Right from the moment baby Auburn was conceived, he was a miracle baby.

Mum Stacey Johnson, 32, from Hampshire, and partner Scott, can’t believe that they have beaten the odds to be a happy family of three as at nine weeks pregnant, she was told that she had a huge cancerous tumour in her cervix.

At the time, doctors recommended a termination and full hysterectomy (removal of the womb), meaning they would not be able to have another baby in the future.

But they fought for another option, and amazingly, Auburn was born perfectly healthy, and just a few weeks later, Stacey was told she was cancer free.

Speaking out for Cancer and Pregnancy Awareness week and Cervical Cancer Screening week, which both fall from 15-21 June, Stacey tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Throughout everything miracles kept happening and we’re so lucky that Auburn and I both beat cancer. 

‘He was worth every sacrifice and I want to show that there can be hope even in these situations.

‘Auburn is doing so well and meeting all his milestones. I just think about if I had gone with the norm and had a termination, I would never had known him.’

Stacey and Scott had put off having children as she struggled with some long-term health problems but last year, they decided to try for a baby.

After 14 years of using the contraceptive implant, she had it removed on 4 April.

Five days later, on 9 April, she went for a regular routine smear test as she wanted to have one when they started to try to conceive. Usually, routine smear tests in pregnancy are postponed until after birth as it can affect the results.

Around the same time, her baby was conceived but she had no idea as she was experiencing some bleeding and she put it down to her cycle getting back to normal again.

Because of the bleeding it wasn’t until 22 May that she took a pregnancy test as she thought she had had a period.

She explains: ‘I remember it clear as day – my body woke itself up at 5am with this almighty urge to take a pregnancy test. My whole body was telling me it needed to be done, which I thought was ridiculous at first because there is no way in hell I was pregnant with having so much bleeding. 

‘But there staring straight back at me was a big dark positive reading on the pregnancy stick. I was in utter shock! It just didn’t make sense, especially with the dates. 

‘I just walked into the bedroom to wake Scott up and let him know. We were absolutely over the moon. We just couldn’t believe that we were actually having a baby.’

Two weeks later, she received two letters through the post on the same day – one confirming her first midwife appointment, and one with the results of her smear test.

The results had been delayed for some time but showed that she had abnormal cells and she needed to go for an emergency colposcopy (an examination giving an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix as well as the vagina and vulva) the following week.

Although initially not too worried about the appointment, it quickly became clear that something was seriously wrong.

She says: ‘As soon as I entered the room I felt something wasn’t right. The consultant was very serious and seemed very worried. She explained that something isn’t right in my cervix and needs attention ASAP. 

‘While she was checking me, there was a huge amount of blood. I thought I was miscarrying the baby. All I could hear from the consultant was “It’s not stopping, I can’t stop the bleeding”. I just knew there and then something really wasn’t right. She just directed me to get changed and meet her back in her office.’

Stacey was told that the doctor had found a large tumour in her cervix and although they would need a biopsy to confirm, she was 99.9% sure it was cancer because of the size.

They then told her that as she was very early in her pregnancy and the tumour was already very large, she would need to have a termination and hysterectomy. 

Stacey says: ‘Because of the bleeding, I thought I was only seven weeks and I hadn’t even had a scan. Everything had changed in that split second.

‘I was taken for the scan and I was just sat there thinking “it is going to be ok. I am going to fight for this child”.

‘We were sat in this waiting room with my cancer nurse and she said “I need to advise you not to look at the screen because from what the consultant said, you are going to have to have a hysterectomy.”

‘I thought about it for a minute and then I said: “Scott you can do what you want but I need you to respect my wishes. I’ve never been pregnant and from what the doctor said, I might never get this chance again so I need to look at that baby.”’

They were taken for the scan and the sonographer quickly found the baby to show them on the screen and discovered she was actually around nine weeks pregnant.

‘I looked and I didn’t cry or get upset,’ Stacey said. ‘I was just calm and I just had this belief that it was going to be ok. Everyone else in the room was crying because they thought that the termination would be my only option.’

She was given pictures to take away and by that time, her dad had contacted her to see if she was ok because he was concerned about how long the appointment had taken.

Because it was so early, they hadn’t even told anyone in her family other than her dad about the pregnancy.

Now she had to tell them that she was having a baby, but she also had cancer.

‘Telling my parents was the hardest thing’, Stacey says. ‘My mum had lost her mum to cancer and when something like that happens, you think the worst when you hear the word cancer again.’

Further tests in the weeks that followed showed that tumour was nearly 5cm and definitely cancerous but it had luckily not spread beyond her cervix.

Researching online, she found that a hysterectomy was recommended for tumours over 2cm but she knew that it would mean she would lose the baby and never be able to carry another one.

After friends told her about the story of Sinead, who had cervical cancer in pregnancy, in Coronation Street, she found Mummy’s Star – a charity for women in similar situations – who helped support Stacey figure out her options.

Looking up other cases, she found some women who had been able to have treatment during their pregnancy to reduce the size of the tumour before giving birth and having surgery after that, but they were all in her second trimester when they were diagnosed.

She says: ‘I just wanted to fight. My consultant said that termination and hysterectomy was what he recommended but I said “But there is another option, isn’t there.”

‘He told me it was my choice and I said: “I’m not scared of dying, I’m scared of living and not trying.”’

Although incredibly rare for someone so early in their pregnancy, doctors agreed that they could treat Stacey with chemotherapy to try to reduce the tumour and stop it spreading while she was pregnant.

They planned to deliver the baby at 28 weeks and then she would have surgery, followed by more chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

It was risky for both mum and baby, but Stacey decided it was what she wanted to do.

With input from specialists at the Royal Marsden in London, they agreed she would start chemotherapy at 17 weeks pregnant.

She says: ‘I felt like I just had to try. I was lowering my chance of survival but I had to see if we could do this.

‘I had two types of chemotherapy every three weeks and had three lots of that. I used a cooling cap to try to keep my hair and that did work.

‘I was originally going to have the baby at 28 weeks but miraculously, the chemotherapy worked better than anyone had expected and got rid of the tumour, so I was able to wait until 34 weeks. No one could believe the results.

‘I was really positive throughout everything and I do feel like that helped. I really believe in the power of positivity. Even through chemotherapy, I would do my makeup and try to keep things as normal as possible as that was my way of coping.’

She was booked in for a c-section, followed by a hysterectomy on 5 December, at 34 weeks.

Stacey had asked about having an epidural for the c-section so she could see her baby, followed by an anesthetic for the hysterectomy and her team had agreed, so she was awake, with Scott by her side when baby Auburn was born weighing 4lb 3oz at 2:36 pm. 

She says: ‘He came out with the strongest lungs. He was screaming. I met him for about 30 seconds and we couldn’t have skin to skin or anything as we were in an operating theatre rather than a delivery room.

‘I knew my baby was ok and I didn’t care what happened to me. I was put to sleep and woke up on the recovery ward after the hysterectomy.’

Auburn was taken to neonatal intensive care and once she was well enough, Stacey was able to meet him for the first time.

After a night in NICU, all tests showed that Auburn was fine and had not been affected at all by the cancer treatment. Just over a week later, he was able to leave hospital as he just had some trouble feeding.

Following his birth, Stacey did not need any further treatment for cancer as the tumour was gone and although she is still struggling with some problems due to the surgery, she says it was all worth it.

She says: ‘It’s a small price to pay because we’re both here. We had so many miracles – the fact that I got pregnant so quickly, as if I have been earlier in my pregnancy, my path wouldn’t have been an option, the fact that we managed to conceive even though there was a huge tumour and the fact that Auburn somehow started to grow in the safest bit of my womb.

‘Then during treatment, the fact that the tumour disappeared and we both ended up beating cancer.

‘I am so grateful for all the support we had throughout it all. All the NHS staff in every department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, from oncology to maternity, were amazing. I used to get the baby checked weekly so I used to see them so often they became more like friends. They were such earth angels that helped me through. 

‘I also had so much support from people that I know followed my journey by social media. Their love and positivity is what got me through it all.’

