As a result of the population declining, a lot of abandoned houses are currently standing empty – and it is exactly these properties that holiday-goers will be given access to.
There are three homes to choose from, which will be open for tourists to book for one week maximum anytime between July to September.
There are three houses available for free (Picture: Google)
The area is known for its rolling peaks (Picture: Google)
‘Due to decades of emigration from Molise, there are houses in village centres that have been lying empty for years,’ Enzo Luogo, who came up with the scheme, told The Telegraph.
‘These are beautiful but depopulated villages that don’t have any tourist accommodation to begin with, so we thought: how can we help revive our historic villages, while also encouraging visitors during these difficult times, when tourism is at an all-time low?’
The Molise region is known for offering picturesque views of its many rolling peaks, as well as producing delicious local cheeses.
Once you get tired of the stunning landscape and stuffing your face full of fromage, rent a car and explore the surrounding area – including Abruzzo National Park and the coastline, with its white sandy beaches.
Fancy an affordable trip?
Book your weeklong stay on the tourism website, all you have to do is fill in some details and tell them why you want to come here (we recommend saying something beyond ‘free houses’).
This family is moving around the world (Picture: Barry Seath / SWNS.COM)
A British family-of-four are swapping South West London for the world’s smallest nature reserve to launch a coral farm to save the reef.
Karolina and Barry Seath have sold their house and are now preparing to move to Moyenne Island, part of the Seychelles, which is just 400 metres long by 300 metres wide.
They have launched a charity and teamed up with local biologists in a bid to revitalise the Seychelles coral reefs, which have been devastated by rising sea temperatures.
Barry, a 47-year-old former recruitment consultant and policeman, said: ‘We are just a normal husband, wife, and two kids, living the sort of life that most others do.
‘But we both felt the need to make a positive change for ourselves, our children and the world we had largely taken for granted.
‘So we have sold our home and parted company with most of our worldly possessions.’
They are moving to a remote island in the Seychelles (Picture: Barry Seath / SWNS.COM)
On several holidays to the Seychelles, the Seaths witnessed how the coral was deteriorating over time as they snorkelled around the coastline. Now, around 90% of the island’s coral has died.
The couple was eager to make a difference and to show their daughters, Georgina, 11, and Josephine, seven, an alternative way of life.
They’ve teamed up with experts at the Marine Conservation Society Seychelles, whose staff specialise in coral and marine biology.
Building the farm is scheduled to take just three months with all the equipment, including tanks, chillers, filters, and pipework, costing £25,000.
Once complete it will be the first large-scale, land-based coral farm in the Indian Ocean. They aim to grow around 10,000 corals a year.
A diverse range of corals will be grown and then replanted in the local reefs.
The process involves cutting an individual coral into small pieces which then stimulates their growth rates – much like how skin grows over a cut.
The corals will be grown in temperature-controlled tanks for up to nine months, before being replanted in the local reefs.
Whilst in the tanks, the corals will also be exposed to warmer temperatures, enabling them to adapt at a young age to the ever-increasing sea temperatures they will face when returned back into their natural habitat.
The family is working on saving the reef (Picture: Barry Seath / SWNS.COM)
The Seaths, from Putney, are already talking to researchers at a UK university, about how they can use their tanks to carry out ground-breaking research on new techniques.
In 2012 Moyenne was designated the world’s smallest National Park after its only inhabitant, British expat Brendon Grimshaw, died.
Barry said: ‘The island has an amazing history. There are stories of hotel groups and rich individuals wanting to buy the island from Brendon.
‘They told [Brendon] he could just name his price, but he refused every time. He didn’t want it to be developed.
‘We hope to honour Brendan’s legacy by using the island as the venue of our first coral farm.’
Their two daughters will go to a school which is a 15-minute boat ride away (Picture: Barry Seath / SWNS.COM)
The family hopes that replenishing the coral reefs will help boost future visitor numbers to the country.
And once the coral farm has started to produce results, the team hopes it will lead to further coral farms being developed by the government and hotel groups.
Karolina will juggle motherhood whilst acting as the project’s social media coordinator, whilst Barry will work as a full-time volunteer.
The 37-year-old mum said: ‘I am really looking forward to educating the local school kids and tourists who visit the island, on the vital role the coral reefs play in our lives.’
Georgina and Josephine will become youth ambassadors alongside their studies at a new school on Mahé island, just a 15-minute boat trip from Moyenne.
The sisters are eager to start their new adventure. Josephine, the youngest sibling, said: ‘I’ll miss my friends, but I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of different animals and doing lots of snorkelling and helping my dad look after the coral.’
Georgina wants to learn to dive to assist the project and added: ‘I’m really excited to have this opportunity to move abroad and learn more about the world. I hope we can make a real difference.’
The girls are excited about the adventure (Picture: Barry Seath / SWNS.COM)
The family is hoping flights will return to normal ahead of their planned departure in late August.
They are now establishing a charity called Coral Reef Conservation UK, and hope that the organisation’s official status will encourage donations from individuals and corporations.
The family have enough money to support themselves for the first two years, but still need donations to fund the project’s running costs.
The usual size compared to the giant tub (Picture: Britt Gemmell)
Empty your freezer because there’s an incredible offer on ice cream right now.
You can get 4.5 litres of Ben & Jerry’s for £3.50 at Heron Foods.
To put it into perspective, a normal tub is 465ml so this is almost 10 times the size.
But a normal tub costs around £4.50. They’re currently on offer for £3.50 at Tesco, making it the same price as the giant tubs at Heron Foods.
Usually these huge tubs are for cinemas or the catering industry but with so many places closed, it seems they’ve been brought to some stores.
The tubs were spotted at a branch of Heron Foods in Walsgrave in Coventry and posted by HotUKDeals but others have posted online about finding some near them too.
Flavours that people have found include Moophoria Chocolate Cookie Dough and Baked Alaska.
There are 243 Heron Foods stores across the UK so it might be worth making a trip to your nearest one to see if you can get some.
The deal was so popular, the Heron Foods website crashed as people tried to use the store locator to get their own tub on Sunday.
A post on their Facebook page said: ‘We apologise if you’re having trouble accessing our website, we’re working extremely hard to restore it. If you’re looking for our FANTASTIC DEAL on Ben & Jerry’s don’t worry it’s in stores now…. but HURRY it’s flying out of the freezers!’
One customer called the offer the ‘deal of the millennium’ while another said they were thinking of driving 35 miles to their nearest store to get one.
A park in Alaska has brought back its giant brown bear camera, so people can watch the creatures from the comfort of their own homes.
Katmai National Park has reinstated its live stream which features the bears hunting for wild salmon at Brooks Falls.
The feed is particularly active between late June and July – this is when their mating season is at its peak, so the bears are hungrier than usual.
It’s live for 24 hours a day and viewers may also spot bald eagles, gulls and the occasional wolf hunting for food, too.
The park is home to more than 2,200 brown bears and some of the larger ones can catch and eat more than 30 salmon per day.
It also runs an annual ‘fat bear contest’ which allows visitors to rank their favourite chunky bears as they gain weight for the winter season. Last year the accolade was won by Holly, whose hefty weight helped her hibernate until the spring.
Katmai National Park and Preserve was established to protect and study the active volcanic landscape surrounding the Valley of the Ten Thousand Smokes.
It’s a critical habit for both brown bears and salmon, and gives visitors and scientists the chance to explore and study the arctic ecosystems.
Four-year-old Anshi Perla became interested in coding after watching her parents work from home at the start of lockdown.
Mum Sri, 28, and dad Akhilesh, 35, are software developers and Anshi would watch their screens and ask if she could ‘play’.
