‘Try not to stare, you know, down there,’ was my boyfriend’s only tip before we ventured to a sauna in the Netherlands pre-corona.

You see, unlike in the UK, saunas in the land of windmills and tulips operate a no-swimwear policy. My boyfriend warned me, worried that I might get distracted by other men, that the one faux pas you can commit is to ogle other bodies.

The mixed-gender nude saunas advise you to bring slippers and a robe for wandering around and they generally have restaurants where you can have a nibble and drink in-between spa sessions, so it’s best to cover up then too.

The thought of swimming and saunering completely starkers with strangers with filled me with a slight dread but I was willing to investigate, as I love saunas and needed of a bit of relaxation.

We ventured to Sauna Ridderrode, which is around a 40-minute drive from Amsterdam and called on the way to make a reservation. Day entrance to the spa costs from €30.50 per person, with treatments and meals at an extra charge.

After stripping off in the mixed changing room, I donned my robe and wandered into the sauna area. To my boyfriend, who is Dutch, this whole ritual seemed completely normal but it felt a little strange for me.

Signs warned against the use of mobile phones which I was glad about. I didn’t fancy the thought of people taking sneaky snaps.

I had visions of the place being a little seedy but it was far from dodgy and reminded me of a day spa I’d been to back in the UK with my mother, with a Romanesque theme running throughout and low lighting.

It was a Monday afternoon, so I noticed that there was an older crowd at the sauna. I took a deep breath, whipped off my robe and had a shower before exploring the place.

There were multiple rooms, including different saunas, a steam room and ‘heat chamber’ and an outside area with landscaped gardens.

As we wandered around I tried to remember my boyfriend’s advice and avert my eyes from fellow spa-goers.

I have to admit, it did feel pretty lovely swimming in the pool naked as I usually wear bikinis and always worry about the strings coming undone or my boobs slipping out.

Being nude meant that I didn’t have to worry about my swimwear being skew-whiff and I could completely relax.

I did feel a bit stranger moving to the hot tub and sharing it with another couple, as I don’t like sharing whirlpools when I’m clothed with others as it feels like quite an intimate space, let alone when I’m naked.

I exchanged a nervous smile with a man with a hairy back while feeling my boobs being caressed by the bubbles. I tried not to get too close.

After working up a thirst, we stopped in a relaxation lounge area off the restaurant for a drink.

I was surprised to see a family there – parents with a teenage son and daughter – and it made me think that it wouldn’t be a day out I could imagine doing with my mum and dad.

We later had dinner in the restaurant, where we dined in our robes as I’d done before at spas in the UK. There was nothing too odd about that.

In a bid to investigate the Dutch world of naked saunas further, we ventured to another one a few weeks later.

It was a similar experience at Sauna van Egmond, which is located around a 15-minute drive from the first spot we went to.

This time around, being a weekend, the place was busier, and there was a younger crowd.

I felt more confident around stripping off following my first experience.

At this sauna, unlike the first, there was a communal area before entering to shower.

It felt a little strange showering in front of other men and women naked but I tried to focus on washing my body and not looking at other people.

While at Sauna van Egmond we booked in to take part in a free experience where a therapist used a fan to waft different herbs into the air inside a Moroccon-style sauna.

The session was completely booked out and we were crammed in there quite tightly. While in there I noticed one woman sitting close to my boyfriend with her legs open… so you could see quite a bit.

I wasn’t sure if she was flirting or just very comfortable with her body but my boyfriend said he also noticed her odd positioning.

We later saw her in the restaurant area with her husband and children and nodded a hello, trying to eradicate the image of her from earlier as we tucked into a tapas board.

All in all, I found exploring naked saunas a refreshing experience. The two saunas we visited were tastefully decorated and relaxed. It felt liberating letting my inhibitions go and made me feel more confident about embracing my body.

It’s not something I would do with friends or parents, as I would do with spa day trips in the UK, but it was a nice experience as a couple.

‘Why ever would you wear clothes in the sauna?’ a Dutch friend quizzed me later when I told her about my introduction to naked sauna-ing. I had no real reply for her, apart from my prudish British upbringing where nakedness is not something traditionally embraced.

Saunas in the Netherlands are currently closed due to the coronavirus but they will be allowed to open again on July 1.

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Peeling carrots is just peeling carrots, right?

Wrong.

Apparently we’ve been doing so in a pretty inefficient way for our whole lives, as another TikTok video schools us completely.

The viral video from Liv Dalton shows that peelers can be used not just in a downward motion, but up and down the length of the carrot, saving us a whole load of time.

Whereas normally you’d only get a peeling in one direction, this way you can simply keep turning the carrot round and peel continuously as you go.

People were shocked to discover they could have lost hours of their life peeling carrots wrong, and the video has now been viewed almost 500,000 times.

Comments underneath the post from the Australian woman ranged from ‘I thought the other side of the blade was just for left-handed people to use. This is the first time I’ve seen it done this way’ to ‘Why am I turned on?’

Whatever peels your carrot, pal.

TikTok has been a hub for hacks in recent months.

First, we realised that we could still get a hosepipe to fill our pools and water our gardens even without an outdoor tap.

Then, a woman saved us a whole load of mess by sharing her method of cutting watermelon into perfect pieces with some unflavoured dental floss.

Not sure how we’ve managed to get through life thus far, but we’ll certainly have much more time in the future (and many more carrots and watermelon slices).

Do you have a great hack to share?

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

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If the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing lockdown has given you the itch to ditch your job and move far away, read on for a budget-friendly chance to do just that.

Cinquefrondi, a village in the southern region of Calabria, Italy, is offering up homes for €1 – around 90p – to encourage people to flock to the town.

The mayor, Michele Conia, has launched Operation Beauty (yep, there’s an official spy-sounding name for this mission) to tackle a trend for younger people leaving the village in search of work.

The idea is that the cheap property in a beautiful setting will lure people in to restore the village to its former glory.

Michele tells CNN: ‘Finding new owners for the many abandoned houses we have is a key part of the Operation Beauty [mission] that I have launched to recover degraded, lost parts of town.

‘Too many people have fled from here over the decades, leaving behind empty houses. We can’t succumb to resignation.’

It’s a pretty lovely place to live, with gorgeous coastal views, beaches just 15 minutes by car, and rolling hills.

Plus, there have been no reported cases of coronavirus among the village’s residents. That’s a nice bonus.

Before you rush too quickly to head over, however, it’s worth noting that you won’t just be able to pay up 90p and then relax in luxury.

The idea is that you renovate the home you buy, which may be rundown and even unstable. You’ll need to pay a €250 (£224) insurance policy annually until the property has been renovated, and if you fail to complete renovations within three years you could be liable for a €20,000 (£18,000) fine.

Renovations shouldn’t cost too much, though, as the homes on offer are pretty small at around 40 metres wide. The mayor estimates costs between €10,000 and €20,000.

It’s also worth noting that while the village is wonderful if you’re after peace and quiet, it’s not the most accessible spot.

Cinquefrondi sits in the toe of Italy’s boot and is more than five hours away from Naples airport – although if you’re happy to go by boat, it’s close to the harbour.

What it lacks in hustle and bustle, though, Cinquefrondi makes up for in charm. It’s rundown, sure, but also very pretty and old-world, with overgrown plants climbing up terracotta walls, winding streets, and views perfectly suited to an Instagram backdrop.

It’s a foodie hotspot too, with specialties including salami, struncatora pasta, and zeppole doughnuts. Drool.

If you’re already packing your bags, you can enquire about the houses on offer by emailing protocollo@pec.comune.cinquefrondi.rc.it.

There are currently 12 houses on offer, so move fast if you’re desperate to head over now – though 50 more could end up on the market.

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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Light-hearted animal content is just the tonic the world needs right now.

A baby guinea pig has struck up an unusual friendship with two Border Collies who share the exact same markings as her.

Five-month-old Margo, who lives in Somerset with owner Jenna Wells, has formed strong bonds with the family’s two dogs – six-year-old George and nine-year-old Jenson.

The little guinea pig shares the exact same coat pattern as the canines, with black patches over her eyes and back and white blazes on her snout and around her neck.

Jenna said: ‘Margo has become really famous thanks to her Collie-like markings.

‘She also gets along well with George and Jenson.

‘The dogs are teaching her how to pose with them, George loves to watch her and he could walk her all day.

‘George loves to try and herd her and our other guinea pig, Mabel, up.’

The trio have become a hit on social media, as Jenna regularly posts pictures of the animals hanging out.

Followers have been quick to comment on Margo’s Collie-like markings and how much she looks like a miniature replica of Jenna’s eldest dog, Jenson.

One user commented: ‘It’s hilarious how their colours are perfectly matched!’

Another one said: ‘This is the cutest thing I have ever seen.’

But it seems Margo isn’t the only guinea pig making unlikely friends in lockdown.

A bald guinea pig called Luis has been adopted by a family of Sphynx cats in Spain. Luis can often be found cuddling the cats on the sofa or climbing on their backs.

In other animal news, Zoom users can now hire alpacas to make a surprise appearance on their next video call – in return for a charity donation.

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Over the last few weeks we have seen a tidal wave effect in the global consciousness of issues of racism.

Since the worldwide Black Lives Matter protests began, the movement has gone far beyond marching in the streets. As a direct result of protest action, we are now starting to see real changes, meaningful apologies, and conversations about privilege and racial injustice had on a larger scale than ever before.

It really does feel as though it has the potential to go beyond the hashtags and the performative solidarity. Statues of slave owners and racist historical figures are being toppled, TV shows where comedians wore blackface have been taken down, people with problematic views are leaving their jobs, institutions are pledging to reform their internal structures to improve diversity.

Many Black people and ethnic minorities are tentatively hopeful that this could be the beginning of monumental change. But, witnessing this change happen in real-time can also feel incredibly draining and triggering for people who have experienced racism their whole lives.

Just this week, a collection of powerful, white Hollywood celebrities released another cringe-worthily earnest video in support of racial equality – giving off strong GSCE drama vibes – in which they pledged to ‘take responsibility’ for their privilege, and ‘no longer’ turn a blind eye in the face of racism and police brutality.

It was the ‘no longer’ that felt jarring for many. So, before today, these influential actors would have been fine with ignoring a racist joke, or staying silent about the unlawful murder of Black people at the hands of the police?