Now, Stacey is working to raise awareness of Mummy’s Star but she also wants to highlight the importance of having a smear test, especially as many people are currently missing appointments due to lockdown.

She says: ‘People need to know to go and get checked. It’s five minutes of my life and without that, it could have cost me my whole life.

‘It’s a silent killer. It had been there for quite some time and before the bleeding that I thought was because of the removal of the implant, I’d had no symptoms.

‘Regular smear tests are so important and if you notice any changes, just go and get checked.’

To find out more about Mummy’s Star and get support if you have cancer around pregnancy, visit their website.

For more information about cervical cancer and smear tests, visit Jo’s Trust.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Had to put up with an annoying sibling/partner/housemate in lockdown? 

Spare a thought for the people who have been living with spirits in their house.

With the nation being at home more than ever before, some people have noticed they’re not the only ones occupying their four walls.

Sam Bennetts is an individual who has experienced new activity in her house during lockdown. She lives in Feltham with her husband and youngest children.

The mum-of-seven has been working with spirits her entire life and has even done a seance on Zoom during lockdown.

‘I’m actually a spiritual medium/clairvoyant medium and I do a lot of work in that line anyway,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.

Since lockdown started, Sam says her family have been experiencing the presence of a new spirit – a young boy between six and nine years old.

‘I lost a little boy who would be eight now, so we don’t know whether it’s him working us out,’ Sam explains.

‘It was my 13-year-old who saw him first. She was in her bedroom when she first saw him and he was standing at her door and then hid. He’s done that quite a few times, but he’s now made his way downstairs.

‘He’s been making his presence known, but not enough for us to know who he is, or why he’s here. He’s very inquisitive and wanting us to know that he’s there, but then hiding – like a kid would be.

‘He does look similar to my family, I’m not going to lie.’

Sam says she started seeing the little boy towards the end of March and the beginning of April – just a few weeks before the anniversary of her son’s death, on 18 April.

‘That’s why we do think it’s possibly him,’ she adds.

‘We are just hoping we get a lot more, but we’ve got to give him time – he might have been hanging around for eight years you know. 

‘At the same time, he’s probably just getting to know us. He might not have visited anyone or seen anyone before.

‘He’s just here on and off all the time. Every couple of days we are seeing him. We’ll just be watching TV and all of a sudden we’ll see him on the stairs – but he spends a lot of time upstairs near my daughter’s bedroom.’

But the latest activity doesn’t come as a shock to Sam.

She’s had both positive and negative interactions with spirits over the years.

Sam adds: ‘I’ve been beaten up black and blue. I’ve been strangled where I couldn’t breathe and I was fighting off something that was a dark mass – something that had muscles. I’d probably say it was three to four feet wide and touching the ceiling – outlined like a human but more hazed over the top, more like an arch.

‘In the same bedroom I’ve had bottles of perfume thrown off the window sills and smashed at my head.’

So the new lockdown spirit seems pretty harmless in comparison.

Mart Cooper is another person experiencing supernatural happenings at the moment.

He moved into a new property back in March – just before lockdown started – and says activity has progressed from small things to much larger incidents.

‘I’ve only been in the property for four months and literally since day one activity was starting – but it’s always gradual. It always starts like creaks and knocks and I’m not one of those people who jump at those, so I usually just ignore it,’ Mart tells Metro.co.uk.

‘But then it got more. The most recent thing was when I was doing a Facebook Live on my phone and it flew off the side. And I don’t mean it just fell off, it flew to the left as if someone had thrown it which was strange. 

‘So everybody saw it – I had to pick my phone up and was really confused.’

Similar to Sam, Mart believes the spirit could be his daughter, who passed away shortly after she was born.

He adds: ‘I’ve had a lot of people who have passed in my life, the main one would be my eldest daughter.

‘She would have been 11 in November, but she only lived for one hour. Since she passed things seem to have gone tenfold.

‘I’m not saying it’s her that is causing the activity but it just seems to be everywhere I go – like homes that I’ve moved from or friends houses that I visit – things seem to get more active.’

However, Mart doesn’t think an increase in activity is happening as a result of lockdown – he believes people are just encountering it more, being at home.

He adds: ‘I don’t personally think there is more activity in lockdown, or the dark, I think it’s because people are in lockdown and stuck in their four walls and are bored. So they are noticing more.’

Lauren Jones, a support worker, says she has had a lot of spirits turn up in her house since the nation went into lockdown.

She lives in Herefordshire with her mother Clare – who works as a care worker. The pair are also supernatural mediums.

Lauren says: ‘We’ve had shadows at the bottom of the stairs and footsteps going up the stairs – we’ve seen shadows whilst in the kitchen and the living room.

‘There was also one night when I got up to go to the loo and got back into bed and it sounded like someone was trying to put a plug into the socket, but there wasn’t one there. 

‘So the next day when I got up, we did a bit of research on it and it was a spirit of a lady who wanted to go towards the light and cross over.

‘It was basically trying to tell me that it wanted to go to the light by making a noise that the socket would make.’

This isn’t the only encounter Lauren has faced in lockdown.

She adds: ‘We’ve had a man show himself through incense smoke, too.

‘My mum was going upstairs and looked back and she saw a man through the smoke stood at the end of the room. We have also had photos being moved and objects.

‘We’ve definitely had a lot more activity whilst being in the house.’

Lauren adds that spirits have even followed Clare home from work.

Lauren: ‘She’s brought things back with her – we had a man come back with her and it turned out there was an old TB hospital not far from where she’d picked him up and he had come home with her so he could be helped.’

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Sitting in a crowd of people in an enclosed room with a box of popcorn in your lap and a stranger sat right beside you and your date might sound like a thing of the past by now, but cinemas are about to make a comeback.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to countless businesses being closed, and the lockdown has severely limited the number of activities that we are able to undertake in a bid to fight the spread of the virus.

However, as lockdown measures continue to be rolled back, some cinemas have set dates on which they plan to reopen…

When are cinemas opening their doors?

Cineworld Cinemas, the second-largest chain of movie theatres in the world, have announced that they will reopen their branches in England on 10 July.

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The company said in a statement: ‘We are excited to announce that we are planning to reopen Cineworld Cinemas across England on 10th July 2020.

‘The opening date is subject to final clarifications and confirmation in regards to UK government restrictions, with dates to follow for our cinemas in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.’

This comes in the wake of the Government’s announcement that cinemas would not be able to open any sooner than July 4.

Cineworld has also outlined the new measures the company will take to keep customers safe amid the pandemic, including additional cleaning, social distancing, hand washing guidelines, and hand sanitiser stations. 

Patrons will have to buy tickets ahead of time, and they’ll have to use confirmation emails to attend screenings instead of paper tickets.

Film times will also be staggered to minimise the amount of people in the cinema at any given time.

As for other cinemas, Vue previously said that July 4 was the date on which they were aiming to reopen, and Odeon have said they’d like to open ‘from July’ but haven’t highlighted a specific day at the time of writing.

Showcase cinemas are also hoping to open their doors again from 4 July.

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If you happen to have a dog that’s a flat-faced breed, please, please take extra caution in the heat.

Flat-faced dogs are up to 17 times more at risk of heatstroke, new research warns.

Bulldogs, French bulldogs, and pugs, have short snouts that can prevent panting, which stops them cooling off and thus makes them prone to heatstroke – which can be fatal.

Known as ‘brachycephalic’ breeds, these types of dogs have a small skull and short nose. They should not be kept in the sun for long spells, say British scientists.

An analysis of the clinical records of more than 900,000 dogs across the UK found just how much more vulnerable these flat-faced breeds are when it comes to heatstroke.

The Chow Chow is most vulnerable, at 17 times more likely to suffer heatstroke than a Labrador retriever (that’s Britain’s favourite dog, FYI, hence using that breed as a comparison point.

This is followed by the bulldog, which is 14 times as likely, then the French bulldog, six times as likely.

Then came the Dogue de Bordeaux (five times as likely) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Pug (both three times as likely).