Akhilesh taught her to use code to make pictures of her favourite cartoon characters – like Peppa Pig – appear when she input commands.
It’s the same technology used to send messages over Facebook or to check the weather on an app.
It only took her four days to master and now she can create her own Application Programming Interface (API) in just three minutes.
API is software that allows two applications to talk to one another.
Anshi became interested in learning to code after watching her software developer parents work from home (Picture: Akhilesh Perla / SWNS.COM)
Dad Akhilesh, from Barking, east London, said: ‘She’s really taken to it.
‘She’d see us dragging different components to create programs, and was fascinated with the visual elements.
‘Anshi wanted to get involved and when I would sit down in the morning to work she would come over and say “Daddy, daddy I want to play!”
‘She was getting bored of her toys so I let her play around with the keyboard and the mouse first to see if she could actually use it.
‘She managed to figure how a mouse worked straight away and was able to type in her name.’
The doting dad said Anshi began learning it at the beginning of lockdown when the parents were thinking of creative ways to keep her occupied while working from home.
He said: ‘I taught her how to open the software and went through each step.
‘It took her about four days to learn all the steps and now she can complete it all in a few minutes.
‘I uploaded different images of her favourite characters to keep it interesting for her.
‘That way she continues to learn the skill and it’s still fun for her.’
She can now use code to make pictures of her favourite cartoon characters – like Peppa Pig – appear on the computer screen when she input particular commands (Picture: Akhilesh Perla / SWNS.COM)
The coding she has mastered sees her doing the leg work – or the keystrokes – usually done by apps automatically, having been already programmed by a software engineer.
She can’t fully write and spell yet, so her dad wrote out the code, and dumped it on a file on the computer, for her to choose from.
First she had to learn how to use the mouse and keyboard, and then copy and paste, so she could use her dad’s pre-written code lines.
She uses this text to write code, copying and pasting the words, so that when she gives the app specific commands, she gets a chosen outcome – like a photo of her favourite cartoon character appearing on the screen.
It’s the same code that is used by a weather app, so that when a user searches for where they live, they get the weather for their area.
Akhilesh added: ‘It sounds complicated but an API is a software which lets two applications talk to one another.
‘Each time you use an app like Facebook, send an instant message, or check the weather on your phone, you’re using an API.
‘If you were working in a call centre and wanted to find out information on “Mark Smith”, you would type “Mark Smith” into a system, press enter and get all the details relating to that person.
‘That’s essentially what she’s doing but with more simplistic input.
‘What Anshi is doing is all the stuff that goes on in the background. That users don’t actually see.’
The parents are hopeful Anshi will create her own app while in primary school (Picture: Akhilesh Perla / SWNS.COM)
Anshi codes in a programme called Anypoint Studio, and to start she has to create a ‘New Project’, always naming it ‘Anshi’ – one of a few words she can type on the keyboard.
She then configures the code, makes a ‘request’ – writing the question or command end of the code – and then sets the response – a photo of her teddy, or TV character.
Now with the skill of coding under her belt, Anshi’s parents now hope she will develop an app before she starts primary school in September.
Akhilesh said: ‘She’s really enjoying coding and that’s the key thing for us.
‘I think for other parents out there who want to teach their children coding, the key is to keep is visual.
‘That way it keeps it exciting and fun for children.’
She’s now working on creating code which integrates two apps – and allows her to send selfies to friends using platforms like Whatsapp.
I’d been body conscious before becoming pregnant, but after having a baby I found new confidence and our sex life is great (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
I’ve always had a good sex life with my partner, but after we had been together a while, like so many couples, we found ourselves falling into the same routine of positions – we knew what worked for us and I guess it was ‘easy’.
While it sounds lazy, a big part was also down to me feeling so body conscious. I wasn’t happy with how I looked having gained a lot of weight in a short space of time during a previous unhappy relationship, so it was always sex with the lights off and I rarely went on top – unless there was wine involved.
I just imagined my body looking awful from certain angles and my partner staring at me thinking how horrible I looked.
I’m also unable to orgasm through penetrative sex, which has always been the case, and so we always used foreplay – but it would take quite a while to ‘get there’.
Sometimes, this would put a mental block in my head and I’d end up stopping because I felt bad for not being able to climax, and I’d end up putting pressure on myself, which made it worse.
Then I got pregnant.
We still had sex during my pregnancy, and I made sure we did it regularly, because I knew it was an important part of our relationship and I didn’t want to lose that.
But due to my hormones rapidly changing, I stopped being able to orgasm at all. Apparently this is actually quite common.
I felt like my partner couldn’t ‘judge me’ because I was pregnant (Picture: Hattie Gladwell)
I still enjoyed sex, but as the weeks went by, the more uncomfortable sex got and we were forced to try different positions to make it work.
One night I decided to go on top. It was different to how I’d imagined.
I felt like my partner couldn’t ‘judge me’ because I was pregnant, and I couldn’t do anything about how my body looked anyway – it was meant to look like this
I’ve always known deep down that my partner wouldn’t have judged me anyway – he’s always been very complimentary and makes sure to let me know that he loves how I look, and this didn’t change in pregnancy, which I think also helped keep our sex life alive.
But from that one night on top, I grew to be a lot more confident in my pregnancy belly – as I saw it, my body was doing something amazing and its growing was out of my control.
When I was 38 weeks pregnant I ended having the baby delivered by caesarean, as doctors were concerned it wasn’t moving enough after after I’d developed gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension.
The c-section went fine, and I was out of the hospital in three days. Amazingly, I was up and about the following day and I stopped taking pain relief after 24 hours. I actually felt great, and like it didn’t really take a toll on my body. The scar has healed really well and nine weeks on it’s still neat and I’ve had no issues.
It’s actually improved our sex life, and we still manage to do it around five to six times a week.
Because of how well I felt, my partner and I decided to have sex just a week postpartum. Now, this isn’t something that’s recommended. You are told to wait until your doctor has given you the okay, usually at six weeks. But I spoke to my midwife and she advised me to do it when I felt ‘ready’ – so I did.
I was scared, I won’t lie. I’d heard sex can be very painful after birth and lots of people choose to wait because of the bleeding, which can take a while to subside. I was lucky in that I had no vaginal tears due to having the section, but I was still wondering if it would be painful.
Because of this, we decided to take it slow. It took me a little while to relax because I was anxious, but it felt fine, and it was honestly the best sex I’ve ever had – and it has continued that way.
After months of not being able to orgasm – and fearing I never would again – it came back almost immediately during our first time after having our baby.
My partner and I have become even closer and more intimate since having our baby (Picture: Hattie Gladwell)
I decided to read up on exactly why I was now able to orgasm, and found that after you give birth, you can become a lot more sensitive to stimulation than you were before birth, especially as your hormones are all running wild and trying to get back to normal. And this has been the case with me.
And, because of how free I felt about my body during sex, it’s given me the confidence to continue trying new positions – and we even do it with the lights on now!
I feel being pregnant and having a baby has helped me get over that body-consciousness. My baby is the best thing to ever happen to me, and I love my body for creating him. It’s done something amazing and I’m done resenting it.
Due to my body hang-ups no longer being there and me finally being able to get off again, my partner and I have become even closer and more intimate since having our baby. I was scared that our sex life would become non-existent, because I’ve heard so many horror stories about how it just disappears after a baby – but it hasn’t for us.
It’s actually improved our sex life, and we still manage to do it around five to six times a week – though we are really lucky to have a chilled baby (I hope I haven’t jinxed it!).
