38, were devastated.

But her younger sister, Brianna Bragdon, 28, from Maine, USA, kindly stepped up and offered to act as the couple’s surrogate – and now she is seven months pregnant with their child.

Financial analyst, Rebekah, said: ‘I cried for three days when I found out I couldn’t have a baby.

‘Nobody told me when I had the surgery that I wouldn’t be able to have children.

‘I can get pregnant, I just wouldn’t make it through because the baby would be pressing against the bladder and the chance of infections would give us a very low chance of making it through.’

Knowing that someone else would have to carry their baby, the couple were unsure about their surrogate being a stranger.

Rebekah added: ‘My sister has a three-year-old son and doesn’t want any more children.

‘Her pregnancy was smooth so we mentioned to her that she would have been the perfect person because the baby would be carried by family.

‘We didn’t think it would actually ever happen then she said she would think about it and make sure it was right for her.

‘We knew it was a lot to ask but she came back and said she had strong feelings that she wanted to be the one to carry the baby.’

Brianna, mum to three-year-old Jack, said she was delighted to help her sister and the whole family are looking forward to meeting the baby girl at the end of August, including Bobby’s two children from a previous marriage, Annabelle, 8, and Alistair, 6.

Brianna, who is training to become an ultrasound technician, said: ‘I had a very easy pregnancy with my son and I love my sister and would do anything for her.

‘I knew I wanted to do it I just had to pray on it for a bit so it took me a couple of months to make the decision.”

Rebekah added: ‘I always wanted children.

‘I got very lucky by marrying a man who already has two children so we have kids around but I wanted to complete our family with one of our children.

‘We are excited but it’s also very scary, especially putting my sister through a pregnancy.

‘Women go through pregnancy to have a child, my sister is doing this to get a niece at the end.

‘If there are any complications, I don’t want to put her in harms way because she’s my little sister.’

So far, the pregnancy is going well and the couple are enjoying watching Brianna’s bump grow.

‘She’s a beautiful pregnant woman,’ Rebekah said.

‘We tell her all the time that it’s extremely amazing that she’s willing to do this for us and bringing her niece into the world.

‘We’re so appreciative of her and I can’t imagine my life without her.’

The trio have been teaching their young children about the concept of surrogacy with books and Rebekah believes her nephew will have a very close relationship with his cousin.

Rebekah said: ‘She’s in her second trimester now and when we planned this Covid 19 wasn’t happening so we thought her little boy would be at school but now she’s looking after an active three-year-old full time as well as being pregnant.’

Brianna added: ‘Jack is young enough to not think that there isn’t anything weird about it so he’s the perfect age.

‘I’m excited for my sister and excited to not be pregnant anymore.

‘I’ll be a big part of my niece’s life. I can’t wait to meet her.’

Do you have a story about a miracle baby? Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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An Indonesian man living with various tumours on his body is unable to get rid of them.

34-year-old Andriadi Putra has been told by doctors that he was born with Neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumours to form on nerve tissue.

Andriadi finds it difficult to walk and is in pain on a daily basis.

The tumours have become bigger and bigger over the last two years, with the largest growing on his face.

But Andriadi and his family do not have the funds to source the necessary treatment.

The condition has also left him unable to work or get on with his life.

Andriadi says he is now trying to remain positive about it all and looking at it as a test from God.

Andriadi said: ‘It’s difficult for me to walk and the tumour has become much bigger.

‘It’s made me scared.

’10 years ago, a doctor saw my condition and said this kind of surgery needs a lot of blood donations so it will be more expensive.

‘But due to the low financial condition of my parents, we decided not to go ahead with the surgery.

‘I haven’t consulted with a doctor since then.

‘The tumour has been weighted around 20 kilograms on my stomach and chest. But not the whole side of my body. I estimate the weight of them all is around 30 kilograms.’

Andriadi was born with just a small blemish on his face that he and his parents believed to be a birthmark.

But it has grown bigger with age.

