The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a new wave of cyclists.

With the nation being urged to avoid public transport – in favour of walking and cycling – bike sales have been on the rise. So much so, retailers are struggling to keep up with the surge in demand.

But for those who have (miraculously) managed to get their hands on a bike during this COVID-climate – what next?

The world of bikes can be overwhelming for cycling newbies – there’s so much to think about from general bike maintenance to security.

Have all the gear and no idea? Experts have shared some handy tips for those getting back into cycling as adults.

Cleaning and maintenance should be little and often

David Sheppard, bike buying manager at Evans Cycles, says it’s good to get into a routine of giving a bike small, regular checks.

He tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s better to do one or two small cleaning/maintenance jobs each time you go out on your bike than try to do a major clean up every few months. 

‘This will keep your bike fresh for each ride and helps reduce wear and tear created over time.’

David adds that there are four essential steps to carry out after every ride. 

He says: ‘Wash your bike (using a rag and toothbrush for the hard to reach areas like the cogs and chain), pump up the tyres, check your brakes are working properly and spray a lubricant on the chain.’

Tyres should be firm

The best way to check a tyre is to give it a simple squeeze – if there is a lot of give, then it needs pumping up.

‘If they are too soft you may end up with a “pinch puncture,”’ explains David.

This happens if the tyre pressure is too low and a cyclist rides over something, such as pot-hole, which gives a sudden impact – resulting in a puncture.

Tyres should be checked regularly for a few important things.

He adds: ‘Make sure they are free of grit, small bits of glass or anything that might cause a puncture. If you notice any holes or small tears it could be time to replace the tyres.’

Check brakes daily 

Nobody should get on a bike if there’s any doubt about the brakes. Doing so will not only put the rider at risk, but others on the road and pavement, too.

David says: ‘Before every ride, do a quick check that the brakes do as they should. 

‘With each wheel off the ground, pull the front and back brakes respectively to be sure they are in good working order. If in doubt, and you don’t know how to fix them, take them to a reputable bike shop or bike mechanic.’

Areas to keep an eye on these areas

Most new riders will not be familiar with the mechanics of a bike. But taking time to learn the very basics of how your specific bike works will no doubt help in the future.

David says: ‘The chain, gears, tyres and brake pads are all areas which get used a lot, and should be checked regularly.’

A chain wear checker can be used to see if the chain has stretched too much. 

He adds: ‘If the gears are jumping or not sitting right, they probably need adjusting which can either be done at home (with the help of a YouTube video) or from a trusted mechanic. 

‘Tyres and brake pads should be grit free and in working order before you go out on your next ride.’

Chris Palmer, from Raleigh, says it’s important to give the chain some TLC, too.

He says: ‘Use a small amount of chain lubricant, once you’ve cleaned and dried your bike. Lube the chain links as you slowly turn the pedals backwards.

‘Once you’ve been all the way around the chain you can stop. Allow the lube to soak in then wipe off any excess with an old rag.

‘Ensure you use a bicycle chain lube designed specifically for the job, generic oils and degreasers don’t have the same properties.’

Have an essential bike kit

If you plan to go on long rides, it’s a good idea to take some essential pieces with you – just in case you land an unexpected puncture or problem.

‘If you’re doing further rides, it’s worth carrying allen-keys, a mini-bike pump, tyre levers and spare inner tubes so you can fix a puncture if you’re on the go,’ adds David.

In terms of things to have a home, Jack Noy, UK marketing manager at Canyon, says having a few basics will come in handy.

He advises buying a good floor pump for bike tyres – these are often referred to as a Track Pump.

Jack says: ‘These usually have a pressure gauge and make light work of inflating tyres to the correct firmness. As a guide, you should check your tyre pressures every week or two, since air naturally diffuses out of rubber tyres and innertubes over time.’

In addition to this, it’s worth having a multi tool – featuring several hex keys.

‘Most fasteners on the bike require a hex key and a simple fold out multi tool is a neat easy solution for simple adjustments like saddle height, or checking the handlebars and stem are safely attached,’ adds Jack.

Register your bike

A basic knowledge of bike maintenance is incredibly helpful for new bike owners, but it’s also important to think about security.

Jimmy Williams, CEO of insurance brand Urban Jungle, advises putting a new bike on Bike Register – the UK’s national, police-approved (free) registration scheme.

He says: ‘Although this won’t protect your bike, you are provided with a sticker to put on your bike in a clear place to deter thieves. If in the unlucky event of your bike being stolen, you can log into Bike Register and report it.

‘This allows you to tweet the details and a photo of your bike to their social media in the hope someone spots it.’

Always lock up

If you’ve gone to the effort of buying a new set of wheels, it’s worth investing in a decent bike lock, too.

Jimmy adds: ‘Bikes need to be in a securely locked building or, if they’re in the open, both wheels and the frame need to be locked to a permanent structure.

‘Whatever bike you have, if you need to leave it outside, it’s worth thinking carefully about how you lock it. Always lock both wheels and the frame to a permanent structure. The more permanent, the better.

‘Also, try to match the value of your locks to the bike. Thieves are great at spotting a cheap lock on an expensive bike.’

Park somewhere smart

A bike is less likely to be stolen if it’s locked in a well-lit, busy area – particularly if there’s CCTV.

Jimmy adds: ‘Even if you don’t have a particularly strong lock, it’s going to be much riskier for someone to steal if they’re on camera.

‘Be equally careful parking at your house or at a friend’s – don’t assume that your bike is safe if it’s in their garden but the gate is closed, particularly if you’re in a built-up area.’

Also, avoid leaving a bike outside overnight.

‘No matter how public the place, it will always be less secure under the cover of darkness. Not only that, but you’re more likely to fall victim of vandalism at night time, particularly if it’s near a pub or bar,’ says Jimmy.

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How are you? You alright? How’s it going?

These are the common pleasantries we exchange with our loved ones, our colleagues, strangers.

But they might not be specific enough to guage how a person is truly feeling.

Recently, digital creator Rekik N posted an illustrated photo that considered all the alternatives we can ask instead of ‘how are you?’.

The suggestions included: ‘How have you been sleeping?’, ‘how can I support you?’, and ‘what thoughts have been circling your brain today?’

There were a few suggestions that gained a bit more attention than the rest.

These questions included: ‘What colour is your heart today?’, ‘what lies do you find yourself believing’ and ‘what story are you telling yourself today?’.

Many poked fun at the questions while others felt they were too intrusive.

Instead of “How are you?” pic.twitter.com/tPObfnt32T

— RN (@DopeEthiopian) June 22, 2020

One person commented: ‘I totally understand the intent here. But I’d personally feel pressured and uncomfortable if I was asked most of these.’

Meanwhile another said: ‘Whoever asks me any of these alternative questions is my enemy’.

One person defended the sentiment, saying: ‘Everybody criticising this in the thread is fatally disconnected. Colors are feelings, get you some.’

Rekik also feels it’s important to explore other avenues to express your feelings instead of vague, meaningless phrases.

She tells Metro.co.uk that she agrees with the idea behind the illustration created by artist Keeley Shaw.