I know that my partner feels just as content as I do – and it feels lovely to have someone who still finds me so attractive after birth, as I know it’s a time when lots of women feel very self-conscious.
I realise that everyone’s different, and I understand that many women don’t feel ready to have sex straight away – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The one thing I would say to other women thinking about having sex for the first time after birth is: do it when you feel ready, not when your partner feels ready.
Remember that it’s your body that has gone through something traumatic – so do it when the time is right for you and don’t feel pressured into doing it when you’re not ready.
If you want to wait until you’re given the okay by your doctor, or for even longer, that’s completely fine – it’s your decision, and your body. And you’re in control of it.
Over the past few months, people have been getting on top of their beauty routines.
Many have used the extra time in lockdown for daily skincare preparation and makeup experimentation – so complexions are looking better than ever.
But there’s big news in the world of beauty – cult brand Charlotte Tilbury is now available on ASOS.
The partnership is set to last for three months – although it seems likely that the brand will continue to be sold on the website after that.
It’s worth pointing out that there’s a curated selection of make-up and skincare on offer – with 42 products available in total.
The selection includes the popular Pillow Talk collection – which features eyeshadow, lipsticks and lip liners – the brand’s famous Magic Cream, 44 shades of Airbrush Flawless Foundation and limited edition lipsticks, which were created in tribute to celebrities such as Jennifer Anniston and Nicole Kidman.
For anyone looking to try out some new products, there are travel-sized goodies which are slightly smaller and cheaper. Some of these include the Multi Miracle Glow, the Wonderglow Primer and the Goddess Skin Clay Mask.
Products range from £10 – £100 and those with ASOS Premier can get their treats delivered the following day.
There are also upcoming masterclasses which will be led by Sofia Tilbury – a content creator and brand ambassador. These are set to include video tutorials, challenges and live Q&A sessions across the ASOS social channels.
The Glow Up Skin Edit box – which is available in stores now – features products from Soap & Glory, Burt’s Bees, No 7, L’Oreal, Garnier and Face Halo. But there’s only 20,000 boxes available, so you’ll need to act fast.
Black and other minority women feel they need to conceal parts of their personality at work (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Black men, women and other people of colour feel like they have to hide their personalities at work, according to a new study.
The study, carried out by Utopia, a company which helps companies build purposeful, inclusive and entrepreneurial cultures, interviewed a representative sample of over 2,000 respondents across the UK.
It found that ethnic minority workers feel immense pressure to hold a standard of professionalism that favours white workers.
Nearly half (49%) of the Black, Asian, and other minority workers in the UK feel they have to mask part of their identity to fit in at the office.
The idea is even more pronounced in women as 59%of Black and Asian women feel this way.
Additionally, 41% of BAME people overall feel their workplaces don’t offer inclusive cultures, highlighting a genuine disconnect between employees and their higherups.
The inclusivity problem extends to the career ladder too – 41% of BAME people feel less likely to progress professionally because of their ethnicity.
Meanwhile only 9% of white workers felt this way, indicating that BAME workers are more susceptible to barriers due to their ethnicity.
Black and Asian women feel more out of place than men (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
The research also shows half of BAME men and 59% of BAME women are afraid to show vulnerability for fear of being judged.
In addition, 44% of minorities are afraid to ask for emotional support at work when they need it.
Tolu Farinto, change-maker at Utopia says that Black people especially are disadvantaged in the workplace.
He explains: ‘The research shows the Black community, in particular, is faced with the pressure of forming faux identities because employers are orchestrating an environment that expects workers to “act white”.
‘And because of these “white cultures”, Black employees are not progressing as fast as their white colleagues. To overcome these systemic challenges, businesses must create inclusive cultures that demonstrate ethnicity is not a barrier to success in the workplace.
‘This is integral now more than ever, as employers start to consider the move back to the physical office.’
Emma Mainoo, who is part of Utopia’s mental health practice, adds: ‘A diverse, inclusive workforce is a healthy workforce. To go back to an environment where they still feel like outsiders is something ethnic minority workers shouldn’t have to face.
‘However, the Black Lives Matter movement has forced people, managers and business leaders to take accountability and spearhead change. Hopefully, this will translate into the post-pandemic workplace.’
Keeping kids organised can be a bit of a chore but one mum has shown a way to ensure PJs are kept in the drawer together.
She folds everything with a simple back and they can be put away neatly.
Showing the trick on TikTok, the mum, who posts under Organizing By Ivonne, demonstrated how she frsit takes the t-shirt and places the bottoms in the middle.
She then folds the arms over the bottoms, folds the top of the t-shirt to the bottom, and tucks it together with the collar.
It means that everything is tucked in a neat little parcel and will stay together in the drawer.
Kids can easily pick out the PJs they want to wear without them getting mixed up.
The clip has been viewed over 4.3 million times and had over 250,000 likes on TikTok.
One parent said: ‘Saves so much time on trying to find the matching shorts or shirt… love it!!!’
Another added: ‘After seeing your video I went to my 5 year olds pjds drawer and did this to them! thank you… took max 5 minutes! will do with my 7 month old too.’
It’s not Ivonne’s only folding trick though – she also has tricks on her account to fold t-shirts, baby clothes and towels.
Her towel video has a range of options, including folding it into thirds and tucking the sides together, folding into thirds and then half and finally folding diagonally, rolling and then tucking in the end.
Discover new beauty in the city (Picture: Getty/W Martyn)
In order to stay safe and minimise the spread of coronavirus, most people have stuck to their local neighbourhoods over the past few months.
But as daily cases continue to drop and restaurants, pubs and other entertainment venues are given the go-ahead to once again open their doors, the capital is awakening.
London is a feast for the eyes in terms of architecture and history, but often we forget to appreciate its beauty.
That’s why this is the perfect time to rediscover the city, and find hidden gems that you might not have noticed pre-pandemic.
With the help of Ellie Walker-Arnott, Time Out journalist and author of Nostalgic London – which features 350+ places, parks, shops, cafés, pubs and buildings that ‘evoke a sense of another era’ – we have put together a list of secret spots to explore.
From gorgeous ruins, hidden gardens and even a stuffed walrus, here are her top 10 places that will make you fall in love with the capital all over again.
Horniman Museum & Gardens
Don’t forget to say hi to the stuffed walrus (Picture: Shutterstock / Paolo Grandi)
Ellie said: ‘Interactive exhibitions and super-modern museums are great, but this is a proper Victorian experience.
‘The Horniman’s anthropological objects are displayed in traditional cases, like they would have been more than a century ago.
‘Oh, and the walrus, who was overstuffed by his taxidermist, is a London icon.’
Hatchards, Piccadilly
The oldest bookshop in London, which opened in 1797 (Picture: Getty)
Ellie said: ‘London has countless incredible bookshops that I can’t wait to explore again now that I can, but none are as historic or atmospheric (those creaky floorboards!) as Hatchards.
‘It’s the oldest bookshop in London and maybe even the entire country, and the staff are really great at recommending gems.’
Hill Garden and Pergola, Hampstead Heath
Ellie said: ‘Built by a lord in 1905, Hill Garden and Pergola is a Georgian terrace made up of walkways and trellises on Hampstead Heath.
‘It’s the last thing you’d expect to stumble upon in the greenery and was once the setting for the fanciest garden parties.
‘The kind that definitely wouldn’t be allowed in lockdown.’
St Dunstan’s-in-the-East, London Bridge
St Dunstan was bombed during the Blitz (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Ellie said: ‘This spot is so close to big attractions like Tower Bridge and the Tower of London but still somehow feels secluded.
‘It’s a pretty public garden in the ruins of a church that was bombed in the Blitz – a lovely reminder that wonderful things can grow out of terrible things.’