‘I often have a shortness of breath and it’s made it difficult to do any activity or to go outside,’ Andriadi adds.

‘Walking from my bedroom to the bathroom is difficult. When I go to bed, before I fall asleep, I must hold and move my tumour to feel comfort.

‘I haven’t been able to work for two years and I can’t have any hobbies with this condition. To kill time, I play with my phone. At least that makes me happy.’

Andriadi’s father, Ismed, added: ‘As parents, there is nothing we can do with his condition.

‘We only provide his daily need and support to him. Nothing more.’

Andriadi has received great support from his family and friends – something he remains very thankful for.

But his confidence has been impacted over the years, especially when out in public with people staring and pointing at him.

‘I’ve never seen people like me,’ he said.

‘I think my confidence is 50% lower. When I go outside and meet people, they stare at me and some of them look at me with an unpleasant reaction.’

Andriadi is now trying to accept his condition.

‘At the beginning, this condition made me desperate and disappointed. I was comparing my condition to others and it made me sad.

‘But recently, I think positively. Maybe this condition is a gift from Allah – I must be patient and not forget to pray.

‘I think I have a bright future and want to make my parents and my family happy.’

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Sangela Martins went for her first pregnancy appointment at 11 weeks and was relieved to see a healthy baby.

But just three weeks later, another scan showed a tennis ball-sized cyst on her left ovary.

And just two weeks after that, it had grown to the size of a basketball.

Sangela says her baby saved her life as it meant she was diagnosed and treated with ovarian cancer quickly.

The 34-year-old mum-of-two, from Virginia, US, welcomed baby Ava in March just two months after finishing nine gruelling sessions of chemotherapy.

Sangela has now been given the all clear and both mum and baby are doing well.

Sangela, a nanny, said: ‘When my husband Jay, 30, and I found out we were pregnant, we were super excited because we were about to celebrate my first daughter, Maya’s, birthday and thought a new brother or sister would be the best gift for her.

‘I went to visit my family in Brazil as that’s where I’m originally from, came back, and had my first pregnancy appointment and everything was really good.

‘Then I went for my 14 week checkup and the nurse noticed a tennis ball-sized cyst, and said to keep an eye on it.

‘It was shocking because I was at the doctors almost three weeks before and all of a sudden it had appeared.’

At first, doctors were not sure what was wrong or how it would affect her pregnancy.

She added: ‘I was thinking about what could happen to my baby more than myself.

‘I had surgery to remove the cyst and ovary at 17 weeks, and after two hours of waking up I was put in the waiting room and told I had ovarian cancer.

‘It was scary because all the hormones in my body that were keeping my baby healthy were actually feeding the cancer, and the monster was right next to her.

‘After a month of recovery from the surgery, I had nine sessions of chemo and the toughest part was when my hair started falling out.

‘But when that was over, my hair started growing back and started to regain my strength, so I was more focused on the baby and recovering.

‘The moment she came into the world the first thing I said was ‘we did it’.

‘If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have had an ultrasound and found out about the cyst – by the time they would have found it if I wasn’t pregnant, it would have spread.’

When doctors first found the growth on Sangela’s ovary in early October 2019, they decided to monitor it, but two weeks after the appointment she began to suffer excruciating back pain.

The mum struggled to sleep through the aches and called the doctors before her next pregnancy checkup, who then found the cyst had shockingly doubled to the size of a basketball.

Sangela said: ‘One night my back was hurting again, and I was holding onto the walls because my body was shaking in pain – the cramps were so bad it felt like I was about to give birth.

‘My husband took me to the emergency room and mid-way through the hour-and-a-half journey there, all of a sudden the pain stopped, it was crazy.

‘After waiting in the emergency room, doctors said the cyst had ruptured and the liquid that was in it had spread around my body, but it was going to be fine and I just needed some rest.

‘I still had an appointment with a specialist the week after where they took a blood test and found my cyst had a solid part inside, but they didn’t yet know if this was cancerous or just a germ cell tumour.

