June 2020 was a challenging month. Alongside the Covid-19 pandemic, Black people protested in the streets and on social media to denounce racism.

The revolution has extended to one critical area: the workplace.

Racism permeates all areas of life, so we’ve seen the movement inspire visible reckoning calls across the corporate world – and rightly so. Creating brand messaging in favour of the Black Lives Matter movement is admirable, but now it is crucial to create long-term diversity and inclusion measures that ensure Black employees are valued.

After all, most of the week is spent at work. It is hard to watch people who look like you being murdered while completing a deadline or delivering a presentation. More needs to be done to support Black employees.

While BLM discussion in your social media feeds may be waning, the movement has only just begun, with Black employees still discussing what support looks like to them. Employees from various industries share what should come next.

‘Create long-term strategies’ – a 28-year-old in the Civil Service

‘The public sector takes pride in racial equality, but in the last month I have experienced anger, loneliness, but most of all disappointment.

‘We had a discussion with senior officials – who are all white – but I felt like no one was really listening to what I said. I left the meeting feeling deflated, not knowing what was to come.

‘Short-term support feels like a box-ticking exercise. For real change, I want to see a carefully-planned strategy. I want to see quarterly town halls where Black employees can stress their concerns, compulsory racism and microaggression training, and the prioritisation of senior-level Black recruitment.

‘I would also feel supported if I could see what my employer is doing beyond the office. Prioritising longer-term diversity within the workforce by going to local communities and schools will help bring exposure to industries that Black people are less likely to consider due to the lack of representation. This will ensure policymaking can become representative of all races in the years to come.’

‘Track data to make targets’ – a 39-year-old in the entertainment industry

‘It is demoralising to know that despite my efforts to focus attention on racial disparities at work, it took the death of George Floyd for our leadership to stop and really start to listen. We had been calling for the business to better understand employee demographics for years. Without this data, it is impossible to create an action plan. If there is no target, there is nothing to aim for.

‘Supporting employees through people management is undervalued once we are in the building. Line managers, especially if they are only a level or two above a direct report, can consciously or unconsciously hinder someone’s career. Moving career and development discussions from line managers to other trained senior colleagues who work closely with HR could encourage more constructive discussions.’

‘Address equity by setting targets’ – a 30-year-old in media

‘My company has removed its head from the sand. We actually have a more diverse team than most and I was promoted to the board five years ago, but the subject of race was never openly discussed until I wrote an article on Black Lives Matter that gained a lot of traction.

‘We have since shifted to active awareness and engaged in company-wide educational conversations on topics such as unconscious bias and privilege.

‘In the short-term, it is everyone’s responsibility to be aware and honestly listen to what we are saying. For senior leaders specifically, the needle needs to shift from awareness to boldly addressing equity. Leaders need to set targets to eradicate ethnicity pay gaps and invest- money & energy in change by hiring diversity advisors and creating robust policies.

‘In the long-term, we need active affirmative action programmes to embed diversity into the org-culture. We must ensure Black talent is recruited, rewarded and raised to leadership. This includes mentoring and creating specific programmes that support Black employees.’

‘Listen to your Black employees’ – a 26-year-old in marketing

‘My company has ignored everything that is going on and it has made me feel unsettled. Honestly, I am considering leaving my job.

‘My company has ignored the Black Lives Matter movement, and on multiple occasions, my cry for change. As the only non-white female in the workplace, I do not feel comfortable, valued or that I have a voice.

‘I want to see my company prioritise diverse recruitment on all levels, followed by focus groups to understand what we need so we can hold them accountable. Compulsory workshops must be created to educate employees on the impact of racism on our society today. Microaggression seminars are good to start with.

‘I also want to know that I will be able to progress here despite my challenges as a Black woman. I want to see career development programmes to even out the playing field.’

‘Ensure diversity schemes are supported by all’ – a 26-year-old in financial services

‘I was not impressed with how slow my firm was to react to the Black Lives Matter movement. But for the Black community, it was like time stood still. While this was not the first incident and it will not be the last, it was the one that broke the camel’s back. I remember thinking “despite being in lockdown, despite going through a global pandemic, racism is still killing us”.

‘One week later, my firm pushed out a statement that was flimsy and failed to address the real issues. Many of us made our anger apparent; we made sure we were heard and did not hold back. The firm finally realised that we could not be ignored any longer. So they arranged meetings, webinars and calls.

‘The ball is now rolling. Schemes and initiatives have been put in place. But to feel supported as a Black employee, I want open dialogue because these schemes mean nothing if non-Black employees are not buying into them.

‘I want to see change at all levels, including discussing issues at our desks and in our team meetings. But to be truly candid, I need reassurance that I will not be punished for sharing my story.’

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Lululemon is seen as an aspirational activewear brand, with leggings sometimes costing upwards of £100 and normally spotted in fitness centres like SoulCycle and Bodyism.

Fans of the brand are currently able to get their gym gear fix for less, though, as Lululemon is having a massive sale to clear stock.

From sports bras to shorts to water bottle, over 1,000 products are featured in the ‘we made too much’ sale, and the discounts see items going from under £20 in some cases.

The Wunder Under leggings tend to be thought of as Lululemon’s hero item, sitting tight on your skin and high on the waist (with a no-dig band) so you can yoga or run or just go about your day in comfort and style. These normally retail for £78, but are currently available for £44 in some colours.

