London is home to so many fantastic markets, many of which have been shut for the duration of lockdown.

On 1 June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave outdoor markets the green light to reopen – though many of them remain closed.

But with none-essential retailers likely to be allowed to open their doors on 15 June, as restrictions are relaxed further, it’s possible that the markets will also once again flourish.

As such, we have put together a list of some of the capital’s best markets, from east London’s hipster mecca to foodie paradises.

We find out if they are currently open (or if not, when that might happen) and what’s on offer right now.

Shoppers, at the ready.

Borough Market, London Bridge

Borough Market is a staple for any tourist visiting London, but also for many locals – thanks to the fresh produce and amazing street food.

The market has actually been open throughout lockdown, however with restrictions and social distancing in place.

Go here for freshly-baked bread and doughnuts, artisan cheeses, olives and spices, as well as all the vegetables and fruits your heart desires.

The street food is pretty excellent too, especially the Jamaican morsels from Rudie’s Jerk Shack.

Fingers crosse that The Globe Tavern – home to Bridget Jones’ flat, located above the pub, if you didn’t know – will be selling fresh pints out of the window as well, so you can down your grub with a tipple.

Columbia Road Market, Bethnal Green

If plants and flowers are what you’re after, then it doesn’t get any better than Columbia Road Market in Bethnal Green.

But, be warned – it’s usually very cramped (pre-pandemic, anyway) so it’s likely that you’ll have to queue up for quite some time to pick up your greenery.

The market usually runs every Sunday, from 8am to 3pm, but organisers have not yet revealed if the market will open on 15 June.

Keep an eye on the website or Twitter for more info closer to the time.

Lloyd Park Market, Walthamstow

Lloyd Park Market in Walthamstow actually reopened on 23 May.

It’s a foodie’s paradise with street grub, homemade cakes and biscuits, farm-made pies and much more.

Pick up a fresh piece of meat from the organic farm butchers, some charcuterie and don’t forget the single origin coffee and craft beer.

Come hungry, leave stuffed.

Broadway Market, Hackney

Known as a ‘working Victorian street market’, Broadway Market is a hipster mecca.

Following its re-launch in 2004, the market now has everyone you’d expect from an event hosted in east London – from vintage clothing to flowers, books, street food and much more.

There is also a range of shops in the area well-worth exploring, and most of these should be open on 15 June, if all goes to plan.

And if you’re really lucky, the buskers will also return so there’s music to set the tone for your shopping spree.

However, bare in mind that there’s been no confirmation on when the market will open – so check the website or Twitter before you head on down later this month, to avoid disappointment.

Brixton Village and Market Row, Brixton

Brixton Village and Market Row is about one thing and one thing only: food.

Sure, there are small shops dotted around area, a grocer’s market, a flea market and various stalls selling vintage goodies – but, basically, you just come here to eat.

There’s an eclectic mix from countries across the globe, so that you can visit Europe, India, Asia, Africa and South America all in one day.

Fruit and veg sellers reopened in April, so it’s highly likely the rest of the market will follow soon.

Don’t forget to swing by Pop Brixton before you head home.

The event space, which is located behind Brixton station, has been shut for the duration of the pandemic – with its 49 street food vendors suffering substantially from the lack of income – but who knows, the doors may soon open again.

Keep an eye on Pop Brixton’s Twitter for more info.

Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill

Portobello Road Market is always rammed with tourists.

They come for the bric-a-brac, to munch on crêpes or to take snaps for ‘Gram outside the famous Notting Hill bookshop or the ‘blue door’ featured in the movie (which, by the way, isn’t the real blue door – that one was auctioned off years ago).

But don’t let that put you off – it’s one of London’s loveliest markets.

And remember, no one is really travelling at the moment, so there will likely be a lot less tourists milling about (although that’s bad for business, sadly).

The market has been operating at reduced capacity since lockdown began on 23 March, with only food stalls such as fruit and vegetable sellers and fish mongers open at present, as well as vendors offering household goods.

But, with restrictions loosening, it’s likely that the second-hand and antiques stalls will soon return.

Stay updated on Visit Portobello.

Greenwich Market, Greenwich

Last but not least, there’s Greenwich Market.

On a normal day, you can find everything from fashion to antiques, food to art, jewellery to baked goods here – but unfortunately, the market has been closed throughout lockdown.

Although there’s not yet any news on when it will reopen, organisers are hosting virtual markets instead to help vendors stay afloat during this time.

Visit the market’s Instagram page every Friday to Sunday from 11am for an online shopping session.

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If you’ve taken up skipping as a lockdown hobby, then please don’t be discouraged by Tori Boggs.

She’s incredible at what she does – skipping – but she’s been doing it for 20 years.

The 27-year-old is a German-born professional jump roper who has been honing her craft for two decades.

The talented athlete has shared videos of herself performing a bunch of stunts while cartwheeling, jumping over walls, and running through a skate park.

The videos show her pulling off her mind-blowing trick stunts where she and the rope seem to merge into one.

She’s quite the gymnast too as she incorporates body rolls, backflips, splits into her jumping routine.

Tori, who now resides in the USA said: ‘After graduating from college I got a short-term performance offer and absolutely loved it.

‘It was a way I could continue my passion every day and get paid for it.

‘My videos combine joy and creativity with different beats.

‘I’ll hear a song and imagine what moves would work with it.’

Tori says she hopes others will give skipping a go and experience the same happiness she gets from it.

‘My videos are just happiness and love for using my rope! I hope others can feel this happiness too.

‘I jump every day – My career so far has been full of joy, passion, and lots of learning!’

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We’ve all experienced the disappointment of picking up a once fluffy, soft towel only to discover that it’s turned hard and scratchy over time.

Nobody wants to be drying themselves with a crusty old piece of cotton, after all.

But it seems this household problem can be easily avoided.

A mum on TikTok has shared a simple hack which helps towels stay soft and it requires just one store cupboard ingredient.

User @Mama_Mila posted a video explaining the secret spa-worthy towels.