Corresponding author Dr Emily Hall, a veterinary surgeon at Nottingham Trent University, said: ‘It’s likely brachycephalic dogs overheat due to their intrinsically ineffective cooling mechanisms.

‘Dogs pant to cool down – without a nose, panting is simply less effective.

‘In fact, brachycephalic dogs may even generate more heat simply gasping to breathe than they lose by panting.’

The largest study of its kind found almost 400 confirmed cases during 2016 with 56 of the animals – one-in-seven – dying. In general flat-faced dogs were over twice as prone as their non-flat-faced counterparts.

The researchers say their results could just be the tip of the iceberg, as many dog owners may not take their pooches to the vets or even know that their pet is struggling.

Researchers described the findings published in Scientific Reports as ‘concerning’, especially as temperatures rise as flat-faced dogs become more popular.

They want vets to weigh up the risk of heatstroke when advising owners on choosing a breed, and urge owners to consider the health risks of trendy flat-faced dogs.

Also at higher risk of heatstroke are Greyhounds, due to their long, narrow nose, and dogs with thick double coats that trap warm air against the body, such as Chow Chows and Golden Retrievers.

If a dog is obese or overweight, it is also more at risk. Those weighing 50kg or above had almost three and a half times the odds of heat stroke compared to dogs weighing under 10kg.

Dr Hall said’We hope our findings will help both veterinary professionals and dog owners to identify those dogs at increased risk, so they can make potentially life-saving decisions such as avoiding exercising their dogs during hot weather.

‘There are no statistics on how many dogs die every year from heat exposure because the majority of cases go unreported

‘But it is estimated several hundred suffer this slow, agonising fate.’

Co-author Dr Dan O’Neill, senior lecturer in companion animal epidemiology at The Royal Veterinary College, added: ‘As the UK moves progressively towards higher average temperatures due to global warming effects, we all need to wake up to the changing health hazards that our dogs will increasingly face.

‘Greater understanding of which breeds, ages and types of dogs are at extra risk of heat-related illness can assist owners to select breeds that are more resistant to heat effects and to plan how best to protect predisposed dog types from their increased risk by, for example, altering times and levels of outdoor activity.

‘Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting our beloved dogs. A core message from this study would be to “stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog”.’

Do you have a story to share?

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People with lived experience of homelessness are walking, running and jumping the length of London’s Circle Line in a bid to raise funds to help other homeless and vulnerable people through the Covid-19 crisis.  

More than a dozen clients from the London-wide homeless charity Single Homeless Project (SHP) are taking on the Circle Challenge, which asks participants to complete the 44,774 step or 21.2 mile length of the Circle Line to support homeless Londoners through the pandemic and beyond.    

The money raised will go to SHP’s Coronavirus Emergency Appeal, which so far has raised £205,000 to help to keep homeless and vulnerable people across London safe. 

Peter Hunter, 74, is a client at SHP’s community-based support service in Islington. 

Earlier in life, Peter studied at the London School of Economics and did a Masters at Cambridge, but after his wife and child were killed by a drunk driver, he suffered from alcohol dependency and experienced homelessness. 

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‘I never really recovered,’ says Peter. ‘I turned to alcohol and even slept on the streets for a few months.

‘SHP has helped me maintain a tenancy and given me the opportunity to take part in lots of activities. I love attending exercise classes and a drama group that SHP runs.  

‘Due to my age and a recent Parkinsons’ diagnosis, I am quite vulnerable to coronavirus. I don’t usually leave my flat except to get essential items and to get a little exercise every few days. However, I am enjoying getting the steps in to complete the Circle Challenge. I feel great knowing that I can support SHP.’

By encouraging people to exercise in their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens or gardens, as well as outdoors, the challenge is designed to allow participants to keep fit, boost wellbeing and raise money while observing social distancing measures.  

Simon Idio, 22, became homeless in late 2018 after his relationship with his family broke down. He is now living in the SHP’s supported accommodation in Lewisham.  

Simon will be taking part in the challenge, and it isn’t the first time he will have achieved something incredible. On World Records Day in November 2019, Simon leapt into the Guinness World Records by completing 68 jumping jacks in 30 seconds. 

‘I want to support SHP because they have supported me, and I want to help them keep other clients safe too,’ says Simon. ‘I like doing cardio work outs in my garden, so I’ve been doing the Circle Challenge by jumping, jogging on the spot and anything else I can think of to complete the distance while staying safe. 

‘Having a goal really motivates me. Exercise is really important for me, especially at a time like this when it’s easy to feel lost. It gives me a sense of purpose.’

The funds raised will help cover the costs of emergency measures such as providing isolation rooms in hostels and protective clothing for staff as they continue to provide a service in difficult conditions.

Food parcels are also being delivered to vulnerable clients who are unable to get provisions for themselves and welfare checks are being carried out regularly to ensure that clients living in the community are coping while social distancing measures are in place.   

Stephen from SHP says the organisation has been at the forefront of a collective effort from central government, the Greater London Authority, London boroughs, health services and charities, to keep rough sleepers safe during the pandemic. 

‘Using hotels and other safe accommodation, together we’ve been able to rapidly get an estimated 90% of the capital’s rough sleepers off the streets and into accommodation where they can self-isolate and social distance and their longer term needs can be addressed,’ Stephen tells Metro.co.uk. 

‘This has undoubtedly saved lives. 

‘Covid-19 presents particular risks to the people we work with, many of whom have long-term physical health conditions and/or compromised immune systems, meaning that they are at severe risk of harm should they contract the virus.’

‘We have been able to work alongside other agencies to implement personalised harm reduction plans and address people’s physical and mental health needs onsite, both Covid-related and existing underlying conditions.

‘This has included working with a multidisciplinary ‘Find and Treat’ team from University College London Hospitals (UCLH) to proactively screen clients for Covid-19.’ 

If you can’t take part in the Circle Challenge yourself, you can donate to support Peter and Simon and the many others who are getting active to raise vital funds.

You can visit the team fundraising page to donate, or of course you can sign up to complete the Circle Challenge yourself.

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

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

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Ginger cat Charlie has had a stressful time in lockdown – but it’s all turned out alright in the end.

Last month, animal welfare officers at Mayhew Animal Home were contacted by a concerned member of the public, who had spotted a cat with a sore-looking face hanging around her neighbourhood.

The tom cat had been visiting them for 10 days, and each day his wound seemed to be getting worse.

Due to the severity of the described injury and the person’s worries over whether the cat had an owner, Mayhew decided to admit the cat to their centre for a full health check.

Cat bites, wounds, and abscesses poses a risk to life if left untreated, as they can quickly foster infection – hence Mayhew’s decision to bring Charlie in, with the member of the public who found him doing a socially distanced handover in the shelter’s reception area.

They also put up posters in the local area to try to track down Charlie’s owner.

Although Charlie was clearly in a lot of pain when he arrived, he was a friendly boy and appeared domesticated. Head vet Justin checked him over and gently cleaned the wound, before giving Charlie a long-acting antibiotic injection and prescribing him a course of anti-inflammatory painkillers.

Charlie did not have a microchip, so staff settled him down in the cattery to heal and waited to see if anybody came forward to claim him.

As days went by, and no owner stepped forward to claim Charlie, staff prepared to put the cat up for adoption.

But then, two weeks later, they got the call they were hoping for. It turned out Charlie did have a loving owner, but had gone missing when his owner was isolating indoors with coronavirus symptoms, leaving him unable to search for his cat or see the posters.

Luckily, as soon as the owner had passed his mandatory 14 day isolation period, he set about looking around his local area, and soon noticed a couple of the posters out and about. He’d visited his vets before having to isolate to get Charlie some antibiotics for his wound, but when Charlie then didn’t come home one day, he’d feared that his condition had deteriorated, preventing him from finding his way back.

Now, after weeks part, Charlie and his owner are back together – with the cat now neutered and microchipped so if he ever gets lost again his owners’ details will be easily found.

Charlie’s story highlights the importance of having your pets microchipped, especially during a pandemic, when there are simultaneously less people out to notice an injured animal, less emergency response workers on the front line, and a high chance of you yourself becoming unwell and being forced into isolation.