It feels like we are watching the collective belated awakening of white people to racism – as though, somehow, it has only just occurred to them to do something about it.

While it is obviously a good thing for people to acknowledge their own complicity in historic racial injustice, it is emotionally draining to realise that before this ‘moment’, so many people just didn’t care.

Honour* says she has found the reactions from some white friends disingenuous. She doesn’t buy that they have only just noticed that racism is a problem.

‘I think all Black people would be lying if they said they weren’t disappointed at how long it took white people to arrive at the party,’ she tells us.

‘We all like to think we are good at picking friends who are moral and conscious. But how can we be in the face of such incredulity from our white friends?

‘I just don’t accept the “we didn’t know how bad it was” rhetoric. Black people have been calling out racism for generations. We said it calmly, we protested, we put it in our music, our art, our movies, our television, our stages. And they watched, danced, laughed and clapped. But they never heard.

‘Or perhaps they did hear, but just didn’t care until it was at their front door.’

Honour admits, however, that her thoughts on this are nuanced. In some ways, she says she can understand why white people may not have a full picture of what it’s like to live with racism, because she says Black people tend to keep day-to-day microaggressions to themselves.

‘Some of my friends were horrified when I recently revealed that I research racism levels in other countries before I go on holiday, or that in 2020 I stagger entrances into clubs with my other Black friends because all together we look “dangerous”,’ she says.

‘They just couldn’t fathom that anyone so close to home was dealing with anything like that on a regular basis.’

But when it comes to the overt examples of undeniable racism – a Black person dying at the hands of a police officer – Honour says claiming to be oblivious just doesn’t wash with her.

‘It’s insulting to my intelligence frankly. Just say you didn’t care before because it didn’t affect you, and go,’ she says.

Honour is determined not to let the disappointment at the reactions of white people distract from the important task at hand – the task of dismantling racism.

‘I am more hopeful than I’ve ever been that we are capable of eradicating racism. So I’ve put aside any bitterness at white people’s late arrival as it doesn’t serve my cause,’ she tells us.

‘It is not up to Black people to deconstruct an issue we did not create. And further, what’s both frustrating and humiliating is that Black people don’t hold enough power to end racism ourselves. We need as many white people to care as possible. Therefore, rather they woke up late than never at all. We need to stay focused.’

Zahra* has South Asian heritage, and she says that this sudden and intense interest in racial equality from her white friends and colleagues, has been a lot to handle.

‘I could never speak for the specific pain of Black people. The levels of racism and discrimination that Black people face is on a different level to other people of colour,’ Zahra tells Metro.co.uk.

‘I can talk about racism, though. I know what it is to be subject to racist abuse; to be held back by structures that endlessly favour white people.’

Zahra says that every time she logs on to social media or a WhatsApp group, white people are sharing pledges, links to articles, screenshots of arguments with racist people in their lives.

‘Someone will text me to tell me they have called out a racist at work, but do not care to begin the conversation with, “How are you?” It’s a double-edged sword for many of us,’ she explains.

‘It’s good these conversations are happening, but it’s also draining to be the person that has to clap and applaud and validate. Why should we be white people’s cheerleaders at the moment? Where has everyone else been for decades? 

‘I feel like white people are grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking me, desperately pleading – “You have to understand I’m not racist. I’m not! Look! I’m trying really hard!” – but they simply don’t realise that they’re shaking too hard.

‘They’re unearthing old wounds in people of colour, and their grip is leaving bruises. Can’t you educate yourselves quietly?’ 

Zahra has had counselling sessions in the last week because the emotional stress of talking these issues through with her white friends was becoming too much. She was exhausted, her body was aching and she found herself randomly bursting into tears.

‘I have cried too many times to count because I’m frightened that white people will use our pain and experiences to fix their own guilt and then just… forget.’

Psychologist Dr Roberta Babb says it isn’t surprising that this sudden influx of public conversations about racism is causing a severe emotional reaction for so many people.

‘Seeing white people discuss racism with an apparent sense of freedom that has not been afforded to ethnic minorities in the past is painful and more than frustrating,’ Dr Roberta tells Metro.co.uk.

‘It feels like conversations about race have been sanctioned and are now allowed, which can evoke feelings of sadness, powerlessness and hopelessness. This can trigger traumatic memories of their own experiences of racism, which are characterised by demotion, devaluation, not having a voice and not being seen or heard.’

She says these conversations also re-enact some of the destructive dynamics of racism – which are associated with power, privilege and position and which have served to keep racism alive. 

‘Racism is serious and is a public health issue,’ says Dr Roberta. ‘Eliminating racism should be a priority. It should not have taken the numerous violent tragedies that we have witnessed in recent times to make the conversations about racial inequality, racial violence and racial trauma mainstream.’

On the other hand, Dr Roberta knows that anti-racism is everyone’s business, and it is vital that white people and non-Black people continue to have these conversations.

‘The wider the diversity of people discussing and challenging racism, the more it helps to actively deconstruct the idea that racism is a problem for/of Black people,’ she explains.

‘In order to progress anti-racism, important conversations about race cannot prioritise white discomfort and white guilt ahead of racism, racial inequality and trauma.

‘Bearing the responsibility of having to hold the conversations about race all the time, can have a detrimental impact on Black people, their mental health, and their relationships to racial inequality and social justice.’

So, if you are feeling emotionally exhausted by the current conversations about race – you are certainly not alone.

In order to truly progress this movement, white people must find a way to discuss racism without placing undue burden on ethnic minorities to educate, validate or applaud their efforts. Because otherwise it is just an unfeasibly draining process.

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.

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

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Going out to eat feels like a distant pastime.

Restaurants across the country closed their doors back in March to stop the spread of coronavirus – but now a handful of venues are reopening for delivery and one of London’s finest institutions is among those back in business.

The Harwood Arms – the capital’s only Michelin-starred pub – has announced it will be offering its famous Sunday roasts for delivery.

As of tomorrow, 13 June, head chef Sally Abe will be selling boxes with all the ingredients for the restaurant’s popular Sunday roast.

Each package is priced at £70 for two (the same as a sit down dinner at the venue) and includes a 500g piece of beef sirloin – which is the same cut as the one served at the restaurant.

The boxes will feature a plethora of sides, such as beef fat part-cooked potatoes, carrots baked in hay, cauliflower cheese, greens for blanching and a big Yorkshire pudding. 

A roast wouldn’t be a roast without gravy, so the restaurant is also including its bone marrow and braised beef short-rib sauce.

Each box also features detailed instructions on how to make the pub’s signature roast at home.

It’s worth pointing out that the cut-off for weekend orders will be every week on Wednesday, before 4pm. So the boxes going on sale at 9am tomorrow will be for the following weekend (20 June).

Sadly, those looking to get the real-life experience at the Fulham pub may have to wait a little longer.

Sally Abe told Eater that the restaurant will not be able to reopen with current social distancing measures.

She said: ‘If [social distancing] is two metres, no business is going to manage that. Our kitchen is tiny — the logistics of that are crazy.’ 

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MAC Cosmetics has come under fire following accusations of racism from former employees.

Karla Quiñonez Leon, an Afro-Latina makeup artist, took to Instagram last week to share her experiences of racism while working in a MAC store in Brussels, Belgium, in 2017.

In a lengthy post, she explained that it was her ‘dream’ to work for MAC and that one of the reasons she wanted to become a makeup artist was because so many Black people are given the ‘wrong foundation’, and she had hoped to change that.

She goes on to add that the makeup brand’s treatment of Black people is ‘disgusting’.

‘I was so naive to think that I was going to work at a place where equality existed and Black lives really matter,’ Karla captioned her post.

‘The way they treat Black people at MAC is disgusting.’

In a candid portrayal of her former workplace, Karla shares how she was told not to spend too much time with Black customers, and that she could be ‘more rough with them because they’re used to pain and can take it.’

Other makeup artists soon followed suit, sharing their own harrowing stories of working for MAC.

A woman named Ashlee got in touch with Karla and told her that she was approached by the company to become an assistant manager in one of their Belgium stores in 2018.

When Ashlee put together her new team, she was told it was ‘too Black’.

Meanwhile, another makeup artist called out MAC for the company using her as a ‘Black seller’ and was told to ’empty their wallet as much as possible’.

Once the stories emerged, MAC faced intense backlash from customers, who demanded an apology – which the company issued yesterday, a week after Karla’s original Instagram post was shared.

‘In the last week, we at MAC Belgium have heard and reflected on raw and painful experiences courageously shared with us on social media,’ an official statement read on the makeup brand’s Instagram.

‘We want to thank the individuals who have come forward and let them know how deeply sorry we are for the pain they felt and are still feeling.

‘Our listening is not silence. Listening leads to learning. And everything we have heard and learned has helped to influence how we will take action now and for our collective future.’

The company added that it will further implement its ‘zero tolerance’ policy on discrimination and that ‘this is only the beginning’.

‘This is only the beginning,” the statement read.

‘Some of the actions will be immediate, others will take time, but we will ensure that all are lasting and impactful.

‘We pledge to hold ourselves accountable, which builds on our long-standing commitment to inclusion and equality for all ages, all races, all genders.’

Karla responded to the company’s post by sharing the image they used, which has the words ‘Listen. Learn. Act. Change’ on a black background.

‘On day seven of fighting this, we got what we asked for.. to acknowledge our experiences and to promise to do better in the future and an apology,’ she wrote.

‘I really do hope we get to see all those things in the future.’

MAC is not the only makeup brand that has been called out in recent weeks.

Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf recently revealed that she got fired from L’Oreal after she shared an anti-racist post on social media.

The cosmetics brand has since apologised and promised to donate €25,000 (£22,000) to Mermaids, a charity for transgender young people, and €25,000 to UK Black Pride.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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He’s allowed to golf right now (just) but a traditional family dinner just isn’t the same when you’re socially distancing. Father’s Day may be a bit strange this year but it doesn’t mean you can’t treat your dad. Here are some of this year’s best gifts to show Dad you love him even more than your delivery slot at Waitrose.

A Great Shave

Let’s be honest, lockdown dad may have let himself go a little bit over the past few months. But with this smart new shaver with its ‘responsive beard sensor technology’ he can put the dishevelled dude behind him for good. Panasonic’s new razor can recognise the differences in density of his beard and follow face and neck contours automatically.

When he’s done he just puts the shaver in its stand, presses a switch and it automatically cleans and charges itself.