W Martyn, Muswell Hill
Try the fresh coffee, roasted daily (Picture: W. Martyn)
Ellie said: ‘Stepping inside this unassuming store in Muswell Hill is like stepping back in time.
‘Biscuits, jams, chocolates and dried fruit – all the good stuff – sits on original 1890s shelves.
‘The coffee is especially ace – it’s roasted daily in the window in a machine that’s been running since the 1950s.’
St Augustine’s Tower, Hackney
An ancient gem in the heart of Hackney (Picture: Wikimedia)
Ellie said: ‘You could pass this tower countless times without really noticing it – and you probably have.
‘It was built in the 13th century and is actually the oldest building in Hackney.
‘It’s incredible to think it was stood right there when Hackney was a rural village outside London.’
The Royal Arcade, Mayfair
A spot of luxury shopping, anyone? (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty)
Ellie said: ‘Westfield has nothing on London’s old arcades.
‘There’s a handful of these elegant yet easily-missed walkways around Mayfair, and they are basically Victorian shopping centres.
‘This one is especially pretty. Look up to spot pink and orange pillars and arches.’
Cabmen’s Shelters
You’ll find several of these around the city (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images/Sam Mellish)
Ellie said: ‘Ever wondered what those little green cabins dotted around London are? Run by the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund, which was established in the 1870s, they were built for cab and carriage drivers as places to wait in between fares.
‘A few of them are still running and will even serve tea and bacon butties to non-cabbies through the takeaway hatches.’
Pickering Place, St James’s
The smallest square in the capital (Picture: In Pictures via Getty Images)
Ellie said: ‘London is dotted with ancient alleyways and passages well worth swapping well-trodden pavements for.
‘If you do, you’ll stumble upon secrets like this. Pickering Place is said to be the smallest public square in the city, accessed through an unusual, wood-panelled passageway.
‘There’s also a plaque on the wall from when this embassy of the Republic of Texas was based here.’
Postman’s Park , Barbican
Home to the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice (Picture: View Pictures/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Ellie said: ‘A quiet green space near the Museum of London and the Barbican, this park is more than just a great place to eat your sandwiches.
‘It’s home to the Watts Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice, which commemorates Londoners who have died trying to save the life of another.
Instagram’s most popular paint colours (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Need some inspiration for what colour to paint your home?
A recent study has revealed the most popular paint colours on Instagram.
By looking at the number of people hashtagging the shade of their paint, HomeHow.co.uk found people are loving Paris Grey by Zoffany, with 23,971 hashtags.
The neutral shade comes in three finishes – elite emulsion, acrylic eggshell and oil eggshell.
Other popular soft tones include French Grey by Little Green, Purbeck Stone and Skimming Stone by Farrow and Ball and Polished Pebel by Dulux.
People are also loving darker colours like Green Smoke and Bancha by Farrow and Ball and blue tones like Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore, Denim Draft by Dulux and De Nimes by Farrow and Ball.
If you’re looking for a pink shade, Jitney, Setting Plaster and Sulking Room Pink by Farrow and Ball are regularly used in Instagram homes.
And for a brighter choice, Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2019 named Spiced Honey has been tagged over 7,000 times.
Alex Willcocks, the Director of Burbeck Interiors, reveals why each shade works for modern homes.
15. Chic Shadow – Dulux
Chic Shadow (Picture: Dulux)
Alex Wilcocks says: ‘One of the most popular shades of grey, as it is bold, yet subtle. It works best when paired with both bright and dark colours, so match yellows with blacks, and blues with dark browns.
‘It also creates a calming emotion and is a grey that works nicely with metallics.’
14: De Nimes – Farrow and Ball
De Nimes (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
‘This is elegant, stylish, and instantly uplifts any room. It has a royal feel to it and holds dominion over other shades,’ Alex says.
‘It works particularly well against oak wood and natural, rustic elements.’
13: Setting Plaster – Farrow and Ball
Setting Plaster (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
Alex explains: ‘This is a beautiful backdrop colour, and is more popular in older, larger houses and rooms.
‘It works well with darker browns, and creams, and light greys for a more modern look. It almost gives a historic feel when added to a room, and makes you feel welcome.’
12: Polished Pebble – Dulux
Polished Pebble (Picture: Dulux)
Alex says: ‘Polished Pebble is a popular colour as it opens space, and makes a room feel bigger and brighter.
‘It’s a good colour for staircases, hallways, reception areas and porches, and reflects the light well.’
11: Skimming Stone – Farrow and Ball
Skimming Stone (Picture: Farrow and Ball )
‘This colour is particularly popular for bathrooms, or bedrooms,’ Alex says.
‘It can be dressed up, or down, though brighter colours tend to work best for a modernised look.
‘Match with wooden floors, soft furniture and dramatic wall accessories, such as paintings and large mirrors. It is also popular due to the clean finish it provides.’
10: Purbeck Stone – Farrow and Ball
Purbeck Stone (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
‘Neutral and natural colours will always be popular. They make you feel safe, you can accessorise them with most colours, and you can use them to inject personality into your home.
‘Homes with neutral colours are also more likely to sell when on the market. It works in any room, any style of home and with any theme,’ Alex adds.
9: Spiced Honey – Dulux
Spiced Honey (Picture: Dulux)
Alex explains: ‘This is a relaxing colour, ideal for bedrooms, meditation rooms, or yoga studios.
‘It’s popular because it creates a laid-back luxury. It’s great when paired with undertones to bring it down.
‘It doesn’t work with louder colours that lift. Pair with darker hues of browns, blacks, and oranges.’
8: Denim Drift – Dulux
Denim Drift (Picture: Dulux)
‘Denim Drift has been a popular colour for many years, and I don’t think it’s going anywhere,’ Alex says.
‘It’s popular because it is incredibly versatile and can be styled and accessorised in many ways.
‘It’s a fun colour and can be utilised in any room to add personality.’
‘Hale Navy is the perfect colour for kitchens and dining rooms,’ Alex says.
‘Whether it’s for a statement wall, or cupboard doors, this hue breathes a lot of energy into the space and is incredibly stylish.
‘It also works well for exteriors, and front doors, or smaller porch areas. The colour is strong and gives off a feeling of power and strength.’
6: Sulking Room Pink – Farrow and Ball
Sulking Pink Room (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
‘This is soft and warm, without being overpowering. It works best with creams, and greys, as well as overly bold and bright colours, which makes it even more appealing,’ Alex says.’
5: Jitney – Farrow and Ball
Jitney (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
This earthy brown works well for high walls, or in homes by the sea. The colour gives off relaxing vibes and creates a more traditional feel.
I would recommend using bold and stylish furniture to lift the colour and bring it to life.
4: Bancha – Farrow and Ball
Bancha (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
Alex adds: ‘Bancha is great for a statement wall and is popular in rooms that are well-lit, or window heavy. It’s a strong colour and creates a Zen-like atmosphere in a room.
‘Browns, pinks, and creams are natural compliments, and it works well with a minimalist style.’
3: French Grey – Little Greene
French Grey (Picture: Little Greene)
Alex says: ‘This colour provides both green and grey hues, which looks great when well-lit.
‘The colour is popular because it brings a room to life. It’s soothing, so works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and guest rooms. It’s also a great exterior colour, or for garden furniture.’
2: Green Smoke – Farrow and Ball
Green Smoke (Picture: Farrow and Ball)
‘This colour is popular for country homes and exteriors. It adds a subtle pop of colour, and works particularly well in kitchens, or bathrooms. It’s usually chosen as it works for all seasons, and rarely needs updating,’ Alex says.