Charlie’s story has a happy ending, but not every kitty is so lucky. Make sure to microchip your pets so that if they do venture far away, it’s not too tricky to bring them back into your care.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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There’s a good chance that many in the UK will be looking for ways to spend their holiday days at home rather than abroad amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The uncertainty surrounding the future and the 14-day quarantine currently in place – meaning that anyone arriving to the UK must spend two weeks in isolation – have combined to make travelling to other countries seem a bit less appealing.

With that in mind, it’s little wonder that many people in the UK are thinking about how and when they might be able to take a trip on their home turf.

Here are the current rules about staying overnight somewhere that’s not your home, and what hotels, campsites, caravan parks and Airbnb are doing about bookings now and in the future.

Can I go on holiday within the UK now?

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At the time of writing, no non-essential overnight stays outside of your household are allowed under current lockdown rules.

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston wrote on Twitter last month: ‘You and your household can head outdoors for your physical and mental wellbeing in England.

‘But be respectful to local people and communities. You must adopt social distancing at all times. Then return to your primary home – no overnight stays, including second homes and holiday homes.’

While many hotels and holiday homes are currently taking non-essential bookings after 4 July, it’s important to note this date may be subject to change depending on the coronavirus situation, with the move to reopen the sector depending on ‘detailed scientific evidence provided closer to the time.’

The only people who can stay the night outside their own homes are those in two-household support bubbles.

People who are part of a support bubble can spend time and/or the night at each other’s homes and don’t have to follow social distancing measures – as if they are one household.

To form a support bubble, at least one household of the two must be a single-person or single-parent household (with children under 18).

However, even those in support bubbles must stay at each other’s homes – stays somewhere other than each other’s households are not currently allowed.

Hotels

Hotels are largely closed to the public at the time of writing, however, it’s currently understood that they will be opening no sooner than July 4 – the same date as much of the rest of the hospitality sector according to the Government’s 50-page Covid-19 Recovery strategy document.

Even though they’re not open to the general public at the moment, hotel chains are staying open for key workers to make bookings.

For example, Travelodge previously said it has a number of their hotels ‘currently open to support key workers including NHS staff and selected groups identified by the Government,’ while The Premier Inn has ‘selected hotels open exclusively to support critical and key workers.’

As for additional safety measures, Travelodge hotels have already added markings on the floors of their hotels to aid with social distancing, members of staff are wearing PPE and at the moment, their restaurants are closed. Instead, the chain is selling breakfast boxes at reception.

Meanwhile, James Wheatcroft, vice-president of marketing at Accor Northern Europe, is quoted in Thisismoney.co.uk as saying: ‘The health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, guests and partners will be our top priority as the world progressively relaxes its lockdown measures.

‘Our considerations will take guests from street to room and around the hotel in the best and safest way – this will likely include the removal of breakfast buffets in favour of grab and go and room service; the use of stairways and more innovative technology to enhance the guest experience.’ 

Holiday homes and Airbnb

There is a glimmer of hope on this front, as Culture Secretary Oliver Bowden recently said he is hopeful that ‘self-let accommodation’ will be open to open up again sooner rather than later.

‘As the Prime Minister has said, we have set this very ambitious target to try and get the sector back by July 4, so long as it is safe to do so, and I am working to make that a reality,’ he said, adding ‘self-let accommodation has a lower risk, so I would hope that is at the front of the queue.’

At the time of writing Airbnb is allowing ‘only essential UK stays’, with a message on its website stating: ‘Due to COVID-19 concerns, there are temporary restrictions on non-essential travel.

‘To keep our community safe, only essential UK stays can take place before 4 July 2020, in view of government legislation.’

Meanwhile, holiday home rental company Homeaway says on its website that anyone who’s considering booking a trip should get travel insurance and think about whether they can postpone their trip.

Their website also advises you familiarise yourself with the homeowner’s cancellation policy before you book, and take the local area’s travel restrictions into account.

Butlins meanwhile won’t be opening its doors until at least 16 July and, depending on the site in question, Center Parks won’t reopen until at least 12 or, for their Longford Forest site, until 19 July.

Campsites and caravan parks

Campsites and caravan parks are still closed in the UK, and are likely to remain so until at least 4 July along with the rest of the hospitality sector.

Camping and Caravanning Club have said that, while they’re hoping to be able to reopen from 4 July in England, from 15 July in Scotland, and from 26 July in Northern Ireland, they may end up opening some of their campsites without showers and toilets.

Their website reads: ‘At the current time we plan to open the majority of Club Sites, including as many as possible with toilet block facilities.

‘Opening with toilet and shower facilities will only happen if we’re allowed to do so by the government. Some campsites however, will open without toilets and showers.’

They add: ‘In order to operate our sites in a responsible manner we will be increasing our cleaning regimes; where facility blocks are open there will be 2 deep cleans a day and 4 supplementary cleans.

‘This places extra demand on our staff so we have had to look at campsites which are better suited to self-sufficient campers where facility blocks will not be open this season.’

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Looking to make your garden a little more exciting this summer? How about getting a hot tub?

If you fancy having somewhere to lie back and relax as the weather gets warmer, the good news is that you don’t have to spend thousands as the Mspa inflatable hot tub goes on sale next week at Lidl next week.

A similar model at Aldi sold out quickly, but you can get this version from competitor Lidl from 28 June.

It’s slightly cheaper than the Aldi version – Lidl’s hot tub costs £299, while Aldi sold one for £349.99 back in March.

Lidl don’t offer online delivery though so you’ll have to check out your local store to get one.

It holds 700L so it’s big enough for four people and includes a filter cartridge, drain hose adaptor, combination lock and a cover with zip.

There are 118 dynamic air jets which massage your body and create bubbles and the 1,500w heater can get the water up to 42C, so it’s perfect to enjoy even on chilly evenings.

If you want some other on trend things for your garden, Aldi is selling a double hanging egg chair from this Sunday.

The outdoor furniture piece has been popular this summer after Mrs Hinch and Stacey Solomon showed off their versions.

A single version from the budget supermarket crashed their website and sold out in seconds last month but now they’re bringing out the bigger version for two people to sit in.

If you want to get your hands on one, they will be available online only from 21 June.

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For those who fancy a doughnut delivery with minimum effort, Krispy Kreme is now offering to send their snacks nationwide.

From 22 June, you can get an indulgent doughnut decorating kit or a Say It With Krispy Kreme, hand-piped half dozen with a message of your choice, send across the UK.

With the kit, you can create your own unique flavours and message doughnuts make a great gift if you are missing someone in lockdown.

It’s the first time they’ve offered delivery everywhere in the UK, thanks to the expansion of the doughnut brand’s delivery service, so you can now enjoy the infamous Original Glazed from the comfort of your home or garden. Unfortunately, they aren’t available to those in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

The decorating kit comes with four Original Glazed doughnuts, chocolatey and caramel icings and a selection of indulgent toppings including cookie crumb, lotus biscoff biscuit crumb, chocolate and honeycomb pieces and white chocolate and will cost £14.95.

The Say It With Krispy Kreme boxes feature six Original Glazed doughnuts for £10.95.

The delivery fee for each box will be £3.95 and the first slots for delivery will be 30 June (if you order when they go live on 22 June).

One person who orders on launch day will will free doughnuts for a year, with the prize draw happening the next day.

More information can be found on the Krispy Kreme website.

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Kids love playing in sand but inevitably, end up getting it everywhere, including their mouths.

So if you’re not a fan of shouting ‘don’t put that in your mouth’ every five seconds, try making edible sand.

A mum on TikTok has shared the quick hack to make a tray of the stop for just a few quid, by blending Cheerios into line crumbs.

It makes a sand like consistency that kids can eat as much as they like.

Mum Elle, who posts under the username @Elleannachristine, showed how she puts a handful of Cheerios in her Nutribullet blender.

She then whizzes the cereal to make it fine and puts it in a plastic tray with some toys for her baby to enjoy sensory play.

She showed her baby grabbing handfuls of the stuff and putting toys covered in it in her mouth.