Her TikTok reads: ‘Set washing machine between 40-60°C.

‘Add liquid detergent and use ½ cup of white vinegar instead of fabric softener.

‘The vinegar breaks down the residue from detergent, leaving towels soft and fresh.’

She explains that towels should air-dry naturally, until they are almost moisture-free.

After, they can go in the tumble dryer, as this helps with softness and absorbency.

One happy follower commented: ‘Trying this!!’

While others were keen to know more about the genius trick.

One asked: ‘Is there a specific vinegar you use, do you use white or apple cider?’

Another intrigued fan asked: ‘Quick question does this also work on clothes?’

In the comments section, Mama Mila revealed she uses plain white vinegar and that the hack works on clothes, too.

It seems there’s a plethora of household hacks doing the rounds on TikTok – many of which are making lives easier in lockdown.

A woman has shared an easy way to ensure creepy crawlies are removed from fruit – which involves soaking pieces in salty water before eating.

Similarly, a nutritionist has shared a simple hack to get all the juice out of a lemon. The method involves piercing the bottom with a kitchen skewer and squeezing the middle of the fruit.

Have you seen an amazing hack? Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Chefs are constantly finding new ways to innovate how they plate their dishes.

Sometimes, their creativity goes a bit haywire – and we end up with strange-looking meals that even hipsters would lift an eyebrow at.

But at least these make for a good laugh.

People from across the globe have shared the most unusual ways their dishes have arrived at the table in restaurants, in a round-up by Bored Panda.

Like the chef who decided it would be an excellent idea to serve a very small potato on a miniature wooden chair or the one who placed a carrot on top of an old-school telephone.

Our personal favourite however? The person who got their food plated into their hand. Just, why?

In other recent food news – if you have an appetite after all that – M&S has just launched strawberry clotted cream, so you no longer have to choose which spread goes first.

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

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Weddings all over the world have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But one determined couple refused to let the virus spoil their plans.

Elizabeth Alabaster and fiancé James Pitt decided to mark their wedding with an impromptu street celebration – complete with a ‘social distancing reception.’

The couple were due to get married on 25 April at Thursford Garden Pavilion in Norfolk – but UK lockdown meant their big day was unable to take place.

Elizabeth said: ‘Everything had been booked and when we went into lockdown, we decided to postpone the wedding.

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

‘Luckily, everything can be carried over until next year, but it was still really upsetting.

‘I woke up that day thinking, “It should be my wedding day”. I just kept thinking about what I should be doing, like, “I should be arriving now, I should be getting my hair done.”‘

But instead of letting the cancellation get them down, the pair came up with a brilliant alternative – to host a wedding party with their neighbours, a few weeks later.

James put on his wedding suit and Elizabeth wore a different white dress (as she plans to keep her real dress for the postponed ceremony next year).

Some of the couple’s friends dropped round champagne for the special occasion and next-door-neighbour Debbie, a professional photographer, offered to take some photos.

Elizabeth said: ‘It was supposed to be a social distancing toast that turned into a social distancing wedding reception.

‘Instead of moping around we got dressed up and had a toast with our neighbours.

‘One of the neighbour’s daughters made confetti and they all sang the wedding march as we walked down the road.’

The party even attracted the attention of the police – but all was fine once they saw social distancing being carried out.

Elizabeth added: ‘We had to get a photo with them otherwise no one would believe me. It’s now a really memorable day for all the right reasons.’

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Vaccines have long been a contentious topic for parents, with any parenting message board or social media group you visit having some form of heated discussion on their safety and efficacy.

A survey by the Royal Society for Public Health found that more than one in five British parents thought that the MMR vaccine was likely to cause unwanted side effects, and one in ten said they had chosen not to give a child the MMR vaccine.

In recent years uptake of all childhood vaccines has reduced, which suggests that this unease translates to inaction from parents, and also correlates with a resurgence of diseases like measles which had been previously been eradicated (as of 2016 the UK is no longer considered ‘measles-free’).

Far from a fringe debate for a small number of new parents, though, the Covid-19 pandemic has put the vaccination uptake issue into the spotlight, and as a result, appears to have emboldened those who believe vaccines are harmful or not worth taking.

Protestors across the world have gathered in major cities in recent weeks to argue against lockdown measures, with many holding placards decrying a vaccine (despite none being available at present).

Even high-profile figures have shown mistrust for vaccines, with tennis player Novak Djokovic saying in a Facebook live video ‘Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,’ and singer MIA tweeting ‘If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I’m gonna choose death.’

The World Health Organisation stated last year that vaccine hesitancy – the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines – was one of the ten biggest dangers facing the world, and this global health crisis has made clear just how deadly misinformation and lack of clarity can be.

The words ‘herd immunity’ have been in the headlines since the pandemic took hold in Britain in early March, with claims from government sources that this would be part of the government’s strategy.

But, herd immunity tends to be something associated with vaccines specifically, being defined as ‘the resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population that results in a sufficiently high proportion of individuals are immune to the disease, especially through vaccination.’

With no vaccine available, and at the time no definitive proof that those who had already contracted coronavirus would be immune, these claims of achieving herd immunity with no vaccine created a disconnect in the meaning of the term.

Subsequently, an ORB International survey of opinions from 6 to 7 May shows that 10% of UK respondents said they were unwilling to be vaccinated for coronavirus and 13% were unsure.

Elsewhere the problem is decidedly worse, with studies showing that, in the US, up to 45% of adults don’t trust vaccines.

Where does the distrust of vaccines come from? Here in Britain, one of the catalysts for the anti-vax (vaccine sceptic) movement was a report by Andrew Wakefield that suggested the MMR inoculation caused autism.

Although the GMC found that Wakefield had been dishonest in his research and he was struck off from the UK medical register, the public perception between the link persisted.

From here, it’s mainly word of mouth (or keyboard) that spreads vaccine misinformation.

31% of parents who use chatrooms and discussion forums around vaccines would feel doubts about immunising their children compared to 8% amongst all parents.