‘I sat in my car bawling my eyes out for three hours because I was thinking, if I did have cancer, who would raise my daughter if me and my baby didn’t make it.

‘It all happened so quickly and I didn’t have time to soak it in but I was trying to be strong because if my baby came to save me, I had to save her too.’

Sangela had urgent surgery in late October 2019 at 17 weeks to remove the cyst for testing and she received the devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer the same day.

But the strong mum powered through two months of intense chemotherapy starting in November 2019, and has been in recovery ever since and will now attend checkups and scans every six months.

Sangela now helps other women fighting ovarian cancer by sharing empowering messages on her Instagram page.

Sangela added: ‘Doctors told me there weren’t many cases of pregnant women with ovarian cancer, which made me feel alone because I didn’t know what was going to happen.

‘I wanted to share my journey and hopefully help someone else who’s alone to feel more positive.

‘My doctor has told me to think twice about having more kids and strongly suggested I have my other ovary removed because the cancer could come back, which I do want to do.

‘It has been a long and scary journey, but one that brought me to believe in myself like I never did before.

‘I’m very thankful to be here with my daughter and I will always say that she saved my life.’

Do you have a story to tell? Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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A quick-thinking midwife dashed next door to help deliver her neighbour’s baby while still in her gardening gear on her day off.

Mandy Petrou was enjoying a spot of gardening when next-door neighbour Robert Batchelor rushed around to say his partner Emma Townsend, 33, had gone into labour.

Still dressed for weeding, the midwife was able to help deliver the baby on the couple’s bedroom floor.

Within just three hours of the home delivery, the 48-year-old donned her scrubs and returned to work at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, Kent.

Mandy had advised Robert and Emma that a walk might induce the labour.

Just as the couple were about to go for a stroll, Emma’s waters broke.

After calling the ambulance, Robert asked Mandy to help as the baby was already coming out.

Just ten minutes later, a healthy little baby girl was born, who the now parents-of-two called Sienna.

‘There was a bit of a panic,’ Robert, 34, explained.

‘I ran downstairs, told Mandy that her waters broke and that Emma had the urge to push.

‘Before that, the contractions were really few and far between. We’ve got a little boy and with him it was quite a long process.’

Mandy left what she was doing to come help the couple.

Robert added: ‘She worked her magic and was absolutely brilliant. She kept Emma and me calm.

‘I think she quickly realised that the baby was coming very fast. She delivered our baby on our bedroom floor in under 10 minutes. Mandy said it was a textbook birth.

‘We were really lucky to have Mandy – what an amazing lady.’

Robert says his child and partner have been in good health since the birth.

He added: ‘Mandy’s been working so hard at the moment with everything that’s been going on, and it just so happened that was her one afternoon off.

‘To have Mandy to hand is nothing short of a miracle and we will forever be in her debt and gratitude.’

Do you have a story?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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Louie George Wood was born prematurely at 28 weeks and has quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy, a brain injury called periventricular leukomalacia and delayed development.

He needs round the clock care but with the help of his parents Jodie Morgan and Tom Wood, he has defied many expectations.

Doctors said he would never speak but last year said the word ‘mum’.

And now thanks to a special device, he has taken his first ever steps.

Proud mum Jodie, 33, captured the amazing moment on film and says she had to ‘fight back the tears’ as she watched on.

Louie was attached to his dad Tom, 34, with a Leckey Firefly Upsee harness that enables him to stand and move.

Without the device, which costs £400, the youngster cannot even crawl on his own.

Full-time carer Jodie said: ‘I was absolutely bursting with pride to see Louie walking – I had to pick my heart up off the ground.

‘As a four-year-old boy he should running all over the place but he can’t because of his conditions, so see him up and about like that was absolutely huge.’

‘Louie was so excited, he was doing loads of ‘oohs and ahhs’. His face said it all, he was grinning like a Cheshire cat.’

Louie lives with mum Jodie, dad Tom and eight-year-old brother Jake in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Jodie said: ‘Louie has a very cheeky character and he’s also very loving.