The post has had over 2.6 million views and other parents love the idea.

One said: ‘I just did this!! He absolutely loved it. He wanted to go to the beach for his birthday but it’s pouring rain so we brought the “beach” to him.’

Another added: ‘Wow thank you so much, what a genius idea! Doing this tomorrow and probably every day after lol.’

Others pointed out that it might just teach her to eat sand at the beach because she thinks all sand is ok.

But commenters pointed out that right now, she’s a baby who doesn’t understand instructions and her mum isn’t encouraging her to eat the sand, she’s just making it safe if she does.

Do you have a parenting tip to share?

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After months of being together at home, children and parents will soon have to adapt to life as it returns to the ‘new normal.’

Of course, this is likely to be a very difficult time for children – who have become accustomed to new lockdown routines.

For the past few months, children – especially very young ones – have spent every waking minute of the day with their parents.

But now, as schools reopen and adults head back to work, it’s important to be aware that this sudden separation from a home environment can make some children incredibly anxious.

Dr Nauf AlBendar, medical scientist and founder of The Womb Effect, says: ‘During these unprecedented times we should be extremely mindful on how the pandemic will contribute to the mental wellbeing of children in the long term, as well as potential issues with separation anxiety in the short term when things go back to “normal.”

‘Separation anxiety disorder can be a cause of concern when it manifests as school refusal, sleep disturbance, excessive distress, physical complaints such as headaches or vomiting when faced with separation. It can also impair social and family relationships.’

But some simple things can be done to help a child through this disruptive period.

Talk to a teacher

In a pre-pandemic world, the longest time children would break from school was the six-week-long summer holiday.

But many will be returning this month (or very soon), after almost three months away from the classroom. 

It’s unfamiliar territory for both kids and parents.

If a child has experienced separation anxiety before (or is showing signs it could be problem when they go back to school) a good way of preparing is to chat to their teacher beforehand. 

Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, a psychiatrist at the Priory’s Wellbeing Centre in Oxford, says: ‘The young person can refresh their memory of how they do feel safe and comfortable around that adult [the teacher], too. 

‘They could even do this over a digital platform to enable some positive interaction if they cannot do it face to face.’

Also, parents could see if there’s any flexibility around drop-off and pick-up, to help make a child feel as comfortable as possible.

Dr Nauf AlBendar says: ‘Make plans with the teacher to help your child transition to school by arriving early, staying and playing with your child before the bell rings.’

Build a consistent routine

‘Routines give a feeling of safety and allow a child to simultaneously build trust and independence,’ adds Dr Nauf AlBendar.

Obviously, if a child has gone back to school or a parent has returned to work, then routines will look a little different to how they’ve been for the past three months.

Any new home routine going forward should be regular – as this will help a child adjust and build trust again.

Dr Nauf AlBendar also stresses that it’s important not to put too much into these new regimes – otherwise a child may feel overwhelmed.

She adds: ‘Focus on playtime, quiet time and healthy habits such as naps and good sleep hygiene.’

Speak positively

If you approach the change in situation with anxiety, kids are likely to pick up on it.

Child development expert and psychologist Dr. Amanda Gummer says: ‘Talk to your children about school in the same way as you do when they are starting a new term or going on a school trip. 

‘Get them excited about the adventure and all the positive things that they’ll experience – seeing friends, playtime and seeing their favourite teachers.’

Role play

A good way to address any problems or anxieties is through play – role play, in particular.

Dr. Amanda Gummer says: ‘Role play “schools” with your children and let them lead, being the teacher if they want and letting them take the narrative wherever they want to go, and you can discuss issues as they arise.’

Get them used to different environments 

Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg says: ‘Parents should encourage their child back into the outside world again as much as possible, within the rules.

‘Meet their friends at a park or in a garden and encourage them to run around with their friends at a distance from their parents, so they get used to not always having them at such a close distance.’

After such an intense period, it’s also important for parents to try and separate from children from short amounts of time (whenever possible) – as this will prepare children for when they are not around full-time.

Calming techniques

Most kids rely on parents to calm and soothe them in stressful situations – but when they’re at school, this isn’t possible.

A simple solution could be for parents to teach their children how to calm themselves.

Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg adds: ‘If a child can learn to use calming breathing when anxious, they soon learn they can manage their anxiety themselves and bring it down quite easily.’

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Meet Winston Churchquill, the aspiring travel influencer who’s here to inspire you to explore your surroundings.

Winston is getting attention online for sharing photos outside landmarks he visits on his daily walk.

We should probably mention at this point that Winston Churchquill is a hedgehog. That’s quite important.

The African pigmy hedgehog is owned by Georgie Andrews, 23, who takes Winston out and about on her daily walks around her home city of Plymouth, Devon, and makes sure to snap photos of their adventures.

Georgie has photographed her pal in front of many of the city’s iconic sights including the Hoe, the Barbican, and the Naval Memorial.

He has proved such a hit that Winston now has his own Instagram account detailing his exploits.

Georgie, a waitress, said: ‘I follow a hedgehog account on Instagram and she takes hers up on mountains and stuff, so I thought it would be a good idea to try it.

‘Mainly I took him around the Hoe and the Barbican, he likes getting out and about.

‘They went down well online, I’ve got about 1,000 followers on Instagram now – I started off with about 60.

‘They all love the hedgehog.’

Other locations the nine-month old pet has also posed in front of include the Tamar Bridge, the Guildhall, and the famous Smeaton’s Tower.

You can follow Winston’s travels on Instagram.

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Of course we miss pubs and restaurants and hairdressers – but one thing that many of us can’t wait to get back to is the gym.

We miss that fitness routine, the accessibility of weights and equipment, the satisfaction of completing a class that you just can’t replicate in your living room.

A recent survey by Sport England found that the British public miss workouts at the gym more than any other sporting activity, and 87% of us plan to hold onto our memberships post lockdown.

But, with gyms being breeding grounds for germs and bacteria – we’re not sure exactly when we will be allowed back into our sweaty sanctuaries. And when we are back – things might not be the same.

Sean McCoy, CEO at GearJunkie has some predictions about what going to the gym will look like when they reopen. 

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‘There will be significant changes’, says McCoy. ‘Gyms can serve as the perfect environment for germs. In the US, places like climbing gyms are instituting rigorous measures to keep people safe, such as frequent sanitisation, limiting capacity through reservation systems, and no-contact check-ins.

‘It seems likely that the UK will follow the lead of countries that are lifting their measures earlier, so it can certainly gain some solid insight on what to expect’.

No changing rooms or showers

As non-essential shops reopen across the UK, government guidelines require clothing stores to keep their changing facilities closed. According to Sean, gyms may be asked to follow suit.

‘I suspect that many gyms will also close their changing rooms to encourage social distancing and disallow showers to avoid transmitting the virus through moisture,’ he says.

‘Many gyms feature showers that are not fully contained as they are open at the bottom. Essentially, water is passing through each cubicle and can cross contaminate surfaces. 

‘When possible, try and wash at home after a session. This may be problematic for people that are due to return to the office and like to use the gym before work however, it will safeguard you from Covid-19’. 

Sean adds that lockers may also be out of bounds, as they can serve as a hotbed for bacteria and it may not be possible to properly clean them after each use. 

‘Of course, sharing your personal items at the gym should also be avoided,’ says Sean. ‘Towels, brushes, and most importantly water bottles all pass on viruses – as well as fungi, yeast and bacteria.’

Some gyms may also feature signs that encourage members to wash their kit as much as possible – bacteria/viruses love humid places and can serve as the perfect environment to breed.

‘An extra step is using a bag to hold your clothes and shoes inside your gym bag, as you want to contaminate as few items as possible.’

Temperature at the door

By now, we are all familiar with the flu like symptoms of Covid-19. A high temperature is one of the most common and according to Sean, many gyms may require clients to have their temperature taken at the door. 

‘Many gyms will allocate staff to take the members temperature and some outlets will also require gym goers to sign a disclosure that ensures they have not experienced symptoms within the last two weeks,’ says Sean. 

