Ana says influencers have a responsibility to help the industry bounce back (Picture: Mrs O Around The World)
The travel industry is struggling to stay afloat as the coronavirus pandemic grounded flights, closed hotels and put a stop to foreign travel.
As restrictions start to ease and the world slowly opens up again, the industry is desperate to get back on its feet – and one blogger says influencers must play their part to help the industry bounce back.
Travel blogger Ana Silva O’Reilly, also known as Mrs O Around the World, is urging other bloggers and influencers to say no to freebies to help the travel industry come back from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The blogger has launched the #PayingOurWay movement encouraging travel influencers to pay for their own tours and stays when travel resumes, and cover it across their channels without asking for compensation.
The initiative encourages travel bloggers – many of whom are used to complimentary stays and other forms of compensation in return for the content they produce – to be patient in the return of press trips and ‘freebies’, and to do what they can to support the travel industry by paying for their own experiences and creating content about it for free.
The travel blogger, who has more than 17,000 followers on Instagram, says that she always books half of her own paid holidays every year, as well as being fortunate enough to enjoy some brand partnerships.
Ana’s last trip before lockdown was to Mexico (Picture: Mrs O Around The World)
Ana says this allows her to keep a perspective on the investment which her readers and audience are putting into their travels – and also allows her to differentiate between a work trip and a normal holiday.
Given the impact the pandemic has had on the travel industry – particularly for family-run hotels, independent tour operators and other small businesses – Ana launched the #PayingOurWay initiative to encourage other bloggers and influencers to continue to invest in the industry to help them over this hurdle.
‘The impact which the pandemic has had on the travel industry is huge, and some small businesses may be in a situation where they really struggle to recover,’ says Ana.
‘As travel bloggers and influencers, we are intrinsically linked to the travel industry – ultimately, if the travel industry doesn’t get through this then travel bloggers will be left with very little to write about.
‘It will be a while before many travel businesses are able to work on brand partnerships once more, but if in that time we are able to continue to book our own trips and share our own experiences we should certainly keep doing that. This is why I have launched the #PayingOurWay movement.’
Mrs O Around the World is encouraging other travel bloggers and influencers to get involved with the movement by sharing the hashtag across their social channels and posting about the movement on their online blogs.
She is encouraging travel bloggers to start planning and booking their next trips once it is safe to travel again and to share those experiences with their audiences to keep travel inspiration alive.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
The Christian faith was all I knew in life; my whole family were Christians, as were most of the people I was surrounded by, so I never saw any reason to educate myself further (Picture: Lois Mackenzie)
Church services are really long. When I was a child, I’d sit for hours behind the floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the park – not really hearing anything and just wishing I could be outside playing with my friends.
But it was okay, because I was following the rules that would take me to paradise after death. Being unhappy on Earth didn’t matter.
Back then, I never questioned the religion I was raised in. The Christian faith was all I knew in life; my whole family were Christians, as were most of the people I was surrounded by, so I never saw any reason to educate myself further.
Good equalled heaven and bad equalled hell – it was a simple premise.
But the older I got, the more I felt like I was being forced to believe and often found myself defending morals that I didn’t really believe in.
It all came to a head when I was still in high school and my closest friend told me they were gay. Immediately I felt such sadness at losing them, thinking that we could no longer hang out because it went against what my then-religion preaches.
But almost as quickly as the thought entered my head, it was followed by hesitation. I was confused at why such a good person, whom I loved dearly, was ‘wrong’ and should be punished just because of who they love.
Our friendship was important to me, so I kept it.
For a long time, being part of a close-knit religious community prevented me from feeling free. Your business feels like it’s everyone else’s and you can’t stray without being noticed (and chastised).
At 15, I had my first secret boyfriend and managed to hide it for a month before being caught on the street by a family member who told my parents. They then forced us to break up. There’s no love lost now, but then I thought my teenage heart would never recover from it.
Gradually, while surrounded by incredible friends in a setting where I wasn’t burdened by the reminders of my religion, I was able to let go (Picture: Lois Mackenzie)
Studying away from your family is a defining moment for any young person, but for me, it was liberating – after years of following strict parameters in life I was finally able to figure out who I was, what I wanted and more importantly, exactly what I believed in.
I also met new, happy people with different beliefs, who weren’t afraid of being condemned for simply being themselves. I wanted to be like that too, to act without fear – but guilt kept pulling me back. I worried that I would go to hell, that I would become a sinner, that every ‘wrong’ decision would tarnish my soul.
Human development consultant, Dr Marlene Winell talks about something called ‘Religious Trauma Syndrome’, which refers to the fear people are faced with when leaving a religion. She talks about guilt as a stabbing feeling you can’t ignore, a constant monologue running through your mind with doubts of ‘what if they’re right’.
That’s how it was (and still is) for me – the ‘what ifs’ are the worst part of it.
Gradually, while surrounded by incredible friends in a setting where I wasn’t burdened by the reminders of my religion, I was able to let go.
Today, I identify closer to agnostic than religious (or specifically, Christian).
Perhaps if I had been raised non-religiously I would have no presumed framework for life (Picture: Lois Mackenzie)
After six years of living on my own, I recently moved back home because of lockdownand while I’m so lucky to have a place to come to when times get tough, my return hasn’t been smooth.
Having had the opportunity to grow and to learn I can no longer accept most of my family’s opinions, on topics such as homosexuality (‘it’s a sin’) to abortion (also a ‘sin’) and I often find myself walking out of conversations just to keep the peace.
Despite our differences in opinion, I respect my parents too much to hurt them with my choice to no longer follow their religion. So, every Sunday night I make sure I have plans as an excuse to avoid church.
I have not told them about my change in faith but they can probably see it – though they don’t know the complete extent, in that I no longer believe the religion at all.
And the guilt is back.
Perhaps if I had been raised non-religiously I would have no presumed framework for life.
Maybe then I’d feel like I have the opportunity to choose for myself, and perhaps I’d have a different relationship with religion today. Instead, I am left confused.
But I have grown to teach myself what love means for me.
I have ignored values that were forced upon me, and in the process become a more open and accepting person.
Are you unintentionally damaging your locks? (Picture: Getty)
People are causing long-term damage to their hair, without even realising – according to a new study.
There are three main ways hair can be damaged: by brushing too hard, pulling on knots and using the wrong brush – but new research shows women are committing these huge hair no-nos.
A study, conducted by hairbrush brand Tangle Teezer, asked 2,000 women about their hair habits.
Around four in 10 were aware some of their actions were damaging their hair and one in four worried about the effect it was having on their locks.
Half of participants thought it was fine to ‘roughly’ brush hair to tear through knots and tangles. Likewise, half of those polled brushed hair from the scalp downwards – rather than starting at the ends and gradually working up, which is a technique advised by experts.
Tangle Teezer founder Shaun Pulfrey commented: ‘It’s worrying to see just how many women are brushing their hair incorrectly and causing unnecessary damage to their hair.’
Additionally, more than a fifth said they share their hairbrush with others. While three quarters revealed that they used the same hairbrush for all aspects of their hair care – despite experts suggesting different tools should be used for various activities, such as drying and detangling.
Experts advise to approach knots and tangles carefully and gently, and to target them with specific tools – in order to avoid damage.
Shaun added: ‘It’s also concerning that women are using one brush for all tasks, a good way to look at this is you wouldn’t use a foundation brush to apply blusher, so why use a detangling brush to blow dry hair?
‘No matter how tempting it is to pull or cut knots, it’s always best to use a detangling hairbrush.’
However, with Shaun owning a detangling brush company, his comments are likely to reflect that.
Results also found that the biggest concern for participants was split ends (with 40 per cent saying it was their main worry), followed by frizz (at 34 per cent) and thinning (at 29 per cent).
Now a savvy dad is the latest person to show off his incredible efforts.
Steven Hardy decided to build his son a treehouse-themed bed himself, after he was quoted £800 for the piece to be built professionally.
In order to give his little boy the jungle-themed bedroom he wished for, Steven joined forces with his wife, Kayliegh, to create the ultimate children’s bed.
Kayliegh got to work designing the structure, while Steven took on all the physical labour.
Perfect for surveying the bedroom (Picture: Kayleigh Hardy/DIY On A Budget UK)
The finished piece features a balcony, a ladder, skylight, sensor lights and even has handy storage at the bottom. Faux foliage has also been draped around the bed for a final flourish.
But, not only does it look great, the bed has practical features, too.
The couple designed the doorway so adults can squeeze in to change the bedding and the safety net can be removed so the mattress can be taken out, if need be.