A study by the Vaccine Confidence Project also found that Facebook pages that promoted an anti-vax sentiment were ‘more numerous, faster growing, and increasingly more connected to undecided pages’ compared to pro-vax ones.

With the pandemic as it is, killing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, people will be forced to put their money where their mouths are in terms of accepting or denying a coronavirus vaccine.

But rather than backing down, staunch anti-vaxxers are doubling down, and will continue to do so.

One Reddit user we spoke to who goes by the username EnoughNoLibsSpam said of the potential Covid-19 vaccine: ‘Not only will I NOT be taking any coronavirus vaccine but the Covid-19 hoax has woken up a lot of other people to the vaccine cult.

‘Yes vaccine cult.

‘My feelings will be the same as any other vaccine. “No thanks!”’

Another, who preferred to remain anonymous, said in a private message: ‘Covid-19 has changed nothing for me except to confirm my belief that vaccine development — because manufacturers in the United States have zero liability for vaccine injuries — is a process that lends itself to a dangerous product.’

Dr Perpetua Emeagi, a lecturer in Human Biology and Biological Sciences at Liverpool Hope University, says the failure of certain groups to be vaccinated could potentially result in new disease ‘epicentres’ forming. 

‘Any “gaps” in vaccination coverage can cause diseases to flare up. 

‘Avoidance of the MMR vaccine is thought to be the main reason behind the re-emergence of measles in the US – despite it being declared ‘eliminated’ by the World Health Organisation back in 2000. 

‘And when it comes to a potential Covid-19 vaccination, we need to learn lessons from these outbreaks if we’re to truly eradicate the disease.’

Many experts believe that the future of life as we knew it depends on a successful vaccine, and if large swathes of the population refuse it, it will be extremely difficult to curb its continuing spread.

For example, Dr Perpetua highlights the historical precedent of Kano State in Nigeria in the early 2000s. She says: ‘In this case political and religious leaders halted an immunisation campaign, urging parents not to vaccinate their children, due to the mistaken belief the drugs could be contaminated with anti-fertility agents, HIV, and even cancer-causing chemicals. 

‘By 2003, Kano State had become the epicentre of polio on a global scale. 

‘And when it comes to Covid-19, if a vaccine is developed, it’s vital that adoption is as widespread as possible to prevent new pockets of outbreaks from emerging continually in the future.

‘We’ll never truly eradicate the disease unless this happens.’

This is likely why Matt Hancock has hinted that if a coronavirus vaccine becomes available it may be compulsory.

Where the law stands on an issue like this is unclear. At present, we have no vaccines that are required – rather recommended.

Where the first frontier of this virus was healthcare workers treating infected patients, the second will be many of those same staff having to persuade vaccine-sceptic individuals to work with them and create herd immunity.

For measles, 95% of people need to be vaccinated to prevent outbreaks, so a similar figure could need to also be achieved for Covid-19.

That high uptake percentage is no easy feat, and unfortunately it will be up to doctors and nurses to stress the importance of vaccinations to people.

Dr Toni Hazell, GP in Tottenham, explains how she works with people who aren’t confident in vaccines: ‘It is very frustrating when a parent refuses vaccination as I know that the vaccination is in the child’s best interests.

‘It’s important to explore the reason why – sometimes the parent believes that there is some truth in the MMR and autism story.

‘Explaining the evidence and that the lead author of the paper was struck off for fraud can sometimes help the parent to understand and vaccinate their child.

‘Unfortunately there is nothing that I can do to force a parent to protect their child from deadly diseases. All I can do is talk to them at every opportunity, try to involve the other parent and, finally, offer the missed vaccinations to the child when they turn 18.’

Like everything that’s come our way regarding this deadly virus, even the most accomplished and intelligent people are flying by the seat of their collective pants – simply because there’s so much we don’t know.

In that sense, it’s somewhat understandable that some may be uneasy about a new medicine that they might feel has been fast-tracked.

But without everybody’s cooperation, it may be a long time before we ever return to the ‘old normal’ that we miss so much.

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If there’s one thing we know in Britain, it’s how to make a decent cup of tea.

Whether you have it strong or slightly milkier, no sugar or three – there are only so many ways to deviate from the classic process of making tea.

So when an American mum and daughter duo took to TikTok to deliver a tutorial on how to make what they call ‘hot tea’ – it shook many Brits to the core.

First off, they half-filled a mug with tap water and put it in the microwave for one minute.

Which is a weird place to begin when making a cup of tea – and it sets the tone for the entire clip. Most Brits would never consider a microwave necessary in the making of tea, but Americans don’t tend to have kettles in their kitchens (which is wild in itself).

After taking it out of the microwave, the daughter then poured the milk directly into the hot water.

Most people would never dream of adding milk before the tea bag, but that’s not the only issue. The sheer amount of milk will send most Brits into a frenzy of disgusted disbelief.

The daughter adds half a mug of cold milk to the hot water, before popping in a tea bag and stirring gently – until it resembles something grey and swamp-like.

But they’re not done. Next comes the sugar.

One sugar? Two maybe? Three at a push, surely? Well, it’s hard to tell, because the young girl has opted for the free-pour method rather than a spoon.

So, no we don’t know how much sugar she added to this anaemic excuse for a cup of tea, but we know it was a lot. She pours the sugar bag for a solid couple of seconds.

And that’s it. ‘Tea’ complete.

Obviously, British Twitter have found this clip, and no one is happy about it.

‘This is an abomination. I had to have a cuppa of Yorkshire to calm down,’ wrote one person on Twitter.

‘What the bloody hell was that insult to our culture?!?’ asked another incredulous social media user.

Others had legitimate questions about the methods used, and dreaded to think what the final result would taste like.

‘That is truly ridiculous – and it would be cold tea with all that milk!’ said one.

‘Buy a bloody kettle & put the tea bag in FIRST!!!! Then take it out before you put milk in!!’ suggested one angry man.