Regular cleaning and wipe downs

Anyone that attends the gym regularly knows that it is good etiquette to wipe down your equipment after use, but things might be a bit different after lockdown.

‘The days of simply wiping down equipment with paper towels is now a thing of the past,’explains Sean.

‘Maybe that was OK for getting rid top show moisture, but the current climate requires a deeper clean.

‘Bacteria and viruses can live on a surface outside the human body for several hours, it is essential that gym equipment is wiped down with universal cleaning products that have antibacterial and antiviral properties frequently.’

Sean expects staff to be working in heavy rotation, cleaning all surfaces to maintain a bacteria free environment, especially in high use areas such as pin pads, door handles and equipment.

‘Of course, regular hand washing, covering faces when coughing, avoiding the touching of eyes, nose and mouth will all be enforced.’

Fewer machines and more screens

The implementation of social distancing is arguably one of the biggest changes to come from lockdown, and it will almost certainly stay in place when gyms reopen. 

According to Sean, this will impact the internal layout of the gym.  

‘Where possible, expect to see glass dividers in-between equipment, as well as a reduction in machines on the gym floor to reduce the number of gym goers,’ he explains. 

‘It is likely that gyms will ask members to stagger their visits and allocate times in order to avoid ques awaiting entry.

‘During the summer, I also imagine there will be more of an emphasis on outdoor classes, partly for social distancing, but also for health reasons.

‘A lot of exercises lower the rate of breathing, and with a mask on that is dangerous. Moving these activities outdoors would solve that issue, as well as create much needed space.’

How to stay safe

Sean says your personal safety will come down to being prepared.

‘Make sure you always have face covering, antibacterial wipes, hand wash, and anything else that helps you wipe down the machines before use,’ he says.

‘Change up your routine. Has working out at a park changed your approach to exercise? If it has and it works for you then stick with it – there’s no need to rush back to the gym if the safety of the local park is working for you and your programme.’

He adds that if you’re not feeling well, you should avoid gym activity.

‘I know it’s hard to take a rest day when it’s not planned, but the last thing you would want to see at the gym is someone with a cold working out.’

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

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

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Amanda Lauren is a model that has graced the covers of Maxim France and Playboy Sweden, so it’s only natural that she’d be more concerned about her appearance than the average person.

However, the bills she’s been racking up recently due to numerous beauty treatments are something even the more image-conscious among us would wince at.

Each month, she spends £7,100 on various treatments such as hair, nails, and skincare, not including the yearly £5,000 to £8,000 a year on cosmetic surgery.

That means that since lockdown she’s saved over £21,000 on cosmetics alone.

London-based Amanda has vowed that once lockdown is lifted and we’re all back to normal she doesn’t plan on going back to her old ways, and has set herself a limit of £100 a month on beauty.

Amanda says: ‘Pre lockdown I would have a full-service manicure and pedicure every two weeks. When getting hair and beauty treatments I used to only go to the best places (review-wise) regardless of cost.’

When she needed her makeup done she would visit an MUA, and her hair alone cost up to £1500 in blow-dries and colouring at the most high-end salons.

Another big cost is injectible, which could set Amanda back up to £2,000 a month depending on where she went to get them done.

As with many non-essential businesses, all of these places shut their doors when the pandemic hit.

This forced Amanda to scale back her beauty regime, instead opting for the natural look.

Noticing the huge amount of money she’d saved – as well as the fact she’s really enjoyed a different style – Amanda has vowed to curb her spending dramatically in future.

‘The time off from my beauty regime has allowed me to do a lot of self-reflection on the inside as well as the outside,’ says Amanda.

‘I thought there would be a drastic change without my extensive beauty regime but there hasn’t been.

‘Cost aside, I much prefer the natural look now and I am now a big fan of real natural beauty. Overall I feel much better for it and I am so glad I have had this opportunity to hit pause on all treatments.

‘Before I was spending a lot to maintain “The Natural Look”, but in reality, the real natural look works better for me.’ 

Amanda says that her skin has actually become clearer without the products she was using before, and without colouring and blow-dries her hair is longer and stronger than it’s ever been.

She will occasionally get highlights in her hair after lockdown eases, and will get a mani/pedi every few weeks as well as a monthly facial. However, she will be conscious of the money she’s spending, as well as whether the treatments make her feel her best self.

The model has also vowed to start regular face and hair masks and oils, with keeping their skin and hair as well-conditioned as they have been a top priority.

‘I am going to manage my budget as I am just simply not interested in any of the services I was having previously,’ says Amanda.

‘I have realized that focusing on my fitness, health, and inner-self is a wiser longer-term investment than the quick fix treatments I was having previously.‘

Do you have a story you’d like to share with us?

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

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Venus, the brightest of the planets, appears first, then as night falls, clusters of tiny stars gradually begin to multiply, creating a blanket of brilliance above.    

With a telescope in hand and a twinkling sky begging for my full attention, I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than kicking back in the middle of Australia’s spectacular Capertree Valley in my very own two-person stargazing bubbletent. 

The uniqueness of this, the only pop-up glamping experience of its kind Down Under, is not lost on me – I feel like I might just be the only person on Earth.

In reality, just over the rise down to my left and atop the hill behind me are another couple of privately positioned inflatable bubbletents, each of them well out of sight of the other and with their own individual offerings – one has an outdoor Swedish style wooden bathtub, the other a romantic love swing.

Unlike other tourist destinations, there is a shroud of secrecy over the exact location of the bubbletents. The owners prefer it not be revealed until a booking is secured, and it’s so secluded that there is no need to collect a key or check-in with on-site management.

Instead all necessary details are mapped out in the welcome pack guests receive shortly after a booking is confirmed. The information provided includes a map, location coordinates, a list of what to bring, and a rundown of things to do in the Valley, whether visiting for a one night or staying a few.

The Bubbletent Australia concept was conceived after owners Sonny Vrebec and Mayu Iwasaki visited New Zealand’s Lake Tekapo.

This spot is renowned for being one of the top three spots globally for stargazing thanks to a concentrated effort by its residents to minimise light pollution. During their stay the pair witnessed what they describe as ‘an incredible meteorite shower’ and afterward made a pact then to do their best to find a spot in Australia where they could offer tourists a similar experience.

‘We were just flabbergasted at the beauty of the cosmos and the wonderment of what lay overhead,’ says Sonny.

Set amid a World Heritage-listed landscape, within a remote 1,000-acre working farm between the popular NSW tourist townships of Lithgow and Mudgee, there’s plenty of appeal here, especially if, like me, you’ve been forced to spend several months in home isolation due to the sweeping global Covid-19 pandemic that’s been plaguing the world for most of this year.

Positioned to take in views of the second biggest canyon in the world – also one of the world’s 50 Important Bird Area (IBA) sanctuaries for bird watching – the Capertree Valley is one of Australia’s most picturesque destinations.

Not only am I surrounded by sandstone cliffs and spectacular chasms, the amount of flora and fauna that abounds here is part of the appeal.

Native animals like kangaroos and kookaburras, mountain goats and sheep from the working farm, as well as eagles and 242 different species of bird provide the perfect introduction to Australia’s rugged landscape.

I’m booked into the Cancer tent tonight (named after the constellation – the others are Leo and Virgo), which, alongside from offering a cosy bedroom with a plush double bed and accompanying en-suite, also boasts an outdoor rain shower, a firepit, alfresco kitchen/lounge area with daybed, a couple of single sofas and a coffee table, a chiller fridge built in under the deck, a floating swing relaxation area and cooking utensils, along with kindling and firestarters.

Inside in the drawers under my bed I discover a couple of extra blankets, great for wrapping around my shoulders as I sit by the fire, along with some board games and a pair of bird-watching binoculars that I’ll use in the morning after I’ve tackled a nature walk.

It’s a clear evening, ideal for searching and identifying constellations, while enjoying some vino and a couple of sausages cooked on the grill. There’s no need to worry about faffing about in the dark looking for anything you may need – there are lanterns scattered about and a string of solar lights that are actioned by a simple switch as well as a couple of head-lamps for ease of onsite navigation.