1: Paris Grey -Zoffrany
Paris Grey (Picture: DesignerPaint.Com)
Alex says: ‘Paris Grey is a soft gentle colour, inspired by the elegant chateaux or old Swedish manors.
‘It’s popular due to its versatility and simplicity. It is easy to accessorise and works well in all rooms.’
This is Ellie. She’s only 18 but has booked some impressive fashion shoots (Picture: Zebedee / SplashNews.com)
A teenager has become the first model with Down’s syndrome to pose for Gucci Beauty – with her pictures appearing in Vogue Italia this month.
Ellie Goldstein has also become one of Gucci’s most popular models on their Instagram page, with almost 800,000 likes.
The 18-year-old modelled Gucci Mascara L’Obscur for the campaign following her successful stint on Vogue Italia.
The teenager signed to Zebedee Management, an agency which represents people with disabilities, just over three years ago and the bookings have been pouring in ever since.
The family from Ilford, Essex, are over the moon to see Ellie – who was born with an extra chromosome – thrive in the industry.
Mum Yvonne said: ‘We’re all incredibly proud of Ellie and all the lovely comments she has had on Gucci’s Instagram.
‘She has always loved being in the limelight and in front of the camera, she’s very confident and good at taking direction.’
Ellie appeared on Vogue Italia last month (Picture: Zebedee / SplashNews.com)
Ellie, who is currently doing a performing arts course at college in Redbridge in Essex, spent a day in London doing the Gucci campaign with two other models.
She said: ‘I really enjoyed the modelling and loved wearing the Gucci dress. I’m really proud of the photoshoot and would love to be famous.
‘I’m looking forward to modelling for other brands.’
Now she’s modelling for Vogue Italia (Picture: Zebedee / SplashNews.com)
Yvonne said Ellie has always enjoyed performing and started attending drama and dance classes from the age of five.
She added: ‘Drama is her passion and she has been in lots of shows. She is very outgoing and wants to be seen and heard.
‘She is very good at English and has a great memory which helps with memorising scripts.’
Ellie got into modelling when a friend saw Zebedee Management on This Morning and encouraged Yvonne to put Ellie forward.
Since 2017, Ellie has been a regular with the agency.
She has already taken part in a number of advertising campaigns, including the Superdrug Christmas advert in 2018, which was shown on primetime television.
Ellie has also modelled for a Nike advert centred around the Women’s World Cup last summer.
Zebedee Management said that research suggested that only 0.06% of those featured in advertising have a disability, and that reduced to 0.01-0.02% when looking at fashion and beauty advertising.
Laura Johnson, of Zebedee, said: ‘This is only one or two models in 10,000! Brands can no longer say that the “public don’t want to see” disabled models, as this Insta post proves otherwise!
In the past, she’s modelled for Nike (Picture: Zebedee / SplashNews.com)
‘Inclusion of all people in the industry is so important, not only because it the right thing to do ethically, but also makes good business sense. The spending power of disabled people is estimated at £249 billion per year – it’s a massive market!’
They added: ‘Ellie is such a wonderful person inside and out. She lights up the room when she walks in and is such a professional.
‘She is incredibly skilled and such natural beauty. This means the world to her, her family and the wider community.
‘We really hope that all brands take note and including disabled models now becomes the norm.’
Some of Marta’s stunning sink creations (Picture: Marta Grossie/@martabunny)
An Italian artist has been making watercolour paintings with a topical twist.
Creative director Marta Grossi was inspired to start a new project involving a household feature that’s seen a lot of action over recent months – a sink.
After unexpectedly going into coronavirus lockdown in Milan, Marta found she only had some clothes and a set of pocket watercolours with her.
Without any paper at her disposal, she decided to get creative with aforementioned bathroom sink.
Marta tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I realised how many times I heard the phrase “wash your hands.”
‘I began to detest the sink because it had become a mechanical action and underlined the fear and anxiety rapidly growing everywhere.
‘The sink quickly became my temporary canvas – unexpected and very complicated.
‘It’s definitely one of the most changeable supports I’ve ever painted on.’
A lovely floral piece (Picture: Marta Grossie/@martabunny)
Marta often uses Asia for inspiration (Picture: Marta Grossie/@martabunny)
Marta’s watercolour paintings drew on the past nine years that the artist has spent living in Hong Kong, as well as Asia in general.
The beautiful pieces have featured pandas, swans, butterflies, jellyfish, flowers and more – all designed to offer an escape to the natural world during quarantine.
Marta says her works embody themes of human emotions, nature, botany, music and daily life.
Bold and beautiful (Picture: Marta Grossie/@martabunny)
Animals also feature (Picture: Marta Grossie/@martabunny)
She adds: ‘I am very attached to the first one I did, the cherry blossom flowers, because while I was painting it, I was aware that I was beginning a new story and a new temporary artistic project.
‘I try not to be too selective with my works, but each of them represents a state of mind and a precise day of my quarantine.’
Can you turn this into your dream home? (Picture: Getty/EyeEm)
It’s the dream that could allow those with a low budget to finally own bricks and mortar: find a dilapidated house, buy it cheap, do it up and then live there or sell it for a profit.
If you choose your home wisely (good location, good yield etc.) and stick to your transformation budget, this is actually an excellent way to get your foot on the property ladder.
However, there are pros and cons to flipping a home, and it can be difficult to know where to start if you’re a first-time buyer.
Not to worry, we are here to answer all of your questions, starting with the big one: where and how can you find a rundown house to purchase?
Where and how to find a rundown house to buy
There are several ways to find a crumbled home in need of love.
Search online, talk to local estate agents or – and this might sound a little morbid but it is a legitimate strategy – go hunting for probate property (houses that belong to someone who has died recently).
‘The first thing to do is to speak with local solicitors and asset management companies to see if they have any probate properties for sale,’ Rene Lynburge from Yopa’s local estate agent for East London, tells us.
‘In many instances these properties are unmodernised and, in some cases, rundown.
‘After that, it’s worth calling your local estate agents. You may find that they are in fact selling such properties, but you haven’t spotted these online.
‘This could be because they aren’t including all the images of the property in their advertisements so as not to spoil the aesthetic of their websites.’
Your best bet to finding a property that suits your needs and budget is to look around.
A lot.
‘Finding a relatively cheap rundown house to renovate is a numbers game,’ says Paul Gibbens from Housebuyers4u.
‘The more estate agents, auctions or even friends in the sector you have/look at, the more likely you are to find one.
‘Not only that but the more you look at, the better you’ll get at spotting gems that could bag you a big profit.
‘Online portals like Rightmove or local newspapers are worth checking out as many homes are listed on these platforms. Also don’t forget to check out specialist websites like Property To Renovate and Pick Up A Property.
‘In addition, you can check for repossessed homes online and purchase them for a good price providing you have the funds.’
Another savvy way to secure a cheap property is to find them ‘off-market’.
Stick to your renovation budget (Picture: Getty)
‘It would surprise a lot of people to know how many properties are actually sold ‘off-market’, i.e. without being marketed on websites such as Rightmove and OnTheMarket.com,’ Cory Askew, Chestertons’ regional sales director for central London.
‘The only way of finding out about these properties is often through local estate agents or by doing your own detective work to identify the owner.
‘This detective work will often start with the Land Registry website, which you can use to see when the current owner bought the property and what they paid for it.
‘Ex-local authority/council properties often present good development opportunities as they generally were well-constructed but often just a little neglected, but buyers must be aware of some restrictions that lenders have relating to these sorts of properties, especially concrete buildings over a certain number of floors.’