For a more ‘naked’ feel, go for the Align leggings, which are made with a sweat-wicking four-way-stretch fabric that’s designed to feel like a ‘second skin’. These normally go for £88, but some colours are in the sale at £44.

It’s not just women’s styles either. Boxers are from £9 at the moment, with different fabrics (mainly focused on sweat-wicking and comfort) to choose from.

The Lululemon Commission trousers are another interesting buy. Down from £118 to £74, these formal-style trousers are ideal for folks that want to look smart but don’t skip leg day.

They have a generous cut around the glutes and quads, and even have something called ABC (anti ball crushing) technology for more room in the crotch. You can flip the hems up to reveal reflective panels, so if you switch from city mode to country mode you can be seen in the dark.

One of the biggest drawbacks about Lululemon’s sale is that women’s sizes only go up to a US12 (UK14) and men’s to a 38 waist. That leaves out quite a few of us who want to look cool while we get sweaty. But alas.

If you’d like to shop the sale, you can do so here. Many items are selling out quickly, so keep that in mind if you have something you feel you desparately want.

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When Cali was saved from life on the streets, staff at Mayhew immediately noticed the right side of his face was swollen.

They assumed this was down to an infected cat bite, but were shocked to find out the true cause: Cali had eaten a needle and thread.

The needle and thread had tangled around a wad of fur stuck in the back of his throat. That sounds bad, we know, but Cali was actually incredibly lucky – the needle could have easily pierced his throat or stomach or caused him to choke, so the fact it only caused swelling, and that his issue was spotted in time, means his life was saved.

Thankfully, vets at the shelter were able to quickly extract the needle and thread before it caused any damage.

They then cleaned Cali’s abscess and removed some necrotic tissue before giving him antibiotics and pain relief and settling him into his own little cabin in the cattery to recover.

Despite his injuries and time spent on the streets, Cali was calm and friendly with staff at the cattery and even accepted some strokes.

Over the course of a week, Cali was able to recover and didn’t seem to experience any aftereffects of his forbidden snack. His appetite was normal and he easily cleared his bowl each time he was fed.

Cali still needs some more time to recover and recuperate, but will soon be available for rehoming.

He’s a little quiet after his ordeal, but loves to sit on laps and seems comfortable with people.

To anyone who ends up adopting him, we gently suggest keeping any needles and thread in a proper sewing box, stashed out of Cali’s reach. He’s a lucky cat, but there’s really no need to test fate any further.

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Like many other boozers, Wetherspoons reopened last weekend as lockdown restrictions were lifted further – but it’s not been an easy ride for the pub chain.

Back in March, while waiting for the government’s furlough scheme to kick in, chairman Tim Martin faced intense public backlash after reportedly telling his 34,000 team members they would not paid in the interim, and encouraging them to apply for jobs elsewhere.

Many pub-goers warned that they would neither forgive nor forget how the chain had chosen to treat its staff during the pandemic – and it appears this could indeed be the case.

Introducing ‘Neverspoons’: an app that shows the location of independent pubs near Wetherspoons – so that punters can avoid the chain and support local businesses instead.

On the live map, you can see green pins – signifying independent pubs – while Wetherspoons are marked with red pins.

If you prefer, you can also flick through a list of Wetherspoons in the vicinity and will then be presented with other options.

‘There are too many of these former pubs in amazing buildings, now derelict, that used to be the central hub for a lot of communities,’ said Shane Jones, who developed the app.

‘If you can put some money in the till of a smaller independent pub through the use of this app, then it’s done the job I intended it to.’

Creators of the app also said that they launched Neverspoons in direct response to the events in March, which includes the company refusing to pay its suppliers until lockdown had ended.

Trouble could be brewing on the horizon for Wetherspoons, as people take to Twitter to praise the map.

‘Neverspoons cracking idea, get it right up the greedy bastard,’ tweeted one person.

‘Never give “spoons” pubs your business again with the Neverspoons app. Stick together people and boycott greedy business owners who sacked staff in a pandemic and left them with nothing,’ wrote someone else.

Another pub-goer tweeted: ‘I’m here for the Neverspoons app.’

The Neverspoons app can be downloaded through App Store or Google Play, and is free to use.

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When you’re on a date, that elusive spark can be hard to grasp.

Sure, you think this person is wonderful, but do they think the same of you? Are they feeling that immediate attraction and physical connection?

No one likes thinking everything’s going great only to get ghosted or led on by someone who says all the right things but has no intention of taking things further.

Knowing how someone actually feels can be even harder to judge when we’re continuing to date over video chat (apparently we’re more open to virtual dating post-lockdown).

To help us all be better judges of how the person we’re dating actually feels about us, we chatted with Lily Walford, a dating coach and the founder of Love With Intelligence.

As a trained behavioural profiler, Lily knows how to read people’s body language and figure out how they’re really feeling. Below she points to the behavioural signs that someone just isn’t that into you, that you can easily spot over video call and IRL.

They protect vulnerable areas

‘When we’re stressed or scared, we change our body to protect areas where we have major arteries that could be vulnerable,’ says Lily. ‘This natural instinct is a perfect giveaway when someone’s feeling stressed or emotionally vulnerable.