Rekik tells us: ‘A simple “how are you” is still suitable, I just think there are alternative questions we can ask that will prompt a more reflective response than “I’m fine”.

‘Although I may not personally ask every question presented in the graphic, answering any of them encourages reflection and self-awareness.

‘The purpose is to recognise and verbalise your emotions and feelings.’

Rekik thinks many missed the point by focusing on just one of the alternatives.

She added: ‘It’s fascinating that most of the comments fixate on the “what color is your heart” question (which I too wouldn’t use).

‘My intention with posting it was to think about the questions we ask and the type of responses they elicit. When I ask questions concerning people’s well-being, the intention is for them to process what feelings come up and have constructive dialogue around it.

‘The dialogue the graphic sparked reiterates the idea behind the graphic in the first place – the words we use should always be in alignment with our intentions and we should always be aware of how our words make people feel.’

Wise words.

Do you have a story?

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

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Fake freckles are a staple part of the e-girl look, but have hit the mainstream recently.

Pretty much every beauty influencer has worn them at some point, and they’re a cute way to switch up your look if you aren’t blessed with natural freckles.

While most people use a very small pointed brush and some eyebrow pomade, brown eyeliner, or dampened eyeshadow to get the look, this TikToker has a much easier solution.

Brighton-based Olivia Shillito Buck shared a video of her way of getting fake freckles using a root touch-up spray, and it’s blown our minds.

Olivia uses L’oreal’s Magic Root Cover Up once she’s finished her makeup, just lightly pressing the button so the spray is fine and scattered.

She then uses a beauty blender to tap her skin and make the edges of the dots appear less pronounced and more natural.

You can get different colours of the spray – that costs £8.99 from Superdrug – so if your natural skin tone is cooler or warmer you can mix it up.

Plus you can amp up the freckles by spraying more areas of the face if you wish.

This kind of technique is ideal for freckles. Firstly, because the spray will disperse all over your face. No-one with real freckles has big, symmetrical dots.

Secondly, the spray is made to stick to the hair, so it’ll be long-lasting on your face rather than sliding off and giving you a muddy hue. Finishing with translucent powder or setting spray will keep them steadfast, too.

Olivia’s fans clearly agreed, with one saying: ‘As someone who has a lot of freckles this looks relatively natural! Much better than when people dab a couple over their nose.’

Another said: ‘I have natural freckles but always cover them but definitely might have to give this ago.’

Remember, this can be used even for folks who already have natural freckles, as most foundations cover them up.

Freckles aren’t a trend, they’re a gorgeous feature on anyone, so it’s great that people are starting to embrace them.

Do you have a great hack you’d like to share?

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

MORE: How to look after a bike if you’re new to cycling

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Last year, Dyson released the Cool Me, described as a personal purifier fan and with the recent hot weather, you might be tempted to splurge on the pricey model.

It’s not the first in their range – they’ve been selling bladeless fans for years but it is the first smaller sized device designed to clean and cool you at the same time.

It sounds pretty nifty as it projects cool, filtered air directly at you but it does come with a hefty £299 price tag.

So is it worth it compared to a the normal desk fan I picked up for £20 a few summers ago?

Well one of the obvious benefits is that a normal fan won’t have the purifying element. It has a sealed filter, which claims to be able to remove pollen and allergens, bacteria and mould spores and ultrafine particles.

A test of other Dyson models by Which? last year said that their air purifiers may not be worthwhile but of course, this is a newer model.

The fan itself has 10 settings, which you can change with a remote control – handy for keeping beside your bed if you get too hot or cold during the night. It also has a sleep timer, so you can set it to turn off once you’ve drifted over.

It doesn’t have blades, which should make it quieter but once you get beyond level four, you can definitely hear it, particularly as it’s meant to keep you cool, rather than the whole room, so it needs to be fairly close.

There is an oscillation setting to make it rotate from side to side and cover a wider area, but it is for one person so can’t really be used to cool a whole room down.

Another issue is the size – you might expect it to sit comfortably on a bedside table and it does, but there isn’t much room left for anything else. A normal tower or pedestal fan beside your bed might be easier.

As it’s a ‘personal’ purifier, you would expect to be able to move it from room to room but it’s pretty big and bulky – even the plug is huge.

On the fan, there are two settings to adjust the airflow so it is pointing directly at you if you are sitting down or upwards if you are in a different position. It feels difficult to get the angle right though as there are only two options, and most fans are more adjustable.

It certainly cools quickly on a lower setting but overall, it’s like quite a high price to pay. It works at keeping you cool but it doesn’t feel like it works six times better than a pedestal fan costing around £30-£50.

If you are prone to allergies, you may find the air purifying feature useful but if you’re just looking for something to keep you cool during the UK’s few weeks of heat every year, you’re probably better sticking a traditional model.

You could say, I’m not a big fan.

Do you have a story to tell?

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

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Facial lightening brand Fair & Lovely has announced it will be changing its name ‘to be more inclusive’.

The beauty label, made by Unilever, has faced criticism for years and recently a petition was launched to stop product circulation.

Since Johnson & Johnson announced the discontinuation of its Neutrogena and Clean & Cear lightening creams, consumers also called for Fair & Lovely to follow suit.

Campaigners have criticised the brand for promoting light skin and creating negative stereotypes about darker skin.

Despite calls to end it, Fair & Lovely, which operates largely in India, has also been popular across Africa and other Asian countries.

As of 2012, Unilever’s infamous product occupied 80% of the fairness cream market in India and is one of Hindustan Unilever’s most successful cosmetics lines.

Announcing a more inclusive vision of beauty, Unilever said it would be dropping ‘fair/fairness’, ‘white/whitening’, and ‘light/lightening’ from its products’ packs and communication.

Sunny Jain, President Beauty and Personal Care, explained in a press release sent to Metro.co.uk: ‘We are fully committed to having a global portfolio of skincare brands that is inclusive and cares for all skin tones, celebrating greater diversity of beauty.

‘We recognise that the use of the words “fair”, “white” and “‘light” suggest a singular ideal of beauty that we don’t think is right, and we want to address this. As we’re evolving the way that we communicate the skin benefits of our products that deliver radiant and even tone skin, it’s also important to change the language we use.

‘We have changed the advertising, communication and – more recently – the packaging in South Asia, and we think it’s important that we now share the next step that we have been working on: changing the brand name.’

Since other major brands have been criticised following mainstream conversations on racism, Uniliver said it is also looking to diversify its advertising.

Jain added: ‘We will also continue to evolve our advertising, to feature women of different skin tones, representative of the variety of beauty across India and other countries. We want Fair & Lovely to become a brand that celebrates glowing and radiant skin, regardless of skin tone.’

Do you have a story?

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

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In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside.

Temperatures are soaring in the UK but, due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of us are still spending the majority of the day at home.

And, unfortunately – unlike our European neighbours – our houses are not blessed with air conditioning. 

So how are we supposed to work from home during a heatwave?

The good news is that there are a number of simple tricks for staying cool inside and most involve things that are already lying around the house.

Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan

No air con? No problem.

Simply put a bowl (or a bucket if you have one) filled with ice water directly in front of a fan. 

As the ice melts the breeze from the fan will pick up the cool air coming from the ice’s surface. This will recreate a cool breeze, similar to an air conditioning unit.

Alternatively, a wet flannel or small, damp towel placed over a fan works just as well.

Keep curtains and windows closed during the day

On a beautiful day it’s natural to want to have the sun shining in. However, by doing so, you’re creating a greenhouse-like heat effect. 

A room will stay cooler if curtains and blinds are closed – even better if they’re the blackout variety.

An open window will also let hot air into the house, rather than cool air – which, if you have a fan on the go, completely defeats the point.

Open windows once the day gets cooler

Windows should be kept closed when the day is at its hottest, but once the heat starts to drop they can be opened again.

Temperatures fall considerably at night, so opening a window in the evening will allow cool air to circulate around the house – it should help you sleep better, too.

Buy some house plants

If you’re looking for an excuse to buy more houseplants – then we might have just found one.

Indoor plants can help cool a house in warm weather, as they consume hot air for their natural processes.

When an atmosphere heats up, plants will often release excess water into the air from their leaves – as a result they cool themselves and the surrounding environment.

Some of the best ones include rubber plants, Chinese evergreens, palms, mother-in-law’s tongues and ficus benjaminas.

Turn off the lights

As you might remember from your secondary school science classes, light bulbs give off heat. 

So keeping lights off will help to cool your house down – not to mention, it’s more environmentally-friendly and less money will be spent on bills.

Turn off your technology (if possible)

Similar to light bulbs, electrical appliances radiate heat – so turn any off that are not being used.

Of course, with many of us working from home lots of our devices are in constant use – but technology that isn’t (such as TVs, speakers and even phone chargers) can be switched off.

Also, be sure to fully unplug them, rather than just turning the switch off. This standby mode is often referred to as ‘vampire power’ because it still continues to drain energy and this will produce heat.

Hang a wet sheet

An alternative to the ice in front of the fan is the wet sheet by an open window.

The breeze from outside will turn cool from the sheet’s moisture which will help bring the temperature down in a room.

Spraying curtains or blinds with cold water will also create a similar effect.

Create a cross breeze with fans

If you have multiple fans you can create a cross breeze to make a room even cooler.

For example, a fan by a doorway can blow cool air into the room, while a fan in the window (facing outwards) will pull hot air away.

This positioning will help to keep air moving through the room, so you have a constant flow.

Be sure to position yourself between these two fans (in the middle of the flow of air) for best results.

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I had been texting a guy and it was going really well. He was quite cute, the banter was flowing easily and the whole thing was showing real promise.

But then he said four little words. Words which, to him, meant nothing more than a compliment, but for me, on the other side of the screen, made me incredibly uncomfortable.

‘I like brown boys’.

When I first came out as gay in 2016 I was so ready to explore this world of queer dating that, for a long time, I hadn’t felt ready to partake in.

My 18-year-old self had, perhaps naively, thought the LGBTQ+ community would be different to the outside world. That a group of people who historically had been othered and excluded would make everyone – no matter their differences – feel included. 

As a South Asian man, some of my dating experiences were better than others and a lot has been said about the racism hidden behind the guise of ‘preference’ that is often found on gay dating sites. 

But what we don’t really talk about, which I find far more rampant, is the other side of the spectrum. Fetishisation. 

As an 18 year old newly-out gay man with a thin, slender body (known in the gay community as a twink), I would get a fair amount of attention on dating apps and I would revel in it.

After years of struggling with my identity while loved ones weren’t seeing me for who I was, it felt nice to be celebrated and wanted.  

But when a guy would tell me he liked my ‘chocolate’ skin it always made me uncomfortable. I found myself trying to ignore that squirmishness inside.

It was, after all, a compliment and as an LGBTQ+ person of colour sometimes you learn to pick and choose your battles, otherwise you grow tired of constantly debating everything. 

Feeling othered through over-sexualisation isn’t purely a queer Asian experience

I remember going on a date with a guy and at the end after we kissed, he told me he had ‘never done that before’. 

‘What, kissing?’ I had asked in response. It wouldn’t have been a big deal to me anyway if I had been his first kiss.

‘No, I’ve never kissed an Indian before.’ I didn’t know what to say. 

We didn’t see each other again after that, conversations died out pretty quickly and not long after he was in a relationship with someone else. 

Of course there was a strong possibility he just wasn’t that into me, and that’s fair enough. But by randomly highlighting my race in a situation where it wasn’t necessary, I started to feel like a token.

Like dating me was about ticking a box and making him feel more comfortable with himself that his dating pool was diverse. Once that was done he could go back to dating his usual types.

Things would only get more weird. Guys would expect me to automatically be into certain things in bed out of some stereotype that Asian people were kinkier than other races – as if we all spend our weekends studying the Kama Sutra. It’s an experience that both queer and straight Asian people, especially Asian women, have spoken out on.

When the guy I was texting told me he liked brown boys and continued to talk about his attraction to specifically Indian men I decided to say something.

The words felt othering to me, like he had held a mirror up to my face and screamed: ‘Did you know you’re brown?’ Of course I knew it and I often celebrated it, but it wasn’t the only thing worth knowing about me.

I explained to him how his words, though a compliment, made me feel – like when he looks at my picture he only sees my skin tone. He was genuinely cute and I was hoping he would understand but instead he got very defensive, calling me politically correct and overly-sensitive. We haven’t spoken since.

Feeling othered through over-sexualisation isn’t purely a queer Asian experience and many people of colour and transgender friends of mine have told me about their experiences of people excessively focusing on their body.

As a community of people who have all felt like an outsider at some point in our lives, queer people need to check ourselves and make sure we’re not making others feel like we only see their differences and don’t see them.

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Joanna Heard, 35, experienced extreme morning sickness throughout her pregnancy causing her to lose two stone.

The former manager assumed the sickness and recurring strep infections were due to being recently pregnant and run-down – but an X-ray revealed multiple tumours on her lungs.

Joanna, from Haslingden, Lancashire, will receive maintenance chemotherapy for the rest of her life to manage the disease.

She is sharing her story to raise awareness of lung cancer and to show others that it can happen to anyone and is not always linked to smokers.

She said: ‘It is hard being ill whilst pregnant for the first time as you don’t know what pregnancy is supposed to feel like.

‘I was sick throughout, but at three months I kept suffering with ear and throat infections which led to chest infections, so I began to fear something wasn’t quite right.

‘There were times when I didn’t want to make a fuss because I didn’t want the doctor to think I am a nuisance, but I had to get antibiotics because the infections wouldn’t go away.’

Since Joanna was 13 weeks pregnant, her voice has been ‘hoarse’ – a common symptom of lung cancer as the tumours press on the laryngeal nerve and affected the vocal cords.

Joanna attended the doctors monthly for 15 months until she received an X-ray which found a mass initially diagnosed as pneumonia. At this point her baby Freya was just four months old.