Best areas in London to flip a property for profit
This is a difficult question, because every area of London could see you get a nice profit on a sale – and this can differ street by street or postcode by postcode in certain locations.
But central and prime central offers less opportunities and higher risk (but on the flipside, also a higher reward), explains Cory.
He says: ‘The terraced streets of south east and south west London are full of development opportunities, where typically you have an ageing population in traditional neighbourhoods looking to downsize.
‘These may not be “wrecks’ per se, but are likely to offer extension and development opportunities and still be mortgageable by high street lenders.’
How to buy property at auction
‘Property auctions are also a great place to find a fixer-upper,’ adds Rene.
‘They’re a quick and decisive way of disposing of property, so you’ll find that neglected properties are often sold this way.’
Do your research – most auction houses will release a catalogue of available properties about a month before the actual auction takes place, so as to entice prospective buyers.
Each home will also include a guide price and a reserve price, but these are changeable up until the day before the auction, so keep yourself updated.
You can also place a bid on a property before the auction, but this is a risky move as it shows you are interested (and could drive up the price).
Now for the logistics.
Don’t just walk in and put a bid down on the property that ‘looks’ like the best one – do your research and read the small print.
Check how much other properties in the area are worth and how much you stand to make if you give the house a makeover and sell it or rent it.
Ask yourself: is it worth it?
And what does the market look like – will you be able to sell the property quickly after fixing it up?
Find out how much similar houses in the area go for and what buyers are interested in (Picture: Getty)
‘No matter where you look for houses to fix up and sell on, it’s important to have a strategy,’ says Paran Singh, advisor from TIC Finance.
‘Bond Wolfe Auctions’ June online-only auction had a 98% success rate, with over 3,000 bidders in a record-breaking event that saw some houses sold for more than double the guide price.
‘On the other hand, many lenders have raised their loan to value thresholds in response to Covid-19, that could make it much more difficult to shift a property once it’s been fixed up.
‘While the demand for housing isn’t going anywhere, economic insecurity will still make it difficult for sellers, so having a robust strategy will be essential.’
Don’t forget to do a property survey and request a legal pack from the seller for your solicitors to look over.
Pros and cons to buying a rundown property
Pros
Blank canvas to put your mark on a property
Not everybody has the vision and appetite to renovate a property so it might be less competitive than buying a property that has been recently refurbished.
Can be a good way to get on to the property ladder
Cons
Some property knowledge is often required to understand the costs involved in renovation
It can take up a lot of your time
If the project involves a lot of work you won’t be able to live there and may therefore have to rent a property while paying your mortgage
Tips by Richard Adamson, partner and auctioneer at Allsop.
What about the mortgage?
‘If you’re willing to buy a dingy, rundown house, then you could well get a great deal, plus a doer-upper can also be a great way of buying at a rock bottom price, cutting stamp duty costs and eventually adding value,’ says Richard Hayes, CEO and co-founder of online broker, Mojo Mortgages.
‘However, the most important thing to bear in mind is cost. If you’re looking at a property that needs everything doing to it, the first job will be to do the maths.
‘Determine, as much as you can, how much the work you want to do is going to set you back. Projects like rundown houses take nerves of steel so you need to be very realistic about costs, and you should always budget in more than you think.’
If you don’t have the cash flow to pay for a property upright, organise a so-called mortgage Agreement in Principle (also known as Decision in Principle).
It’s essentially a piece of paper that states how much the lender is willing to let you borrow, should you buy a property.
And don’t forget to buy your buildings insurance beforemoney changes hands, so that you are protected from the get-go.
‘The problem with buying with a mortgage is that the lender is probably going to be more risk-adverse and less in a hurry than you,’ adds Cory.
‘This could jeopardise your ability to complete a purchase quickly, and therefore makes you a less reliable buyer in the eyes of the seller.
‘Cash buyers are usually more successful and will generally then go on to mortgage the property once the transaction has gone through and when there is not such a time pressure.
‘Totally unmodernised wrecks that are not deemed “habitable” (i.e. without a kitchen or bathroom) will often be un-mortgageable or be limited to Development Finance, the terms of which are considerably less attractive than a straight forward residential mortgage.
‘However, freehold houses in London are always very highly sought-after and most likely to hold value through market ups and downs.
‘Some of the best buys I’ve seen over my career have been those with a development angle. But be warned, aspiring developers on tight budgets will also need to have a very good handle on development costs and planning pitfalls in order to genuinely benefit from a purchase of this type.
‘Buying a wreck at the right price is only half the battle: getting the design and development wrong can rapidly erode the value inherited in the purchase.’
Speak to local real estate agents and find out what buyers frequently ask for, and if this is something you can add into your existing budget.
Ask yourself: what will bring most value to the property?
Is it those beautiful but expensive marble tiles that you want to shell out a few thousand quid for or is it a boring but necessary update of the toilet?
Flipping a property is a lot of work, but it could pay off in the long-run.
Prepare yourself, both mentally and physically – and begin.
Friends and neighbours stuck to social distancing rules to celebrate the prom (Picture: PA)
16-year-old Stacie Stroud was absolutely devastated after her school’s prom was cancelled off because of Covid-19.
The teenager, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, had been really looking forward to getting dressed up and celebrating with her friends, so when the big day wasn’t going to happen, she was gutted.
So, Stacie’s mum, Sarah, decided to take matters into her own hands and throw her daughter a surprise prom with the help of her friends and neighbours on their street.
Sarah asked everyone in her community in Andover, Hampshire, to come together to prepare for the evening, and Stacie’s dad Steve decorated the street with fairy lights and balloons.
Stacie had no idea what was happening and her sister Samantha did her hair and makeup at home.
Stacie cried when she saw the crowd (Picture: PA)
Her granddad then picked Stacie up in his yellow van — which was how she had planned to arrive at prom — and drove her around before arriving back home at the street prom to cheers from the crowd.
‘We were all out there all day cleaning, and putting decorations up,’ says mum Sarah. ‘We had a photo prop area, and there was hand sanitiser everywhere so people could clean up before and after.
‘We had a bit of a socially-distanced disco in the evening.
‘She cried when she arrived.’
Stacie’s head of year also turned up dressed up in a tuxedo, and Stacie spent the evening dancing and taking photos.
Stacie had no idea her neighbours were planning the party (Picture: PA)
‘She’s always quite bubbly and chatty with people she knows quite well, like the neighbours. They treat her like they would anyone else, which is what she wants,’ says Sarah.
Stacie, who hopes to become a chef, is now planning on going to college to study hospitality and catering after her final school year was abruptly brought to an end by the pandemic.
‘She was originally quite stressed about doing GCSEs,’ adds Sarah.
‘Last year during the mock exams she got quite stressed and had a seizure, so not doing them, she relaxed a bit more knowing she didn’t have to do that.’
And finishing off her school year with a surprise prom was the best way to celebrate her achievements so far.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
Has the humble boiled egg had its day? (Picture: Getty)
Traditional breakfast items – such as black pudding, boiled eggs and some cereals – are becoming less popular, according to a new study.
A host of classic breakfast items which could ‘die out’ within a generation, say the study authors, with 57% of young Brits having never even heard of kedgeree and 50% having never eaten black pudding.
Over half (55%) of the nation’s under 35 year olds are moving away from traditional breakfasts and are more in favour of more modern choices.
According to the poll, 18% are more likely to be seen knocking up a plate of ‘cloud eggs’. A cronut (cross between a doughnut and a croissant) is also a popular millennial and Gen Z breakfast choice (14%), as is avocado (25%), shakshuka (10%) or a breakfast burrito (16%).