The storage system at the bottom (Picture: Kayleigh Hardy/DIY On A Budget UK)
Kayliegh posted the pair’s creation in the Facebook group DIY On A Budget UK, with the caption: ‘In the jungle the mighty jungle the lion sleeps tonight.
‘My husband Steven Hardy’s recent DIY project. Our son asked if he could have a treehouse bed.
‘We didn’t fancy spending £800+ on one, so I designed this one and my husband made it.
‘Created for less than a quarter of what we would have paid had we bought from an online store.’
Naturally, followers were quick to praise the couple’s incredible handiwork.
One person said: ‘Absolutely love this!! What a lucky boy.’
While another wrote: ‘This is fab. Makes me wish my son was little again.’
A 14 year old boy who was once known as the heaviest child in the world has undergone surgery to remove a huge amount of saggy skin after losing hundreds of pounds.
Arya Permana, from Karawang, Indonesia, used to weigh 192 kilograms, which is more than 30 stone. But the teenager has started to become much more active and as a result, the weight has been dropping off.
Arya weighed 423 lbs at his heaviest and struggled to do simple activities like walk down the road to school or even take a bath. But the teenager lost an incredible 220 lbs after having weight loss surgery.
But, while the teenager is now able to lead a much more active life, he has been left with lots of excess skin on his chest, stomach, back and arms.
The skin on his arms in particular left Arya feeling embarrassed, and he would try to cover it up with long shirts.
Arya used to be the heaviest child in the world (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
At his heaviest, Arya weighed 423 lbs (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
The surgeries aim to remove the large amounts of saggy skin (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
It also meant when he did participate in sports, the excess skin would rub and irritate him.
Arya underwent the first of at least four planned surgeries at the Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung in July 2019, to reduce the excess skin on his arms.
The skin rubs and is uncomfortable when Arya is being active (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
Arya hopes to return for more surgeries soon (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
He was most embarrassed by the skin on his arms (Picture: Jefri Tarigan/Barcroft Media via Getty)
He hopes to return for further skin removal surgeries in the future – although with the COVID-19 pandemic it is not confirmed when he will be able to have the rest of the surgeries.
Hopefully the wait won’t be too long, and Arya can get back to living the life of a healthy, active teenage boy.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
At the start of lockdown, I witnessed somebody stand up paddle boarding down the River Thames and I was mesmerised.
Watching them glide under Hammersmith Bridge in the early hours filled me with intense jealousy. It looked like the perfect socially distant activity, especially compared with the bustling parks and river paths near where I live.
I clearly wasn’t alone in my jealousy. Gary Willingham, director at the seller SUP Inflatables, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Paddle boarding has gone crazy during lockdown. We are almost completely out of stock. Early July has become the earliest delivery date for boards right now.’
A paddle boarder spotted in early April in Hammersmith, West London (Photo: Sophie Murray-Morris)
He continues: ‘At the start of lockdown our orders really snowballed with the combination of people wanting to get outside and the good weather. We were working between 7am and 11pm to deal with it all. We are at least 300% up on regular sales.’
As I am fortunate enough to live near the river Thames, I signed up for a lesson at the West London paddle board company Active360. The water sports company is based just off Kew Bridge, a gorgeous location for a paddle on a summer’s evening.
They reopened mid-lockdown and offer socially distant solo and group lessons to customers, including absolute beginners like myself.
Assistant Editor Sophie Murray-Morris paddles near Kew Bridge, London (Photo: Active360)
My instructor, Paul, asks me how I feel about falling in the Thames before we have even started the lesson. This, paired with the fact that I have terrible balance, does not fill me with confidence.
Paul teaches me how to carry the board, how to go from kneeling to standing up on it, what to do if I fall off and how to navigate the river safely. All of that teaching is, of course, socially distant and all equipment is thoroughly cleaned between uses.
After a shaky start, it’s not before long that I am standing up on the board and paddling away, albeit rather tentatively. It feels like an enormous achievement.
A seal joins a paddle boarder for a lesson (Photo: Active360)
I can see why the activity is thought of as very mindful and relaxing. It requires all of your attention not to fall off and I’m pleased to report, reader, that I did not.
The experience must be one of the best ways to enjoy the river scenery, including the seals (!) who are regularly spotted in the Thames.
Annabel Anderson, who held the position of World #1 SUP consecutively from 2012-2017, confirms my instinct about the mindful nature of the sport.
Annabel tells Metro.co.uk: ‘There’s just something about being on water that brings a sense of calm from the chaos of our current world.’
‘It’s like hitting the reset button to be able to face the unknown and uncertainty of what is going on around us. If you are able to get on the water during these times, you’ll know what I’m talking about.’
I can completely understand the appeal after my first lesson and am eager to get out on my board again. It is truly one of the best ways to hit the reset button during lockdown.
Where to paddle board in the UK
Paddle boarding can be enjoyed on rivers, canals and lakes. It can even be done at sea on surfing waves. However, there are some restrictions to ensure that paddlers and other river users are safe.
SUP locations in London include spots like Richmond, Paddington Basin, Hackney Wick and the Royal Docks.
As the Thames is a tidal river, make sure to check conditions before you go and enter the river at a safe spot and time. The Thames Skills and Knowledge course, which teaches the Tideway Code, is also required to SUP below Putney Pier and Chelsea Bridge.
Other spots outside of London include The Witterings in West Sussex, Wastwater Lake in Cumbria, Watergate Bay in Cornwall and the Isle of Mull in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.
Remember that a waterways licence may be required dependent on when you go. You will need a licence to paddle on Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency waterways, as well as the Norfolk Broads.
If you are unsure whether the stretch you want to paddle requires a licence, contact British Canoeing or the waterway authority that looks after that section and they will tell you if you are unsure.
How to get a paddle board
Paddle boards are not particularly cheap, though the activity will probably work out as less expensive than a long term gym membership. There are two types of paddle board: fibreglass or inflatables.
A starting price for either is between £200-£400. But paddle boards can run up to a price of £1,500 and sellers warn that cheap ones are at risking of bending.
Booking a lesson at your local centre should include hire and, generally, a higher quality board.
How to paddle board safely
Lessons are very much advisable if you are a beginner as they will teach you how to paddle safely. Lessons should also come with hire, including the board and buoyancy aid, which is recommended in case you fall in.
Lessons at Active360 in various London locations start at £50 for your first group lesson. Returnees are then charged £45 for a two hour lesson.
Black and other minority groups are constantly told they’re being ‘divisive’ or ‘racist’ for talking about racism (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
When I was a student working at a supermarket, I set up my own blog talking about how racism affects my community.
Aggrieved that I would make such bold comments, a white (male) colleague accosted me on the shop floor to ask why I would write such a thing that ‘divides people’.
Four years later, this ‘dividing’ remark and how we’re contributing to racism by talking about it, is still one of the most prevalent comments I get when I and many other Black or another ethnic minority people write about racism.
And these kinds of conversations are not just personal ones but also reflected in political affairs.
The preference of arguing that racial discourse separates and divides us is echoed by Munira Mirza who became the new No 10 advisor to head up the commission on racial inequalities.
As reported by MP Zarah Sultana, Mirza has criticised previous race audits, commenting that ‘constantly talking about institutional racism and racial bias and unfair treatment is stoking grievance and deterring ethnic minorities from engaging with public services’.
When people in such powerful positions stand by this view, it’s not surprising that others also believe that talks of racism are a disruption to society.
Also accompanying this ‘dividing’ rhetoric is a slew of other common responses which seem to be part of a racism manual that people are reading: ‘why should you have Black-only things, what if we had white-only things?’, and ‘I experienced racism as a white person’.
In regards to reverse racism – prejudice against white people might exist and make individuals feel bad, but prejudice against ethnic minorities can lead to structural, systemic, and lasting disadvantages. In short, there are no institutions that discriminate against white people as there are systems that oppress Black and brown people.
But ‘you’re dividing us’ is the comment that is sure to aggravate as it places the morality of a person of colour in opposition to peace.
So what makes this remark so enduring, and what are its real implications?
Kelechi Okafor, an actress and founder of Kelechnekoff Fitness Studio is sick of being told ‘you’re only dividing us’ (Picture: IvanWeiss.London/ Ella Byworth)
Though it might look like the person issuing this statement is the arbiter of peace and decorum, telling someone they’re being divisive is actually a form of tone policing and depending on the speaker, white fragility.
Tone-policing is an anti-debate tactic that detracts from the validity of a statement by attacking the tone it was presented rather than the message itself.
When a person says ‘you’re dividing us’, they actually mean the sentiments you’re expressing are uncomfortable – a key component of white fragility – and not in line with the status quo (the status quo which has placed Black and brown people at the bottom of the racial hierarchy).