Then, two months later, doctors confirmed that the mass had grown, and it was later revealed that she had lung cancer.

She adds: ‘I was confused by the pneumonia diagnosis as I felt the best I had felt in months so I assumed I had a weak strain of it.

‘Although I had symptoms of cancer such as a sore chest, hoarse voice and infections. I never thought I had it!

‘I struggle to remember what my normal voice sounds like.

‘It went a million miles per hour when they discovered the mass had got bigger and later established it was incurable ALK-positive lung cancer, which is a genetic mutation that causes the cells to grow abnormally.’

She admits feeling ‘naive’ as she believed lung cancer only occurs in smokers.

She says: ‘It is engraved into society that smoking kills and people tend to think they’ll be alright if they are non-smokers, but I am living proof that it can affect anyone.

‘The first thing someone asks me is ‘did you smoke?’ when they find out, but this isn’t the case – if you have lungs, then you can get lung cancer.’

Joanna praises her fiancee Daniel Jonathan, 30, and Freya for being her ‘biggest motivator’.

She remains positive throughout her journey and hopes to help educate people so they can spot the signs before it is too late.

‘I am determined to see Freya’s first day and last day at school, her university graduation and get married.

‘I don’t know how long I have got but I refuse to believe it isn’t a long time.’

Do you have a story?

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

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If you’ve set foot outisde today you may already be well aware that the UK is in the midst of a mini-heatwave, with

The Met Office says the weather will become ‘hot for many’ over the week, meanwhile, Dr Michaela Hegglin, associate professor in atmospheric chemistry at the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology, said that Thursday could being with it some of the ‘highest UV levels ever recorded’ in Britain.

If you’re suffering rather than basking in this summer sunshine then have no fear, because we have a whole bunch of tips and tricks for keeping cool.

Drink plenty of water

Keeping hydrated is the most obvious and easiest thing to do.

It’s tempting to get the Pimms out, of course, but alcohol is dehydrating – so stick to water.

Think about it

Think of the coldest place you can (the freezer, the North Pole… you get the gist).

Simply day-dreaming about things like snow can help lower your overall body temperature because your body will react to the thoughts about cooler temperatures.

Get down low

No, not in a dance – but do go all the way to the floor if you can.

Hot air rises, so the best place to go for a quick cool down and momentary rest from the stuffiness is the lowest possible level.

Don’t cook

Try to refrain from using your oven or stove and eat room temperature dishes like salads to avoid generating another source of heat.

If you are in need of hot food then try to use the grill instead.

Run your wrists under a cold tap

Surprisingly refreshing – the science behind it is that one of your main veins passes through your wrists so it helps to cool your blood down quickly.

Clever.

To the aisles

If you’re out and about, you can go to the freezer section of the supermarket if you get seriously desperate.

Hang them out to dry

Hang a wet sheet in front of an open window, and the breeze blowing in through the wet sheet and will quickly cool down and entire room.

Stay out of the sun

Don’t go out there between 11am and 3pm for too long – The UV rays will be strong and you will burn quickly, ergo, you won’t be cool.

Eat spicy food

If you do end up cooking, why not try something spicy?

The logic behind this one is that the spicy foods will help you sweat, which will, in turn, help cool you down.

Get your flowy cotton clothes out

Heat is trapped by synthetic fibres but cotton absorbs perspiration and the evaporation causes you to feel cooler

Also light-coloured clothes reflect the sun’s radiation.

Don’t use your hand as a fan

Avoid waving your hand as a fan to cool you down, although the bursts of air flow will cool you down momentarily the rapid movement from your hand will raise your temperature overall.

If you don’t have an electric one to hand (ba dum tch) try using a hand-held fan, or use a piece of paper or a flexible object with a large surface area as a fan to cool you down instead.

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Pubs may be (slowly) coming back to life, but not all of us feel ready to head out to public spaces just yet – especially with tipsy types who might not be up to social distancing.

One solution to fill the pub gap without stepping too far outside your home? Making your very own drinking hole in the back garden.

That’s exactly the project Sadie Jones and Nick Threadgold, both 45 and from Wilmslow, Cheshire, decided to take on in lockdown, turning their garden shed into a pub over the course of three days – for just £500.

Sadie, an estate agent, and Nick, an interior designer, kept costs down by sourcing materials from Facebook Marketplace and their friends.

Sadie told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I came up with the idea of converting the shed to a pub as a way of getting to go somewhere with all this lockdown.

‘But when we thought about it more it just made sense to have somewhere with an inside as well as outside with the glorious British weather.

‘My partner Nick is an interior designer for Maranatha Kitchen & Bathrooms Ltd so he set to drawing up an initial plan to give us the layout and we set to work from there.

‘Virtually everything was delivered: the scaffold boards for the bar, 3”x2” timber for the frame and OSB board for the hatch.

‘We had some carpet from a bedroom, and Nick got some mirror board from his work.

‘The brick wallpaper and the tongue and groove was from B&Q.

‘We had a Beerhawk Keg dispenser which we moved into it. I picked up some old pumps and beer mats off a friend for display only.

‘A lot of the interior décor was from Amazon, like the pictures and LED lights.

‘We have some friends who own The Edge Gin so they gave us some bottles to start off the bar, along with Brisa Marina for some coloured and flavoured vodkas.

‘In all, it cost around £500 including the £80 fridge and £50 freezer we picked up on Facebook Marketplace.

‘It took around three days to complete but like all good projects, it’s still being added to!’

In addition to the end result being quite the treat, the couple enjoyed the process of working on the pub, with all the DIY giving them something to focus on to battle lockdown boredom.

‘It’s been great to get stimulated again during the lockdown with something to focus on,’ says Sadie.

‘It took some planning with ordering things for delivery but once we had it all, we started the work.

‘The only thing we really needed to sort was another shed for the garden stuff, and that’s taken about four weeks to come, but that’s the least of the problems.’

Now, the couple are making the most of having a pub at the bottom of their garden, using it as the perfect spot to relax and unwind at the end of the day.

They’ve named their establishment the Stagger Inn and plan to invite friends to enjoy it soon.

‘Since we built it, it’s had quite an effect on us,’ adds Sadie. ‘The feeling of leaving your house if only to go to the bottom of the garden is quite a relaxing feeling.

‘It sounds daft but the idea of being somewhere just for a few hours away from the house, which we have been in for the last 12 weeks, has a calming effect.

‘It’s definitely been helpful mentally and physically to do something over these last 12 weeks and we would recommend it to anyone to give it a go.’

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What’s on your checklist for your dream home?

It’s only natural for that to change over time. While we may have wanted a slide from the bathroom to the kitchen when we were kids, now we’re adults we’d like a reading nook (…and the slide, still).

Living through lockdown may have changed our priorities again, as we’ve been forced to stay indoors in homes that might not be fit for purpose.

Plenty of space and a garden feels more important when you can’t go anywhere else, after all.

A study of 2,000 adults confirms this, with more than a quarter saying that their vision of the perfect house has changed since lockdown measures were introduced.