‘Whether it’s raised shoulders, arms pressed against the torso or fingers curled into the palms, there’s a lot of telling signs to look out for.

‘These are all red flags that someone feels uncomfortable with a certain topic or question.

‘However, when someone is feeling confident and responsive, their body language will open up, which are all good signs someone feels genuinely comfortable with you.’

Keep an eye out for crossed arms, tense shoulders, and closed fists. This might be a sign that they’re uncomfortable with the current topic of conversation, but may also mean they’re closing themselves off to an emotional connection.

They do a dominant shoulder retreat

An easy way to spot if the person you’re chatting to doesn’t agree with or like what you’re saying: they position themselves in a fighting stance.

‘When we’re feeling hidden objections, we pull our body into a fighting stance,’ Lily explains. ‘Imagine a boxer ready to fight with his dominant leg and shoulder back. It doesn’t mean they are literally going to fight with you but it’s natural instinct that will flag someone objects to what you’re saying.’

There’s a single-sided shrug

If you don’t trust that the person you’re chatting to is being genuine and honest, keep an eye out for the single-shoulder shrug.

Apparently this is the body’s way of showing ‘I don’t believe what I’m saying’.

They cover or touch their mouth

Another sign of deception is ‘hushing’, when someone is always covering and touching their mouth.

Lily says: ‘This is another natural instinct we’ve been doing since we were young. Imagine a child who has just learnt to swear. They know it’s bad, so they cover their mouth to hide what they’re saying. We don’t unlearn this.’

Their blinking is speedy

Please don’t start counting and noting down every one of your date’s blinks, but this is something you’ll start to notice now we’ve mentioned it.

‘When we’re interested in something, our blink rate slows down,’ says Lily. ‘If you notice this happening, you know you’re saying things that really resonate with your date.

‘Of course, you don’t need to make it your mission to count exactly many times someone’s blinked, but if you’re aware of how little or often it is, you’ll be able to tell whether they are genuinely interested in the conversation.’

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Step aside Colin, there’s a new cake in town.

The caterpillar-shaped dessert from Marks & Spencer which has become a staple at office birthdays and children’s parties has new competition.

Please welcome the latest animal-shaped dessert: Sid the Sausage Dog.

Sold at Asda, the Dachshund-themed treat is a foot and a half long – that’s big enough for 24 people to nab a slice (if it’s divided evenly, that is).

Similarly to Colin, Sid is made from a soft chocolate sponge, stuffed with chocolate buttercream.

He too has a milk chocolate shell.

However, rather than sugar-coated milk chocolate beans in different colours, Sid has been decorated with edible chocolate flakes and white stripes.

And of course, he has puppy-dog eyes and an adorable snout.

Sid the Sausage Dog will be sold at £12 and can be found online or in selected Asda stores from 13 July.

‘We know our customers love a novelty cake that injects plenty of fun into special celebrations at an affordable price!,’ said Becky Price, Asda’s product development manager for cakes.

‘We’ve seen a rising demand from our customers for sausage dog-themed products, so Sid is a great addition to our celebration cake range and is sure to become one popular pooch!’

In other food news, Oatly has just released a new dairy-free yogurt, aptly named Oat-gurt.

Made with oats and no milk, the product contains unsaturated fat – which means it’s better for you than what you’d get from dairy products.

The new product range includes four flavours – Plain, Strawberry, Blueberry and Greek Style, and is available in Tesco now.

Apparently, it tastes just like regular yogurt, according to its creators.

Pass us a spoon.

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Of all the symbols in this world that has the power to shock, the swastika is right up there.

Although the symbol used by the Nazis was co-opted from a Buddhist symbol representing prosperity (the Sanskrit word svastika loosely translates to ‘conducive to wellbeing’), it has become something that for many represents horrific events such as the Holocaust.

Retailer SHEIN has recently apologised after customer complaints about a necklace they were selling showing the symbol.

The necklace, which was on sale for $2.50, was labelled as a ‘swastika pendant necklace’ and has since been removed from the site.

A number of influencers and groups focused on ending antisemitism spoke up about the item, with one such campaigning page saying: ‘We demand that #shein IMMEDIATELY remove this item from their website as it represents the mass murder of millions.’

Influencer Marissa Casey Grossman, who goes by the handle Fashionambitionist, said: ‘HOLY F***. I have zero words. I will NEVER be buying from [SHEIN] EVER again. This is a company that I’ve bought from so much over the years and to see this is ABSOLUTELY disgusting.’

On a post on fashion page Diet Prada about the scandal, Marc Jacobs replied ‘Heinous’ to the photo.

A spokesperson for SHEIN told Buzzfeed News that the necklace actually featured ‘a Buddhist swastika which has symbolized spirituality and good fortune for more than a thousand years.’

It was highlighted by the brand that the Nazi version goes clockwise, whereas the traditional religious version is anti-clockwise.

They continued: ‘However, because we understand the two symbols can be confused, and one is highly offensive, we have removed the product from our site.

‘As a multicultural and global brand, we want to apologize profusely to those who are offended, we are sensitive to these issues and want to be very clear that we in no way support or condone racial, cultural and religious prejudice or hostility.

‘We are actively working through our internal structure and processes to resolve these issues, including a product review committee to ensure that we respect our diverse community.