Even the classic full English could also be in decline as one in five of those polled prefer a vegetarian or vegan alternative.
The survey into the nation’s breakfast habits by TABASCO® Sauce has revealed a generational shift in what we eat in the morning, with as many as seven in ten young Brits saying they would be happy to never eat cereal or toast for breakfast ever again (71%).
And Instagram seems to be part of the reason. Over half of 18-35-year-olds have ordered or made a specific dish for breakfast or brunch because it was photogenic.
British breakfasts that are dying out
Kippers Half a grapefruit Marmalade Kedgeree Black pudding A bowl of muesli A bowl of bran flakes Fried bread Boiled egg and soldiers A bowl of cornflakes Porridge Margarine Raspberry jam A traditional fry-up Strawberry jam
And nearly one in five young Brits (18%) say that if their breakfast is photogenic then that’s a serious bonus, and 15 percent have scrolled through Instagram for breakfast inspiration.
However, the research also reveals some traditions still hold firm, as a breakfast sandwich of eggs, bacon and sausage still features on the list of millennials’ top breakfast choices (39%) as does the bacon butty (37%).
We want our breakfasts to be ‘Instagramable’ (Picture: Instagram/@kp_ingitsimple)
Young people are also more likely to opt for a spicy option than older generations (26%). Chorizo or merguez sausages are gaining popularity with young Britons as one third (32%) favour these over the classic pork sausage.
And three in ten prefer to munch on sourdough bread rather than the traditional white sliced loaf.
And spicy sauces could overtake the classic brown sauce in popularity, as four in ten (44%) millennials prefer to add a kick to their breakfasts with hot sauce.
The study also revealed one third of young Brits regularly eat take-away leftovers for brekkie, with 67% admitting they eat cold pizza while 36% love nothing more than leftover Chinese takeaway.
Pasta, kebabs and Indian takeaways also made the list of top ten leftover breakfasts.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
For those not in the know, What I Rent is our weekly series that takes you inside people’s homes, to get a proper picture of what renting is like in the UK and beyond.
We had to take a break due to coronavirus and lockdown measures, which meant we couldn’t safely send our usual photographers to nose around people’s properties.
This week we’re chatting with Steph, 20, a social media and content exec for a homeware brand based in Battersea.
Steph is originally from Oxfordshire and lived with her parents before making the move to London in October 2019, after getting fed up of spending four hours a day commuting into work.
Now, she rents a flatshare in Wimbledon, London, with one other housemate.
She pays £800 a month (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Hey, Steph! How much do you pay to live here?
I pay a total of £800 a month towards rent and bills (my housemate contributes about the same).
And what do you get for what you pay?
There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms. I have the ensuite room and my housemate uses the main bathroom. The flat also has an open plan kitchen/living space and a balcony, which we share.
I share the flat with one other person. We found each other on SpareRoom as she was looking for someone to replace the previous housemate who was moving out.
Do you think you have a good deal?
Yes, definitely! For people living outside of London it may seem like a lot for a room. But it’s very hard to find a large space with your own bathroom for less than £900pcm (and I’m talking a proper bathroom, not a bedroom with a shower cubical in the corner).
Plus, Wimbledon is a really lovely area and easy to travel around the City from.
Steph has made the flat her own without doing any ‘proper decorating’ (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
How did you find this place?
It was advertised on SpareRoom by my current housemate who needed to fill the room. I think I was super lucky as it was the first and only property I viewed when deciding to move to London from Oxfordshire. I knew I had to snap it up quick as room-renting is super competitive in London!
How have you made the flat feel like home?
As the living/kitchen area is shared, I focused on making my bedroom and bathroom feel like home.
My room came furnished with two sets of drawers, however they are a horrible dark brown and black so I’ve hidden them in my wardrobe and replaced with some nicer Ikea ones. This gave me more of a blank canvas to layer up printed bedding, pretty throws, rugs and cushions.
I am also obsessed with little planters and vases – I think these can add loads of personality to a space.
I hate ceiling spotlights, so I have a couple bedside table lamps to make things feel more cosy and less jarring.
I’m definitely not a fan of magnolia walls and I am not planning to stay here long enough to make it worth the while painting them. So, as a compromise I put up a few framed prints to distract the eye.
You’ll spot plenty of plants and flowers (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Have you found it difficult to decorate when renting?
I haven’t really done any ‘proper’ decorating apart from putting a few frames on the wall. I also want to get my full deposit back, so don’t plan on making any permanent changes.
On the other hand, it seems as though the flat hasn’t seen a paint brush since 2008 when it was built. So, if anything, I’d be doing my landlord a favour!
Do you feel like you have enough space?
Prior to lockdown I felt like the flat was spacious enough for my needs. However, since lockdown I have at times felt a bit of cabin fever when confined to just two rooms.
I definitely do not see this flat being big enough for more than two people – even in post-lockdown times…
Are there any problems with the home you have to deal with?
Overall the flat is pretty well behaved. However, as it is part of a new build development, you can tell lots of features were not finished to the highest standard and most likely on a cheap budget.
I live on the fourth floor of a seven-floor block, so as to be expected, I am often trying to work out what kind of activity my upstairs neighbours are doing that makes so much noise!
The flat holds heat very well, sometimes too well. Which is great on reducing our bills as we never need to put the heating on. But, when there’s a British heatwave…
And not so much a problem, more a preference… the living room/kitchen is furnished with so much grey and I HATE grey! Sorry, Mrs Hinch fan club.
Do you have plans to move again?
My tenancy is due for renewal in October and I am still yet to decide if I am staying or not. I really really want my own place to rent, but it’s not so easy finding one within my budget.
I recently found out about the London Living Rent scheme which could make renting my own place more affordable.
Do you want to own a place some day or are you happy to rent?
It’s not massively important to me to own a property right now. Also, being a homeowner in London will require many years of saving for a deposit when your paying out so much for rent each month!
However, I love interior design and would one day love to have free rein on renovating my own place.
Same. Shall we have a look around?
The living room, dining room, and kitchen, all in one open area (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Steph isn’t a fan of all the grey (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
There is space for a dining table, which is surprisingly rare in London flatshares (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
There’s a lot of grey… (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
…but a balcony livens things up (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
This is Steph’s bedroom (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
We’re big fans of the pops of pink (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Are you keeping count of the plant pots? (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Hi, tiny dotty dog (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
More pink and more plants in Steph’s en suite bathroom (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
Spot the matching toothbrushes (Picture: Steph Kaluza)
What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am.
Check back next week to have another nose around a rented property.
How to get involved in What I Rent:
What I Rent is Metro.co.uk’s weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what’s normal and how much we should be paying.
If you fancy taking part, please email whatirent@metro.co.uk. You’ll need to take pictures of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your bedroom or living area.
Make sure you get permission from your housemates! You’ll also need to be okay with sharing how much you’re paying for rent, as that’s pretty important.
Home schooling in lockdown isn’t easy – but parents have learnt a lot (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
I think we can all agree that parents have had it tough during lockdown.
Not only are they coping with the stress of the pandemic and juggling the stresses of financial instability – many of them are also having to home school while working from home.
But it has also been a time for reflection, change and proving just how adaptable and resilient we are. And many parents say this time has taught them important life lessons.
Nearly three quarters (74%) of parents feel they have a stronger relationship with their child as a result of lockdown, according to new research.
The study, conducted by JOHNSON’S® Baby, also revealed that two thirds (67%) of parents have experienced at least one of their child’s milestone moments that they would have otherwise missed, from first words, to smiles, crawls, laughs, meals and bike rides.
64% of parents feel more confident in their parenting ability since lockdown began.