As you might expect, a garden is now top of the priority list, with the majority saying they’d like more outdoor space and a place to grow plants, fruit, and vegetables (those supermarket stock shortages really make you wish you had your own veg supply).

More people now want to live in the countryside rather than the city, while demand for home offices has increased, too.

Alex Beavis, head of mortgages for Skipton Building Society, which carried out the study, said: ‘With the nation having spent so much time indoors lately people have had the opportunity and time to decide whether their home is really giving them everything they want and need – as well as highlighting features that are missing from their current home.

‘Usually when people look to move it’s because of space. They either want more of it, less of it, or they want their own space after a relationship breakdown or flying the nest.

‘The lockdown has really given us all time to hone in on exactly what we want from our living arrangements and what our top priorities are if we were to move.’

A third of those surveyed want to move somewhere with a bigger kitchen, so they can perfect their baking in the case of another lockdown.

And three in 10 would be looking for a garage to store bicycles or other exercise equipment.

Alex adds: ‘Living in the countryside would naturally limit your contact with other people more than being in a city centre.

‘Who knows what habits and living observations we’ve picked up during lockdown that might stay with us long after social distancing measures are relaxed.

‘But what will be interesting is watching if this filters right through the housing market – we could start seeing new build properties with bigger gardens or home office areas designed in direct response to many of us getting used to working from and spending more time at home.’

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Activism has caused many people and companies to reassess over recent months, reflecting on whether past actions may have been considered racially insensitive and making moves to address them.

Disney is one of these companies, and they’ve announced plans to redesign their Splash Mountain ride in both Disneyland in California and the Magic Kingdom in Florida as a result.

The ride was originally based around the film Song of the South, a film that has been mired in controversy since its release in 1946.

Screenings of the movie were picketed and subject to marches, and Disney never released Song of the South on any video format for sale in the US.

Cultural historian Jason Sperb described the film as ‘one of Hollywood’s most resiliently offensive racist texts’, while Walter Francis White, the executive secretary of the NAACP said: ‘the production helps to perpetuate a dangerously glorified picture of slavery.’

Prompted by Black Lives Matter protests around the world, Disney announced that the new inspiration for the Splash Mountain ride would be The Princess and the Frog, a movie that also featured Disney’s first black princess, Tiana.

Disney released a statement on their website last night that said: ‘The theme is inspired by an all-time favourite animated Disney film, “The Princess and the Frog.”

‘We pick up this story after the final kiss, and join Princess Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure – featuring some of the powerful music from the film – as they prepare for their first-ever Mardi Gras performance.’

The backdrop will be the Louisiana Bayou and New Orleans, and the original voice of Tiana – Anika Noni Rose – will be involved. It’s located right off New Orleans Square in the parks, which makes it a perfect fit for the theme.

Charita Carter, the senior creative producer leading the project at Walt Disney Imagineering said, ‘Like Princess Tiana, I believe that courage and love are the key ingredients for wonderful adventures. I am delighted to be a part of bringing this fun-filled experience to our guests.’

Disney added: ‘As part of the creative development process, conceptual design work is well underway and Imagineers will soon be able to conduct preliminary reviews and develop a timeline for when the transformation can start to take shape.’

Although this will be considered by many a positive step, The Princess and the Frog is not without its own controversies.

The reaction has been largely in praise of Disney – especially given the project is led by Charita Carter who is a black woman.

One person tweeted: ‘Disney finally retheming its racist ass splash mountain to princess and the frog I absolutely love this song.’

However, another viral tweet stated: ‘If you think I forgive princess and the frog for making the first and only black princess an amphibian for 85% of the movie, you are wrong.’

Disney certainly have a long way to go in terms of diversity, but hopefully this ride can be a step towards better representation from the company.

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A couple who saved an unwanted dog from ‘death row’ in Serbia had quite the surprise when the Labrador-retriever cross gave birth to 12 puppies.

Audrey Hampshire and partner Maynard Dockerty agreed to rescue eight-month-old Boo after reading on Facebook of how she was waiting to be put down at a Serbian kennel.

Boo was transported across Europe and given a new home with the couple in Weymouth, Dorset.

When Boo started piling on the pounds, Audrey and Maynard worried they were overfeeding the dog, but when they took her to the vet they were told she was in fact pregnant with a litter of six puppies.

Weeks later, Boo started to give birth – but after those six anticipated puppies, more kept coming.

The final count of puppies in the litter was 12, with all of them surviving.

No one was prepared for such a large litter. Audrey and Maynard share a three-bedroom cottage with Audrey’s daughters and their boyfriends, so space was already limited.

Boo only has ten teats, too, so her owners have had to take it in shifts to make sure the two extra puppies get enough milk.

As a plumbing and heating engineer, Maynard, 51, has been off work and Audrey, 52, had to stop her job as a school receptionist so they have been able to provide round-the-clock care for the puppies.

18-year-old daughter Georgia and her boyfriend Bryn, 22, and daughter Billie, 25, and her boyfriend Scott, 38, have all been able to lend a hand.

The puppies are now seven weeks old and will soon be going to new homes.

After posting pictures of their new arrivals on social media, the family were inundated with requests from people wanting to take the puppies in.

With 70 offers they were able to be choose and make sure the puppies went to trusted people.

The family are keeping one pup, Lola, the runt of the litter, with the rest going to close friends and family, who have helped cover the cost of food, veterinary care and microchips.

Audrey said: ‘We had three dogs, one was a labrador. She was only three but she had a degenerative disease and got really poorly. When she died it left a big hole in our hearts so we decided to rescue another dog.

‘I found the charity on Facebook, they rescue dogs from kill pounds in Serbia. They treat dogs like vermin there, it’s barbaric so we wanted to rescue one.

‘We met the charity at Cobham motorway services in Surrey and collected Boo.

‘She had never been in a house before, on a settee, on a lead. She hated cars, noise, roads, but loved us instantly as we did her.

‘But then she started getting fatter which we didn’t mind as we were spoiling her. But after about six weeks we thought “she’s really getting big now” and her shape had changed.

‘We thought she may have a phantom pregnancy but our vet did an ultrasound scan and said she was pregnant and thought there were six pups.

‘I was in complete shock, none of us had any experience of dealing with pregnant dogs or puppies. She went into labour at 2am on May 3.

‘It was really scary as it was just us, no vet. Myself, Maynard, my daughters were all hands-on midwives.

‘The first one came out and it wasn’t moving. Boo is only a baby herself and she cried out but she started moving and Boo cleaned it up and the puppies just kept coming.

‘There were no stillborns, which was amazing, we were so relieved.

‘Lockdown puppies have been the most amazing and worrying experience in equal measures for us all, but one we will never forget.’

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On Sunday, I slept through the night for the first time in 12 weeks, without a visit from the small person who usually creeps into my bed after having Covid-19 nightmares.

As a single parent to a five-year-old daughter, it’s been a difficult time.

At the start of lockdown, I saw my day job, comedy and acting careers disappear due to coronavirus-related budget cuts and industry shut downs. It has put me on a constant knife’s edge of anxiety, worrying about our future, my income and, perhaps worst of all, an ill-judged and self-inflicted haircut I may never live down.