‘We are a global and all-inclusive brand and we are taking extreme measures to ensure that all items are cleared through a rigorous vetting process before we retail them.’

This comes after a previous controversy for the brand, after they were found to be selling Muslim prayer mats as decorative rugs.

Writer Khadija Rizxi – who first noted the products in SHEIN’s homeware section – stated: ‘I was so incredibly offended and hurt that a piece of my religion, something we pray on 5 times a day, was being used as a casual mat for regular use — when at home we treat it with the utmost respect.’

She wrote on her Instagram page: ‘I am disgusted. I am livid is [SHEIN] also PROFITING off muslim prayer mats (janemaz/sajadah) by selling them as ‘fringe trim carpets’ for people to use casually around the house.’

At the time, SHEIN said: ‘To our community – we made a serious mistake recently by selling prayer mats as decorative rugs on our site.

‘We understand this was a highly offensive oversight and we are truly sorry.’

The company removed the products from sale and claimed they had hired a committed product review team to ensure such mistakes would not happen again.

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We know there’s a lot going on in the world right now, but we have a very imporant question.

Look at the photo above. The one of the two zebras.

Which zebra has its head in front and is looking directly into the camera?

The answer might feel obvious. Perhaps you’ve looked at the ears to figure out which of the two zebras is striking a pose, or tried to decipher the shadow, or you just have a gut feeling that you just know is correct.

But it’s a question that has left people absolutely baffled, much like ‘the dress’, ‘the trainers’, and all those other strange optical illusions spread about the internet before them.

So let’s take a vote, before you scroll ahead for the answer. No cheating, please.

The photo, taken by wildlife Sarosh Lodhi in Maasai Mara, a game reserve in Narok, Kenya, has sparked debate after forest officer Parveen posted it on his Twitter page and asked his followers to determine which zebra is facing the front.

That tweet got thousands of responses from people adamant that it was the left zebra looking forward, and from people who couldn’t be convinced it wasn’t the right zebra facing the camera.

Then there were plenty of people who just couldn’t figure the optical illusion out.

Let’s put everyone out of their misery and clarify the answer. Ready?

*drum roll*

…

It’s the left zebra who’s facing forward. Sarosh has confirmed it, along with explaining that the image hasn’t been altered in any way.

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For months, we’ve been staring at cracked cuticles, broken acrylic nails and been in dire need of a relaxing massage (a pandemic is quite stress-inducing, you know).

Thankfully, it has recently been announced that nail, tanning and beauty salons, along with spas and tattoo parlours, will be allowed to reopen from Monday 13 July.

However, much like pubs, restaurants and other indoor spaces, these won’t look like we remembered – and not all types of treatments will be offered.

To find out more about what to expect when you go for your first mani-pedi since lockdown, we spoke to four salon owners.

Here’s what they told us.

Don’t expect to socialise…

If you’re hoping for a spa visit with your mates, you might be disappointed – as many salons are only accepting solo visitors, with the exception of children or carers.

In fact, the lockdown beauty experience as a whole will no longer be a sociable one, as beauticians will also be wearing masks and visors.

Sam Marshall, who runs The Beauty Guru in Salford, has eagerly been awaiting the green light from the government.

‘We are asking that clients arrive without friends accompanying, to reduce the number of people in the treatment room,’ she says.

‘Some salons are also asking clients not to bring coats or bags, as these might carry in the virus if they have been contaminated.

‘However it’s down to individuals and their practices, I still have space for my client’s belongings and will disinfect the space after each client.’

…but do expect a wait

Reopening may yet be a few days away, but salons are already taking bookings.

Get on it fast, or you might have to wait quite some time for an appointment.

‘We reopened our online booking system as soon as the government announcement was made and have received lots of appointment requests which is really encouraging’ says Lauren Williams, director of Grace London, which has 10 nail bars across London and Essex.

‘We’ve told our clients we won’t be accepting walk-ins to begin with and are opening for reduced hours with a limited capacity…’

Claudia Fallah, celebrity aesthetician and skincare specialist at Beyond MediSpa in Harvey Nichols, has also seen increased demand in the last few days.

‘As expected, some clients are very desperate to have their treatment after months of going without,’ she says.

‘That being said, others are still quite concerned and worried, and we don’t have the option to be running at full capacity, so it definitely won’t be the same business levels as pre-Covid.’

Share your health status

Similarly to the hospitality industry, people will also be required to share private details on arrival, but in more detail.

Sam adds: ‘We will be issuing health questionnaires on the day of treatments so we have the most up to date information from our clients.

‘We can then understand if they are at high risk, their current health status but also the health status of those in their bubble.

‘This is so if a client is a high risk we can adapt when their appointment is.’

Disinfection is priority number one

No need to bring your own anti-bacterial sprays or creams – salons are stocking up on copious amounts of cleaning products and PPE.

‘I have taken specific online COVID-safe courses to ensure I’m ready to welcome clients back,’ Chloé Bailey, owner of Hush Beauty and Training in Derby, says, who at present can only provide body waxing as facial treatments are not permitted.

‘I have invested in PPE, including visors, gloves, disposable aprons, wipeable couch covers, sterilising equipment sprays etc. I have always worked in a sterile environment before Covid-19, as have many who work in the beauty industry.