‘He knows what he wants and when he wants it and he’d not afraid to let us know.’

The Leckey Firefly Upsee uses straps and footholds so it can facilitate gradual weight-bearing, standing and walking with the assistance of an adult.

Since getting his Louie has enjoyed playing football with his brother Jake while standing up for the first time ever.

Due to his condition the family haven’t been able to leave the house since lockdown began.

Jodie said: ‘It has been so difficult, usually Tom and I have help from family but at the moment we obviously don’t.

‘We’re both absolutely knackered.

‘We don’t know when we’ll be able to go out again but we can’t wait to get Louie walking down the street and playing in the park.’

The family are fundraising to pay for a life-altering surgery for Louie. You can donate here.

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Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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‘You’re always on your phone,’ he said, as my index finger was poised to make yet another left swipe. ‘What are you doing?’ I mumbled something about a group chat with school friends and locked my phone so he couldn’t see Mark from East London’s profile. 

This was one of the many times I’ve had to think on my feet (or fingers) over the last few months, as I’ve been nervously navigating the world of online dating whilst living with my ex. 

Being single at 37 – when I’d been in love and trying for a baby the year before – wasn’t how I’d imagined 2020 would pan out, let alone sharing a home with my now ex during a global pandemic. 

We’d broken up in late 2019, a painful but mutual decision after months of strain. On New Year’s Eve, I’d left the flat we owned to travel the world and reset. 

Three months and a fling with a gorgeous Kiwi musician later, I had a spring back in my step. I was getting used to the idea of being single again in my late 30s and wanted to move forwards. But Covid-19 had other plans.

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I was forced to return early. Most of my friends were living with partners or young families, and with no desire to put them at risk, my only option was to move back in with my ex.

Naturally, I was frustrated. Why should self-isolating with my ex have to get in the way of moving on? Cautiously, I began to browse Bumble.

If you’ve been on the apps during lockdown you’ll know that online dating is on steroids right now. Suddenly there are single men everywhere with a lot of time on their hands, keen to lure you into breaking lockdown rules.  

I matched, I chatted and soon I found myself getting ready for my first virtual date with an actor from South London. That’s when the next wave of awkward questions came up.

‘How come you’re looking all done up?’ asked my ex suspiciously as I sauntered through the kitchen with freshly washed hair, a slick of kohl liner and glossy lips for the first time that year. 

‘Oh, just going on Houseparty for Emma’s birthday – thought I’d make the effort.’

I hated lying. I still care a lot for my ex, and I knew it would hurt him to see me talking to other guys just as I wouldn’t want to find out about any of his goings on.

I’d been faithful throughout our relationship and living together with no idea of when lockdown would end, I didn’t want to make things any more difficult. 

So, there I was, on my first virtual date, vodka tonics lined up for Dutch courage. I’d carefully scheduled it for when my ex was busy on Zoom. Mr Actor looked like his photos and was clearly used to the camera; the flirting started ramping up.I was laying in what I hoped was a coquettish angle on my bed, twirling a strand of hair in one hand, when the door swung open.

‘What are you doing? I’ve been calling through for ages, do you want to watch the next episode of…’  My ex stopped short, suddenly realising I was talking to a guy. I frantically, straightened my outfit, put my phone face down and glowered at him. ‘Don’t just burst in, I’m busy!’

 ‘Clearly,’ he muttered as he shut the door behind him. We never spoke of it again. 

Things never went further with Mr Actor but with no job and endless days of lockdown to fill, I wanted to give online romance another chance.

Dating chat during a pandemic has been pretty consistent: Bumble Boy asks ‘What’s your lockdown situation? Are you home alone or living with nightmare housemates?’ and I have to think carefully before answering. After all, how many guys are comfortable hearing that you still live with your ex of five years? 

I keep it vague until I grow more comfortable with someone and feel they were worth opening up to.

The first time I did, surprisingly it wasn’t a deal breaker. Finance Boy responded positively. ‘That must be tough for you, but you’ve got a great attitude, why make things more difficult for you both?’ It was one reason why he became my first ‘real date’ when Boris threw us singletons a lifeline and allowed park meet-ups. 