All I have been able to do – and not even all that brilliantly I might add – is parent my daughter and keep her fed, warm and safe. I have been happy and blessed to do that, but there has been no break. No one to make me a cup of tea. No one to watch her for five minutes while I have a cry and a mini-breakdown.

Being a single parent in lockdown is like being against the clock in a never ending gameshow, waiting on a buzzer that will never sound. Whenever my daughter had a FaceTime with a friend, I immediately sprang into action, wondering if it was enough time for me to do the washing up/sleep/shower.

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As you can imagine, my priorities and personal hygiene have been pushed to the limit.

I broke my toe and seriously deliberated whether I should just leave it (despite it pointing in the wrong direction) because I had no idea who would care for my daughter while I saw the doctor.

A few weeks later, I started displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and I remember packing hospital bags for us, and being forced to put a desperate post on Facebook asking who would be willing to look after my daughter if I ended up hospitalised.

I knew my elderly parents were too at risk as they both have health issues already (and her father lives far away in a shared household with his elderly family) so there were literally no options. I have never felt more alone than in that moment. 

Thankfully I was ok.

But then came the announcement on 10 June of the ‘support bubble’ – allowing single adults or single parents to partner with another household, thus creating a ‘bubble’ in which social-distancing rules could be relaxed. It was an absolute no-brainer when it came to who would be in my bubble and my daughter and I self-isolated beforehand, so we would all be safe.

Suddenly, I was able to see my elderly parents in person and not just on a screen. But more than anything, it was, I soon learned, a way for me to carve out a few hours for myself.

Being at my parents’ house this week is the equivalent of an all-inclusive luxury holiday. My mum even brings me breakfast in bed.

It has also been an incredible way to reconnect. Nothing compares to the conversations we’ve had, the shared jokes, the doing nothing and just being us again.

My dad’s been telling me about how he’s decorated his office, and how he’s trying to find a way to re-open the synagogue he is the chairman of amid the pandemic. It has been wonderful to just sit and listen to him talk. Not being trapped in my house, my head and my own problems has made my world bigger again.

My daughter is in absolute ecstasy at being here, too. Watching her hug my parents again for the first time, tentatively, joyously, was a sight I will remember for the rest of my life.

And no, I didn’t film or photograph it, because I am utterly sick of my phone – I get that it’s a real lifeline for us single folk, but that little block of plastic and metal is no replacement for real life.  

Until ‘support bubbles’ were introduced (and despite the fact that one in four children grow up in one-parent homes), single parents were vastly overlooked by the Government’s Covid response plans, particularly with the impact of schools being shut, the lack of any childcare options and so many jobs being lost, so it was good to have our challenges be recognised.

To be fair, it was tricky enough being a lone parent before all of this – the weight of being the sole financial provider for the two of us, the lack of any discernible social life and the exhaustion that comes with being both good and bad cop, 24/7 and that was without, of course, the profound sense of awkwardness that accompanies single parenthood.

Whether at a parents’ evening or on a family package holiday, it often feels like you’re the square peg trying to fit into the round hole of modern family life.

So, what have I been doing with my newly-found freedom?

I’ve finished the first draft of my book The Time I Almost… about my pre-Covid life, and I’ve written comedy sketches that I will hopefully film over the next week, but more than anything I have simply enjoyed looking out of my old bedroom window, listening to the rain and planning our post-pandemic future.

Maybe it sounds selfish, but I needed this time to be me.

For 12 weeks, I’ve had to be a sort of teacher, a kind of hairdresser, a cook, a one-woman band, none of which are careers that I am particularly good at.

All I have wanted to do is to be a writer again, be myself, and now, in my old bedroom, I am finally being given that gift.

Find out more about Alexis’ book here

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

Share your views in the comments below.

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While you might expect Boomers (and grandparents) to be the most dedicated gardeners, new research has found that it’s actually millennials who have been indulging their green-fingered habits in lockdown.

A survey, carried out by LV General Insurance, found that those aged between 25 to 39 spent nearly twice as much money on their gardens during lockdown – compared to other ages.

Millennials said they spent, on average, £213 on their outdoor space since mid-March, compared to the £125 average for all other ages in the UK.

Out of the 2,000 people surveyed, millennials were the group most likely to spend money on their outdoor spaces to improve their general wellbeing – with 45% agreeing with this statement, in comparison to 39% across other age groups.

But it seems, on the whole, lockdown has significantly impacted the nation’s gardening habits.

In total, 74% of people said the way they use their garden has changed during lockdown, with many revealing they’ve added new features such as paddling pools, swings, outdoor furniture and plants.

BBQs have been extremely popular with millennials – with a fifth saying they had either purchased, or intend to buy, one.

Overall, more than a quarter said they had spent more time than usual making adjustments to their outdoor areas. Results also showed that people who have been placed on furlough spend the most on their garden – but this is not specific to millennials.

Across the survey, people estimated the contents of their gardens were now worth (on average) £2,203 in London and £817 in Scotland.

But people haven’t just been spending time in their gardens for leisure – the survey also found that 30% have been using their gardens to work from home.

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A couple who spent 13 years trying for a baby have finally become parents in lockdown thanks to a surrogate 250 miles away.

Georgina Leslie, 44, and fiancé Stephen Shaw, 34, had been hoping for a child of their own for more than a decade but knew it would not happen without intervention.

After the heartache of unsuccessful IVF treatment, which Georgina needed as she had had both fallopian tubes removed, one of them following an ectopic pregnancy, they turned to surrogacy in a final bid to make their dream come true.

They had to travel to Prague for embryos to be taken, as it could not be done in the UK due to Georgina’s age.

In the midst of lockdown baby Aleena was born, after being carried by a surrogate living 250 miles away from the couple.

A planned C-section was due to happen on May 12, in Barnsley Hospital, south Yorkshire, but the couple could find nowhere to stay and faced the prospect of sleeping in the car.

Luckily a midwife went out of her way to help them, allowing the couple to meet their baby girl on the day she was born.

After a six and a half hour trip back to Scotland, mum-of-three Georgina is now at home with little Aleena, while Stephen has gone back to work on oil rigs.

Georgina said: ‘At first it was such a surreal feeling. I kept thinking someone would come and say “give her back, she’s going home”.

‘It took a while to sink in, but she’s now home.

‘To have her and knowing she is ours is just a really surreal feeling, but the best feeling in the world.

‘It’s a hard feeling to describe but it’s pure love. I’m besotted with her.

‘It’s crazy how much love you can have for one person after waiting so long and trying for so long.

‘It’s been hard for my partner as he’s working away on the rigs.

‘Aleena’s thriving. She’s the happiest, most content baby I’ve ever known.

‘For only being six weeks old she’s absolutely amazing for sleeping.’

Throughout the pregnancy, the couple, who live in Falkirk, were regularly making the 250 mile trip down south to go to scans with the surrogate mum.

But they were unable to do that when lockdown measures came into place.