Kelechi Okafor, an actress and founder of Kelechnekoff Fitness Studio, has had plenty of experiences with people uttering these rhetorics to her.
She is often asked from well-meaning white people to educate her on matters of race or, as with plenty of other Black women, deemed too provocative or ‘angry’ when she expresses her genuine and lived experience of racism.
But, Kelechi tells us, this attitude from the interlocutor is counterproductive in dismantling racism.
‘Black and brown people are expected to keep the peace in situations of racial inequality,’ she explains to Metro.co.uk.
‘We are asked to be “patient” because change takes time but nothing is changing and if things are, they’re moving at a pace that is embarrassing for those in power because more marginalised people continue to be failed by society.
‘Where there is injustice there can be no peace. Anyone who demands that Black people educate, coddle, or explain anything at this time is only aiming to maintain the status quo and ultimately distract marginalised people from the very radical act of continuing to exist despite all that history has thrown at us.’
As Kelechi explains, expecting people of colour to take the time to gently, carefully explain why something is a problem takes time and energy away from the more pressing matter of disrupting racism.
And while that might look like leaving white people out to dry, it’s actually an opportunity for them to learn on their own terms, seek out the abundant resources, talk among themselves about how they can be better allies.
âWhat if we had a white entertainment channel?!â ð¥´
Every channel has been a white entertainment channel, Karen.
It seems being reminded of divisiveness is a bit of an epidemic, no matter what level of seniority you’ve acquired.
Professor Randall Whittaker is Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Leeds Arts University and is one of the only Black senior uni leaders in the UK.
Unfortunately, Professor Whittaker has faced this retort many times.
He tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Conversations about racism are difficult to have and thus easy for people without lived experience to dismiss. It is not divisive to talk about racism or racial injustice, in my opinion, this phrase is used because there is no desire to make the significant structural changes required to address racial injustice.
‘People with lived experiences are not visible around the decision-making table about matters that affect them. Not talking about, derailing or shutting down discussions about race preserves the status quo providing the ideal environment for the toxic racism to thrive.’
But, he argues, it’s important to not just roll your eyes at the commenter but to also fight against their position.
‘It is truly exhausting. It took me a while to be fair but seeing such little progress with diverse senior appointments in the UK I am much more confident in challenging this now. I simply say that it would be irresponsible for me not to have the conversation. I make the point about meaningful structural change and lived experience. I can’t say I am listened to but I will not be silent!’
The Institute of Race Relations says that talks of being ‘divisive’ are just another way to stifle Black and other minorities by asserting that they have a personal chip on their shoulder.
A spokesperson from the Institute tells us: ‘It is worrying to see a pattern developing where attempts to open up discussions on racism are quickly turned around in a way that blames those individuals calling out racism by suggesting that they are following a “victimhood agenda” and are immersed in a “grievance culture”. ‘
They add: ‘Characterising institutional racism as an internalised “perception” or a “feeling” trivialises and denies the experiences of those who have experienced injustice – it’s so resonant of the 1950s when black people were constantly told “you’ve got a chip on your shoulder”.
‘But unlike in the 1950s, we have all the evidence that we need to show up this kind of structured denial of racism. Covid-19, for instance, has exposed the deadly consequences of structural inequality with disproportionate BME deaths.
‘The over-policing of young black people is well documented as are the disproportionate number of Black deaths in police custody. The tragedy is that just when people are coming together to counter racism, policymakers seem hell-bent on taking us backwards, and in a way that is, quite frankly, insulting.’
She criticised Theresa Mayâs race audit, remarking that âconstant talking about institutional racism & racial bias & unfair treatment is stoking grievance & deterring ethnic minorities from engaging with public services.â
Basically, stop talking about racism & we’ll end racism!
One area where ‘whataboutery’ comes up is in relation to positive discrimination or any movement, scheme, organisation that caters to or supports Black, Asian and other minorities instead of the white majority.
Some white people have spoken up in resistance to these movements, feeling an attack on their group as brands attempt to address the historical racial imbalance in their makeup.
It’s usually at these intersections, people iterate and criticise these organisations for specifically seeking out Black and brown voices, telling them they are ‘being racist’ and divisive by only wanting marginalised voices.
Fashion retail analyst Anusha Couttigane wasn’t surprised to hear this comment when she went searching for BAME-specific businesses.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I was on a local Facebook group asking for recommendations of BAME-owned businesses in the area and the “you’re only dividing us brigade” came out to play.
‘Then the admin deleted the post altogether, saying we’re not allowed to ask for recommendations based on ethnicity(ies). It literally shut down the conversation. The world continues to disappoint.
‘What I had said in response at the time was that minorities are at a quantifiable disadvantage and it isn’t causing division to want to redress the balance. So yeah, the racists aren’t undercover anymore.’
Time and time again, we’ve seen variations of these types of comments when talking about, redressing, or attempting to unpick centuries of overt and insidious racism.
People of colour hear these slurs from bold racists, from colleagues, peers, and even friends.
But truly tackling the problem is going to require unsettling, uncomfortable speech and action.
It might be divisive but solidarity can be sought – by being an ally and getting out of the way, not expecting people to just live with it and keep the peace.
Because the world hasn’t been peaceful for Black and brown people.
I had woken up with butterflies, ready to see my babies (Picture: Carla Lett)
‘I am not sure you are ready to hear this but it’s twins,’ the midwife said.
My husband Dan and I looked at each other, happy but completely shocked.
The midwife explained that the twins were in the same sac and sharing a placenta, known as ‘monochorionic-monoamniotic twins’. This was potentially risky – the babies could suffocate one another, or one could take the majority of the food.
But my pregnancy with my first son George, who was four, hadn’t been plain sailing and despite a traumatic birth he was fine, so I had hope that everything would be okay this time round as well.
I was 15 weeks and four days into my pregnancy when I went for my next scan. Dan and I had been getting more and more excited and that morning, I had woken up with butterflies, ready to see my babies.
In the waiting room, I looked around at the other expectant mothers and wondered if my children would be at school with theirs. I couldn’t help but go online as I waited and hit order on a few sweet bits of clothing.
Dan and I were called in and I lay on the bed, smiling ear to ear as the sonographer probed my belly. Before I could make anything out on the screen, she turned it towards her.
I stared at Dan and silently pleaded for some kind of reassurance. The room was still for what felt like hours – a deafening silence. Then the sonographer placed her hand on my leg and said she was sorry.
I asked what she meant – had something happened? Had one died?
‘They are both gone,’ she said.
She stood up to get the doctor and as she left the room, I screamed. The future I planned, the family I pictured, the dreams I’d had, were all shattered.
Once the doctor confirmed the news, Dan and I were ushered into a side room. Through the shock and the tears, I asked when I’d be having the operation to remove my babies.
Gently, the doctor replied that I had to be induced two days later and would have to give birth. At 16 weeks, he said, there was no other way.
I had been scared of giving birth for as long as I could remember – the multiple chick flicks and soaps I’d seen depicting traumatic births probably didn’t help. I was the only woman I knew who was relieved when a low-lying placenta required a c-section for George.
Dan and I walked out of the hospital carrying a bereavement guide instead of my scan picture.
We discussed the baby moon we had planned. I dreaded running into people in our small community and having to repeat what happened over and over so we decided to still go away. But having only ordered maternity holiday clothes, I needed to go shopping.
I was paying when a woman came over, looked at my bump and asked me when I was due.
I felt my bottom lip quivering but couldn’t face telling her that I had two dead babies inside me so I just muttered my due date.
I prayed for the ground to swallow me up. I just wanted the babies gone, out of me. Every time I glanced down I was reminded of what I no longer had. That night I sat in the bath, sobbed uncontrollably and asked them what I had done wrong to mean they couldn’t stay.
When the day of the birth came, Dan and I left George with his grandparents and drove to the hospital. I was shaking, terrified of labour as well as what I might see. Would my babies look hurt? Sad? Would they look scary? I couldn’t shake the guilt that my body had let them down.
George often asks about his siblings and I hear him praying for one that isn’t sick (Picture: Carla Lett)
We were put into the ‘Forget Me Not’ suite. The room wasn’t as clinical as I had pictured it but it still seemed filled with sadness. I had never, ever imagined that I would have to give birth to two dead babies.
The doctor gave me morphine to help with the pain, then the midwife inserted a tablet to induce labour and it began fairly quickly. I bounced on a swiss ball for hours and when I stood up, my waters went. My babies were born within 30 minutes.