Panasonic Men’s 5-Blade Wet & Dry Electric Shaver with Responsive Beard Sensor and Charging Stand, £330.99, Panasonic

Save Lives, Steak at Home

Restaurants are on a bit of a break right now, so this year why not offer your dad his own steak house at home. Third-generation master butchers and supplier to London’s most prestigious restaurants, Tom Hixson of Smithfield, has joined forces with the prestigious Heliot Steak House to launch a premium meat box for free UK-wide delivery.

Curated by Heliot Steak House’s Executive Chef Ioannis Grammenos, it is packed with over 22 premium grade steaks, including 2.5KG of Argentine Black Label Ribeye, 1KG of deluxe Wexford Valley Chateaubriand and 1.2KG of Angus Pichanha.

The Heliot Steak House Box, £100, with free chilled delivery within two working days anywhere in the UK also included.Tom Hixson

Bring the Holiday to Him

Summer holiday plans may be up in the air right now – so why not bring the beach party to him?

Liquid Intellect has transformed the creamy Piña Colada into a silky rum punch that will transport him right to a Caribbean beach with toasted coconuts, rum and pineapple.

He just pours straight over ice. Perfect for him to enjoy socially distancing at home with friends… or on his own (no judgement here).

Also highly recommended are the brand’s Banana Bread Manhattan Cocktail (not stickly sweet and utterly divine), the Jam Doughnut Negroni and the Cookie Dough Old Fashioned.

Piña Colada Punch Cocktail by Liquid Intellect, £25.95. Not on the High Street.com

Support the NHS Socks

Sock, underwear & loungewear specialists Orrsum have created a special rainbow design and all proceeds (not just the profits) from the sale of the socks will be donated to the NHS.

Sold as a three-pack in grey, black and navy, socks are available in 2 sizes: 4-8 & 7-11.

3 Pack Orrsum NHS Rainbow Socks, £10.00, Orrsum

Sporty Smartwatch

Dad is probably looking to get a bit fitter these days and this smartwatch from Skagen is a good place to start. It has heart rate tracking, is swimproof, plays music, and has GPS for long cycle rides.

Compatible with Android OS 4.4+ and iOS 9.3+. Battery life is all day.

Skagen Connected Mens Falster Smartwatch, £149.50, Watches2U

Perfect Smile

A winner of the GQ Grooming Awards 2020, this is a great gift for a dad who looks after his teeth.

After brushing, he gets a brushing score which factors in whether he pressed too hard, how long he brushed for and how complete his brushing coverage was – it’s like a personal trainer for his teeth!

Oral B Genius X Black Electric Toothbrush Travel Case £169.99, Boots

Easy Lawn Easy Life

Help Dad put his feet this year with an EasiLife 200.

With less restrictions and more freedom, it is flexible enough to be placed anywhere around the lawn edge – even tucked away in a corner. It also adapts its mowing to the weather and automatically senses the cutting schedule lawn growth conditions and FrostSense detects when it’s too cold to operate.

Programming it is simple too – he just has to choose the lawn size, mowing days and start time and the mower calculates the perfect schedule.

EasiLife 200, £649.99, Flymo

Cycle Carryall

Right about now Dad might be contemplating digging out out his bike for a variety of post-pandemic reasons and this backpack is a great addition to his commute.

Sturdy and waterproof, with a stabilising chest strap, the BarrageCargo backpack offers a large 22l capacity, a handy interior sleeve pocket designed to fit 15in laptops and adjustable external panels for a helmet, U-lock or water bottle.

Barrage Cargo Backpack, £170.00, Chrome Industries

Fun Rum

This zippy botanical rum comes from the Spirited Union Distillery in Amsterdam, and the Spice & Sea Salt expression combines just that.

The rum base is infused with Guatemalan cardamom, Madagascan clove sea salt from the Basque Country. With notes of warming spice with fruity molasses, the taste has a buttery, honeyed nuttiness at the finish.

Spirited Union Spice and Sea Salt, £37.95, Master of Malt

Mix it Up

If Dad makes fresh soups and smoothies, margaritas and milkshakes, it couldn’t be faster or easier with the powerful 1.5 peak HP motor of this new Artisan K400 Blender. It comes in 11 colours, has a 5 speed dial, self-cleaning cycle and preset programmes.

Looks pretty manly on the counter too!

K400 KitchenAid Artisan Blender, £279. KitchenAid

Wine Cooler

Help him keep stocked up on white, red and rosé with this nifty wine cooler. And because there’s space for 25 bottles, he will never have to worry about running dry,

With an A energy efficiency rating, temperature ranges between 6 and 18 degrees, and is designed to fit under a worktop.

Haier WS25GA Wine Cooler – Black, £269, ao.com

Cutting It

If dad thinks bigger than bushes, he can effortlessly cut back hard-to-reach tree branches and larger plants with a new cordless tree lopper from Kärcher.

Capable of making up to 240 cuts per charge, it’s a lightweight 2kg and the built-in hook helps makes easy work of hard-to-reach branches or cuttings stuck in the tree.

Karcher Cordless Tree Lopper Machine (Machine Only) £169.99, Karcher

Outdoor Chilling

Dad’s probably been spending more time than usual in his garden these days and this comfortable, stylish and maintenance-free set is for two is a great addition. Virtually maintenance-free, the aluminum frames are the same material used for boat building, and can be used outdoors in all types of weather.

The footrests allow him to put his feet up and relax and the side table is perfect for a G&T.

Morella Aluminium Recliner Companion Set, £379, Hayes Garden World

Terrific Tablet

Give a gift to make his life a little bit more fun with a new iPad. Crossword puzzles, games and catching up on the news has never been easier.

Powered by an A10 Fusion chip it’s fast and multitasking, and the fingerprint sensor means he doesn’t have to constantly type in a password either.

Image quality is bright and clear, as is the 10.2-inch Retina display (compatible with smart keyboard and Apple pencil, sold seperately). Easy to set up and use, there are front and back cameras and an all-day battery life.

Apple iPad 10.2in 128GB WiFi [7th Generation] £399, ao.com

Mini Massager

Say goodbye to tech neck forever with this nifty mini massage cushion. With 4 powerful pressure points, an optional “heat mode”, an electric strap to attach to chairs, this cushion packs a punch. Measures approximately 30x14x8cm

Mini Massage Cushion, £35.00, Menkind

Sweet Treats

London-based Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes are the stuff of legends and they are once again available.

Their website is taking orders with a limited time offer of free delivery until the end of June (minimum £10 spend) and collection in store is free.

The Father’s Day Cupcake Gift Box includes 3 Brooklyn Blackout cupcakes and 3 Red Velvet Cheesecake cupcakes. They also have lovely Father’s Day Cakes (we recommend the Red Velvet). Also available on Deliveroo and Uber Eats for same day delivery

Hummingbird Bakery Father’s Day Cake 6” or 8” – from £34.95, hummingbirdbakery.com

Garden Gadgeting

New for this Father’s Day, Stihl has launched a cordless garden pruner garden-loving dads are sure to love.

Efficient and easy, it makes quick work of pruning hedges, trees and shrubs. The guide bar length of ten centimeters allows branches, twigs and timber to be easily cut to length and the saw chain ensures continued high-performance levels. And he can really do the business – fully charged, the battery can handle up to 80 logs with a diameter of 4cm. 

Stihl Cordless Garden Pruner, £149, STIHL

Master Chef

If your dad is at home in the kitchen, he might like some new tools – and these handsome, hard-wearing, anodised pans are a great addition.

A 5-piece set from Lakeland, they are durable, non stick, and energy efficient. Looking smart with stainless steel accents and glass lids, they have fast heat conductivity and good distribution, with no hot spots that can scorch food. And in addition to inside, there’s a layer of non-stick on the outside, so they’re easy to clean.

Suitable for all hobs including induction, they’re also oven safe up to 180°C.

Lakeland Hard Anodised Bell Shaped 5-Piece Pan Set, £177.99, Lakeland

Bars and Beer

Forget wine and cheese – for some dads, chocs and beer is the way forward. Green & Blacks has a Father’s Day Chocolate Bars & Beer gift which includes a collection of their signature chocolate bars with Gluten Free beer and lager,

It comes in a smart looking gift box with five chocolate bars and two bottles of Hambleton Ales Gluten Free beer and lager- which experts have deemed the perfect partner for this bit of chocolate heaven.

G&B’s Father’s Day Chocolate Bars & Beer G&B’s Father’s Day Chocolate Bars & Beer View Full Size Image £20.00, Green & Black’s

BBQ Box

If he loves his grill send him the perfect box for a weekend BBQ.

Delicious and plenty for a socially distanced gathering, all meat is vacuum packed and suitable for freezing. Includes 1X Bavette Steak, 4X Pork Chops, 4X Classic Burgers, 4X Chicken Thighs, 2X Lamb Chump Steaks, 6X Country Style Sausages along with HG Walter House BBQ Rub, Stokes Sweet & Sticky BBQ Sauce and Cornish Sea Salt.

Basic BBQ Box for 4, £65, HG Walter

Easy Reader

With a new and faster processor, a 10-inch full HD display, 12 hour battery life and 32GB of internal storage – the new tablet from Amazon is on fire.

Dad can enjoy his favourite videos, music, games and books on-the-go and with Alexa hands-free, he can check sports scores, watch a movie or check weather – just by using his voice.

The HD 720p upgraded 2MP front-facing camera allows for clear and easy video chats with friends and family – helpful right about now.

Fire HD 10, £149.99, Amazon UK

One of a Kind Coffee

The Melitta Purista is widely hailed as one of the best coffee machines around. It is a bean to cup, fully loaded automatic machine with a narrow footprint.

What makes this one special is that it’s a limited edition in honour of the brand’s 111th anniversary. The Melitta Purista Jublilee has a smart looking matt black and gold look and is one of only 2016 produced worldwide.

With a modern front panel and large easy to understand buttons – dad will find it a breeze to use. There’s also a newly designed drip tray, a quiet grinder, favorite coffee function memory and adjustable coffee strength.

The Limited Edition Purista Jubilee Edition Series 300 fully automatic coffee machine,£400, Melitta

Better Wine

Who wouldn’t want to improve the taste and texture of their favourite wine?

The Wine Purifier by Ullo wine removes unnecessary sulphites, transforming a shop-bought bottle of wine into something that tastes like it’s come from his own vineyard.