Well, one thing is for certain, if you really want to rile Brits up on the internet, all you have to do is mess with our tea.

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Fat red tomatoes bursting with flavour, delicately sweet hake that just flakes off the bone, and sugar-snap peas that add zing to any stir fry…the best of local produce is available right now.

And there’s never been a better time to support our farmers and fishermen than by buying locally sourced, in-season vegetables and the very freshest of fish from UK waters.

Because by buying local, you won’t just be getting the very best quality food, you’ll also be helping sustain these vital industries at a difficult time.

Lockdown has meant many of their regular customers such as bars, restaurants and hotels have cancelled their usual orders, leaving a mountain of produce that’s at risk of going to waste.

Share your recipes using #SeasonalVeg and find out more at vegpower.org.uk/seasonalveg and vegpower.org.uk 

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So if you demand food produced locally, you’ll be supporting growers and fishermen when they really need your help.

And if you’ve got time this summer, you can go one step further by actually helping pick the crops yourself!

Packed with goodness

By buying local and seasonal, you’ll be guaranteed to be getting the very best produce packed full of the vitamins, minerals and fibres we need.

June is the beginning of the harvest when the most incredible array of vegetables starts to come in from the fields.

Right now, you should be able to get your hands on locally-grown asparagus, cucumber, mushrooms, salad leaves, courgettes, spinach and beetroot. And don’t forget aubergines, cabbages, carrots, fennel, onions, peas, runner beans and among many others.

There’s so much around, parents can be assured even the pickiest little eater should find something they love.

Farmer Scott Watson of G’s Growers in Feltwell, Norfolk, says there’s already been strong demand for local crops this year because of the good weather.

He says: ‘The UK outdoor salads season is now well under way with lettuce, spring onions and radishes all being harvested on UK farms.

‘Our radish harvest started at the end of April – they always sell well when the sun is out and people get going with BBQs.

‘They’re great value, really low calorie and make a great healthy snack that’s not just beloved of Peter Rabbit.’

Pick for Britain

Another challenge for farmers has been getting enough people to harvest the crops.

Each summer thousands of people usually come in from abroad to help out but can’t this year because of coronavirus.

So a new campaign called ‘Pick For Britain’ has been launched to fill their places.

Anyone who needs work over summer, whether they’re unemployed or students looking to make a bit of money, is being encouraged to apply. So are any furloughed workers whose contracts allow it.

There are plenty of jobs available from pickers and packers to tractor and forklift drivers – you just need to be fit and healthy.

Stylist Robyn Philip took a job on New Moor Farm in Essex when her work dried up and says: ‘The community is amazing, it’s really quite a lovely place to be.

‘I’m doing a little bit of everything – I’m helping on the [picking] line, bundling, helping customers, grading. Spirits are high and work is constant.’

Co-worker Madeline Owen was doing her A Levels when schools closed. ‘I needed a reason to get out of bed in the morning,’ she says. ‘It’s like nothing I’ve ever done before. It’s good fun.’

*Go to pickforbritain.org.uk

Get seafood savvy

The UK is surrounded by waters containing some of the best seafood in the world … and now’s the time to take advantage of it.

Currently being caught around our shores are mackerel, herring, rainbow trout, hake, monkfish, crab and mussels to name but a few.

They’re packed full of protein and so good for us, it’s recommended we eat two portions a week, of which one should be oily like mackerel.

For more inspiration on where to find fish caught in UK waters, what’s available and how to cook it, go to fishisthedish.co.uk

Eton Mess

Locally-grown strawberries are at their best right now, so why not try this easy, classic recipe: 

6 shop-bought meringues

1lb strawberries

1 rounded tablespoon icing sugar

1-pint double cream

Method:

Blend half the strawberries with the icing sugar then pass through a sieve. Chop the rest into pieces.

Whip the cream until it forms soft peaks and break up the meringues into bite-sized pieces.

Mix all the ingredients together gently – the puree will add a lovely marble effect – and serve immediately.

Your dishwasher is normally the place where you wash the dishes. As you may expect.

What you might not expect, though, is that it can also act as an expert mixologist, creating a sweet and fruity drink for the summer months.

This Drumsticks Squashies trick has been around for some time, but has recently made a resurgence, with scores of people trying it out to fill up their booze cabinet.

All you need is a packet of Drumsticks Squashies sweets, a bottle of vodka, and a dishwasher to create the liqueur of sorts.

A viral post by Damion Stiles went viral last week, with more and more people coming forward to say they’d followed his lead.

Damion’s post shows how he put the Squashies into the bottle before tightening the lid securely.

Then, he popped the bottle into the dishwasher on a warm wash with no detergent. which dissolved the sweeties to make a drink that can be shotted or mixed with lemonade or tonic.

Although Damion’s pictures show that other items are still in the appliance, most guides recommend putting the bottle in with nothing else to avoid contamination with dirty plates.

If you don’t have a dishwasher you can place the bottle in a large container with warm water to kick-start the dissolving process, but you will need to leave it in there for a while – overnight if you have time.

According to Damion it ‘makes lush strong shots on their own’ and ‘it tastes equally as lush’ with a mixer. He even went as far as to say it’s now his ‘new favourite drink’.

Over 11,000 people have now commented on the post, and 4,700 have shared it. Some have also tried it out with Skittles or other sweets, so the limits are really only your imagination and how much you care about potentially ruining a bottle of vodka.

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

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After months of not being able to see anyone outside your own household, you can now meet up to six people in your garden or in a park, as long as you stay two metres apart.

People across the country are enjoying BBQs and picnics with friends and family again.

But if you don’t fancy cutting up sandwiches for your day out, Morrisons has launched a lovely picnic platter that you can pick up and take with you.

There are two on offer – one for adults and one for kids.

The adults version serves two and costs £10, while the kids one (also with two servings) costs £6.

Adults get a selection of hand prepared jam and cream scones, ham and tuna & sweetcorn sandwiches, mini pork pies, cherry bakewells, a pot of sharing strawberries, quiche Lorraine and fresh salad.