I was sick and out of it from the morphine, but after a nap I managed to hold them. We’d arranged for a local priest to come and do a blessing, but once that was over Dan I left the hospital with nothing but my bag of blood stained clothes.
We spent our babymoon in mourning. I tried to have the best time I could for George – we had told him that twins turned into angels after I gave birth – but I just felt vacant.
I had to continuously remind myself that the babies were gone; I felt like I let everyone around me down and agonised over the fact my body did not do as it was supposed to. As a mother, why couldn’t I protect them?
Nine months on and I still haven’t parted with their ashes, which sit on a shelf in the front room.
We are often so conscious of other people’s feelings that we forget our own. I haven’t allowed myself to formally grieve – I am worried how low I would get if I let myself go, and I am not sure if I could ever pull myself back.
George often asks about his siblings and I hear him praying for one that isn’t sick so he can play with them, which is devastating. And whenever he comes across a white feather, he brings them over excitedly to us to show that the babies have been to visit.
However, I am lucky to have had people around me acknowledge my loss. My heart goes out to anyone that goes home to empty houses after losing a baby.
There are times when you simply can’t find the words, but that’s okay – as is the jealousy that rises up every time you see a pregnancy announced, even if it’s your best friend.
I now know it is normal to not feel normal. My life was forever changed in that moment I was told my twins had died. I knew I would never be the same person again.
I also learned that miscarriage is devastating, no matter how far along your pregnancy is.
Carla Lett presents the Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast, which offers support for parents who may be struggling. To listen visit mybump2baby.com/podcasts
MORE SUPPORT
For more information and support on miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss, visit the Sands website at sands.org.uk, email helpline@sands.org.uk or ring the helpline on 0808 164 3332
All of which is good news for those of us planning a break closer to home this year given the restrictions on foreign travel – but if you were hoping to go to a holiday park will you still be able to?
Here’s what the main holiday park chains have planned…
Haven will be first out of the gate, opening its caravan parks on 6 July in England, on 13 July in Wales and on 17 July in Scotland.
Butlins has said it will reopen its parks on 16 July, while Centre Parcs has confirmed it is reopening all its sites from 13 July.
What rules will holiday parks have to follow?
Center Parcs is set to welcome visitors back (Picture: Getty Images)
Boris Johnson previously said of holiday parks and other vacation spots: ‘Provided that no more than two households stay together, people will be free to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation including hotels and bed and breakfasts, as well as campsites, as long as shared facilities are kept clean.’
Holiday parks have already laid out their plans to keep visitors safe in the coming weeks, with Haven offering a discounted ‘Haven Hideaway’ holiday which does not include access to any of its pubs, restaurants or other activities such as kids’ entertainment – but does include access to the beaches.
Guests will also be offered a refund if their holiday home is not cleaned to their new standards.
Butlins, meanwhile, has laid out on its website what customers can expect when they return to their holiday parks, with fewer guests than usual, drive-through check-ins, more frequent cleaning measures and social distancing in place.
Center Parcs has said on its website that its measures will include social distancing measures, PPE for staff, enhanced cleaning of general areas and the installation of hand sanitiser in multiple areas of the park.
Butlins might also look a little different (Picture: Getty Images)
They also have said they will need to ‘consider how guests and staff move around our villages’ in order to keep interactions with others to a minimum – while some of their facilities will not be available as usual.
Pontins will also be re-opening from 17 July, but on a self-catering basis only – and without the usual entertainment and activities on park.
Can you book holidays to the parks now?
You can indeed, with Butlins now taking bookings all the way into 2021 while Pontins is also taking bookings into 2021 both for its family parks and for its adult-only holiday villages in Sandbay and Pakefield.
Center Parcs, meanwhile, has bookings on its site all the way up to December 2021, while Haven allows you to book up to November 2021.
The floor went from dark to colourful thanks to 2,800 bottle caps (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
When Ellie Brodey and her partner Tyler moved into their house together, they started to save up the bottle tops everyone used, hoping to one day turn them into something.
Now, four years later and 2,800 tops, they’ve created an amazing bathroom floor.
After seeing people tiling their floors with pennies, they decided to use a similar method for their bottle tops.
The pair stuck down each of the tops down in rows using silicone glue, before grouting to fill the gaps between them and pouring 10kg of clear resin, which costs around £65, on top to create a smooth and shiny surface.
The floor before (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
Sticking the caps down (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
They need thousands of the tops to cover the 2.4sqm area in their home in Cornwall.
Ellie explains: ‘We weren’t sure what to do with them at first but then saw the penny floor idea and decided to do a bottle cap floor.
They added resin to make it smooth (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
The finished floor (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
Now they have a unique feature filled with memories of nights with friends and family (Picture: Ellie Brodey)
‘We finally had enough and started sticking them down a couple months ago.
‘In total it took about five hours to stick the caps down, then grouting them was the biggest pain as there is so many! Grouting and cleaning them afterwards to make sure they were prepped for the resin took a good few hours.
‘The resin was a quick job as you just pour it on and let it set for 48 hours.’
The pair worked together to complete the project, and it was a particular achievement for Ellie who is due to give birth in August.
Posting on Facebook, Ellie thanked everyone who had enjoyed a drink at their house as it meant they were one step closer to completing their floor.
She said: ‘If you ever had a drink round ours you have contributed. Thanks to family and friends for helping out.’
She also shared the pictures on the DIY On A Budget Official Facebook group and over 4,000 liked her post.
I’ve yet to meet a female cyclist who hasn’t had a predictable riding-themed catcall (Picture: Getty Images)
Three years ago, on one of my first ever cycle commutes in London, a male driver shouted at me, called me a wh*re and said I needed to ‘act like a lady’.
Seconds earlier, I had been waiting for an elderly woman to go over a zebra crossing while he had sat in his car behind me, pressing on the horn in long blasts.
I angrily mumbled at him to shut up before cycling off, but then the guy cut in front of me, his car blocking the road so I couldn’t move – and launched into his tirade.
I laughed it off, telling myself he was the one who looked ridiculous, but had to hold in hot tears for the rest of the journey home. My legs were shaking so much that I thought I was going to fall off my bike.
As commuters avoid public transport during the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a huge increase in bike sales. It’s great to see so many people taking up cycling, but switching four wheels for two isn’t always easy.
Pre-lockdown, I used to cycle to central London for work and would get verbal abuse from men at least once a week, such as a driver calling me an idiot for a near miss that was entirely his fault, or a pedestrian patronising me by shouting ‘Keep pedalling! You’re nearly there!’
I’m far from the only one. Lots of other women in my old office used to cycle, and I can remember plenty of mornings when we’d stand in the queue for the coffee machine, swapping horror stories about things men had just said to us on the roads.
It’s a tale as old as time – the assumption that women are less competent, and so are automatically to blame for any incidents.
Female cyclists were almost twice as likely as male cyclists to be on the receiving end of bad driving and harassment (Picture: Rebecca Hastings)
Not long before lockdown, a man stepped out in front of my bike in the middle of Old Street roundabout, nowhere near a pedestrian crossing, causing me to almost crash into him.
He told me that I ‘should learn how to brake properly’ – and gave me the finger for good measure.
According to a study published in the Journal of Transport and Health, female cyclists are almost twice as likely as male cyclists to be on the receiving end of bad driving and harassment, with near misses occurring weekly to some and harassment happening an average of once a month.
There’s another layer to the abuse we face, too. Women can barely do anything alone in public without being sexually harassed about it, and this extends to cycling.
I’ve yet to meet a female cyclist who hasn’t had a predictable riding-themed catcall – or a variation on ‘wish I was your saddle!’ – yelled at her.
Cycling also often necessitates wearing tight clothing or short skirts, which some men take as an invitation to frantically beep their car horns or make sleazy comments as they pass us. I’m always relieved in winter, when it’s cool enough to cycle in a heavy jacket that covers me up.
Post-lockdown we need to be thinking about ways to make commuting by bike a safer option for women – and, first and foremost, how other road users’ attitudes towards us needs to change.
People who harass female cyclists need to be told it’s unacceptable (Picture: Rebecca Hastings)
As much as I love cycling – not least because I could avoid starting my day wedged into someone’s sweaty armpit on the Central line – I often feel on edge, especially if the roads are busy.
During lockdown, with quieter streets as a result of far fewer people commuting, female cyclists have had a welcome break from the harassment. But with the country beginning to open up again, and with more people than ever taking it up, we can’t keep ignoring the problem.
The issue could be tackled by creating more cycle lanes that are completely separate from traffic, to limit the dangers posed and discomfort caused by drivers. One report found that if such a thing was implemented, 76 per cent of women believed it would encourage them to start cycling more often.