Georgina said: ‘It was very hard for us as we weren’t allowed to travel down for the scans, or be present at them.

‘The head midwife in Barnsley was amazing.

‘We had a section planned, so we know our baby would be born on the 12th.

“But with lockdown we couldn’t get anywhere to stay as there were no hotels or other accommodation available.’

The head midwife at Barnsley Hospital, June Pollard, spoke to a colleague who knew someone with a flat available for NHS staff to stay in, and the couple were allowed to stay there for free.

Safety measures meant only one parent could be present at the birth.

‘We agreed Stephen would be at the birth to see our baby being born,’ said Georgina.

‘We never found out before she was born if we were having a boy or a girl.

‘We had been trying for 13 years, seven months and a day when she was born.

‘The following day she had all her tests done and they allowed us to come home.

‘We had to make a lot of stops obviously with a newborn, and it took us six and a half hours to get back up the road.”

The mum’s two older children, David, 27, and Amanda, 24, are delighted for her – and the couple now plan to get married in July next year, after vowing to wait until their family was complete.

‘We have been dying to get married, but we stuck to our pact,’ said Georgina.

‘And we’ll have our little flower girl.’

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It seems UK lockdown has left people yearning for the simpler things in life.

A new study, carried out by The National Lottery, has shed light on the things people are looking to do after the pandemic.

But while extreme sports and once-in-a-lifetime experiences may have previously topped bucket lists, new research shows a dramatic shift in aspirations for the future.

The survey, which featured 2,000 participants, revealed that getting back to nature was a dominant theme on people’s revised bucket lists – with growing vegetables at the top, followed by a desire to redesign a garden.

Likewise, moving to the country, building a pub in the garden, going fresh water swimming and climbing a mountain all featured within the top 20. 

Another key theme to emerge from the survey was a desire to expand knowledge and skills, with ‘learning a new language,’ ‘writing a book,’ and ‘starting a new creative hobby’ also appearing on the list.

But it seems people’s sense of adventure is still present, as buying a camper van/RV to explore the UK and going to a drive-in cinema also featured.

A focus on family and healthy lifestyle was also apparent from the results, with 45 per cent saying keeping their loved ones safe was a key factor behind their ‘new normal’ bucket list. 

While 35 per cent revealed their new lists were motivated by wanting to live healthier lives and 42 per cent said it was to reduce stress.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor for The National Lottery, said: ‘The nation’s bucket list has certainly changed tack.

‘We are seeing the gentle art of pottery and keeping chickens rank more highly than skydiving or designer handbags.

‘But while it’s very different, the concept is as relevant now as it was before the “new normal”.’

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Summertime heatwaves often mean one thing: a cooling dip in the ocean.

Unfortunately, amidst a pandemic, where we are told to socially distance from others, collectively rushing to popular sandy beaches can be a risky move – as was seen when half a million people were seen crammed on Dorset beaches just the other day.

It has even prompted Health Secretary Matt Hancock to threaten to close beaches altogether, in an effort to avoid a second wave of coronavirus.

However, the issue isn’t that we go to the beach, but rather that we’re doing it in packs, to the same areas.

So, why not just avoid the popular spots, and the crowds in the process?

We have rounded up seven of the UK’s most secluded, gorgeous beaches where you can have a great day out, while still being responsible and safe.

Worbarrow Bay, Tyneham, Dorset

A mere 20 minute walk from Tyneham village, you’ll find Worbarrow Bay.

This stretch of beach is England’s only natural World Heritage Site, recognised by UNESCO – so, as you can imagine, it’s a sigh to behold.

Because of its accolade, it is protected – and is only open on weekends and school holidays. Be sure to check the tourism website before you head over.

The views of the bay and the vast ocean are unparallaled and the tranquility will soothe your soul.

Skrinkle Haven and Church Doors, Manorbier

If you’re looking for a beach worthy of the ‘Gram, this is it.

Well, it’s not actually the beach that is the appeal but the surrounding limestone and red sandstone cliffs and caves, including the so-called Church Doors, a rocky cove that resembles – you guessed it – a door.

There are actually two beaches, separated by the cliffside, but you can easily walk between them during low tide.

Important note: don’t visit at high tide, as you could be swept into the ocean.

Porthbeor beach, Cornwall

Nestled away on Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, you’ll find Porthbeor beach.

It’s a gorgeous spot, but unfortunately it’s not very accessible as you need to walk down a steep path from the top of cliffs to get here – but that is also part of its appeal (as it means less visitors).

Once you reach the bottom, you’ll be treated to a hidden gem, with a golden beach and aqua blue waters.

If you come here at low tide, you’ll also see the many rock pools that are scattered across the coastline.

However, some bad news: at the moment, access to the beach is currently closed, due to risk of injury as the cliff face is slipping – but keep an eye on the official website for more news.

In the meantime, Towan beach is around the corner.

Coves Haven, Holy Island, Northumberland

On the far northern side of Holy Island, you will find Coves Haven.

It can get quite windy on the island, but this beach offers shelter from harsh weather thanks to the surrounding sand dunes.

If you’re going on an adventure with your pooch, we’ve got good news: they are allowed (but must be kept on a lead).

Bird lovers will also enjoy this remote beach, as it is a protected nature reserve with plenty of feathered friends.

Seacliff Beach, North Berwick

If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, once lockdown allows, swing by Seacliff Beach, five miles east of North Berwick.

It’s the very definition of picturesque, with plenty to explore beyond the beach itself, including the ruins of Tantallon Castle, as well as an old stately mansion.

There’s also the tiny harbour, believed to be the smallest in the UK.

Bring a surfboard, kayak and/or your dog.

Broad Sands, Combe Martin, Devon

If the lack of holidays abroad in 2020 makes you want to weep, dry your eyes.

Hidden away between Watermouth and Combe Martin, and surrounded by green cliffs, is Broad Sands – a beach that looks as if it could be located in an exotic country.

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty, but beware: you’ll have to go down around 200 steps to get here.

It’ll be worth it.

Botany Bay, Broadstairs, Kent

If you need to escape the hustle and bustle of London, Botany Bay is a mere two hours away.

The serene, remote beach is the perfect place to relax and forget all about the pandemic and worries about the future, if even for a few hours.

Bring your camera and take shots of the striking white cliffs and chalks stacks, or go hunting for fossils.

Best time to visit is at low tide, as the end of the beach is cut off during high tide.

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Last summer, I made a vow to myself: I will go to Pride in 2020.

I had been out to myself, close family and friends for a while. But each time Pride rolled around and I saw those glorious technicolour photographs of people celebrating who they are with the ones they love, my heart ached. 

Pride seemed to be almost utopian: somewhere to express who you are freely and unapologetically – with no fear of rejection or shame. But still, there was something inside me that pulled me back.

Fear and caring too much about other people’s opinions – I don’t know exactly what. I just know that I felt alone and unsure if I would ever feel courageous enough to live my truth.

But last year, something deep within me wouldn’t rest and I promised myself that I would be at the next Pride. More than anything, I was tired. Tired of feeling like I was only living a half-life – denying myself the chance to find someone who would accept and love me just for me.