Kids can enjoy hand prepared ham and cheese spread sandwiches, gingerbread men, butterfly bun, satsuma, Babybel cheese, snack pork rolls and carrot and cucumber batons for sharing.

It’s quite an impressive spread. You just need to provide the plates, cutlery, picnic blanket and maybe a few drinks.

To get a platter, you need to order online from the Food to Order website. You then choose your nearest store and a date and time slot.

You have to go to the store to pick it up so it’s best to head along on the way to your picnic spot but everything has a two-day shelf life so you can grab it ahead of time if you need to.

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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Try not to fall in love with this utterly adorable puppies… because they are really not cheap.

The litter of six beautiful pure bred French bulldog puppies cost an eye-watering £2,700 each, and they are all about to make their way to their new homes.

The expensive little dogs have been carefully raised by experienced French bulldog breeder, Caroline Brixton.

With everyone looking for some cute companionship, the price of puppies has soared during lockdown, and Google searches for ‘buy a puppy’ shot up by 120% since March.

‘When a litter has been born, I don’t go to bed for five weeks,’ says Caroline, from Newlyn, Cornwall.

‘It’s a full-time job raising these puppies as I take it so seriously and I always clear out my work schedule for my other job for a good month whenever I know the litter is due.

‘I got into breeding French bulldogs after realising how poor the quality of the breed was locally and I just wanted to bring up healthy puppies.

‘I’m with them every day and night so that when the puppies leave me, they’re toilet trained, they know their names and they’re very well behaved and happy.

‘I dedicate all my time to the puppies to make sure they are ready for independence.’

Since falling in love with her first French bulldog back in 2014, childcare consultant Caroline has gone on to raise four beautiful French bulldog litters.
She became the first kennel club assured breeder in her area, under the business name Kernowbullz Newlyn.

‘I have an interview process for the prospective owners of my dogs because I want to make sure they’re all going to safe and happy homes,’ she says.

‘I always stagger the puppies leaving and prepare them for a while on their own before they go – the first one of this litter was collected on Sunday [7 June].

‘It is sad when they go, I do get upset saying goodbye but I know they’re going to a good home and I keep in touch with all of their new owners as well.

‘It does a take a lot of time and dedication but it’s so worth it. I just love them.’

Caroline says her priority is always the health of the puppies – she wants to make sure they will be going to a safe and happy home with loving owners.

‘In the interest of safety, I endorse all my breeding bitches as they are complicated to breed and set a litter price as I want to sell affordable pets for families that love the breed,’ she adds.

‘My litter price this time was £2,700. I charge the same price for the boys and girls and I’ve not increased my prices at all and stick to my screening process.

‘I did get offered a “name your price” deal once but the person was not suitable so I declined and sold the pup cheaper to a family that was perfect and had a budget.

‘A secure forever home rules over money every time for me.’

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Amazon worker Jasmine Paget has called on the public to check their parcels from the company after losing her engagement ring while packing boxes.

18-year-old Jasmine Paget finished her shift at the warehouse in Swansea and realised the ring was gone.

Before looking for the band in her workplace she realised it had accidentally slipped into one of the parcels she’d packed, leaving her devastated.

Jasmine had only got engaged to fiance Josh Mannings, 20, a few months before on Valentine’s Day this year after a whirlwind month-long romance.

The silver ring features a larger diamond in the centre with smaller stones around the band.

It was around 5.50pm that Jasmine noticed the band was missing, just ten minutes before the end of her shift.

Although she told her manager right away, who halted deliveries to check for it, due to the fact Amazon Prime parcels go out right away it’s likely it had already been dispatched.

Jasmine said: ‘I reckon I lost the ring in the last hour of my shift as I do tend to glance down to admire it now and then and when I looked down this time, it was just gone.

‘I realised the ring had disappeared at 5:50PM so it was right at the end of my shift.

‘I was so gutted. I felt my heart in my stomach, I started crying and just went to my managers to find out if there’s anyway they could find it.

‘It definitely went into a parcel, we just can’t tell what one which is so frustrating!
“I roughly pack 160 packages an hour and I package up such a wide variety of parcels so it could be in any type of parcel.

‘Thankfully, Josh has been so understanding! He’s just made a big joke out of it to keep my hopes up.’

On Monday this week Jasmine posted on Facebook about what had happened, urging people to be vigilant when they open up their deliveries.

It’s thought that the parcel might be as far away as Germany, but that everyone should check in the upcoming weeks.

‘The response on social media has been incredible and we’re just trying to stay positive and hope that somebody finds it!’ said Jasmine.

Chris Law, General Manager at Amazon Swansea, said: ‘As soon as we heard Jasmine had lost her engagement ring we immediately mounted an extensive search of the fulfilment centre and also appeal to customers to check the packaging of their items to see if the ring may be there.

‘If anyone does find the ring, we’d ask them to contact our Customer Service team so we can reunite Jasmine with this precious item.’

If you find the ring, contact Amazon customer support, or get in touch with Jasmine on Facebook here.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Lina Sapia and husband Fabio had been trying to conceive their first baby for three years but doctors told them that as it had not worked, they would need to use IVF.

The couple, from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, used the process and welcomed their daughter Alba, now one and had always planned to extend their family with one of the four frozen embryos that remained.

But last year, they were shocked when a pregnancy test showed that they had conceived naturally.

And there were even more surprises when they went for a scan at six weeks and found out they were having triplets.

Lina, 35, and Fabio, 37, had beat the staggering one in 200 million odds – and they welcomed their three identical boys on 12 March.

Lina said: ‘We were trying for three years before we decided to have IVF with Alba which was successful first time.

‘We always knew we wanted to have another baby and assumed we will need to go through IVF again after being diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

‘I experienced a second miscarriage three months prior to discovering I was pregnant with triplets in September but I didn’t get my hopes up as I feared it may happen again.’

Worried about the baby because of their history, they booked in for an early scan and were told the amazing news that there were three babies.