Really, though, we shouldn’t have to be kept separate from other road users for our own safety. Instead, people who harass female cyclists need to be told it’s unacceptable.
It would be helpful if other men who witness abuse towards us could call out those doing it – like lots of women, I’ve never felt safe responding to any kind of harassment directed at me, for fear it could turn into physical harm.
In many ways, during lockdown, I have missed my cycle commutes – strapping on my helmet, whizzing past London’s landmarks, feeling the sun on my face.
And in the middle of a pandemic, I’ve never felt so grateful for my bike – it means that I most likely won’t ever need to take public transport to work before a vaccine or treatment is found.
I just hope that a greater number of bikes on the roads brings with it a shift in attitudes, and that women will finally be free to cycle in peace. A girl can dream, right?
Gucci and Vicky now, and the cat back in 2008 before he went missing (Picture: Vicky Swainson / SWNS)
Back in 2008, Vicky Swainson was moving house when her beloved cat Gucci disappeared.
The black and white cat leapt into an allotment close to their house in Gildersome, near Leeds, and despite searching, Vicky couldn’t find him.
She placed dozens of missing cat posters and walked two miles almost every day from her new home in Morley to her old property hoping to cross his path.But 12 years later, the pair have been reunited after his microchip was scanned by a vet.
Vicky, now 31, said: ‘When I got the call I was in total shock, I couldn’t even process what was happening.
‘Then when I realised it was my Gucci, I just felt overjoyed and overwhelmed.
‘Gucci was alive and well, and I was going to see him.
Gucci the cat pictured before he went missing in 2008 (Picture: Vicky Swainson /SWNS)
‘It was such a crazy and surreal phone call – I was pinching myself.
‘It really was a one in a million chance. I don’t think I’ll ever believe I have him back, even if I’m holding him.’
She immediately headed to the vet to see if it was Gucci and she recognised him the moment she walked into the room.
Gucci was three years old when he disappeared (Picture: Vicky Swainson / SWNS)
The bank manager said: ‘I went to get him on Friday afternoon and I knew it was him immediately.
‘I’d like to think he recognised me as well because as soon as I picked him up he was cuddling me and purring.
‘It was such a strange feeling – something I never expected to go through.
‘I didn’t think I’d ever hold him again, yet here I was, holding Gucci like when I was a teenager – it was surreal.’
Vicky said when they moved house 12 years ago, they hoped to get him comfortable in their new home for two weeks.
But the curious cat dived out the window into a nearby allotment.
The pair are now back together (Picture: Vicky Swainson / SWNS)
Recalling how heartbroken she was when Gucci first escaped, Vicky said: ‘We were hoping to get him used to the new place but while we were moving he just escaped from his room and disappeared.
‘We saw him jump into a nearby allotment and went to look for him but everywhere we searched we couldn’t find him.
‘We tried calling for him, we tried shaking his favourite biscuits, we tried everything.
He was found thanks to a microchip (Picture: Vicky Swainson / SWNS)
‘I just wanted him to come back I couldn’t believe he’d disappeared.
‘Even after we moved we walked two miles back to our old house for six months in the hope we’d stumble upon him.
‘It was so heartbreaking – Gucci was part of the family.’
Before being reunited with Vicky, the vet said Gucci has been wandering the streets for about eight months and was being fed by a local woman.
She noticed he had lost some weight so she rang the vet to get him checked.
It was here the vets found his microchip and contacted Vicky.
Vicky said: ‘I never would have been able to share this beautiful moment with Gucci and be reunited with him without his microchip.
‘I think it’s so important that people with cats do this – not just with dogs.’
Vicky now has another cat called Larry and she was worried that he wouldn’t take well to another family member.
But he’s been rehomed with Vicky’s dad Steve Swainson who has been more than happy to welcome back the adventurous moggy.
Have you been reunited with a lost pet after a long time?
Bring isolated has made things much more difficult for some (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Lockdown and the coronavirus pandemic has been tough for us all.
But a leading mental health charity has released a survey to show the extent the last few months has had on the nation’s mental health.
Mind says that the government needs to plan how we can recover from this mental health crisis.
In a survey of 16,000 people during lockdown, two out of three (65%) of adults over 25 and three-quarters (75%) of young people aged 13-24 with an existing mental health problem reported worse mental health.
More than one in five adults (22%) with no previous experience of poor mental health now say that their mental health is poor or very poor.
People said not being able to see family, loneliness, not being able to go outside, concerns about the virus itself, and boredom all contributed to the decline in their mental health.
Although lockdown is now easing, the charity says that many of the underlying issues won’t change and more people could be struggling due to unemployment and financial difficulties predicted as the economy tries to recover after the pandemic.
Mind said that there will be a prolonged worsening of wellbeing and waiting lists for access to NHS mental health services will get worse, seeing an increase in the numbers of people experiencing longer-term mental health problems.
The charity also highlights that people living in social housing are more likely to have poor mental health and to have seen it get worse during the pandemic. Over half (52%) of people living in social housing said their mental health was poor or very poor, and over two thirds (67%) say that their mental health got worse during lockdown.
Over half (58%) of under-18s who receive free school meals said their mental health was poor or very poor (vs 41% not receiving free school meals), with three quarters (73%) of this group saying that it got worse during lockdown.
When it came to those struggling with work, those who were unemployed and seeking work during the pandemic were more likely to have lower wellbeing scores and worse mental health than those who were in employment.
People who were furloughed, changed jobs or lost their job due to coronavirus saw their mental health and wellbeing decline more than those whose employment status didn’t change, with three quarters (73%) reporting lower than average wellbeing scores.
The charity wants the government to do five things as part of its recovery plan for mental health: investing in community services; protecting those most at risk and addressing inequalities faced by people from Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic communities; reforming the Mental Health Act; providing a financial safety net through the benefits system; and supporting children and young people.
Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said: ‘The coronavirus pandemic is as much a mental health emergency as it is a physical one. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown, and the inevitable recession that lies ahead will leave a deep and lasting scar on our nation’s mental health.
‘Those of us who were already struggling with our mental health have fared worst, but we also know that many people who were previously well will now develop mental health problems, as a direct consequence of the pandemic.
‘We have been calling on successive UK governments to put mental health at the heart of the policy and political agenda. This has never been more critical than it is now.
‘As we look to the future, those in power must make the right choices to rebuild services and support, and to ensure that the society that comes after the pandemic is kinder, fairer and safer for everyone experiencing a mental health problem. This is can only be achieved by putting mental health at the very centre of the UK Government’s recovery plans, not only in relation to the NHS, but across all domestic departments.
‘We, and our colleagues in the voluntary sector, are willing and able to work with colleagues across Westminster to make this happen.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We recognise the impact that this unprecedented global pandemic can have on people’s mental health.
‘NHS mental health services have remained open, delivering support online and over the phone, and we published guidance at the beginning of lockdown to provide advice on steps individuals can take to support their wellbeing and manage mental health.
‘We have also awarded £4.2 million to mental health and wellbeing charities like Samaritans, Young Minds and Bipolar UK. This is in addition to £5 million already made available to charities through the Coronavirus Mental Health Response Fund.’
A supermarket in New Zealand has recently announced it will now group female health products like tampons, pads and menstrual cups under a banner of ‘periods’ (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
When I was in my early 20s, living in Paraguay, my friend Tamara used to mention her friend Andrés with relative frequency.
Every now and then, when I enquired what she was up to, she’d tell me Andrés was visiting, by which I understood that she was busy.
Although Spanish wasn’t my first language, I’d been speaking it long enough to understand social cues. I did find it odd, though, that despite me having met every single person in her life — her colleagues, friends and family — she kept Andrés to herself, never offering to introduce me to him.
It wasn’t until a few months later when I innocently asked if I could meet him, that she burst out laughing and explained my misunderstanding.
To those of you not familiar with Spanish, allow me to explain. In many Spanish-speaking countries, a common euphemism to describe menstruation is ‘mi amigo Andrés el que viene una vez por mes’ (my friend Andrés that visits once a month).
The friend that had been visiting all these months was, in fact, her period.
Their newsworthy activity? Referring to period products by their real names rather than using the euphemistic language so often associated with women’s health.
So, instead of being labelled as ‘sanitary,’ or ‘feminine hygiene’ products, in this particular supermarket, tampons, pads and menstrual cups will now be grouped together under a banner of ‘periods’.
By virtue of this relatively simple linguistic shift, the shop will become a world leader in promoting positive and realistic messaging around women’s reproductive health.
The brand said that its intention was to help play a role in shifting the messaging around menstruation away from words that suggest that it is anything other than a normal and healthy process.