‘We will not have to change too much, but ensuring that staff and customers are as protected as they can be is of utmost importance in the current climate.’

Surfaces will also be cleaned between each client visit, as will touch points and other communal spaces.

Sam says: ‘We are cleaning between each client, I have opticide but some salons might also have barbicide.

‘They have different times that they need to be left on surfaces, and we will be disinfecting tabletops, client seats, and every touchpoint that a client might have come into contact with.

‘We are also now opening the window and door to increase the airflow.

‘During nail treatments, we will be using one file per client and then disposing of them.

‘This means buying in bulk, and we are also individually cutting buffers up to make pieces for different clients.’

There will also be screens in place and customers will need to wear a mask.

Lauren added: We’ve always operated with strict levels of hygiene practices such as sanitisation during treatments, thorough sterilisation of tools and thoroughly cleaning our stores several times a day.

‘However, in addition to this, we’ve had bespoke safety screens made to act as a barrier during manicure treatments (there is a gap for the client to pop their hands through) as well as full PPE for our technicians and social distancing measures in our stores.

‘We’ve put together a five-page risk assessment that every team member has read and received training on to ensure they feel confident in welcoming our clients back safely.’

What kind of beauty treatments will be offered?

While many treatments are back, there are some that the government still deems unsafe due to the risk of coronavirus spreading.

As expected, most are related to the face.

Claudia says: ‘We’re still offering the usual range of treatments, which includes advanced acne treatment designed to be used instead of steroids, cortisone or antibiotics, bio-revitalising skin repairs, non-surgical facelifts, milia removal, peels for rosacea sufferers and much, much more.

‘Thankfully, we haven’t been forced to remove any treatments from the range as we’re permitted to be using all of our equipment, so long as distancing / PPE / disinfection rules are adhered to.’

No more coffee or treats

Forget about small luxuries, there’ll be none of that (unless you bring your own snacks).

Sam says: ‘Unfortunately we can’t offer drinks or magazines anymore for our clients, so these will no longer be provided.

‘Whilst nail treatments and beauty services have changed to how clients remember them, they are safe and we are ready to welcome our clients back – we have missed you!’

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As gyms, pools, and public ponds reopen, swimming is finally an option once again.

For many, being able to take a dip in the water is a lifeline for mental and physical wellbeing, and going without a regular swim has been tough in lockdown.

But even as we let the relief of reopening wash over us, there’s still plenty of worry about how we can stay safe when we head to pools and open bodies of water.

The government may have given the go-ahead, but can we actually dive straight in without fear of catching coronavirus?

All public pools and ponds should have measures in place to make swimming as safe as possible, with government guidance asking establishments to limit the number of people in the water at any one time, ensuring enhanced cleaning procedures are followed, and tweaking queuing systems and changing room use to reduce contact.

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

But what can we do on an individual level to stay safe and feel confident getting back in the water? We chatted with medical experts for their advice.

Arrive already changed

Rather than faffing about in changing rooms, just stick your swimming costume on underneath your clothes before you leave the house.

Once you’re done, avoid spending ages in the changing room. You want to get out of there speedily to avoid mingling with others.

Minimise your risk getting to and from the pool

It doesn’t matter how careful you are once you’re in the pool if you’re exposing yourself to coronavirus on the way there and back.

Babylon’s GP Dr Keith Grimes tells Metro.co.uk: ‘We don’t currently have any evidence that a well-managed pool presents a risk of transmission of Covid-19, so you should try and minimise your risk getting to and from the pool – spread out the visits to quieter times, consider changing at home, and make sure you follow all the measures put in place at the leisure centres.’

That also means wearing a mask if you need to get public transport to your local pool.

Maintain distance in the water

Your chosen pool or pond should have limited the number of people in the body of water, but make sure you and your fellow swimmers aren’t getting too close and cosy.

‘In Europe and in France the recommended capacity is no more than one person per square metre of water,’ says Dr Sadaf Hussain, GP and CEO of ZoomClinic. ‘However, if you can maintain a greater distance such as 2 metres that would reduce the risk of spread further.’

Have a shower before and after

You’re supposed to do this regardless of the pandemic, but we know it’s easy to forget. Don’t forget now, when we’re trying to slow the spread of coronavirus and keep safe.

‘You can reduce the risk of Covid-19 spread by practices such as showering before and after swimming and washing your hands thoroughly,’ says Dr Sadaf.

Clean your swimming costume or trunks the moment you get home

As well as washing your body, you’ll need to make sure the clothes you wore outside, along with your swimwear, are thoroughly cleaned.

‘Once you come home ensure you wash all swimming suits with detergent and hot water,’ says Jana Abelovska, medical advisor at Click Pharmacy.

No splashing or shouting

‘I would avoid splashing too much around other people, avoid dipping your head under or swallowing too much pool water if you can,’ says Jana. ‘Also you must avoid shouting or screaming in the pool, and do not go near others who are doing this, especially children.

‘This is because virus particles will be able to travel from someone else’s mouth and potentially land on you or in your mouth, especially if you’re nearby.’

Bring hand sanitiser and wipes

While we’re sure you’re already washing your hands as much as possible, maintaining social distance, and wearing your face mask, make sure you don’t let your guard down just because you’re going to be in the water.