Pride events around the world have since been cancelled due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, and whilst I hope to go in 2021, I still want to celebrate who I am: a gay woman. 

I will be 29 on my next birthday, and I sometimes find myself wondering: am I too late to join the party?

For the last few years or so, I have known that I am gay and have told a select few closest to me. But I still haven’t managed to be ‘out’ and live my life freely in the open like so many wonderful people I know.

A friend once casually remarked, ‘Straight people don’t feel the need to “come out”. Why do gay people?’ I suppose one of the answers to that is: straight people don’t need to come out because heterosexuality is too often the default – the norm.

To come out as gay in a world that is not always tolerant or accepting is a revolutionary and liberating act. I am lucky: I live in a country where homosexuality is not criminalised – so many are frightened and terrified to be who they are. 

Of course, the UK is far from perfect and homophobia will always rear its ugly head. As a teenager, I knew of just one person who was out, and she was the butt of so many cruel jokes and snide comments.

Whatever I might have felt as a teenager, however different or unsure I was, I never felt I had the language to express that. Had I known, and seen more women and people living their lives on their own terms and loving whomever they loved, I am sure that my own experience would have been smoother. I might not have lost so many years. 

To be out is to be visible and I know how much I longed to see more people like me when I was attempting to come to terms with everything.

I have allowed the fear, shame and confusion of knowing myself to be different to seep from my teenage years well into my twenties. Now is the time for me to reclaim that lost time and live the life that I deserve.

I don’t want to hide in the shadows any longer, I don’t want to feel my cheeks burn and my stomach flip when a well-meaning family member or friend asks about a boyfriend. 

I deeply regret the times that I have bitten my tongue and stayed silent when I’ve heard someone question why gay people ‘feel the need’ to get married or proclaim that children should be raised by ‘a mother and a father’. I wish more than anything that I had been braver.

Whilst I haven’t lied to anyone – if someone asked, I would tell them – I also haven’t been honest, and I want to be honest. Even writing these words feels incredibly exciting and freeing – it is not something I have ever shared openly. This feels like a new kind of life.

Years of hiding who you are and living a kind of half-life is a heavy weight on the soul. I have grappled with anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember, and I know that it is partly down to denying such an enormous, integral part of myself. 

I know how lucky I am to have a family who are accepting and loving, and who were as soon as they knew about my sexual orientation. My privilege as a white cisgender woman means that I have had a relatively easy time.

So many LGBTQ+ people don’t share that experience and instead have to carve out a life without the support of their family and loved ones. I cannot imagine having to endure that kind of pain.

We all deserve to love and be loved, and we shouldn’t need to explain or justify our very existence. The fact that some of us do just proves that, as a society, we are not there yet and there is still so much work to be done.

I don’t know when or even if I will find the right person. In the last year or so I have dipped my toe into dating and whilst I cannot predict the future, for the first time in my entire life things feel the way they are supposed to feel. 

Perhaps being out will give me the confidence and freedom to pursue romance more and, hopefully, a relationship. I’m not hiding anything anymore so I definitely feel that a weight has been lifted. 

I hope that one day I will find the right person and be able to share my life with them – a completely normal part of life that I was never sure I’d get the chance to have.

I can’t wait for Pride next year – if it goes ahead! I wish I didn’t have to wait 12 whole months for it, but I plan to live the next year joyfully and freely, and try to make up for all of the years I lost when I had shut that part of myself away.

I don’t feel like I’m standing outside in the cold looking in on everyone else living their lives – I am finally there too. 

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

Share your views in the comments below

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If you’ve ever suffered a migraine, you’ll know they’re so much more than just an annoying headache.

You’ll also be feeling some dread at the prospect of a heatwave, because, yes, hot weather can make migraines not only more common, but even more awful.

Why is that? And how can migraine-sufferers deal with the heat?

Parvinder Sagoo, clinical advisor at Simply Meds, explains: ‘Heat may trigger migraines more frequently in some sufferers and not in others.

‘Migraine triggers include; stress, hormone changes, food, drinks, sleeping patterns, bright lights and weather changes. It is possible changes in weather pressure cause the onset of a migraine attack.’

Part of the reason hot weather increases the likelihood of a migraine is the stress heat puts the body under.

When it’s hot, our body has to work hard to maintain a safe temperature, meaning our heart rate increases and everything can go into overdrive.

Increased sweating in hot weather can lead to dehydration. If you’re not prone to migraines, you might experience headaches, tiredness, muscle pain, dizziness, and nausea, but if you are, you’ll experience all of these with the double whammy of all your usual migraine symptoms, too.

Then you add in all the ways hot weather changes our lifestyle habits and overall health, which can in turn make migraines more likely to occur and more intense when they do.

‘We sleep less, need to drink more and lose our appetites during heat waves which are known migraine triggers,’ explains Parvinder.

‘People manage their migraines by identifying their triggers and avoiding them environmental changes make it more difficult.

‘Life is busier in the summer months with holidays, driving children to outdoor activities, festivals and the pressure to have fun take their toll. It is more likely the lifestyle changes relating to hot weather trigger migraines more than the heat itself.’

An obvious (but not so simple) solution is to thus identify migraine triggers and reduce them as much as possible, taking special care as temperatures rise.

It’s also essential to look after your overall health in a heatwave to avoid dehydration and heatstroke.

‘The only way to prevent an attack in extreme weather conditions is to take extra care to avoid such triggers,’ says Parvinder.

‘It is important to drink plenty and keep physical exertion to a minimum. Those who do physical work must ensure they drink regularly and replace the water they are losing.

‘Migraine forecasting involves recording everything you do, eat or drink, experiences and the occurrence of migraines. This helps sufferers to identify a pattern in their condition and make efforts to avoid triggers. There are lots of phone apps to help you to record attacks and possible triggers.

‘Being aware of triggers helps people to avoid them and hopefully reduce the number of attacks they suffer. During a heatwave, it is important to avoid triggers, drink plenty and keep cool to avoid an attack.

‘You should limit your time outside on hot days, try to avoid direct sunlight from midday to about 3pm. If you are heading outside wear a hat which protects your head and neck fully, also wear dark sun glasses. Ensure you are drinking plenty of water throughout the day, especially if you are working or exercising. Exercise indoors in a cool or air-conditioned environment if possible.

‘Symptoms of a heat induced migraine or headache are usually dizziness, muscle cramps or tightening of muscles nausea, extreme thirst or possible fainting.

‘If you are feeling any of these symptoms you should retire inside immediately and lie down in a dark cool room and drink plenty of water. You may also be suffering from heat stroke which is a serious condition and so immediate measures should be taken to ensure your body temperature is regulated.”

You can try home remedies such as gently inhaling lavender oil or drinking ginger tea, but if you’re suffering with migraines, please do speak to your doctor about medication and other treatments that may work for you.

Migraines suck, to put it very lightly, and you don’t need to struggle through them on your own.

Take care, prepare for the heat to send you a bit haywire, and reach out to a medical professional just in case.

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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