Hurrah! Corporate social responsibility strikes again.
Forgive me for my cynicism but isn’t this all a little bit depressing?
While any and all progress in the direction of equality is — of course — to be celebrated, it’s hard to read this in exclusively positive terms. Hard to think, ‘wow, this is such a good idea’, without also thinking… ‘but wow, just how low is the bar?’
As a society, we have a pretty dysfunctional approach to discussing both sex itself, and its related organs and their functions. Such is the level of stigma attributed to this subject, that we often enlist a series of euphemisms to spare our embarrassment — or that of others.
This usually takes one of two forms. Either we use infantilising language — think ‘willies’, ‘minnies’, ‘pee pee’, ‘tinkles’, ‘blobs’ and ‘front bottoms’. Or beyond an age when it is deemed acceptable to do so, we use hypersexualised words — think ‘pussies’, ‘dicks’, ‘jizzing’ and ‘boners’.
I’m not here to promote any sort of linguistics dogma — languages are amorphous things and often move and flex to suit cultural and social shifts. And so they should.
It’s something of which I am personally guilty myself. I’ve often — particularly when younger — used silly words in lieu of saying vagina or even referred to my period as my mate Andrés
What is problematic though, is when the use of such idioms becomes a substitute for a real understanding of our bodies. Or when the shame so embedded in the use of this coded language teaches people — especially women — that their natural bodily processes are something to hide or be embarrassed about. Not to mention the fact that using the words ‘sanitary’ and ‘hygiene’ to describe period products makes the very act of menstruating sound both dirty and unclean by default — and overtly medicalised.
And when this taboo is perpetuated in large-scale advertising campaigns or even something as simple as product placement within a shop – it becomes very problematic indeed.
Because then it becomes part of a wider culture of ignorance about sexual health, that systematically represses women.
You may think this is quite a leap, but the stats are on my side. A poll by YouGov last year became the subject of many funny headlines, when it revealed that half of Brits don’t know where the vagina is located.
At the same time, research by Clue, a period-tracking device, found that there are over 5,000 known euphemisms around the world for menstruation. When analysing these two pieces of information together, can we really be that surprised that our collective knowledge of female anatomy is so appalling?
And not only this, but our inability to speak about menstruation in plain terms without embarrassment means that related issues are often left out of government policymaking or simply left to women to work out.
The net result of this is wider social inequality that blocks access to menstrual products, such as tampons and pads, for lower-income families, resulting in period poverty. In the UK alone, one in 10 girls can’t afford to buy period products, according to data from Bodyform.
It also affects the relationship that we as women have with our own bodies — limiting our openness to disclose common problems related to reproductive health, and to seek treatment that could make our lives easier and/or improve our ability to conceive should we want to.
This, in turn, contributes to a lack of knowledge and understanding even within the medical profession. It also often means that women are much more likely to suffer longer than men when it comes to chronic pain.
It is easy to dismiss the link between language and gender inequality. To dismiss these arguments as ‘sensitivity’. But it all boils down to the simple fact that language is at the basis of everything we do as human beings. It is the way we see, describe and understand the world around us.
It’s something of which I am personally guilty myself. I’ve often — particularly when younger — used silly words in lieu of saying vagina or even referred to my period as my mate Andrés. But in recent years I’ve tried to shift away from this and use the correct words for each, especially when speaking with young girls and adults that have never experienced menstruation. It may feel awkward sometimes, but it’s important.
If we are taught from a young age that women’s bodies are shameful and to be shrouded in euphemism for fear of causing offence, this adds another layer of insulation to the patriarchal system that has been responsible for the subjugation of women for centuries.
And so while yes, it is great that certain brands are starting to pave the way for a shift in distorted thinking, this will only be capable of effecting real and meaningful change if it happens in chorus with better, more honest education around sex and reproduction for women and men from an early age.
Oh, and the wholesale rejection of a culture of shame that has governed conversations around women and sex for thousands of years. Just that small matter.
So the next time someone tells you it’s ‘that time of the month’ or ‘the painters are in’ please do me a favour and say, ‘sorry, I don’t understand — are you on your period?’.
It could he hitting restaurants and supermarkets soon (Picture: Reuters)
Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t possibly get any more bizarre, a company has brought out the world’s first 3D-printed vegan steak.
Redefine Meat, an Israeli company based in Rehovot, has unveiled an ‘Alt-Steak’ which replicates the texture, flavour and appearance of real-life meat – all thanks to 3D-printing technology.
The new Alt-Steak is made out of soy and pea proteins, coconut fat and sunflower oil, along with natural colours and flavours.
Designed to recreate the muscle structure of beef, the faux steak is high in protein and – being plant-based – has no cholesterol.
It seems no details have been spared with this creation either.
Working with leading butchers, chefs, food technologists and taste experts, Redefine Meat has digitally mapped more than 70 different sensory factors – including the cut’s texture, juiciness, fat distribution, feel in the mouth and more.
The company is expected to start testing the alternative beef cuts in high-end restaurants in Israel as earlier as next month – with plans to roll it out in European restaurants next year and at supermarkets in 2022.
It’s made to resemble its meaty counterpart (Picture: Reuters)
No details have been spared (Picture: Reuters)
The people behind the Alt-Steak are saying the invention could mean big things for the food industry, too.
Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, CEO and co-founder of Redefine Meat, told The Media Line: ‘This is the world’s first 3D-printed steak that can really pass the test of what is a steak.
‘We’ve reached a milestone because we can print steaks on a large scale and the taste and texture are amazing.
‘To make a meatless steak that resembles the muscle of an animal requires the use of a special 3D printer.
‘Until now, nobody had this kind of printer and we developed it in the past two years.’
It’s healthier too (Picture: Reuters)
Printing in action (Picture: Reuters)
Of course, Redefine Meat isn’t the only brand dipping its toe in the ‘lab-grown’ meat trend.
Each Creamz kit costs £15 and you get a bottle of your chosen condiment, a recipe card, a reusable ice cream tub and limited edition engraved golden scoop and spoon.
For vegan ketchup fans, there’s instructions to make a tomato sorbet instead.
Ketchup cone anyone? (Picture: Heinz)
They’ll be on sale from tomorrow and delivery costs £3.50 (or £4 to Northern Ireland).
If you aren’t as fussed about the accessories, the recipes are available to view on the website and you could make it up with sauces you already have.
The recipes are all easy to follow and luckily you don’t need an ice cream maker to create the desserts.
David Chalbert, senior brand manager for Heinz sauces, said: ‘This summer is looking different for many of us, and while we might be staycationing or staying at home more than in other years, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the joys of a good ice cream.’
When Covid-19 struck, some businesses had to get creative to survive
They’re the unsung heroes of the pandemic: the companies that have adapted their own unique skills to survive – and to help others – during the crisis.
All over the UK, businesses have been finding brilliantly innovative ways to keep jobs open for their staff, serve their customers and contribute to the community. Now, as they begin to get back to their day jobs, we celebrate some of the inspirational companies who’ve gone above and beyond to help others during the coronavirus crisis.
‘I took a supermarket job to save my company’
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill in front of a portrait of one of his Fear ancestors
When the managing director of one of Britain’s oldest watchmakers locked his office door for the final time as the country went into lockdown, he took a moment to look at a portrait on the wall.
It was of his great-great-great-grandfather, Edwin Fear, who had launched the eponymous firm in 1846, when Queen Victoria was only a few years into her reign.
“Since then, Fears has survived two world wars, Spanish flu and the Great Depression,” says his descendant Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, 33, who now runs the company. “As I closed my office that night, not knowing if I’d be returning, I looked at his portrait and thought, ‘I’m going to do this and get my company through it’.”
And he did, in the most extraordinary and selfless way.
That night, unable to sleep, Nicholas composed his CV and the next day took it round to every supermarket near his home in Canterbury, Kent.
He’d worked out that if he didn’t take a salary during lockdown, cash reserves meant he could continue to pay his three staff and watchmaker until mid-August. But if he got another job, he could keep the prestigious firm – whose watches sell for around £3,000 each – going for even longer.
“That Monday, Asda called to offer me the 2am–8am shift five days a week,” says Nicholas. “It was walking around the aisles fulfilling their home-delivery orders.
‘I’m going to do this and get my company through it,’ says Nicholas Bowman-Scargill
“For the next two months, I’d get up at half-past midnight, walk to work – my car broke down that first week and no garage was open to fix it – come home, get an hour’s sleep then get up again and run Fears until 5pm then go back to bed.
“Working at Asda was tough – I did 16,000 steps a shift and have never been so fit and healthy. But the moment I got that first pay cheque, it was absolutely worth it.