‘We booked in for an early scan at six weeks to check the baby was healthy and the nurse kept asking me questions such as have I been feeling sick?’ Lina added.

‘I said no but I did feel slightly bigger than before – I constantly looked bloated like I had eaten a huge plate of pasta.

‘She went to get a second opinion and said there’s more than one heartbeat, so we assumed two, not three!

‘We were in total shock and couldn’t believe it – Fabio, who is a risk analyst, was nervously laughing in the corner.

‘We felt like we had won the lottery – neither of us have multiples in the family!’

Medics prepared the couple for the worst as triplet pregnancies have a high risk of miscarriage.

Thankfully, there wasn’t any complications and Lina gave birth at 32 weeks to Luis who weighed 2lb 8 oz, Piero, 3 lb 6oz and Remi, 3 lb 12oz.

The couple admits they still get confused with who is who at times and the 13-week old triplets still wear velcro wrist bands with their initial on to ensure they are not mixed up.

She adds: ‘I felt anxious throughout the pregnancy as I feared something bad may happen and I couldn’t deal with another miscarriage.

‘But we had scans every two weeks to ensure everything was fine – it was incredible watching them grow.

‘My bump became heavy and uncomfortable towards the end but I persevered as I still needed to be a mum to Alba and keep her entertained.’

The triplets were born just before lockdown on March 12 so their parents were able to meet them but as restrictions were introduced, only Lina could visit them in hospital and Fabio could only see them on FaceTime.

Lina added: ‘The triplets were like super-stars at St. Peters, Chertsey, Surrey as many of the staff hadn’t seen identical triplets before.

‘Fabio wasn’t allowed to see them for three weeks whilst they were in hospital due to the restrictions – only via FaceTime which was difficult.

‘The NHS were absolutely incredible for not only getting us through the pregnancy but also providing 24 hour care when they were born.

‘The lock-down has helped us form a bond and get into a routine with them.

‘Alba absolutely adores them – she gives them a kiss every morning and night before bed.’

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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Love in lockdown isn’t easy.

We’re all isolated, stuck miles apart from each other, normal dating venues are off limits, sex with someone from another household is currently illegal.

These are not the ideal conditions for love to blossom. But, the darkest of times can produce the most beautiful romances – Romeo and Juliet anyone?

And an adorable photo series is highlighting the realities of being in the early stages of a relationship during lockdown.

Dating app Badoo and ‘Zoom photographer’ Tim Dunk have teamed up to create a photo series of virtually dating couples, to highlight what the honeymoon period looks like for new lovers dating while isolating apart from each other.  

New data suggests we’re in the midst of a new era of digital courtship with more meaningful connections being made, as half (49%) of Badoo users engage in longer conversations, from which it is likely individuals will be finding more success.

In fact, the user data reveals that over 7.2K users recently deleted their profiles as they had started a committed relationship with someone they met in-app.

‘Lockdown has had an impact on all areas of our life, including the way we look for love,’ says Natasha Briefel from Badoo.

‘Daters are engaging in longer and more meaningful conversations, coming up with creative ways to connect and strengthen bonds, without being able to meet face to face.

‘With the help of Tim’s creative eye, we wanted to capture an honest look at what the honeymoon period looks like in this new age of digital dating, shining a light on those who’ve found love against the odds, despite the distance between them.’

The photos provide an uplifting insight into what dating looks like during this unusual time and provides a glimmer of hope that love, can in fact, conquer all.

Daniel and Dominique

Daniel Ingham, 24, from Tumbridge Wells and Dominique Giovannoni, also 24, from London first met on the app at the beginning of the year.

‘Dom and I keep in touch through video calling every day, as well as watching films together online,’ Danielle tells us.

‘I have also sent Dom flowers in the post and she returned the favour with a surprise crate of beer. Nothing says “I love you” like beer.

‘It’s now been 10 weeks since we saw each other after meeting in January, hopefully it won’t be too much longer before she can treat me in person.’

Arturo and Maia  

Arturo Lewis and Maia Magoga  are both 26 and from London. They say things had been moving incredibly quickly for them – until lockdown happened.

‘Lockdown has had its ups and downs.’ says Maia.

‘There’s a mixture of caution and guilt we haven’t been confronted with before.

‘We’ve been sharing music, podcasts, things to read and films a lot, which goes some way to feel like we’re sharing time together.

‘After meeting on Badoo it was a bit of a whirlwind, so has been a little strange not being able to physically see one another.’

Alice and Yousif

Alice White, 25 from Cornwall and Yousif Sheikh-Ali, 26 from London have been meeting up in a safe way, but they are missing the close contact.

‘Lockdown has made me appreciate things I took for granted before, like a hug or sharing moments together,’ says Yousif.

‘We’re looking forward to getting that back. It’s been hard not to see each other so we’ve been going on a few socially distanced dates to the park or for a walk.

‘I know when we’re finally able to hold each other it will be an amazing moment.’

Do you have a story of love in lockdown to share? We want to hear from you.

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

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All good things must come to an end.

But that doesn’t have to be a bad statement. Because, if good things end, so too shall the bad things.

Any pain, anxiety or dark thoughts that you are feeling now, won’t last forever.

But getting through it is the hard part.

So while you are fighting through the hard times, we’ve collected this handy summary of everything we covered during our mindfulness series.

Hopefully they can help you fight through any negative feelings and bring you some peace.

Episode One: A gentle introduction into the world of guided meditation

Learning to allow your mind to rest and meditate is not always easy, especially when anxious thoughts overtake, but let Headspace founder Andy Puddicombe introduce you to the series and lead you on a gentle guided meditation.

Episode Two: Stepping out of anxiety.

Anxiety is a confining feeling. Walking away from it can feel like an impossible task, but you never have to put up with it. Follow this guided session to help alleviate your thoughts and bring you out of the funk.

Episode Three: A visualisation technique to reduce stress and minimise mind chatter.

Finding time to find peace is one thing, but finding time to quiet your mind is something all together.