I still had to field awkward questions back home like why I was at the park for so long and find a reason for wearing my fancy playsuit to go on a bike ride, when I’d been living in joggers for six weeks. 

Lockdown with my ex has been more harmonious than I’d ever thought it could be.

We’ve cooked our favourite meals together, been glued to the latest season of Ozark and even teamed up for a family quiz. So there have been moments when we’ve been laughing and I’ve asked myself, ‘How did we lose all of this?’ 

Deep down, however, nothing has changed. Lockdown is an artificial bubble and has removed the temptations that broke us in the first place, such as my ex’s hedonistic behaviour. But it won’t change the fact we’ll go our separate ways once life returns to ‘normal’. 

My ex has told me he has zero interest in a new relationship but it’s helped me see that being single in my late 30s isn’t a closed door.

I also know I want to change my living arrangements as soon as it’s feasible, gain space from my ex and build a new  life for myself. 

And perhaps the very chaste Victorian-style dating scene of Lockdown London has been a blessing in my situation: it goes at a slower pace, I can get to know someone the old-fashioned way and there is no sudden pressure to get naked for the first time.

That might have proved problematic with my ex in the next room. With another social distance date lined up this weekend, it looks like I might have to come up with some creative excuses for my sexy new cycling gear.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing rosy.edwards@metro.co.uk

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There have been some really heartwarming images from the Black Lives Matter protests from around the world recently.

One couple really took it away when they decided to get married and join a large peaceful demonstration in their home town.

Dr. Kerry Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon had their nuptials at Logan Hotel in Philadelphia and stepped outside near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City.

When they came across a large group of protestors who cheered for the couple, the newlyweds decided to join in on the protests.

Videos of the couple standing hand in hand in the middle of the demonstration have been shared on social media where users lauded the sweet moment.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the newly married couple then marched with the protestor group towards City Hall to demand justice for George Floyd.

While the husband and wife shared an intimate moment, crowds around them could be seen holding signs saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Black Lives > White Feelings’.

A video of Kerry and Michael was also shared on Twitter by law professor Rachel Lopez who wrote: ‘The power of love on so many levels’.

The clip has been viewed more than five million times as users spread the joy of Black love.

Many shared congratulatory messages online, saying: ‘Congratulations to the beautiful couple! Such a touching display of love at a time when it’s desperately needed.’

The power of love on so many levels #BlackLivesMattter #phillyprotest pic.twitter.com/b5ox0QcnIz

— Rachel E. Lopez (@Rachel_E_Lopez) June 6, 2020

Others wrote: ‘What a beautiful expression of love and hope for the future,’ and ‘love and happiness is radiating from them with overwhelming power! Such a beautiful moment and couple.’

One person wrote that Kerry and Michael had been a part of making history.

He wrote: ‘Fast forward 16 years to when their kids are studying the transformative impacts of the 2020 BLM protests in their U.S History class and are assigned a project.’

Kerry and Michael did plan to have a bigger wedding, in New Jersey, according to their honeymoon fund.

The happy couple had set up a Honeyfund where their loved ones can sign up to send them gifts.

They wrote on the page: ‘We’re blessed to already have a home full of everything we need, so please enjoy browsing this wish list, where you can contribute to our dream honeymoon!’

We wish the couple a lifetime of happiness.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Samii Roberts was fed up with her dining room table and the space it took up, but she still needed somewhere for the family to eat.

She wanted a breakfast bar and realised that with a few tweaks, the table could be converted for free.

The mum-of-two got her partner to saw it in half and then place the two halves together against the wall.

The table fitted almost perfectly in the space beside her kitchen, saving on floor space.

She was able to line her chairs up in a row instead or around the table.

She posted a picture on the DIY On a Budget UK site and people loved it.

Samii said: ‘Told my partner to get a saw and cut the dining table in half… he looked at me like I’d lost the plot (nothing new there).