Many customers who use it say that they would ‘never go back’ to unfiltered wine again – and some claim that they wake up the next day hangover free!

Ullo + Carafe, £129, Ullo wine

Open Sesame

This rechargeable electric wine bottle opener from Cuisinart means that he will never have to struggle with a corkscrew again.

Efficient and easy to use, this smart, copper-accented wine gadget will open up to 80 bottles on a full charge – perfect for socially distanced dinner parties or at home wine-tasting sessions.

All he has to do is place the handset on top of the bottle and press the shiny ‘down’ button to extract the cork then press ‘up’ to release it.

It also comes with a foil cutter to remove foil casings and an included vacuum sealer to keep air out once it’s been opened.

Cuisinart Rechargeable Electric Wine Bottle Opener , £44.99 Lakeland

Stylish Scent

Billed as ‘a tribute to masculine freedom,’ this new scent by Chanel has ‘sophisti-dad’ written all over it.

A woody fragrance with notes of tonka bean, cedar and sandalwood, a whiff of this embodies everything you want a dad to smell of, but better. Not cloying or clinging, it is crisp and clean, and comes in a full range of shaving and body products.

Chanel Bleu de Chanel Eau de Toilette Spray 100ML – £78, The Perfume Shop

Cock-TAILS

Tails Cocktails offers a fantastic range that make it easy for dad to enjoy an authentic cocktail experience even if he’s not able to venture out to a bar or restaurant.

All he has to do is splash in some soda water and ice for a refreshing Mojito, Tails Garden Cocktail, (gin and elderflower liqueur), Espresso Martini or a Negroni.

All come in 1L with free UK delivery on orders above £30 and 20% off first order using promo code: FIRSTROUND.

Mojito from Tails Cocktails, £30, Tails Cocktails

Shedload of Goodness

Popcorn Shed is the UK’s first super-premium gourmet popcorn brand. What’s unique is that they use texture in the popcorn like chunks of nuts, chocolate and dried fruit, in order to maximise the taste.

The 10 pack bundle includes Salted Caramel, Pecan Pie, Berry-licious, Butterly Nuts, Goats Cheese and Say Cheese.

Handcrafted in the UK with all-natural ingredients they are vegetarian and gluten free.

Popcorn Shed 10-Shed Variety Pack, £33.50 Popcorn Shed

First Father’s Day

If this is his FIRST Father’s Day the CUDL baby carrier from Nuna will let him take the baby for walks in the sunshine. It’s made of breathable, mesh fabric with padded shoulder straps keeping things cool for both baby and dad. It’s also comfortable and customisable with waist straps to support his back.

Suitable from birth, there’s an integrated infant booster for newborns that zips out as the baby grows.

Nuna CUDL Baby Carrier, Frost £150.00, John Lewis

Better Barware

Sleek and elegant, the Manhattan barware range by Anton Studio Designs will seriously upgrade his drinks cabinet.

Each decanter has a custom ground stopper ensuring a perfect fit, with wonderful, voluptuous curves on a thick ice base. Easy to hold & pour, the decanter is mouth blown and hand crafted. It arrives gift boxed. The matching drinking glasses are a nice touch.

Manhattan Decanter by Anton Studio Designs, £44.95, Not Just Jugs

Micro-Magic

Long considered a must have for dads, this household essential is beyond practical. Maybe it’s time he had a new one.

New from Russell Hobbs, the Inspire microwave’s boasts an impressive 17L capacity and 700 watts, with 5 different power levels all encapsulated in a pretty and compact design.

Inspire Microwave, £79.99, Studio.co.uk, Amazon, Currys, JD Williams, and Robert Dyas

Measure King

A Digital Tape Measure that is as clever as he wants it to be. It can measure curved surfaces, around corners, irregular objects and has a sonic mode (laser) for large distances.

There is a back-lit LED digital display for clear and crisp reading and it is durable, weather resistant, with 3 different measurement modes: roll mode, cord mode and sonic mode.

The Measure King, £29.99 Thane TV

The Ultimate Spoilers

it’s been a rough few months on everyone and if you decide to really push the boat out this year and think big – here are some gifts to really wow him.

Get on Your eBike

This is a great year to give dad a new bike, and the electric push and 26in tyres on this beauty make light work of lumps and bumps, so even if it’s a bit out of shape, he can relax and enjoy the view.

There are six Shimano gears to make riding up hills a breeze, and with the peak, dad can reach up to 40 miles on a single charge, with a recharge time of only 3 hours.

The saddle is fully adjustable and the full suspension front forks ensure every journey feels smooth. Max speed is 15.5 mph and it comes with its own tool kit, battery and charger.

eLife Patriot 6sp 36V 250W Electric Bike with 26inch Wheels, £899.88 Ideal World TV

The Master of the Grill

New for 2020 this is the ultimate garden accessory. The Napoleon Rogue RXT425 Gas Barbecue takes grilling to the next level.

The sleek compact design offers all of the features and quality of the larger Napoleon models without the heft. Three stainless steel burners, a high top lid and an impressive (4,030 square cm) cooking surface is enough for any family gathering.

A battery free ignition that sends an intense flame to each burner individually for instant lighting and can grill to order with integrated side burners. Made of durable materials, it’s both stylish and easy to maintain.

Napoleon’s Rogue XT 425 Stainless Steel Propane Gas Grill with Infrared Side Burner, £879.99, Napoleon

Garden-Tastic

The Multi-Tool Set from EGO Power Plus is a masterclass in advanced garderning.

If dad takes his gardening seriously, he will love this impressive kit. It includes a multi-tool power head, line trimmer with rapid reload head, brushcutter blade, hedge trimmer, pole saw, Edger, along with a 5.Ah battery and rapid charger.

EGO are known for their power – they were the first company to bring to market battery tools with petrol-matching performance but without the noise, fuss or fumes.

EGO Multi tool set, £729 EGO Power Plus

The Ultimate Barista

The ultimate at home machine for java afficionados – amazing coffee every day – and it’s pretty effortless. By De’Longhi, the Dinamica Plus Bean to Cup Coffee Machine has a range of high tech features but is simple to use.

It’s a one-touch system with a colour display and lists favourite beverages first in the selection panel. Dad can personalise by changing aroma, milk froth and coffee quantity.

There are a host of fancy extras like grinders to guarantee the best extraction, a system to reduce the amount of ground coffee left in the grind circuit, and optimal infusion pressure to extract the perfect cup of joe, always at the preferred temp.

And if he’s a foam guy – the LatteCrema system uses a mixing device that automatically delivers a rich, long lasting milk foam – just like the professionals.

Dinamica Plus ECAM370.95.T BEAN TO CUP, £1,154.99 John Lewis

Double O Dad

The first ever official motorcycle directly linked to the Bond Franchise, Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition by Triumph ultra- rare and special, limited to a production of just 250 models worldwide. It features a unique 007 design scheme modeled on the bike James Bond rides in the movie No Time To Die.

Based on the top spec Scrambler XE’s category-dominating performance and capability, this Bond Edition bike also has state-of-the-art technology and specs, and really looks the business.

 Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition , £18,500 OTR, Triumph Motorcycles

Tennis Anyone?

Give him a tennis court in his own back garden!

He can play, practise or train on a multi-sport ‘Pro’ REBO wall, on his own or with friends. This practice wall can transform an unused patch of garden into an amazing fitness opportunity.

Backed by leading coaches Judy Murray, Leon Smith, Nick Bollettieri and Sven Groeneveld, it’s a multi-sport accessory for any ball sport including tennis, padel, football / soccer, pickleball and cricket.

Dad can use foam, low compression or regular balls, get over 2,000 repetitions in an hour and burn around 500 calories/hour too.

‘Pro’ REBO Wall, £9,995 + VAT, Rebo Wall

‘Wanna slide into my sex bubble?’ – prepare yourself, this could very well become the catchphrase of 2020 when it comes to casual hook-ups.

As the Prime Minister announced that it is finally (sort of) OK to have sex again, singletons across the UK rejoiced.

Stats aren’t in yet, but we’re fairly certain dating apps saw a boost that night.

This is undoubtedly great news for couples who don’t live together too, but their choice is easier.

If you’re single, with several irons in the fire, you have a tough decision to make.

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After all, it’s an exclusive invite; you are only allowed to mix with one other household (if you or they live alone), so once you’ve chosen your f*** buddy, that’s it until restrictions are loosened – which could be months down the line.

But wait… what if you choose someone, ask them to be your bubble buddy and they say no?

Is it the ultimate rejection? Should you never talk to this person again?

Let’s explore the intricacies of sex bubbles.

What to do if you’re not chosen for someone’s sex bubble

Rejection can be painful, but this isn’t your average situation – we’re in a pandemic, and nothing is operating as ‘normal’ and that includes our dating culture.

There are different scenarios to consider, depending on how serious your relationship is: whether it’s sex only, casual dating or on the verge of something more serious.

If you want to invite someone into your bubble and it’s purely a sexual relationship with no strings attached, it’s likely they might say no for a whole bunch of reasons that have nothing to do with you.

For instance, perhaps their sex drive has dropped completely but they don’t want to open to yuou about it or they have other priorities in lockdown, explains Dr Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic.

‘These times have been really hard for all of us and often people’s struggles are completely invisible and the reason why we might not have been selected might be something different to what we’ve imagined.

‘Perhaps this person needs contact or social support from someone else more so than actually having sex in lockdown. For some people their sex drive has increased during lockdown, other people’s sex drive has diminished because they’ve gone into survival mode – where they’re just focusing on their job, their safety and having their basic needs met.

‘We should try to see the bigger picture when we’re looking at why we haven’t been included.’

Other reasons could be that they have a shielding member in their household or perhaps they really just miss their mum or best friend – and that trumps their need for sex – which is a choice they are allowed to make.

Of course, if your sex buddy tells you that they are simply choosing someone else to have sex with instead of you, that’s another story.

If you haven’t committed to each other and knew that you weren’t exclusive, they are within their right to do so, but this means you have to make a choice for the future: are you OK with this?

It might be time to let go of that hook-up and found one that values you.

Then again, if you’re not that bothered about it and you have other lovers on speed dial, give them a call instead.

On to scenario number two: casual dating.

Perhaps you’ve been virtually dating throughout lockdown and not yet met, or maybe you had a few dates just before the restrictions came into place, and have kept in touch this entire time.