“I needed a bit for our own personal bills, and the rest I could put back into the business.”
Despite the exhaustion, Nicholas had no regrets.
“I had a few friends message me to say, ‘What an absolute comedown for you’,” he says. “But it wasn’t a case of, ‘This is beneath me’ – I was glad of the work.”
He spent two months working for just above the minimum wage before leaving when business at Fears began to improve.
“In March we were looking at having our best year yet, with several new product launches,” says Nicholas. “But in April we made just £145 in sales, which is petrifying.
“However, that month we started to get more inquiries, and in May they started turning into orders.”
Throughout the hardship, one thing spurred Nicholas on. “Our 175th anniversary is in January 2021, and even if the entire economic system collapses, we still have to be going!”
The fogging machine that kills coronavirus
Micro-Fresh co-founder Bryon Dixon and chief commercial officer Jigna Varu
When lockdown began and hand sanitiser became almost as precious as gold, hygiene experts at Micro-Fresh realised they could help other businesses by producing their own.
Within 24 hours, the company had developed a spray for hands and surfaces, which they donated to hospitals, care homes and charities.
Soon the Leicester-based firm, which usually makes anti-fungal technology to keep items such as bedding, shoes and sportswear fresh, had branched out into making face masks.
Not only that, it has now produced a “fogging machine” that kills any viruses in the air, and could help make it safe for us to go back to our gyms, restaurants and salons in the near future.
“When lockdown was announced, we decided to support the business community by pivoting into products applicable to the situation,” says chief commercial officer Jigna Varu.
“We were acutely aware of the needs of the front-line staff who were fighting for their own safety, and we did not want them to be in a compromised position.
“Within 24 hours, we had formulated our version of a hand-sanitising spray, which proved popular as we are a trusted brand in hygiene.”
This impressive pivot meant that not only did the company not have to furlough any staff, they actually had to take on some extra workers. It also led to requests for more products.
“We were constantly receiving enquiries about other personal protective products,” says Jigna.
The Micro-fresh Sanitaze fogging machine
“Since we were in the textile market already, we started manufacturing masks.
“They are durable, reusable and can last up to 100 washes – with weekly washing, that’s up to two years’ wear. We are all about sustainability and innovation.”
Micro-Fresh is now going back to making its usual anti-fungal technology but with a slight difference – one unexpected benefit of recent experience is that the firm has found out its product is also anti-viral. And it doesn’t just guard against Covid-19.
“It can protect against pathogens such as MRSA, E-coli, salmonella and listeria,” says Jigna.
“As retailers and offices are now looking to return to work, the question of how to ensure our workplaces are as hygienic as possible arises, and we were asked about the possibility of Micro-Fresh on as many surfaces as feasible.”
So the firm developed Sanitaze, a portable fogging machine that kills viruses and bacteria in the air, while depositing a layer of Micro-Fresh over all the surfaces in the area to prevent germs being spread.
“Restaurants, gyms, salons – so many businesses looking to reopen have shown interest,” says Jigna. “Within two weeks of speaking to local people about Sanitaze, we had to set up a separate entity within the business.”
The campervans that saved a care home from coronavirus
Mark Jarrett and girlfriend Alicia, owners of Highland Auto Campers
When Covid-19 was first recorded in Inverness earlier this year, care home manager Victoria Connolly was absolutely determined none of her residents would catch the virus.
So she did something extraordinary: she asked her staff if any would be prepared to give up their family life for several weeks and live in.
Incredibly, 14 selfless volunteers agreed, meaning that no one would be coming from outside into the Isobel Fraser care home, and risk spreading the virus among the 27 vulnerable residents.
But then Victoria had another problem – where to house them. “There are a couple of rooms upstairs I could fit six people into,” says the 38-year-old.
“Then I thought, ‘Where am I going to put everyone else?’ I have a friend with a campervan, so I asked her if we could use it. She agreed but I needed more, so she suggested I hire one.”
Victoria called Highland Auto Campers, where owner Mark Jarratt immediately agreed to supply three vans – one brand new, two just a year old – at cost.
“We just wanted to help,” says Mark, 44. “The campervans were sitting quarantined, and it’s good to do something for the community.” While the vans – called Hector, Ruby and Oscar – usually rent for £130 a night, the home paid just £250 a week for each.
“We gave them a thorough clean before driving them over and setting them up,” says Mark.
The Highland Auto Campers campervans that saved Isobel Fraser care home
Six people stayed in the vans for the next three to five weeks.
“They really enjoyed it,” says Victoria. “The vans were warm and comfortable – most have said they’d take them out on holiday!”
Most importantly, their sacrifice was worthwhile – no one at the home has yet contracted the virus.
“We would have done anything to keep the residents safe,” says Victoria, who left her own husband and two young children to live in.
“I was terrified the virus would get in, and as soon as it does, it seems to spread really fast.”
Now Ruby, Oscar and Hector are back at Highland Auto Campers, raring to go as soon as campsites reopen. While they were almost fully booked for spring, the company had to turn customers away. They are now taking bookings from mid-July.
“We were proud to be able to help,” says Mark. “We had great feedback from the care home, local people and lots of our previous and potential customers. We’re a fledgling business, and it gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling.”
Behold The Doghouse, the back garden pub lovingly crafted by Steve Sweet, 55 (Picture: Steve Sweet / SWNS.COM)
When man can’t go to the pub in lockdown, the pub must come to the man.
Like so many of us, brewery worker Steve Sweet, 55, was missing the pub amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But rather than bulk ordering craft beers or organising nightly Zoom sessions to compensate, Steve decided to just go ahead and make his dream bar in the back garden.
The completed pub, called The Doghouse, is a converted shed in Steve’s garden and has beer on draft, bar snacks, music, and a dart board.
There’s even a water feature made out of Jack Daniel’s bottles, forming a functioning waterfall. What could be more relaxing than that?
Steve, who works at Fuller’s Brewery in Chiswick, spent months converting the shed into his local and a further weekend constructing the amazing Jack Daniel’s fountain.
He said: ‘I always fancied a personal pub. It’s great to have somewhere to spend time with friends and family.
‘Since the lockdown and pubs being closed, it’s definitely been one of my better ideas.
Inside there’s beer on on draft, bar snacks, and a dart board (Picture: Steve Sweet / SWNS.COM)
‘I already had a shed, but the deconstruction and reconstruction of the man cave took about six months.’
After completing the hard work on the pub, Steve, who lives in Uxbridge, London, chose to make something special as the crowning glory: a mini water fountain with old drinks bottles.
‘The fountain took a weekend to put together and has attracted so much attention on social media,’ he said.
‘The main features of my bar are the Asahi dry on draught, closely followed by the TV and surround sound system and my Jack Daniel’s fountain.
Steve used soy sauce to colour the water in his makeshift fountain (Picture: Steve Sweet / SWNS.COM)
‘I started putting the Jack fountain together a couple of weekends ago. I had all the materials.
‘So I was working on it and about halfway through my mother came out because she lives in a the granny Annex at the side of the house.
‘She started asking what I was doing, so I tried to explain. Halfway through trying to explain she just looked up and said ‘that will never work’ and walked back inside.
‘I just had to laugh at the lack of encouragement. Thanks mum! Basically, it’s water with soya sauce to make it look like Jack Daniel’s.’
Have you completed a DIY project in lockdown you fancy sharing?
What does space smell like? (Picture: Eaue De Space/Metro.co.uk)
Ever wondered what space – you know, the greater universe outside planet Earth – smells like?
Ever wanted to wear that smell?
Well, Nasa, along with expert perfumers, have answered your (slightly niche) calls, unveiling Eau De Space – a perfume, as the name likely gives away, designed to smell like space.
For clarity, this isn’t meant to compete with your fanciest Diptyque fragrance. We’re not sure this scent is particularly nice.
The perfume was initially created decades ago by Nasa themselves, who developed the smell of space to help prepare astronauts before they went out to orbit – the idea being that any surprise, including a strange smell, could derail their mission.
Now, years later, a team has picked that scent back up and launched a Kickstarter, with the aim of bringing the perfume to the masses.
Eau De Space has been developed by Steve Pearce, a chemist and the founder of Omega Ingredients, who partnered expert perfumers to bottle the smell of space… without actually having to hop in a rocket and escape the atmosphere.
So, the big question: what does space smell like?
Astronauts have described the smell as seared steak, raspberries, and rum – and that description matches up with the scent of Eau De Space.
See what we mean about this not necessarily being a replacement for your everyday perfume?
Bonus notes: it’s vegan, so we don’t think steak has actually been used in the making of the fragrance.