Episode Four: Compassion with yourself and with others

During stressful times we can find ourselves lashing out at other people and even ourselves. This perpetuates feelings of stress and anxiety within yourself and others. Follow Eva from Headspace and give yourself the tools to be compassionate to yourself and others.

Episode Five: Mindful Eating

In stressful times we either find ourselves constantly reaching for the chips and biscuits, or forgetting to feed ourselves all together. Join Andreas Michaelides from mindful eating app, Noom as he guides you on how to bring mindful eating into your life.

Cosmetics brand L’Oreal has said it regrets its treatment of model and activist Munroe Bergdorf after she was fired three years ago for an anti-racism post.

They’ve also promised to donate €25,000 (£22,00) to Mermaids, a charity for transgender young people, and €25,000 to UK Black Pride.

Back in 2017, Munroe was sacked just days after she was announced as the brand’s first ever transgender representative.

At the time, she wrote a Facebook post about an anti-racism protestor who was killed by a white supremacist at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

In response, the beauty giant said that as ‘champions of diversity’ it felt the Munroe’s comments were at ‘odds’ with those of the company, and that it could no longer work with her.

Munroe raised the incident again last week when the brand posted about Black Lives Matter protests and the words ‘speaking out is worth it’.

Posting a screenshot, Munroe said: ‘Excuse my language but I am SO angry. F**K YOU @lorealparis. You dropped me from a campaign in 2017 and threw me to the wolves for speaking out about racism and white supremacy. With no duty of care, without a second thought.’

She went on to say they were treating the Black Lives Matter protests as a ‘pr opportunity’.

‘Where was my support when I spoke out? I’m disgusted and writing this in floods of tears,’ she said.

But today, she posted a statement saying that L’Oreal’s new president Delphine Viguier, who started last year, had reached out to her directly, expressed regret for what had happened and said that the company will make the charitable donations.

Munroe said: ‘As an activist, part of my work is to encourage big businesses to understand their responsibility with regards to diversity and inclusion.

‘It’s imperative that in all industries, a wide range of people from different backgrounds and experiences are in the room at all levels and in decision making roles, to reduce oversight and to create a product that is built with all people in mind.’

She went on to explain that she had been offered a new consultancy role, on their UK Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board

She said: ‘I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to practise what I preach and take up that seat at the table to be the representation that we deserve as a community.

‘I believe in accountability and progress, not cancellation and grudges. While what happened three years ago was extremely traumatic for me personally and professionally, sitting on a board to provide a voice and a champion for black, trans and queer voices in the beauty industry is important to me.

‘It feels good to finally have closure on this matter and I look forward to new beginnings with the L’Oreal team.’

L’Oreal Paris Brand President Delphine Viguier also posted a statement saying that she had an ‘honest, transparent and vulnerable’ conversation with Munroe.

She wrote: ‘We listened to each other and shared our feelings and perspectives on the situation with open hearts and minds. It was a powerful moment of human connection.’

‘Here is what I heard from her: 3 years ago, Munroe felt silenced by a brand, L’Oréal Paris, that had the power to amplify her voice. While we both agree today that negative labels should not be used to define all individuals in any group, I understand much better the pain and trauma that were behind Munroe’s words back then and the urgency she felt to speak in defense of the Black community against systemic racism.

‘I regret the lack of dialogue and support the company showed Munroe around the time of the termination. We should have also done more to create a conversation for change as we are now doing.

‘We support Munroe’s fight against systemic racism and as a company we are committed to work to dismantle such systems.’

She added that moving forward, they would form a UK Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board of voices inside and outside the company, who will ‘influence and inform our action plan’.

Highlighting the post on the L’Oreal page last week, she said: ‘Speaking out is worth it, only if we are able to listen, learn and grow.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

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A savvy woman has pulled off the ultimate cost-free DIY project.

Sarah Powell, from Nottinghamshire, wanted to update her home on a budget – so decided to get creative.

After moving into her new home last January, the 33-year-old was faced with the task of redecorating. 

She told the money-saving community  LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘The hallway was covered in woodchip walls and years of paint.’

Sarah got to work removing the woodchips and painting the walls white (using old paint) – but she felt a certain warmth was missing from the newly-decorated space.

After browsing Instagram and Pinterest for some home inspiration, Sarah came up with an idea to create a diagonal pattern.

But, instead of buying new materials to bring the idea to life, Sarah used what she already had lying around.

She said: ‘I had some grey paint left over from another project I had been doing and decided to go for it.

‘With a small rounded end brush, I began in the top right corner painting on free hand lines and worked my way down and across.

‘The total painting time took around an hour and a half to two hours which fitted in perfectly with my daughter’s nap time.’

By recycling old materials and tools, Sarah managed to create the new look without spending a penny.

She added: ‘The project didn’t cost me anything as I already had the paint and the brush from previous projects, but a small tester pot of paint would have easily been enough to cover it if you don’t have any leftover paints at home.

‘I did paint mine completely freehand but if anyone was wanting a slightly more polished look, then I would recommend marking out the lines between each zig zag with tape to help keep the lines straight. 

‘I found this a great little lockdown project as I found it therapeutic to do and it has made my hallway space much more inviting.’

Do you have a DIY story to share?

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

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The coronavirus pandemic has revived the outdoor cinema scene.

From new drive-in theatres arriving this summer to people making their own garden cinema set-ups – watching movies outside is the latest (and safest) thing to do.

But there’s a new outdoor cinema launching in London over the coming months – and it doesn’t require a car. 

The Free Range Film Club will screen movies in the capital’s parks and green spaces from July to September.

While exact locations are yet to be announced, organisers have revealed there will be venues in east, west, south and north London.

Also, to ensure everyone is kept safe, capacities will be limited, spaces are to be allocated and groups will be asked to keep apart.

Organisers of The Free Range Film Club – the folks behind Clapham Common’s Winterville festival – have said guests will be able to get street food, barbecue treats and drinks delivered straight to their viewing spots.