Bring hand sanitiser for the time you spend queuing up and sorting out your locker and so on, and wipe down any surfaces you touch with an antibacterial wipe.

Be careful with your stuff

As we mentioned, hanging out in communal areas such as changing rooms and by the lockers is to be avoided. Many pools will have closed down their changing rooms and lockers just to stop people doing this.

If you can leave your stuff in your car, that’s best. Ideally, you’ll not have any excess stuff with you, as you will have changed at home. If you do have bits with you, Jana recommends keeping everything in a ‘zipped-up bag, so they are not exposed to the air’.

If you bring a drink, make sure the lid and top area are clean and sanitised before you take a sip.

Once you get home, make sure everything you’ve taken to the pool and outside gets a proper wash.

Parvinder Sagoo, lead medical advisor at Simply Meds, says: ‘Bring a separate zip bag for your gym clothes, towel and equipment which will be exposed in the gym to other people and the equipment.

‘Do not leave any items out in the open where they are at risk of infection, so towel, clothes, shoes, swimming goggles and products, keep them in a zipped-up bag. Once you change out of your gym kit or swimming costume, put into a plastic bag and then again in a zipped-up bag so they are not out.

‘After your session make sure you change out of the clothes worn in the gym and put them in the zipped-up bag, I would then advise washing on a hot wash with good detergent to kill any potential harmful bacteria.’

Don’t wear a mask in the water

While you should wear your mask to and from the pool, wearing it in the water is pointless – and could be dangerous.

A sodden mask not only stops protecting you from coronavirus, but could also obstruct your breathing as you swim.

Take your own equipment

If you need floats, armbands, or anything else for yourself or your children, please don’t rely on shared items being available at the pool. Most places won’t be offering out shared items and if they are, you’re putting your trust in their sanitation procedures.

Your safest option is to bring along your own equipment that only you and your family use.

Don’t overtake

Getting up close and storming past someone in the pool is already a tad rude, but it should definitely be avoided amid coronavirus.

If you’re doing laps, you should be spaced out enough that you don’t need to overtake someone to make your way past.

Swim England recommends following one-way systems and sticking to lanes for specific speeds – if you change to a slower stroke as part of your session, move on over.

Don’t rush yourself

If the thought of heading to the pool terrifies you, don’t force yourself to head along just because swimming is an option again – and if you’re high risk, it’s still best to stay home.

And if you do head to your pool and don’t feel safe, whether that’s because safety precautions aren’t in place, it’s busier than you expected, or people aren’t maintaining social distance, don’t feel silly for turning back around.

Parvinder says: ‘When it comes to visiting sports centres, gyms and public swimming pools people will have to enter with extreme caution and only go back if they are comfortable and remain safe.

‘I would not advise anyone with underlying health issues or complications to visit the gyms or pools yet, or those who are a bit nervous.

‘The environment of a pool and gym are made so that people are able to perspire and expel bodily fluids freely, this could potentially mean that Covid-19 will be much easier to catch and transmit.’

Don’t pee, blow your nose, sneeze, or cough in the water

It’s not only gross, but dangerous. Plus just the sight of you doing something like this could make another swimmer feel incredibly panicked, ruining their time in the water.

Please don’t do it.

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When Macaire Everett her younger brother Camden were banned from seeing their friends because of the coronavirus outbreak, they were desperate for something to do. But instead of reaching for a smartphone, games console, or TV remote, Macaire, 14, and nine year-old Camden picked up a box of colored chalk and drew stunning trompe l’oeil (trick of the eye) murals on their driveway that saw Macaire and her brother travel the world from home, and become the talk of their town.

Talented artist Macaire, from Libertyville, Illinois, has used her incredible imagination to create a new chalk sketch for every day of lockdown, using her brother, Camden, as an explorer in each one. Their pandemic project has seen Cam travel across globe, from London to New York, India to Chicago and Sydney to Paris, as well go on adventures like scuba diving, rally racing and bungee jumping.

High school student, Macaire, said: ‘I was bored so I went into the garage to look for something to do and we had was all this chalk sitting in the garage that we weren’t using. I pulled it out and said, ‘Cam, I’m going to do a chalk drawing, I’ll draw some balloons and you will be holding them.

‘But when that one got washes away by the rain I did another one the next day, and it has just gone on from there. I wasn’t very good at the art to begin with but I have better and the drawing have got more unique.

‘No one usually comes to our part of the street, but since we started doing the drawings people have come up to our house especially to see our chalk.

‘Every single day Cam brings the drawings to life and it has made me and Cam really happy. Other people have said that it’s brightened up their day, too, so that’s what has given us the encouragement to keep going.’

What started out as aimless doodling for Macaire and Cam has evolved into into a breathtaking collection of unique and creative adventures, all drawn out using chalk crayons the pair found hidden away in an old box in their dad’s garage.

Macaire said she has always had a passion for art but never really practiced in her spare time, at least until the coronavirus pandemic hit. She admits her very first chalk sketch at the end of March – featuring Cam holding onto a handful of balloons – wasn’t anything special, but after 100 consecutive days of practice, Macraire has developed into a skillful sketcher.