The Kickstarter launched with a goal of £1,591 to fulfil the minimum order quantity, but at the time of writing has already had 2,366 backers fronting up more than £70,000 total.
If you donate $15 (around £12) you’ll get sent your own bottle of Eau De Space, to be delivered in October 2020, and your money will be matched with a donation to support a STEM programme in schools. Nice.
Cute packaging, right? (Picture: Eau De Space)
‘Decades ago, NASA contracted specialists to developed the “smell of space” to help train astronauts before launch into orbit,’ reads the Kickstarter page. ‘NASA’s goal of simulating Space during training is to eliminate any surprises Astronauts might experience in Outer Space. Practice makes perfect, and it is Rocket Science.
‘The Smell of Space has been locked behind “Need to Know”, Astronaut only field training, and Red Tape for years. Through shear determination, grit, a lot of luck, and a couple of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, we got it out. We’ve all had Space Ice Cream…this takes it a step further.
‘We’ve partnered with award winning perfumers, some of the best in the world, and secured the rights to launch this product exclusively. Our team consists of top Fashion, Tech, Design, and Logistics experience–all with a desire to increase STEM through experiential education. “Eau de Space” is our first product launch under this important initiative, and we hope there will be many more.’
Sam almost lost herself when postnatal depression hit – but strength training was her saviour (Picture: Sam Mohamed-Ali)
Sam Mohamed-Ali knows that strength is a mental battle as well as physical one – because she has lived through that struggle and come through the other side.
The single mother of two from Edmonton, London, was plunged into a deep depression after the birth of her second child and struggled with her weight and physical health.
But rediscovering a love of fitness and strength training helped her turn her life around – and now she’s a full-time training instructor who focuses on support ing other women through difficult times.
‘My early memories of fitness are of taking part in physical classes,’ Sam tells Metro.co.uk. ‘I loved dancing and I was a big fan of tap dancing classes, and I even endured ballet, which I wasn’t really a fan of.
‘At primary school, I devoured any opportunity to be part of the sports classes, and enthusiastically joined the swimming team, rounder’s team, netball team. I just wanted to be part of everything, not necessarily because I was good, but because I just loved being part of a team. I wanted to excel at everything I tried.’
But at secondary school, everything changed and Sam’s confidence plummeted.
‘I was one of the shortest girls, and I felt like I didn’t fit in,’ she explains. ‘I didn’t feel good enough or strong enough.
‘Outside of school, things were different and the swimming club beckoned where I was wining medals, but school activities were strictly more academic and creative like Irish dancing, school plays and steel pans.
‘My love of swimming lasted until puberty kicked in, at around 14, when the painful self-awareness and self-confidence ground all sports – including swimming – to a halt.’
Sam (right) with her gym friends (Picture: Sam Mohamed-Ali)
As she got older, there were too many distractions – in the form of college, her friends and clubbing – to find the space to stay active.
After Sam had her first child, she did try to go to the gym, but she couldn’t maintain a regular schedule with the pressures of work and single motherhood, so her fitness was really patchy.
After the second baby, things took a real turn for the worse.
‘I was on autopilot, doing everything – cooking, cleaning, working, looking after the baby and my older daughter – and I didn’t really share how I felt with family,’ says Sam. ‘The focus was my children and family, and my friends not really aware of how I was struggling inside.’
Sam didn’t realise it, but she was suffering from postnatal depression. She was bringing up her children as the main co-parent, and she felt the energy and motivation drowning inside of her – but on the surface, nobody had a clue.
‘I describe it a bit like wearing a mask,’ says Sam. ‘You have coffee with other mums, going through the motions of sharing stories about the joys of children, but steering the conversation away from deeper conversations about well-being.
‘And awareness about mental illness was less documented then. I felt lonely and confused.’
Sam says her hardest moments were when the children were in bed, she says she felt like she would be crushed by the weight of her loneliness.
‘I was left with my thoughts, the mask dropped, and all the negativity and worries spiralled out of control.’
And Sam’s illness started to impact her physical health. She couldn’t find the motivation to be active and she started putting on weight. She didn’t mind the extra weight at first, but it was a wake-up call at a family gathering that told her she had to start being healthier.
‘My favourite music was playing, but I couldn’t bring myself to dance,’ says Sam.
‘This was really troubling from someone who has always loved nothing more than a good dance. I felt paralysed.
‘In that moment I decided I wanted to regain control – I decided to lose the weight there and then, and immediately signed up to a local gym.
Sam was on a mission to change her lifestyle (Picture: Sam Mohamed-Ali)
‘It was the weekend, and by the Monday I was taking part in the exercise classes – often doing classes back to back, and repeating them several times a week.’
But Sam didn’t have the healthiest approach to this new lifestyle and she took things too far in the opposite direction initially.
‘I trawled the internet for guidance and weight loss and radically altered my diet, cutting carbs, doubling portions of vegetables, focusing on proteins,’ she says. ‘I became obsessed!
‘My weight dropped from a 16 to a size 8 in six months, that’s not healthy at all.
‘I just didn’t realise about how much weight I had lost and an aunty in the family said I was painfully thin and that I should put on weight. I took a good look in the mirror, the first for a long time and saw myself properly and didn’t like what I saw.
‘I didn’t know what to do, but after more internet searching it felt like weights and strength training may be the answer.’
In the classes that Sam runs now at The Bridge, she says the biggest concern women have is that weight training will make them look like body builders – which she says is a total myth.
She also thinks it’s vital to have a goal that isn’t aesthetic when it comes to working out – because health is a much bigger picture than simply how you look.
‘When I really got serious about health rather than body shape, I attended a YMCA gym, I was also training as a volunteer fitness coach and I could see some women lifting weights incorrectly,’ says Sam.
‘I was soaking up as much knowledge as I could as part of a volunteer scheme, so I started working there and supporting an exercise referral scheme. It was not an average gym as many visitors were referred by medical practitioners to support their health.
‘Some had illnesses, some were up to 70 years old, some were supported with programmes to ease them off medication, or help with depression, arthritis, low immune system, and also those who are isolated.
‘It really opened my eyes to why people may use gyms and how I could help people live healthier and happy lives.’
The volunteer training courses built up Sam’s confidence – and she desperately wanted to help other people to take control of their health, but she had two children to think about. She found that gyms require you to work antisocial shifts and don’t allow flexible hours.
‘When I discovered The Bridge, all my dreams came true, they offered me a job that let me work shifts to tie in with my childcare issues and they run a woman-only gym – which is often a real driver in getting women who may lack confidence into gyms,’ she says.
Sam with her fellow female instructors from The Bridge (Picture: The Bridge)
‘They also do a lot of work offering support to women who have mental or physical health medical problems, taking referrals from doctors to support women with chronic health conditions. I now work with women who have been desperate to get a gastric band, or have tried to starve themselves in the past. I coach them in learning about their bodies.’
Sam teaches women just how important it is to build long-term strength, particularly as we age. She wants to teach as many women as possible to never be afraid of the weights room again.
‘As we get older, our bones start to crumble,’ says Sam. ‘Once we are heading over 40, osteoporosis can set in. But weight-based exercise can support strong bones and encourage them to repair – it also encourages people to feel stronger in themselves – not least because the endorphins kick in helps feel good.
‘You will always feel better about going to the gym after a visit, even if you don’t want to go – and if you leave it a few weeks you’ll get stiff.’
Sam says the key is to be regular and disciplined with your schedule. Make fitness and working out a habit and find a way to make it a priority in your schedule.
‘Try to go three times a week if possible – try to do something every day,’ she says.
‘But the secret of good health is finding an activity you love – if clubbing is your thing and you are always first on the dance floor, just move around.
‘Find things you really, really, love. Some people love going to the gym – particularly if it’s a warm and welcoming place. I don’t really enjoy the gyms that make you feel like everything is a contest and you are on show.
‘The Bridge Gym in Southwark is a welcoming and inclusive space for everyone to feel welcome and supported. My aim as an instructor is to ensure that people understand what will support their body, and maintain their body to the peak of good health.’
Strong Women
Strong Women is a weekly series that champions diversity in the world of sport and fitness.
A Sport England study found that 40% of women were avoiding physical activity due to a fear of judgement.
But, contrary to the limited images we so often see, women of any age, size, race or ability can be active and enjoy sport and fitness.
We hope that by normalising diverse depictions of women who are fit, strong and love their bodies, we will empower all women to shed their self-consciousness when it comes to getting active.
Each week we talk to women who are redefining what it means to be strong and achieving incredible things.
Are you a woman redefining what it means to be strong? We want to hear from you.