You’re excited and can’t wait to meet your budddding romance – and then you get a big fat no from the person you have started to develop feelings for.

What’s a broken-hearted person to do?

‘If your expectations are not met in this respect then it is probably worth rethinking your “relationship” with this person,’ Lucy Fuller, relationship expert and Counselling Directory member, tells us.

‘You may have been physically apart for quite some time and what you think has happened within the relationship during lockdown might be different to their point of view.

‘If you can, have the discussion about it and, if you are both honest, you can both find out about your feelings for each other and where the relationship stands.

‘Rejection is never easy but bear in mind that negotiating or second-guessing new or casual relationships in the time of coronavirus adds yet another layer to the difficulties of new relationships.

‘For some people, it is reassuring that, as we come out of lockdown and the strict rules around who we can and cannot be in contact with loosen, this is a fresh space to explore relationships anew.

‘In some cases, it might be necessary to rewind your relationships by three months and almost start again from where we left off in the middle of March.’

Also, do bear in mind that if you have spent weeks building a relationship online, the other person might be nervous about taking it offline, for fear that it won’t be what they imagined.

They could also have insecurities of their own to deal with or be scared of what you will think of them.

And if they are the one with others in their household, their housemate might have asked if they can see their partner, and so they’ve compromised.

A no is rarely a no for no reason – the only way to find out whast is going on is to communicate.

Lucy adds: ‘Rejection is never easy, and if this happens, make sure you have someone to talk to who can support you emotionally.

‘Focus on your own self-care and make time to (safely) meet the people who you are closest to and make you feel good about yourself.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

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‘Men, particularly young men, are much more respectful here and in one year I’ve had less catcalling and harassment in the street than I’d get in one week in the UK,’ Dani Ellis tells us from her base in northern Syria during lockdown.

The 32-year-old electrical engineer, from London, ventured to the autonomous region of Rojava 18 months ago to volunteer with the Kurds and now she is helping fight against a Turkish invasion.

Rojava, which is roughly the same size as Slovakia, has been self-governing since 2012 after a group of Kurds set up a secular, ethnically inclusive and bottom-up democratic system.

Unlike in the rest of Syria, women are at the forefront of things in Rojava with equal rights in the workplace and rape and polygamy banned.

Explaining her motivation for moving to Rojava, Dani tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I had been following the stories of foreign volunteers fighting the Turks and ISIS here in Rojava for some time, but what ultimately caused me to travel here was hearing about the killing of Anna Campbell by the Turkish Air Force during Turkey’s invasion of the city of Afrin in early 2018.

‘I didn’t know her, but she was a friend of a friend and hearing her story from them and those who knew her here was what inspired me the most.

‘She made me realise that it wasn’t just ex-military men coming to fight but young women from all over the world were joining to contribute to all aspects of society.

‘I read as much as I could about the multi-ethnic, distributed democracy that had been built here out of the ashes of ISIS’s brutal occupation and to me it felt like a model of a future society that addressed many of the issues affecting all countries today: climate change, extreme wealth inequality, racism and sexism.

‘I quickly realised it was something I wanted to contribute to personally.’

Dani moved to Rojava in December 2018 to join the women’s revolution as part of an ecological group.

But her focus shifted in October 2019 when a further Turkish invasion severely impacted the area.

She remembers being in a meeting trying to raise funds to build a small solar-powered station for a women’s community centre when the first airstrikes hit.

Following the attacks, her attention turned to helping in any way she could with tasks including recovering bodies from rubble and distributing aid. Almost 200,000 northeastern Syrians were displaced by the flighting, with the majority of refugees being women and children.

Dani also went about using her camera to film footage for TV stations who were unable to get reporters into areas due to the dangers.

Dodging bullets aside, most recently the coronavirus has been a threat to deal with. A full lockdown was enforced in northeastern Syria on March 21 and photos posted on Dani’s Twitter account @lapinesque shows previously bustling streets now void of people.

All non-essential travel between cities has been banned for the past few months.

Despite the extremely tough conditions, Dani has been struck by the ‘sense of neighbourliness and community’ that continues to surface in Rojava.

She says: ‘It’s almost impossible to walk around cities in northeastern Syria without at least one family inviting you in for tea or at the very least chat and get a group photo.

‘The people I’ve met during lockdown have been defiant and in high spirits.’

Dani adds that the ‘coalition of municipalities’ that form Rojava has been ‘incredibly proactive with lockdowns and social distancing’ and as a result, only a few deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed.

The Londoner is currently living in a houseshare with other women who work in the healthcare system.

Rojava’s healthcare system has been heavily affected by war, with only a few hospitals fully operational and very limited supplies.

In a bid to help with the medical situation, Dani has been working in a hospital workshop where she is responsible for maintaining electrical and medical equipment.

Her workdays usually span 14 to 15 hours but she says that she doesn’t mind as ‘the work is enormously satisfying’.

When she wants a bit of a respite, Dani says she likes to hitchhike or take a ride with an ambulance crew to see her friends in other cities.

She muses: ‘One of the greatest pleasures here is the kindness of strangers and the conversations you end up having when catching a lift or on public transport.

While Dani has been inspired by the female empowerment she has found in Rojava, she says society in the region is still more conservative in many ways than Western countries.

For instance, wearing shorts or vest tops in public is not something you see very often.

But at the same time it’s quite common to see, for instance, a group of girls out, some in ‘very Western-style clothing’, some with hijabs, some without, and some in traditional Arabic or Kurdish dress.

Asked how her family feel about being in a war zone, Dani says they are ‘obviously concerned’ about her safety but at the same time she feels like they are proud that she is doing something she strongly believes in, and ‘something in the service of a people who have been oppressed for centuries’.

Before turning in to sleep before starting another 15 hour day with the threat of airstrikes, gunfire and coronavirus looming, Dani ends with a thought about the region she has come to call a second home.

She tells us: ‘I think too often people see Syria as just a failed state, or as a quagmire.

‘But northeastern Syria is an incredible beacon of peace and prosperity in the midst of a nearly decade-long civil war. Despite huge parts being left in ruins by ISIS, and a brutal occupation underway by Turkey and former members of groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda, Kurds, Arabs and Assyrian Christians alike have managed to carve out a tight-nit, multicultural society that I honestly think represents a model of a political and cultural system that the rest of humanity needs to adopt if we are to cope with the enormous difficulties we face this century.

‘If I would have to sum up Rojava in the way people here do, it would have to be Jin, Jiyan, Azadi. It means Women, Life, Freedom in Kurdish; the three most important pillars of this revolution.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Anyone who’s suffered from severe eczema will know that you’d pay everything you had to make the itching and pain go away.

But one woman has found that the cream that helped her dry, cracked skin cost less than £8, and has changed her life for the better.

Emilie Dunn, 24, says the treatment has made her ‘ready to live again’, after a reaction to steroid creams caused her body to swell and become covered in angry rashes.

Emilie, from Hull, East Yorkshire, has always had eczema, and says one of her earliest memories is being wrapped in bandages to help stop her itching.

With flare ups occurring every few months, for weeks at a time the skin on her hands would become dry, cracked and inflamed.

Luckily, her classmates were ‘surprisingly understanding,’ as throughout primary and secondary school her hands would become so painful they would bleed during lessons.

‘I’d be writing in class and my hands would split open and start bleeding all over my work,’ she said.

‘It wasn’t just painful, it was incredibly embarrassing.

‘Most people were kind, but some of the other children would start to point and laugh and make the whole thing worse.’

After leaving school, Emilie, then 18, had enjoyed several months without a flare-up when she noticed her right foot showing signs of inflammation, which she immediately believed to be caused by some kind of infection as a result of her cracked skin.

Prescribed a course of steroid cream to use over two weeks by her GP, fortunately, the medication worked, but after the course was finished a second rash appeared on her forehead.

This time, the doctor prescribed steroid tablets, which again appeared to work well while she’s been taking them.

‘I was convinced it wasn’t eczema, as I’d never had it on my face before and it looked completely different,’ said Emilie.

‘It was a dry, pink layer of skin – like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

‘I’d feel quite cold and chilly, but my skin was physically hot. Still, the steroids worked and I thought that was that.’

Then, just days after finishing the medication, she noticed the redness coming back with a vengeance.

‘The rash went from my forehead to my chin and all the way down my chest,’ she continued.

‘When it was all over my body I went back to the doctor, who suggested more steroids, but something told me not to use them

‘I was convinced the steroids had something to do with it.’

Emilie and her mum, Julie, 53, began to do some research online, and found out what they believed to be the problem – a condition called topical steroid withdrawal or TSW.

Things continued to get worse, with Emilie saying: ‘I woke up one morning and the skin on both my feet was red raw. I can’t describe how painful the itching was – it was deep in the skin.’

Within a fortnight, Emilie’s feet had ballooned to four times their normal size and the family doctor made a home visit as she could not walk.

After testing a sample of skin from the affected area, he confirmed she was suffering with a staph infection, caused by the bacteria staphylococcus.

She had to lay on the sofa all day as she couldn’t walk, and had to change her dressings hourly – as well as needing to give up her job as a shop assistant.

People made cruel jibes to Emilie in the street because of her inflamed skin.

Emilie said: ;Children stopped and stared. My skin was bright red, cracked and flaky – there’s no denying I looked horrendous. But it was the adults that shocked me.

‘I don’t mind being stared at, but they could at least have tried to hide how disgusted they were. ‘

‘People don’t realise how much of an impact having something like this has on your confidence.

‘I heard someone in Primark say to their partner, “What’s wrong with her face? It’s disgusting,” after looking at me in the queue.

‘Because of that comment, I spent two years hidden away at home while I tried to find something to fix my TSW.’

Although doctors offered her more steroids to treat the infection, Emilie was adamant it would worsen her self-diagnosed TSW, so refused.

Determined to find a natural treatment to ease her condition, Emilie spent the next two years trying out ‘every product under the sun,’ and the one that worked for her turned out to be Balmonds Skin Salvation, costing £7.99 for 30ml.

‘It was amazing. I started using it on my face and within a week I noticed I was less red and flaky,’ said Emilie.

‘As the weeks passed, my skin became less and less red and, for the first time in years, I didn’t look as flushed.’

As the redness reduced, by September last year, Emilie felt confident enough to start leaving her house again.

‘It might not sound a lot to other people, but it’s been a huge step for me and I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I hadn’t used Balmonds.’