A line-up of movies is yet to be announced, but the website states guests should ‘expect a programme of cult classics, feel good faves and indie flicks.’

Of course, this isn’t the only open-air cinema experience landing in the UK this summer.

The Drive-In is set to launch in London in July, at the Troubadour Meridian Water site in Enfield.

Cars entering the drive-in cinema will be asked to park two metres apart and tickets will be scanned through closed windows (or via number plates). In terms of films, Dirty Dancing, The Terminator, Shawshank Redemption, Bad Boys for Life and La La Land are just a few on the programme.

The Luna Cinema has also announced it’s launching an outdoor cinema, which includes a bespoke speaker system and food and drink services.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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A friend of a friend recently texted me out of the blue: ‘Lol have you seen this?’

Attached to the message was a screenshot of somebody’s Instagram story boasting a simple #BlackLivesMatter slogan. The person behind the post was my white ex-boyfriend and former abuser.

This is the same person who enacted consistent emotional torture throughout our relationship. He’d force me to perform sexual acts I wasn’t comfortable with under the threat that if I didn’t, he would find someone else to do them.

It was the same person who would routinely punish me, often making me strip outside the front door – for what seemed like a lifetime – before letting me back inside the flat. As a result of his abuse, I reached breaking point and tried to end my life. After , he dared to tell me, ‘I like that I have that much power over you.’

My life did not matter beyond the control, punishment, humiliation and pain he would inflict on me. So when I saw that #BlackLivesMatter post from him, I couldn’t reconcile the fact that sentiment never extended to me.

Seeing his post triggered years of domestic abuse trauma and within seconds had rendered me mute. I shut down, cried for a while and had consecutive panic attacks laced with flashbacks of all the times my black life did not matter to him.

It also caused me to lose all motivation to continue the anti-racist work I had previously been proactively involved in.

Without access to formal therapy during lockdown measures, receiving this message put me at incredible emotional risk. I quickly re-enforced my boundaries online, as it’s really important for activists to be able to identify and safeguard their limits, while unapologetically demanding others respect them too.

For me, this meant posting a statement reminding people that sending personally triggering content is not acceptable. I also communicated this with the person who had sent the message, and then turned my phone off and escaped to the countryside for the rest of the day, giving myself permission to recharge before resuming my work.

Authentic allyship involves being uncomfortable; nobody said personal accountability and calling out those around you would feel nice

The primary emotion I felt though was anger; firstly at the inconsideration of the sender, but predominantly at the injustices behind the post. While infuriating on a personal level, what may seem like an annoying post from an ex actually represents many more insidious issues.

Posting a #BLM sentiment does not mean anything if, like my abuser, you routinely contribute to the demise of black women. Misogynoir, a term coined by Moira Bailey, depicts this intersection between race and gender. Misogynoir describes the specific prejudice experienced by black women where racism and misogyny combine. 

For my abuser, supporting an anti-racism campaign and abusing your black ex-girlfriend are clearly two unrelated things. But the manipulation of a social justice movement to project an image of himself as a ‘good white man’ is the perfect example of performative allyship – the act of saying the right words, without following through with the right actions. Words that often come from a sense of obligation and self preservation.

On social media, it may appear in the form of sharing posts and receiving a pat on the back for doing so, without committing to dismantling social injustices behind the scenes. This perpetuates the systems people are saying they want to change.

Performative allyship is hollow, and therefore ineffective. Authentic allyship involves being uncomfortable; nobody said personal accountability and calling out those around you would feel nice.

You must accept that you will get these wrong, receive criticism as an opportunity to grow and be reactive to critique. Allyship includes examining your own privilege, educating yourself and committing to long-term anti-racist work that doesn’t benefit your image. 

I encouraged the person who had sent me the screenshot to do so by signposting them to resources on allyship, and having a frank conversation on their complicity.

I received an apology, which appeared to have taken this on board; it did not centre their feelings or intentions, but acknowledged their oversight and committed to learn further. 

As for my abuser – and men like him – a thorough examination of his internalised misogyny and why he hates and disrespects women, particularly black women, is the foundational role he must play in the #BlackLivesMatter movement and ensuring black women are safe within it.

As the dominant upholders of social privilege, white men have a duty to contribute to anti-racism at an equitable pace. Integral to this is holding themselves accountable to the internalised misogynoir that has influenced how they treat or have treated black female friends, family members, partners, colleagues or acquaintances.

So I say to them, go to therapy, admit there’s a problem, pay reparations for the hurt caused and accept criminal responsibility if relevant. Do not place the burden on the women in your life to educate you or to hold your hand while you do so. 

If your activism does not provide space for black women to feel safe, it is not anti-racism. There is no place in the movement for those who continue to harm us the most.

This author is using a pseudonym

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

Share your views in the comments below.

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Lockdown has got us thinking about our next trip away.

Whether it’s a weekend away with friends, a partner or family – holidays are on our mind and browsing for inspiration has become a hobby.

There are a number of outstanding Airbnb to put on the post-pandemic bucket list, too, from the adorable owl treehouse in Atlanta to the Spanish apartment which features in the third season of Killing Eve.

But book lovers should definitely take note of a very special one which is available on the platform – a Harry Potter-themed house.

The Wizards Way house, located in Florida, has eight bedrooms, with space for more than 16 guests.

But the best part is that each room pays tribute to a different part of the magical tale.

Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to bedrooms – with one featuring a Whomping Willow bed, another with an impressive Hogwarts Express bed and another room which resembles Dumbledore’s office.

Others have been designed to look like the house dormitories from the films.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

There’s also a forbidden forest theatre room and a staircase packed full of paintings to resemble the portrait-cladded walls of Hogwarts.

The house even features a games room which has been designed to look like the Quidditch stadium at Hogwarts – with no details spared.

Being a new addition to Airbnb, there are only two reviews – but both praise the property.

One says: ‘This place is AMAZING!! It’s all a Harry Potter fan hopes for and more! I felt like we were in Hogwarts and it just made our stay so magical. Every room is so unique and thought out.’

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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