With a full tummy and a sky full of stars to entertain me, I pull on my pyjamas and settle under the covers in my igloo-like den and put the Luminous app to good use. It helps guide me on where to point my telescope. I connect the Wonderboom Bluetooth speakers to the in-room iPad and drift off to sleep listening to Under the Milky Way by Church.

I’m not sure what time I nodded off, but as the sun begins to creep up over the horizon signifying the beginning of a new day, I grab my SLR camera and walking shoes and hit the nearest trail.

My breath grows deeper with every step and as I make my way through the wilderness I am amazed by how many lookouts there are – talk about a lesson in the true beauty of Australia.

After a dose of morning exercise and a cooked breakfast it’s time to hit the road.

As I unzip the tent and prepare to venture back to civilization, I commit the landscape and the luxury of this unique place to memory.

Then, as if on cue, I’m brought back to reality by a chorus of bleating from a herd of mountain goats on the hill nearby.

‘See you later,’ I whisper as I get in the car for the journey home. ‘I’ll be back’.

Bubbletent Australia is about three hours drive west of Sydney. A stay here costs from A$510 (£279) per night for a minimum two-night stay.

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So many of us have made a conscious effort to get healthier and more active in lockdown, so now we’re worried about sustaining our new habits as lockdown rules ease. 

New research from recipe box company Gousto, shows that more than one in ten (11%) Brits say lockdown has encouraged them to start exercising for the first time in years. 

Almost a quarter (22%) of people are now working out at home, thanks to the inspiration of ‘The Nation’s PE Teacher’, Joe Wicks – and 26% even say that they’ll keep working out at home, rather than paying for a gym membership. 

Thankfully, Joe Wicks has shared his top tips for sticking with these new healthy habits and keeping your fitness motivation alive, even as the pressures of normal life start to return.

Make the most of your home

‘You don’t need a gym or lots of equipment to get fit and healthy,’ says Joe.

‘Lots of people have been getting creative and finding space at home for exercise. I’ve always believed in the power of home workouts because it’s so much easier to maintain a daily routine when you’re exercising on your own terms.

‘I’m a big fan of HIIT training and you can do it anywhere; at home, in the garden or even in the park.’ 

Rise and shine

Joe says that healthy habits are all about planning and sticking to a schedule. Which might mean getting up earlier.

‘I love to exercise first thing in the morning, it wakes me up, boosts my energy and sets me up to win the day,’ says Joe.

‘It’s also a perfect way to make the most of the longer days. Plan your workouts in advance and try and stick to them like appointments you can’t miss. 

‘If you can’t train in the morning, that’s fine, it’s all about finding what works for you. Remember, whatever time of day you exercise, it’s going to make you feel awesome physically and mentally.’

Keep cooking

So many of us have been honing our culinary skills during lockdown, Joe says you should keep prioritising making fresh, home-cooked meals even when lockdown ends.

‘Cooking at home with fresh ingredients means you know what’s going into your food,’ says Joe. ‘You can have loads of fun experimenting with different recipes and that’s one of the things I love about Gousto.

‘The new recipes combine high carb, post workout recipes with low carb recipes for less active days, so there’s always a banging, balanced recipe to try.’ 

Make exercise fun

‘Exercise should be fun, not something you dread,’ says Joe.

‘We’ve all found new ways to workout during lockdown and most don’t need equipment, or even much time.

‘Put some fun into your routine: do a HIIT workout in the front room, walk a new route, offer to walk a neighbour’s dog or go for a run with someone from your household.

‘It doesn’t matter what exercise you do, find something you enjoy and you’ll find it much easier to stick to.’ 

Get some fresh air

While gyms are still closed and the days are nice and long, Joe says you should tak advantage of the natural world and get out as much as possible.

‘I love getting outside and going for a long walk in the summer,’ Joes tells us.

‘We’re all finding a new appreciation for getting outside, so try to keep that going as we get back to normal. Get out into the garden or find a local, quiet space to do your workout.

‘If you’re not feeling a heavy workout every day, a light walk and some fresh air will still make you feel great.’

Find a balance

When it comes to a healthy diet, Joe says it’s all about balance – and makins sensible choices.

‘Cutting any food group or depriving yourself of the foods that you love is not sustainable,’ he says.

‘If you make balanced food choices most of the time and stay active, you absolutely shouldn’t feel guilty about treating yourself to an indulgent meal or a delicious dessert.’

Make the time

When lockdown ends, life is going to get really busy again, really quickly. So it’s important to be adaptable about fitting fitness into your schedule.

‘So many people are super busy at the moment, juggling home working, childcare, home schooling and other responsibilities,’ says Joe.

‘Other people are finding they have more time on their hands than ever before.

‘As our routines change all over again, it’s important to make time to look after yourself.

‘Quick daily workouts and easy home cooking are a great place to start.’

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

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

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It was the sensation of fluid gushing out of me that woke me up. As I opened my eyes, I realised I was lying in a pool of blood and I immediately started to panic.

At 32 weeks pregnant, all I could think about was whether my son was still alive.

I was also completely alone – my partner, Kyle, had already left for work and our two-year-old was staying with his gran – so I contacted the labour ward who sent out an ambulance. I then rang Kyle who left work immediately to meet me at the hospital.

At this point, coronavirus didn’t worry me – it was early March and we were yet to be forced into lockdown. There had only been a few cases in the UK and while I hadn’t been isolating, tiredness and low blood pressure had prevented me from going out. 

My plan was always to have a caesarean as I’d had one with our first son in 2017, but by the time I got to the hospital and Kyle had arrived, the doctors told us a natural delivery would be safer. 

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It sent me into turmoil; I was petrified that if I started bleeding again, they wouldn’t be able to stop it.

That’s when the doctor from the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) arrived and tried to explain what would happen if the baby came early. But with my pain getting more intense, I struggled to take it all in.

All I could hear was that my baby might get rushed away from me. Kyle and I sat in silence, sick with worry.

After a long four days of anxious labour, our little boy, Kalvin, finally made an appearance eight weeks early on Sunday March 8, weighing just 4lbs 10oz.

He started screaming which was a good sign, and we got a quick cuddle before he was taken to PICU. While I knew it was the best thing for him, it was heartbreaking to our baby go. 

Kalvin had been in the unit for just about a week when things started to change. The pandemic was becoming more intense and we were told that only me and Kyle would be able to visit.

Our families had only been able to glimpse Kalvin in the incubator straight after his birth and now they wouldn’t be able to see him at all, which made us really feel for them.

Meanwhile, Kyle and I were going to the hospital in the morning then taking turns to stay into the evening so the other could go home and try to make things as normal as possible for our other son.

Our minds were spinning constantly and neither of us could shut off, as everyday was different. We would phone at night to be told Kalvin was doing well then go in the next day to find he had taken a step back.

Then his situation got worse. He was taking pauses and dips with his breathing, and eventually we got the terrifying news that the doctors had discovered bleeds in Kalvin’s brain. 

On three separate occasions, they told us they planned to transfer him to a hospital in Glasgow 45 minutes away for an MRI scan, but each time they couldn’t as coronavirus meant it was too risky for him to be moved.

I felt so angry and scared. I knew that the pandemic was having a terrible impact on people but it was tortuous knowing my son couldn’t get the tests he so desperately needed. 

Lockdown and social distancing also meant we couldn’t see family, so didn’t have any physical support let alone a shoulder to cry on. In turn, all our families could do was sit by the phone and wait for updates.

As cases of Covid-19 started to creep up in our local area, the hospital decided that only one parent would be allowed a daily visit to PICU – and once we were in the ward, we couldn’t leave.

When it was my turn, sitting there alone was agony. I would stare at the monitor and flinch at every alarm that went off. Kalvin was lying right in front of me but there was nothing I could do.

The nurses were great, sending us photos and encouraging us to phone any time, but it’s soul-destroying to leave your sick baby knowing you won’t get to see him for another two days. 

Without Kyle, my mental health really began to suffer with the additional worry that my oldest son was feeling unloved. I felt like the very worst parent but coped by reminding myself this wasn’t going to last forever.