Although no cream will work for everybody, and for some, steroids and other prescribed creams are the best way to reduce eczema symptoms, for Emilie, Balmonds was the only one that gave her her skin – and life – back.

The award-winning cream is oil-based and made with beeswax to create an antibacterial barrier that stops infections getting in. It’s also enriched with hemp seed oil and calendula to soothe those sore, cracked bit.

‘It feels like in those five years I should have building my career or getting my life sorted, but I’ve hidden away behind closed doors,’ said Emily.

‘Balmonds has helped me get a step closer to that.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Even when Harriet Evans, 28, and Josh Wycherley, first met, they were both fed up of working traditional nine-to-five jobs.

The couple met seven years ago while working at an adventure camp in Hindhead, Surrey, and bonded over a shared desire to ditch traditional working lifestyles and explore the world.

In 2018, they decided to make that dream a reality. They bought a van from Gumtree, spent six months turning it into a mobile home, then hit the road.

Six months and 18 countries later, that van conked out beside an Italian motorway, so Harriet and Josh fixed it up and traded it in for a bigger and better model – a motorhome they call Monty.

After months of taking odd jobs to save up money, the pair’s plans to head off again in April were wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic.

They’ve decided to think of this as a momentary pause, rather than a full stop. The couple plan to keep up their adventurous lifestyle once things go back to ‘normal’.

Harriet says: Josh and I are at the age now where a lot of our friends are settling down, having children and getting mortgages, so there is part of us that sometimes thinks, “Are we doing the right thing?”

‘But the amazing freedom that comes with van life far outweighs that. Aside from right now, while travelling is on pause, we can go anywhere we like.

‘If we don’t like somewhere, we simply move on, or change direction. There’s something about waking up every day without a plan that’s really liberating.’

Harriet, originally of Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Josh, of Telford, Shropshire, first met back in 2013, after landing jobs at PGL – an adventure camp specialising in school trips, activity holidays and outdoor education, requiring employees to live at the Surrey centre.

Spending a lot of time together, they forged a tight bond and soon became a couple.

But, while they loved their active jobs, which offered plenty of variety, they still had itchy feet to create an adventure of their own.

Josh said: ‘After a few years, we just thought, “What are we doing?”

‘No disrespect to anybody that wants to work and doesn’t prioritise travel, but we wanted to get out there and see the world. We thought there must be more to life than the daily grind.’

Josh already had a vehicle, but it was too small to adapt into a home, so they traded it in for a better model they had spotted on Gumtree and customised it to fit their needs.

‘It was like a little red Postman Pat van,’ he explained. ‘The guy advertising the van we got needed one like mine, so it worked out really well. We pretty much just swapped vehicles.”

To save up for their trip, they continue to work at PGL while slowly renovating their Volkswagen Transporter van over a six month period, until they had turned it into a fully-fledged home on wheels.

Doing everything themselves, the pair fitted the vehicle with a double bed, a kitchenette and fridge and several cupboards for storage.

Then, in May 2019, they quit their jobs and set off on their epic journey.

‘It was quite a scary feeling – scary, but exciting,’ says Harriet. ‘Getting used to the practicalities and logistics of the space and where to put everything took a while, too.’

After catching the ferry over to France, Josh and Harriet then drove through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany – including the beautiful Black Forest – Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lichtenstein, San Marino, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Poland and Italy.

Originally, the couple had planned to be on the road for six months, but disaster struck after just three, when they broke down at the side of a motorway in blazing 32 degree heat.

Luckily their insurance covered flights back to the UK and the cost of having the van sent back over, too.

They carried out repairs then swapped that van for their new motorhome, Monty.

‘We loved that first van, but it was just too small,’ says Josh. ‘It was gutting to break down and have to come home early, but this was our way of turning a bad situation into a good one.

‘We had some money left in our travel pot, as we’d saved for six months but only been away for three, so we used that to both fix up the old van and buy a new one.’

In September 2019 – a month after returning home – Harriet and Josh spent £2,500 on Vauxhall Movano, Monty, which they transformed in just four weeks, fitting a wooden seating area that flattened to become a double bed, a kitchenette complete with a stove and fridge and a sink, shower and toilet.

Unlike the earlier van, Monty also has air con and a heater, built-in WiFi and even a projector screen – so they can watch Netflix on the beach.

The couple took on odd jobs to save funds so they’d be able to head off again, with Harriet joining and office and Josh finding work in a leisure centre.

They adopted a cockapoo puppy, Hudson, and got ready to set off – then Covid-19 hit.

Now, as they wait for various borders to reopen and for travel to be deemed safe, they are staying in Telford, Shropshire, where Josh is working in a warehouse and Harriet is tweaking the van to maximise their storage space.

The couple can’t wait to hit the road again.

‘Renovating the van and hitting the road was a leap of faith, but it’s the best thing Josh and I have ever done,’ says Harriet.

If you fancy following the couple’s journey, you can check them out on Instagram.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Sex is back on the table in lockdown.

Just the other day (10 June), Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that we can now once again get laid, touch and do whatever else our horny minds desire by introducing so-called ‘support bubbles’.

Before you stock up on lube for a shagging session like no other, note that this does not apply to all households and there are rules in place.

Firstly, the social bubbles only apply to England, as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are still encouraging people to ‘stay at home’.

Furthermore, out of the two households that are choosing to come together, one must have an adult living alone. In simpler terms, you can’t join a household with multiple people in it if your household also has multiple people it.

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

And you can only choose one other household to mix with – meaning that if your housemate wants to see his girlfriend who lives alone, and you want to see your boyfriend who lives alone, only one of you can win in this scenario.

There are no take-backs either; once you’ve mixed with another household, that’s it – you can’t swap with another.

There are a few additional restrictions; if anyone in the household develops symptoms of coronavirus, you need to adhere to the usual isolation guidelines (stay at home for 14 days).

And those who are shielding are not allowed to form any support bubbles at all, regardless of their living circumstances.

OK, we’ve got the basic rules down – let’s get really specific about the sex.

Can you have an orgy with another household in lockdown if you live alone?

Imagine the following scenario.

You’re the household that lives alone and you’ve chosen to form a support bubble with your best friend’s house.

In their house, there are five people – all of whom are single, attractive and horny.

So you have an amazing idea on how to make up for lost (sex) time – a massive orgy, so no one misses out on the fun.

Here’s the big question: is this allowed? Likely, yes.

At present, there is some confusion on exactly how support bubbles, which will be introduced tomorrow (13 June), work.

‘So from this weekend we will allow single adult households – adults living alone, or single parents with children under 18 – to form a “support bubble” with one other household, the Prime Minister said in the coronavirus briefing on Wednesday.

And within this bubble, you can skip the two-metre rule.

You should then be able to touch any person within your now-extended household, and this should logically apply to everything from shaking hands to shaking other body parts.

But chief medical officer, Professor Chris Witty, explained in the coronavirus briefing that this isn’t the intention of the bubbles.

‘The idea of the bubbles is for families that have a single adult in the household, so if this applied to families with a single adult in the household that would be covered by what the Prime Minister just talked about,’ he said.

‘For other people it’s largely going to have to be meeting outside and socially distanced because the risk of transmission is much lower.

‘Bubbling is about single households or lone parents, then there’s meeting outside for other people.’

Then again, it’s highly unlikely the professor would use orgies as an example, so make of that what you will.

Can’t meet up with your lover in lockdown but desperate to scratch that sexual itch?

Not to worry, we have created extensive guides on sexting, phone sex and video sex, so that you too can get (virtually) freaky in the sheets.

And if you don’t get chosen for someone’s support (read: sex) bubble, we’ve put together some advice on how you can deal with that situation, too.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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A woman who was so adamant she didn’t want any more children that she elected to be sterilised, has become a surrogate for complete strangers.

Prizzilla Greer and her husband Skylar, thought they were done having children after they had their two babies Nixon and Lo.

During her second c-section in January 2016, doctors even performed a female sterilisation at her request.

But after seeing a friend’s post about surrogacy on Facebook in September 2018, Prizzilla filled out an inquiry form.

Just a month later, Hawaii Surrogacy Centre matched her with a gay couple, and she was able to carry the embryo created by IVF.

I actually didn’t intend on having kids – from a young age, I didn’t really care to have them,’ says Prizzilla, who is from Oahu, Hawaii.

‘Then when I met my husband, we unexpectedly got pregnant with my son and I loved it.

‘We wanted him to have a sibling so we tried to conceive a sibling when my son was six months old and it was successful –  I had my daughter and we had no issues.

Prizzilla says she began to hear stories from her friends about them struggling to get pregnant, which was new to her because no one in her family had ever had those problems before.

‘I felt some guilt knowing that this was someone’s dream to have a child all their life and someone like me, who never really planned for it, was able to do it right away,’ she explains.

‘I felt like I needed to do something to help, but I didn’t know what it was for a few years.’

Prizzilla says that spotting the Facebook post about surrogacy just felt like it was meant to be.

‘I never even went on Facebook back then, but I just knew I was meant to be at that place, at that time to see that post,’ she says.

‘I just started crying because I felt like it was a sign that this is what I am supposed to do, even though I hadn’t put too much thought into it before.’

She met the intended parents – a gay couple in Australia who had been trying to have a child for more than 10 years – over Skype in October 2018.

And, after a series of medical checks, in May 2019, a single embryo was successfully implanted. Their baby boy was born on 18 January 2020.

‘Gestational surrogacy doesn’t require the surrogate to use her own egg, so I was able to carry the embryo that was already created by my intended parents and their egg donor,’ she explains.

Prizzilla has blogged the pregnancy on Youtube to normalise attitudes towards surrogacy, and her videos have received more than 17,000 views.

‘I just wanted to show people my side of things and kind of normalise it for others,’ she adds.

‘Maybe to spark something in someone else’s brain.

‘I don’t think I would have even thought about doing it had I not seen another average person post about it in a Facebook group.’

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.

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

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When UK lockdown hit, Sasha White decided it was time to revamp her dull outdoor space.

Sasha, who works in sales, moved into her Tooting flat last October – but never really prioritised the property’s lifeless balcony.

That is, until the country went into lockdown.

Sasha tells Metro.co.uk: ‘When looking at flats in London, outdoor space wasn’t really key for me as everyone heads for the parks and pub gardens when the weather is nice. 