‘Half an hour later we’ve got a breakfast bar & a hell of a lot more room!

‘Been searching for kitchen worktops for ages to match ours at home but got fed up of waiting. Bye bye Mexican pine table.’

She said that they decided to keep it the same height so their kids who are two and three could still reach.

One person said: ‘That is utter genius.’

Other’s said they were going to try it with their own furniture.

‘You may have just saved my dining table from being put in the skip,’ one post said.

‘Omg I’ve been searching for a solution for my bulky table, I did jokingly mention cutting my table in half an my partner looked at me silly, now I can show him this.

‘Proves 1. I was (as always) right 2. Solves our problem for space, excellent.’

Do you have a great DIY hack? Let us know at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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If you love big cats as much as Carole Baskin, know your amphibians from your reptiles and are clued up on mammals both big and small, then this animal quiz is for you.

Take a walk on the wild side for your next Zoom quiz with a round dedicated to the world’s wildlife and learn a fun fact or two along the way.

Pencils at the ready, it’s animal-themed virtual quiz question time…

Q: Which is the only big cat that can’t roar?
A: Cheetahs 

Q: What is the largest land animal in the world?
A: Elephants

Q: What is the wingspan of a bald eagle?
A: 8 feet

Q: What counts for 99 percent of a panda’s diet?
A: Bamboo

Q: What is the collective noun for giraffes?
A: Tower

Q: Which mammal travels the furthest for its migration?
A: Humpback whale

Q: What is the oldest surving mammal on the planet?
A: Echidna

Q: What is the largest of all living reptiles?
A: The Saltwater Crocodile 

Q: How many species of penguin are there across the southern hemisphere?
A: 17

Q: What is the world’s smallest dog breed?
A: Chihuahua

Q: What is the UK’s only venomous snake?
A: Adder

Q: Orangutang live on only two islands in the wild – which are they?
A: Borneo and Sumatra

Q: What species has the largest eyes in the animal kingdom?
A: Colossal squid 

Q: Which animal has the thickest fur of any mammal?
A: Sea Otter

Q: How long does it take a sloth to digest food?
A: Two weeks

Q: Which is the only species known to live forever?
A: Turritopsis nutriculaImmortal jellyfish

Q: Which animal’s eyeballs turn blue in winter to help them see at lower light levels?
A: Reindeer

More pub quiz questions

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• The Simpsons quiz: How well do you know Springfield’s finest?
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• 20 Netflix questions to use for your virtual pub quiz
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• 20 questions on musicals for your next virtual pub quiz
• Geography quiz questions and answers for your next Zoom quiz

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Having a new baby can be pricey when you start putting together everything you need.

But if you shop around and look out for sales, you can find some great discounts.

The latest big sale comes from Lidl, where you can get popular branded products for less.

The sale launches next Sunday 14 June but you can only get the products in store.

Products include the Chicco Next2Me side-sleeping crib with a removable and adjustable side so babies can sleep alongside their parents, giving the sense of co-sleeping without actually sharing a bed.

It has six height positions to ensure compatibility with all beds.

It’s on sale for £124.99 but retails for over £150 elsewhere.

You can also get a range of Tommee Tippee items like free flow super sipper bottles, free flow first cups, easy scoop feeding bowls, heat sensing spoons and coloured closer to nature bottles.

There’s also a teethe ‘n’ play water teether which can be chilled to sooth gums and the Groclock for £19.99 (currently £21.99 on Amazon).

There’s also Skip Hop Harness dragon and narwhal safety harness backpacks for £9.99 each and Bright Starts snuggle and teeth plush teether for £4.99.

The sale includes a My Babiie compact stroller for £69.99, which is suitable from birth up to 15kg.

And there are items from Lidl’s own Lupilu range including baby t-shirts and short-sleeve bodysuits in lots of colours, which cost £2.99 per pack, and baby sleep bags for £5.99 each.

Items will be available while stocks last. You can find your nearest store here.

Do you have a parenting story to share? Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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