Finally, after almost five, gruelling weeks, we were told on April 20 that Kalvin was healthy enough to come home. It was the news we had desperately been waiting for, and we were over the moon to make our family complete. 

It’s been amazing having him home and apart from being a bit on the small side, Kalvin looks like a normal baby. I worry constantly, though. If he is having an off day I instantly think there is something more to it and that something’s wrong.

We have recently had his MRI to look at the bleeds and make sure the channels in his brain aren’t clogged.

The doctors couldn’t see anything amiss, which was very reassuring, but we won’t know if any damage has been done until he is older and starts developing.

Above all, I am so grateful to all the nurses and doctors in the PICU. When Covid-19 was at its worst they were continually understanding and tried to lift our spirits.

Kyle and I can’t help but feel like we have missed out on so much of Kalvin’s first months because of coronavirus. He hasn’t had a proper start to life, and certainly not the one we wanted for him, but the experience has made me appreciate my family and their safety. 

We will never forget this horrendous time but when Kalvin is older, it will make for an incredible story.

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

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People in England have been able to meet up with groups of no more than six people since the first of this month as long as they’re outside and social distancing measures are still observed.

Similar rules have been implemented in other parts of the UK too, with people in Scotland able to meet up with up to eight people, people in Northern Ireland also allowed groups of up to six and people from two different households allowed to meet in Wales.

However, as with England, these rules hinge on people being able to meet outside, where it’s thought that it’s more difficult for Covid-19 to spread.

So, aside from the now-tried and tested Zoom calls, what do you do if the weather is bad?

How you can see friends in bad weather

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If you don’t fancy braving the bad weather – after all, there’s nothing stopping you from sitting or going for a walk under an umbrella if you think you’re hard enough – then you can still sit under a larger covered area outside.

If you or those you are visiting have a covered outdoor space in the garden, such as an open covered patio or an unwalled gazebo, then you should still be fine to socialise together there as long as you stick to the aforementioned rules and abide by social distancing measures.

If you and those you’d like to socialise with don’t have a garden or a covered area to hang out in, then you can still take your umbrellas and find a covered area in a public park. You should be fine to see each other there as long as you continue to observe social distancing measures between both those in your party and the general public.

If you’re not lucky enough to have your own portable gazebo to hand, you can also try something called bivouacking, which is the art of making your own temporary shelter out of whatever you can find. You and your friends could each make one out of fallen branches and the like to keep yourselves dry and socially distant at the same time.

Alternatively, you and the people you want to hang out with could take your now-potentially-unlimited exercise outside, which might make it a little easier to withstand the chill of rain.

You can exercise with up to five people who don’t live in your household, again, as long as you social distance.

You will also be able to socialise with people inside your or their home provided they are in your support bubble.

Support bubbles were announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday as a way for single-person households or the households of single parents to children under the age of 18 to be less isolated.

‘There are still too many people, particularly those who live by themselves who are lonely and struggling with being unable to see friends and family,’ Mr Johnson explained.

‘From this weekend we will allow single adult households – that’s adults living alone or single parents with children under 18 – to form a support bubble with one other household.

‘All those inner support bubbles will be able to act as though they are the same household, meaning they can stay inside each other’s homes and do not need to stay two metres apart.’

Therefore, if you are part of a previously agreed-upon support bubble with another household, you will be able to socialise inside.

This rule will also allow the person who lives alone to stay the night at the other household.

For those who do not live alone and are not part of a support bubble for someone who is, the rules remain the same – you can only meet up with up to six people and you must be outside and socially distanced.

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Shakira Rochelle was booked to take photographs of a wedding in Ohio near to where she lives.

The experienced wedding photographer was taken aback, though, when the bride-to-be who’d hired her got in touch demanding a refund due to Shakira’s support of Black Lives Matter.

In a series of screenshots posted on Twitter by a friend of Shakira’s, she showed the text messages she received from the client.

The bride-to-be seems to have seen Shakira’s post on social media where she showed support for BLM, and said: ‘I am sorry to say that we are requesting a refund on the deposit for our wedding.

‘We have done a lot of talking and we cannot bring ourselves to support anyone who is so outspoken on matters that simply do not concern them as well as someone that does not believe that ALL lives matter.

‘We would be truly embarrassed to have you at our event and feel that you aren’t stable enough to complete the job we need from you.’

The woman, whose name has been redacted, then went on to ask fo the details of how she could have her money returned.

In an incredible response, Shakira simply replied: ‘I am sorry to hear that. Unfortunately the contract you signed states that your deposit is non refundable. I will email you a cancellation agreement shortly that will require your signature to forfeit your date.

‘I wish you a lifetime of growth and I would like to thank you for your donation to Black Lives Matter.’

Can you hear that? That’s the sound of the mic dropping.

The bride then replied that she would put her lawyers in contact with Shakira, but so far there’s been no update from the photographer or her friend over whether this has happened.

As we’ll all know from renting homes or booking holidays, the contract you sign when you pay your deposit tends to be pretty watertight with very few ‘get-out’ clauses.

It’d be extremely unlikely to include a clause whereby you’d have your deposit refunded because your service provider agrees with human rights. So, we’re not sure this customer has a leg to stand on.

Many people on social media have offered monetary support or legal aid if it does come to this, and plenty more have shown their support through positive business reviews.

We’ve contacted Shakira Rochelle for comment, and will update if we receive a reply.

Do you have a story you’d like to share with us?

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

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We love filling our homes with plants. We also love cats. The combo is often pretty delightful – what’s prettier than a tortoiseshell kitty poking its head through a jungle of leaves?

But there’s a major problem with our plant-and-pet dreams: Some of the most popular and highly Instagrammed houseplants are toxic to cats.

Among the worst offenders in the intersection of the ‘trendy plant’ and ‘could cause serious harm to your cats’ venn diagram is the monstera deliciosa, also known as the Swiss cheese plant.

Yep, those massive, gorgeous leaves may look lovely on Instagram and in real-life, but if you have a cat you’ll need to give a monstera a miss.

Swiss cheese plants contain insoluble calcium oxalates, which makes the leaves and stem highly toxic to cats. If ingested, the leaves can cause burning of the mouth, vomiting, and yes, even death.

Leticia Fidalgo Buron, vet and technical manager at pet brand Webbox, says: ‘Seeing pets nibble at houseplants might seem harmless but it can be extremely dangerous due to the toxic insoluble calcium oxalate crystals present.

‘While many cats and dogs will be put off by the bitter taste, consuming large quantities can result in a number of problems, ranging from indigestion to breathing difficulties, renal failure or even death.’

What’s concerning is that many pet owners aren’t aware of the toxic properties of monstera deliciosa, which also happens to be one of the most Instagrammed houseplants around.

Other popular plants that can cause cats serious harm include philodendron, mother in law’s tongue (also known as snake plants), caladium, and oleander.

If you already have these plants in the home, make sure to move them entirely out of your cat’s reach – even if they haven’t shown any previous interest in nibbling the leaves. It’s just not worth the risk.

And if you’ve been pondering your plant options and you have a kitty, skip the options on the toxic list and choose equally pleasing plants that won’t do your cats harm – calathea plants are just as pretty as a monstera and won’t cause serious issues if your cat decides to munch on the greenery.

Make sure, also, to know the symptoms a cat might show when they’ve consumed something toxic – and what to do if they’re showing signs of distress.

Leticia explains: ‘If there is a chance your pet has bitten or chewed a toxic plant that contains calcium oxalate crystals, you will need to take them to a vet or call a poison helpline.

‘However, first wash their mouth thoroughly with water and encourage them to drink plenty of liquids, then give them some food rich in calcium to help alleviate the pain, such as milk or cheese.

‘This is because the oxalate crystals will bind to the calcium in the milk and reduce the pain and irritation in the mouth.

‘Smaller animals may be affected more upon ingestion, as their lesser weight reduces their ability to process the plant toxins.

‘Pets will usually start to show symptoms within two hours, such as the animal drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting or showing other signs of oral pain.’

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

And, as always, share your cat pics and plant pics in the comments section below.

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