‘When it became apparent that we wouldn’t be able to do that, due to social distancing measures, I decided that I needed to up my DIY game and make the most of the outside space that I have.

‘I absolutely loved the idea of a corner seating area but, as my balcony is very narrow, no corner benches were small enough – so I had to improvise.’

Sasha got to work on her balcony – first, she gave it a fresh coat of paint and then she added the decking.

She said: ‘What you can’t see is that under the decking there are plastic slabs to raise the balcony flooring, as originally there was a big step down from my living room to the balcony and I wanted to even it out. 

‘Once that was done, I was able to lay the decking. It was then a case of adding in the (fake) bamboo trees, seating area and plant stand.

‘The seating is actually a corner section seat and a bench from two totally different companies, but it works.’

Sasha bought everything for the project herself – including the paint, bamboo trees, the furniture, the decking and all the decorative pieces. In total, it cost her £350. 

She says the renovation required a day’s worth of labour – but this was spread across a week (as she waited for deliveries to arrive).

Now the balcony has a new lease of life, Sasha and her flatmate love spending time outside.

Sasha says: ‘I spend so much time out there now. My housemate and I will have our morning coffee out there, sunbathe, eat lunch, work, have a drink and, of course, we’ve clapped for the NHS from it.

‘It’s not quite the summer holiday in Monaco that I had planned, but the fake bamboo trees and colourful cushions give it a somewhat tropical feel despite the London hustle and bustle.’ 

Have you completed a DIY project you fancy showing off?

Tell us all about it by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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I decided in about week three of the pandemic reaching the UK that I would limit how much I read the news; that I would only check once a day, and only from certain sources.

That has obviously changed since then. It feels like every day I am trying to personally navigate the balance of the right intake of information that can lead to action, while also looking after my mental well being.

But, at the time, switching off felt like the right thing to do. It wasn’t just about how sad I felt reading the daily death tolls, the statistics of Black communities disproportionately affected, the politics surrounding our NHS, or the prime minister’s speeches.

It was also to avoid the news around the industry that I work in: the arts, particularly theatre. 

Like many industries right now, coronavirus has affected the arts’ economy and ability to sustain itself completely. There is so much uncertainty about how it will continue or return. 

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

Hearing about this, in addition to coronavirus’ ability to rip apart families, people’s health and put distance between friends was too much to read about all the time. 

Still, this once a day update proved too much, so I adjusted, and started reading about my industry once a week.

Soon, my ‘news source’ (which is just my mate leaving me a long voice note on all that happened that week in the arts) became a bit too sad to listen to the whole way through. 

Nuffield Southampton Theatre goes into administration; a quote from Sonia Friedman in The Telegraph noting ‘theatre is on the brink of collapse’; Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum announcing a hibernation; The Royal Vauxhall Tavern setting up a GoFundMe to keep it alive; a similar campaign around one of the most iconic theatres, Shakespeare’s Globe.

The list, unfortunately, could go on. The last time I had checked, the future of my industry was uncertain. Now, without immediate action it seemed like there was no hope for the arts to truly get back to what it once was. The situation was potentially dire. 

I’ve always known the arts is populated by innovators, or ‘do-ers’, so it wasn’t surprising to see that fundraisers in their plenty were set up. There were funds made by artists supporting other artists. There was emergency meeting upon emergency meeting, trying to keep building lights on for another day, and the artists that make those buildings shine.

True generosity of spirit. 

The government support scheme for self-employed people is not only about to run out, but it failed to account for so many types of workers in the first place

Yet it didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t help but wonder why the onus was on us to bail us out of our own impending closure. Where was the government? Arts, culture and entertainment not only boosts the UK economy, but undoubtedly adds so much emotionally to the fabric of our society. 

I’m not sure many of us could imagine this lockdown without Netflix, or the radio, or our books, or the live streamed theatre shows. 

Ultimately, creativity and our arts consistently give us so many of our most joyous memories. That’s all about those on the viewing end, it goes without saying that many of those working in the industry will suffer if nothing is done to keep the arts afloat.

It’s not just those of us on stage that are losing out, but those in every aspect of production. So many of our British film and screenwriters come from the institution of theatre. And so many from theatre come from the world of clubs, bars and cabaret basements, with those buildings such as The RVT also facing risk of closure. 

So why are we being left to fund and fend for ourselves? The government has extended the support scheme for self-employed people, but it still fails to account for so many types of workers in the first place. 

Furlough schemes are beyond insufficient in keeping the mass overheads venues have, and in an industry as complex and as wide as the arts, there are so many different kinds of people qualified to do jobs that simply cannot be done at the minute. 

Look, I am not suggesting I fully understand  government budgets or the economy, but I do know that when they want to invest in something’s survival we have seen the money appear. 

I also know that it is about what governments see as important enough to save. In a world that favours capitalism, rigidness and output – often the work of an artist and creativity can be pushed aside as flimsy, unessential and not needed. Yet I know and believe in what the arts, creativity and entertainment can bring to individuals and communities.

It has brought me out of depressions, it has given me countless new friends, it has helped me share political viewpoints, and ultimately – made me feel like I have purpose.

What I am saying is: our performing arts future is worth being invested in. Not just economically, but more important to me, socially. 

I know that my life would be very different if I did not get to experience what going on a stage at the RVT or acting in a play would feel like. And I know so many audience members who have met lovers, friends, changed stubborn views all because of sharing space in a performing venue.

When a new-normal appears from this moment, while our world deals with grief and hardship and hangovers from this crisis, we will want to see art. 

We will want to connect over a play, or a drink at a cabaret bar, or a dance show: and therefore we need a government to invest in the reality of those buildings and artists still being there, so that we can then fill it with life.  

In European countries where arts are being invested in more via government support, we have seen far less scare of permanent closures. Many theatres in the Netherlands, where the arts is publicly invested in more heavily, have already seen buildings restructured to accompany social distancing laws.

When ticket sales and the purchasing power of the audience are not the driving force in choices, safer decisions can be made. Where the value of the building is covered by the government, not the audience, so we can invest in the value of the art instead.

This is about where or what we choose to place our value in, and in recognising that it is less of a ‘bail out’ and more ensuring our future can be one that the arts continues to enrich.

Sonia Freeman said that without a government rescue package, the loss to theatre would be ‘irrecoverable’. That terrifies me. 

It makes me sad to think of all the people having to consider a career change, or all the doors being closed and pathways shut off to those aspiring to be part of the industry. 

We need our government to step up in keeping them open.

Do you have a story that 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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Whether you’re a soap and water person newly dipping their toe in the world of skincare or the type to have a ten-step routine, you’re likely still falling into the trap of some held-up truths of beauty that simply arent, well, true.

Here to help us navigate the muddled world of caring for our skin is Caroline Hirons, the legend known as ‘the most powerful woman in beauty’.

Caroline is a globally qualified aesthetician, a CEW achiever award winner, and an influential icon who rakes in millions of views on her Instagram and blog.

Basically, she’s been working in beauty for 35 years and she knows her stuff.

Now, Caroline is helping us all out by releasing a book, called Skincare, to be published 25 June. Her debut book aims to be the ultimate no-nonsense guide to skincare, imparting all of Caroline’s wisdom her usual easy-to-digest style – from how to choose the right products to things to avoid.

A key part of her book is busting those skincare myths that are all too prevalent – and could be wrecking your carefully curated regimen.

What follows is an extract from Skincare on this topic, breaking down the skin-related myths everyone needs to know…

Extracted from Skincare, by Caroline Hirons:

SKINCARE MYTH ONE: You have to use everything from the same brand

I’m often asked these two questions: ‘Do you use different products every DAY?’ and ‘Don’t you have to use everything from one brand in order for them to really work?’

The answer is ‘Yes’. And then ‘No’.

Yes, I use different skincare every day, in the same way that I wear different clothes and eat different food, and I always have. Even when wildly restricted by budget, I would have at least two moisturisers and two or three cleansers on rotation. Your skin is different every day. Your products can be, too.

No, you do not have to use everything from the same brand. The only thing to be concerned about is clashing vitamin A products that you get on prescription, but in that case, your doctor would have advised you about what to use/not use when issuing the prescription. Over-the-counter products very rarely ‘clash’ because the percentages of active ingredients are low – they won’t build up or interfere with each other.

What IS important is the order you use items and the formulas themselves. Your serum from XYZ won’t know that your moisturiser is from ABC and stop working in protest. That’s not how it works, no matter what sales hype you are given from the brands at a beauty counter.

The products I use, as a rule, tend to have peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin A (at night) in them. They vary in strength and formulas, though may have similar ingredients. There are thousands of products out there. Embrace them (again, obviously within your budget), and the next time someone tells you that you simply have to use their moisturiser on top of their serum or they won’t work, don’t buy either of them.

SKINCARE MYTH TWO: Eye products fix genetic dark circles

Are dark circles driving you mad? Have you tried everything under the sun to get rid of them?

Your options are limited in terms of what you can do about them, and there are definitely things that can make them worse.

I’m talking specifically to my lovely Asian readers, darker-toned readers and even my lovely red-headed, extremely pale readers. If you can see dark circles under your eyes and, to your knowledge, there is no particular reason for them, look at your parents/immediate family. If they also have dark circles, they probably run in your genes, and there isn’t a cream alive that will safely deal with that kind of dark circle.

Sure, there are excellent eye products that can take the edge off, and
some brightening ones that will ‘lift’ the appearance of them, but anyone who looks you in the eye and says ‘this cream will absolutely fix your dark circles’ is either misinformed or not being completely straight with you. It’s a little easier for those of us with occasional dark circles caused by things like illness, dehydration, or too much of a good (bad) thing, but genes are hard to mess with.

If you really hate the dark circles, you could talk to a dermatologist about trough filler: a non-surgical procedure, it involves injecting the area with hyaluronic acid filler, which sits just under the skin and essentially hides the dark circles. For most people, one treatment will last 12–18 months.

SKINCARE MYTH THREE: Acne is caused by dirty skin

Not true. There is a massive difference between bacteria and dirt. Over-washing your face destroys the acid mantle that protects your skin (the very fine acidic film on the surface of the skin that is your first line of defence against bacteria and viruses), creates an alkaline environment, and makes your acne worse and your skin a dry, dull, sore breeding ground.

Having said that, I highly recommend that you regularly change your pillowcases (at least once a week).