Since March, the pair’s daily drawings have included things like The Great Wall of China, a UFO abduction, a trip to the cinema, walking with dinosaurs and even hanging out with the Beatles on Abbey Road. Cam has featured in every single sketch and Macaire has said the project has allowed them to strengthen their bond as brother and sister.

She said: ‘The chalk art has developed over time and Cam has traveled through the art. Every single day he brings it to life.

‘It has definitely been something fun for us to do together and it has brought us closer together. But it has been for other people too, and it’s made us happy to see other people smiling when they see what we’ve drawn.

‘We only started doing it because we were bored, but it has evolved so much and it has been amazing.’

Macaire and Cam penned their 100th chalk mural on July 4, coincidentally marking Independence Day, and since then they have scaled back the project slightly. From now on they will be creating a new piece of art every other day, and to date have made 103 different drawings.

Their parents have also had a role to play in keeping ‘Macaire’s Muse’, as the project has been coined, going for so long. Dad Matthew has had the important job of jet-washing the driveway every day so Macaire has a new workspace, whilst mom, Christine, has helped with brainstorming and buying more chalk.

And Christine has said not only has the project brought Macaire and Cam closer together, it has also allowed the family to strengthen their overall bond.

She said: ‘It’s been really amazing for me and Matthew to watch them run with this. We have provided as much moral support as we can.

‘It has brought our family closer together and has helped us to get through the lockdown. We have helped each other through it and we have been a proper team.

‘We will look back at this as a special time for us as a family.’

It was announced on Thursday that beauty salons in England will be able to open their doors again from Monday, July 13.

After being closed for lockdown for close to four months, this will likely come as welcome news to many who are missing their usual doses of professional grooming and self care, however there are still some restrictions in place.

Here’s the list of treatments which are so far not allowed when beauty salons and spas in England reopen…

What treatments won’t be allowed at beauty salons?

According to the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), which has worked with the Government to put together the rules for salons when they reopen, treatments on people’s faces will not be permitted.

This means that you will not be able to book things like following in England:

• Advanced facial (electrical or mechanical)
• Dermarolling or dermaplaning
• Electrolysis on the face
• Eyelash or eyebrow treatments
• Facial treatments
• Face waxing, threading or sugaring.
• Make-up application
• Microblading

On the flipside, when it comes to body treatments, anything goes.

This is because it’s considered high-risk to be close to another person’s face for an extended period of time, as coronavirus can spread through tiny droplets from one person’s nose or mouth.

The exceptions to this rule are ‘simple beard trims’ according to the BABTAC as well as fringe trimmings.

Plenty of salons will also not be letting friends come with customers, with Sam Marshall, of The Beauty Guru in Salford also telling us: ‘We are asking that clients arrive without friends accompanying, to reduce the number of people in the treatment room.

‘Some salons are also asking clients not to bring coats or bags, as these might carry in the virus if they have been contaminated.

‘However it’s down to individuals and their practices, I still have space for my client’s belongings and will disinfect the space after each client.’

You can also expect to find your beautician wearing PPE.

Chloé Bailey, owner of Hush Beauty and Training in Derby tells us: ‘I have invested in PPE, including visors, gloves, disposable aprons, wipeable couch covers, sterilising equipment sprays etc. I have always worked in a sterile environment before Covid-19, as have many who work in the beauty industry.

‘We will not have to change too much, but ensuring that staff and customers are as protected as they can be is of utmost importance in the current climate.’

When it comes to the other nations in the UK, hairdressers, salons and barbershops were able to open in Northern Ireland from Monday, 6 July, while in Wales they are set to reopen from 27 July.

In Scotland, beauty parlours will be able to reopen from July 22.

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You knew there’d probably be some racists in your Facebook friends list. 

The red flags might’ve started blowing during the winds of Brexit. A questionable post on immigration, a nasty meme, a suspicious number of St. George’s flag emojis. 

But the past few weeks really brought out people’s true colours. Many of us will have spent time laboriously debunking the ‘All Lives Matter’ slogan using the burning house analogy illustrated for primary school kids. Others will have lost hope and gone straight for the ‘unfriend’ button. 

But what if it’s the people closest to you holding beliefs that belong in the waters of Bristol Harbour? 

Engaging online with the girl you played netball with in Year 7 is one thing, but having uncomfortable, challenging conversations with the people you love considerably raises the stakes. 

Whether it’s social distancing measures, government policies or gender self-identification, the likelihood is that you won’t see eye to eye with everyone in your family. Long periods indoors together means more time for discussion, and an increased likelihood of it getting heated.  

At the end of the day, you can’t unfriend your mum, but I believe we have a duty to challenge our families nonetheless.

Over the years I’ve had plenty of discussions with my parents that have ended in a door slam or two, but they have been necessary – not just to get a better understanding of the world, but of each other. 

What about friends, though? Or, even more troublesome, partners?  

They’re the family you choose, yes, but it doesn’t make it any less difficult when they throw an outrageous opinion in your direction.  

We tend to gravitate towards people who share similar values to our own anyway and I like to think that my mates are all decent people (deep down). 

Besides, it would be boring if we all thought exactly the same way (I’m not talking about the racists here, they can absolutely get in the bin). 

Unlike friends, however, if the person you’re building a life with has opposite core values and beliefs to yours, it can have a much bigger impact on your existence. 

I dated someone in the not-distant-enough past whose views were dissimilar to my own. 