The study comes as family life enters yet another ‘new normal’, with school gates and classroom doors opening up across the country, and parents lives and routines having to adapt once again.
Many parents say they will be taking the lessons they have learnt over the last three months forward as they navigate the next phase.
Since March, parents have been fortunate to experience more of their children’s major milestones that they might have missed in their pre-lockdown lives. Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) dads agreed that they’ve been able to experience more with their child, that they would or may have otherwise missed.
More than two thirds (67%) have witnessed first words, smiles, crawls, laughs, or bike rides as a consequence of lockdown. These moments have provided families with invaluable bonding time, as nearly three quarters (74%) of parents feel they have a stronger relationship with their child as a result of lockdown.
The top lessons parents have learnt in lockdown
The importance of spending time with family all together (56%)
Having the opportunity to bond more with the child (51%)
The importance of slowing down and taking time to appreciate what they’ve got (48%)
Seeing their children’s development in real time (46%)
To be more gentle/put less pressure on themselves as a parent (25%)
The increase in time spent together at home has also given the UK’s families more time to bond. In fact, over half of dads surveyed (56%) feel that they have built a stronger relationship with their partner as a result of lockdown, with 64% of parents revealing that they feel more confident in their parenting ability since lockdown began.
Olympic diver Tom Daley – who is father to two-year-old Robbie – hopes to raise awareness of the pressures that come with being a parent, particularly during the last few months of lockdown and encourage us all to be more gentle to ourselves.
‘Being out of our usual routine can be really daunting and hard to navigate for everyone,’ says Tom.
‘For me, this is the longest time in my career that I’ve been away from training. However, if this situation has taught me anything, it’s the importance of family and time together.’
‘’Ive spent so much more time with Robbie learning about what he likes and doesn’t and bath times have become our thing, I love watching him playing with the bubbles and splashing around.
‘Due to being home much more, I’ve also been able to witness so many of Robbie’s firsts in real-time. He’s recently completed his first puzzle all by himself and he’s even walking up the stairs on his own, he’s grown so much as a person during lockdown, and I’m really lucky to of witnessed that.’
However, while families seem to have cherished the time together and with pubs and restaurants opening up again and children starting to go back to school, 20% of parents are most looking forward to a meal out of the house without the kids, and 36% were looking forward to meeting up with friends.
Despite being a time of much uncertainty, with worries and difficulties for many, this has also been a time to learn from and decide what we want to take back with us into the world once it is safe to do so.
Do you have a parenting story to share? We want to hear from you.
You won’t have to leave the house if you aren’t feeling well (Picture: Getty Images)
Ever been struck down with the flu only to find you’re out of all medication and the idea of heading out to pick some up seems impossible?
Now LloydsPharmacy has teamed up with Deliveroo to offer medication and other items straight to your door in half an hour.
It’s the first time a pharmacy has offered this kind of service.
You’ll be able to get 50 medical essentials from 16 LloydsPharmacy stores across the UK
The LloydsPharmacy Deliveroo service will be available this week from 16 stores, in a selection of cities, including Southampton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge and Coventry.
The partnership will then roll-out to a further 24 stores across the UK.
It will just for over the counter medicines but it will be helpful during these times for anyone who is isolating at home.
They’re offering paracetamol and Ibuprofen so it might be just what you need for your next hangover too.
The medicine cabinet essentials currently available include:
● PPE Equipment: Masks, hand sanitizers and gloves
● Hayfever Helpers: Antihistamines, eye drops and nasal spray
● First Aid: Plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes and antiseptic cream
● Cold & Flu Relief: Nasal Spray, cough medicine and throat lozenges
● Intimate Health: Always Panty liners and pads and the TENA range
● Digestive Health: Rehydration sachets and diarrhoea relief
Toby Anderson, LloydsPharmacy CEO said: ‘Pharmacy plays a pivotal role in not only offering prescriptions and advice to patients but in also providing over the counter medicine for minor ailments, helping to alleviate pressure on the NHS.
The 16 Lloyds stores joining Deliveroo
Radford, Coventry
Shirley, Southampton
Birchgrove, Cardiff
Ecclesall Road, Sheffield
Wollaton, Nottingham
Belmont Circle, Harrow
Tilehurst, Reading
Cheltenham
Cambridge
Knowle, Bristol
Norwich
Prettygate, Colchester
Devonport, Plymouth
West Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Westfield Road, Edinburgh
Catford
The service is also available in central London from John Bell & Croyden, part of the McKesson family.
‘Over the past few weeks, we have taken a number of steps to review and alter our in-store and online operations to ensure that customers can continue to access essential medicines and healthcare products safely and conveniently.
‘This partnership with Deliveroo marks a step-change in the evolution of pharmacy and illustrates our commitment to continue delivering first-class healthcare services to our customers.’
Ajay Lakhwani, Vice President of New Business, Deliveroo said: ‘At Deliveroo, we are doing everything we can to make sure that people get the food and health products they need and want during this unprecedented time.
‘We are pleased to partner with Lloyds Pharmacy and deliver a new range of over the counter medicines to our customers. This will be particularly important for the elderly and those who are self-isolating at home.’
It may be slightly uncomfortable, but the results are worth it (Picture: Getty Images/Canopy)
During the coronavirus pandemic, you’d absolutely be forgiven for putting routine health checks on the back burner.
Perhaps you felt scared to go to the doctor in case it exposed you to the virus, or felt that your ‘minor’ concerns weren’t as important as those dealing with emergencies.
However, these screenings have resumed outside of England and appointments are becoming easier to get hold of – and across the UK we’re being prompted to book as soon as possible if we’re due a smear test.
Health Scotland said: ‘From 29 June 2020, anyone who was invited for cervical screening before the pause, and was yet to make an appointment or had their appointment cancelled, will be able to contact their GP practice to make an appointment.’
GP surgeries in England had paused sending out new letters to those due a cervical screening, but started sending these out again on 6 June. So, you’ll be notified if you’re on schedule to receive one.
It’s important to remember, though, that if you received your letter prior to lockdown and didn’t book your smear, you should book it as soon as possible.
Or, if you’ve lost or thrown away your letter, you don’t need one to book in. Simply call your GP surgery and do so.
A cervical screening is the most effective way to protect yourself against cervical cancer, and it’s important to be regularly checked (every three to five years depending on your age) to pick up any abnormalities early.
In the instance you’re experiencing symptoms such as bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, bleeding after menopause, or unusual vaginal discharge, you do not need to wait until you’re due a routine smear. Call your GP right away.
While discomfort is one of the main reasons people put of a cervical smear (although you can speak to your practitioner to ask for a smaller speculum, extra time, or a chaperone to help ease this) at the moment the thing worrying you may be safety from coronavirus.
Your results will be checked as normal (Picture: Canopy/Getty)
Most GP’s surgeries have added safety measures in place to ease your fears and keep everyone protected. This may include mandatory masks for patients and staff throughout your procedure, as well as added hand washing and sanitation.
You won’t be able to bring someone along with you or wait in the waiting room before your appointment, and you should cancel your appointment if you – or anyone in your household – is experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
If your smear test was cancelled at the start of the pandemic and you haven’t been re-invited, give your practice a call. It may be a problem with the system, and they should be happy to get an appointment made for you on request.
Cervical screening is a preventative measure that’s thought to save around 5,000 lives a year in the UK.
It’s fairly common for abnormal cells to show up in the results, which can be scary. But, this means that treatment can be undertaken to help stop these cells from becoming cancerous.
That’s why it’s so important not to put off your smear test, as the earlier these cells are detected, the better your chance of preventing cancer.