SKINCARE MYTH FOUR: You can ‘dry up’ spots

Not true. A spot is a mixture of oil, inflammation, bacteria and dead skin cells. There’s no water in that list. All you are doing is drying the surrounding area in the hope that it will make the spot look smaller. What it actually does is put the spot on its own ‘look at ME’ platform.

SKINCARE MYTH FIVE: You can use toothpaste or nappy/diaper cream to spot-treat acne

A one-off spot may have its redness taken down – temporarily – by applying one of these, but they won’t get rid of acne. If acne could be fixed by what you’re using on your teeth or your baby’s backside, all of our problems would be solved. Dude. Stop putting toothpaste and bum cream on your face.

Skincare by Caroline Hirons is published 25 June (HQ, HarperCollins) in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. You can preorder it online now.

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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They say never judge a book by its cover, but it turns out that quite a few people judge properties by the colour of their front doors.

Research by property company Sellhousefast.uk found that something as simples as changing the colour of your front door can affect its value by up to £4,000.

The company analysed over 1,000 UK properties on Zoopla with three bedrooms and a garden, and calculated the average price as £275,000.

10 properties of each door colour were picked at random to see if there was a price difference on average.

From their analysis, blue was revealed as the most valuable front door. adding a whopping £4,000 to your house value. Shortly behind blue is white, which adds roughly £3,400 to the value of your house.

The least valuable door colour is a brown door which actually reduces the value of your house by £700.

Alex Willcocks of Burbeck Interiors:’Extreme colours for doors are great if you want to inject your personality into your property but aren’t great for selling houses. I would recommend painting your front door a neutral colour, or for a more modern property, opt for a more contemporary style as a focal point.’

Lee Chambers MSc MBPsS, an Environmental Psychologist and Wellbeing Consultant said: ‘Colour is a powerful tool to communicate action, influence choice and even change people’s mood. It can even influence physiological reactions.

‘While in office design, we use green in regenerative environments, and blue in productive environments, the colour of your front door can influence a buyers initial perception.

‘Our eyes are drawn to entrance points, so a front door is often one of the first things we notice.’

We’d certainly notice an extra four grand in the bank, especially when all we need to do is buy a tin of paint.

Do you have a DIY before and after to share with the world?

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

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Last week, we shared 10 ways that you can use coffee that have nothing to do with drinking it.

From making your own caffeinated marinade for meats to using the beans as a natural pest repellent – there are plenty of lifestyle hacks to try.

But there’s another area where coffee shines: namely, our beauty routines.

Many brands utilise it as an ingredient in skincare products, but you can actually make your own beauty items at home. All you need is a bag of coffee grounds.

With the help of experts at Coffee Direct, we share seven ways that coffee can help your skin and hair.

Boost your natural hair colour

Is your hair looking a little dull in lockdown?

Buy some fresh coffee grounds from the supermarket next time you go for a big shop, and make your very own colour-boosting paste at home.

Though note, this is only suitable for brunettes, as the coffee could stain blonde hairs (unless that’s what you’re after, of course).

Coffee Direct said: ‘If you’re a brunette, you can boost your hair colour with coffee grounds.

‘Simply mix 240ml of coffee grounds with 240ml of water to create a paste and apply sparingly to damp and freshly shampooed hair.

‘The coffee will add depth to your colour and leave it looking vibrant and fresh.

‘This is due to the acidity of the coffee which also smooths the cuticle of your hair for extra shine.’

Revive the skin under your eyes

Coffee Direct said: ‘Many eye creams that claim to de-puff your eyes contain caffeine in their ingredients.

‘The area under your eye is a lymphatic channel that drains poorly, the caffeine helps to remove any water from the channel. Through the ageing process, the under-eye skin gets thinner which makes it easier to see the blood vessels.

‘The vessel-constricting impact of coffee delivers visible results that last from 30 minutes to an hour.‘

Bear in mind that that the skin under your eyes is especially thin and delicate, so proceed with caution.

And this goes without saying: don’t pour hot coffee anywhere on your face or body.

Coffee is a natural exfoliant

Coffee is a well-known natural exfoliant that helps you get rid of dead skin cells, and a common ingredient in beauty scrubs.

Coffee Direct: ‘Coffee grounds make a great exfoliant since they don’t dissolve in water. They are perfect for scrubbing away dead skin cells.

‘To make an exfoliating coffee scrub, mix 60ml of fresh coffee grounds, 60ml of brown sugar and a few drops of lemon juice.

‘Scrub the mixture into your skin every few days after a body wash and let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off.’

Naturally soften your feet

Fed up with dry or flaky skin on the soles of your feet?

Pop the kettle on and make yourself a caffeinated foot bath.

Coffee Direct said: ‘Coffee is an excellent way to cleanse the skin on your feet and leave them feeling soft.

‘The coffee grounds remove the dead skin cells from the soles of your feet and the stimulating effects of caffeine can increase blood flow and circulation in the area.

‘To make a foot bath, add 470ml of coffee grounds to one gallon of water and let them soak for 10-15 minutes, rinse feet, dry and moisturise, this treatment works well with warm or cool liquid.’

It could help with hair growth

When it comes to hair growth, there are many natural remedies to help with hair loss – although take these so-called ‘miracle potions’ with a pinch of salt.

Coffee Direct said: ‘Coffee increases circulation when it is absorbed into the scalp, this encourages growth by providing nutrients to follicles.

‘Coffee suppresses DHT which is the hormone that causes hair loss! To create a treatment, mix 240ml of coffee grounds with 240ml of coconut water and massage directly onto the scalp and rinse thoroughly.

‘The circular motion helps to increase hair growth and the coconut water contains vitamin B which strengthens strands to reduce breakage.’

If you have a hair loss condition such as alopecia areata, don’t rub coffee onto your scalp – as it it unlikely to make any difference.

Consult with your doctor about treatments instead.

Get softer lips

We’ve already told you what an excellent natural exfoliant coffee grounds can be, and this also applies to your lips.

Coffee Direct said: ‘Chapped lips are most common in winter, but it is best to take care of them all year round.

‘Coffee grounds can be mixed with coconut oil to create a nourishing lip mask. Mix and massage the 60ml of both ingredients lightly over the lips and remove with a damp washcloth.

‘Coffee stimulates blood flow to the area so your lips will end up looking full of natural colour.’

Be careful when you apply the mixture to avoid damaging the delicate skin.

Make your own coffee face mask

You don’t need to buy expensive beauty masks – just take a look in your kitchen cupboard.

Coffee Direct: ‘Coffee wakes you up for the day ahead, and it can do the same for your skin!

‘When applying your DIY coffee face mask, the stimulating properties of coffee improve blood flow and help to remove the dead outer layer of the skin leaving you feeling radiant, bright, and revived.

‘Make a paste by combining 240ml of coffee grounds and 240ml of milk, apply to your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes then wash your face with lukewarm water to discover your new glow.’

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

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Hot, passionate, awkward, embarrassing: these are the kinds of sex stories my friends and I love talking about.

We dissect the warts-and-all tales of one night stands, casual flings and on-off relationships, but when it comes to talking about sex drive – or lack of – for women in their 20s, everyone is suddenly tight-lipped.

In hushed tones, a friend recently confided that she and her partner only have sex once a week. With palpable embarrassment, she confessed that while she loves her boyfriend, she just didn’t fancy jumping his bones all that often.

I had absolutely no shame in telling her that my relationship is exactly the same – and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I know I’m not the only one turned off by the idea of constant sex. In fact, a third of women either aren’t enjoying or aren’t all that interested in sex, according to a recent study by the University of Glasgow.

Despite this statistic, most media marketed at women would have you believe we are all sexually liberated floozies who can’t get enough action. There’s very little discussion around women like myself who enjoy a healthy but less frequent sex life, and that can feel alienating. It makes you feel like a matronly prude, clutching her pearls while the hair-tossing horny girls have all the fun.

Three years ago, my sex drive pretty much dropped off the face of the earth when I was prescribed SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) to treat anxiety. As anyone who has ever taken antidepressants will attest, the body takes a while to adjust to all the new serotonin in its system.

I lost my appetite, twitched constantly, had trouble sleeping, sweated profusely and ground my teeth. None of these things exactly scream ‘sexy’.

After a few weeks, my serotonin thankfully levelled out. My anxiety became more manageable, but my sex drive never fully recovered. And that’s OK. I like having sex around once a week. My boyfriend is fine with this arrangement. My relationship hasn’t suffered.

But for a long time, the steady stream of sex-related conversations and content around me made me feel like a leper.

Anxiety is funny. You can know the facts but still worry about the possibilities. The possibility I kept coming back to was that I was some kind of sexual outcast. Was there something wrong with me? 

A quick Google search assured me that a reduced sex drive is a totally normal side-effect of antidepressants. In fact, a survey by YouGov found most people only have sex once a week. Nonetheless, I, like my aforementioned friend, liked to worry about the possibility everyone else was having endless crazy, kinky sex – except for me.

When you’re worried about your own libido, suddenly it seems like sex is everywhere. Sally Rooney’s written more sex scenes than I’ve had hot dinners. Megan Thee Stallion’s verses are basically erotic fiction. There are plenty of sexy moments – both good and bad – on popular women’s shows like Fleabag, Younger and Euphoria.

Meanwhile, whenever a lack of horniness is mentioned, it’s usually as a problematic or comic plot point. Podcasts like Call Her Daddy and Guys We F*cked make no bones about discussing everything from blowjobs to breakup sex. And, ever since Michelle Bass and Stu Wilson disappeared under a table together in 2004’s Big Brother, sex has been a focal point of much of our reality TV programming.

The message is clear: now women have been sexually liberated, we should be utilising our right to shag. But that viewpoint doesn’t account for women like myself who have had their sex drives altered by medication, childbirth, contraception or dozens of other reasons.

Female horniness is impossible to avoid, particularly when you’re an un-horny female, and that has to change.

I’m not calling for a new wave of TV shows starring normal couples having a low-to-medium amount of sex. Sex is the stuff of scandalous plot lines, juicy gossip and Mills and Boon legend.

I’m not denying anyone the right to talk about shagging. But we also need to have more honest conversations about lower female sex drives in order to end the shame around them.

From intimate discussions over brunch to sexed-up podcasts, blogs and films, it would be nice to see women openly embracing their mediocre sex drives every once in a while.

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

Share your views in the comments below.

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