On our first date we discovered that we voted in different directions. ‘Not a big deal’ I thought. ‘It’s the same for my parents and they’ve been married 36 years. I’ll send him a good Momentum video or something, that’ll do the trick.’ Besides, he was extremely handsome. 

Over the first few weeks he dropped a few misogynistic tropes here and there, but what straight white man doesn’t, right? Like a gender-role-reversal of Pygmalion, I could educate him on how to speak in a ‘fairer’ manner. Besides, I didn’t want to re-download Hinge. 

The hardcore stuff came after a month. He recoiled at two men kissing on TV, then defended himself with: ‘I don’t want to see straight people kissing either’, despite his marked silence throughout The Notebook.  

As painful as it may be, some differences of opinion can be make or break

He was adamant that his future son should play with trucks over dolls, and showed grave concern that I would ‘turn a straight child gay’ by putting him in a dress. 

‘I’ll take him to Pride’ I decided, ‘then he’ll get it.’ My ovaries were slowly dying and I’d invested too much time in this guy to start all over again. I could miss the opportunity to have any kids at all, let alone one whose sexuality I could ‘convert’ with a floral garment. 

I told myself that if I was expecting him to stop being so narrow-minded then perhaps I needed to open my own mind a little bit more. Maybe I was the bigot? Maybe I was the one discriminating?

Or maybe I was flogging a dead horse. We were, quite simply, incompatible. 

In the final month came more clangers I struggled to look past. We argued, we debated, we discussed, and we were exhausted. Needless to say, we split up. 

Now arguably, we all have a duty to challenge not only those around us, but ourselves as well. Progress is infinite, after all – Grandma once thought she was woke too, remember. 

It’s all well and good telling your boyfriend/girlfriend/grandma what they can no longer say, but we must listen to others when they tell us that our own words are prejudicial, discriminate or hurtful.   

But if other people refuse to do the same? 

As painful as it may be, some differences of opinion can be make or break. Sacrificing your principles is denying a part of yourself, and that can’t lead to peace or happiness. 

Relationships are all about compromise. Challenging my principles is something I’m open to, but denying them is not. Painful as it may be, some differences in opinion are too substantial to work with.

So your dad’s a bigot… but you can’t have a new one, so you may as well have a go at changing his mind.

But you can change your partner. I’m not saying you should end a relationship as a signal of virtue to the rest of the world, but don’t exhaust yourself trying to see eye to eye with someone who prefers being wilfully blind.

It’s okay to give up on a lost cause.   

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

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If you’re a picky eater, a fan of doughnuts and like free treats, we’ve got great news.

There is a new shop opening in London this month and it comes with a new concept: DYO (design-your-own) doughnuts, swirls and milkshakes.

Treats Club, as it’s known, will be ‘female-owned, female-led and run by black girl magic’, says owner Lungi Mhlanga.

The 27-year-old initially launched her doughnut business as an online shop in November 2018, but has now decided to take the step towards a physical – and permanent – venue.

Found in Netil Market in Hackney, Treats Club will serve up a range of hot doughnuts, made fresh on site, as well as ice cream bars and shakes, all of which is served up with a side of gourmet marshmallow fluff.

The menu will feature yummy flavours such as Nutella, Biscoff, Oreo and vanilla cream, and includes vegan treats, too.

As for the DYO doughnut, it works as follows: decide on a base flavour (the ring), and then have the team drizzle and decorate it with whatever you want from the secret menu.

We’re sold.

‘I’ve always loved eating in places where I’m able to customise my food just how I like it – I feel this is what street food is all about, you can speak directly to the chefs in the kitchen/stall and create your food however works for you,’ Lungi tells us.

‘I knew that I had to do the same for donuts and open a donut bar that is centred entirely around the customers experience.

‘Want extra biscoff glaze or more sprinkles? At Treats Club the answer is always yes!

‘It’s also an amazing way for us to create something memorable for everyone.’

As for her favourite doughnut, Lungi loves an Oreo-filled hot doughnut sundae.

She adds: ‘It’s served hot and with a pot of chocolate sauce for dipping and it really is the stuff of dreams.’

That does sound pretty excellent.

To celebrate her new venture, Lungi is also giving away free doughnuts from 12pm on opening day (25 July) until stocks run out.

There’s a limited number of sweet treats available, so if you’re hankering for a sugar rush, be there on time.

Those who are shielding or just don’t fancy heading out among crowds of people can also order on the Treats Club website or via Deliveroo.

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Meet Kara, the deaf and rather wobbly kitten who’s overcome a tough start in life to find her happy ending.

Kara arrived into Battersea Dogs & Cats Home when she was still in her pregnant mum Clementine’s womb.

Just a few days after she was born, Kara’s carers noticed something a little different about the kitten – she wobbled around on her unsteady legs and had a habit of walking backwards when she was startled or confused.

It turned out that the tiny tortoiseshell was born with cerebellar hypoplasia, a neurological condition that causes her head and body to involuntarily twitch.

After close monitoring, Kara’s foster carers and vets figured out that the kitten is deaf, too.

Thankfully she’s in no pain and vets expect her to live a full, happy life – she’s just a little different to your average cat.

But no matter her physical differences, Kara won’t let a challenge hold her back. She’s a ‘little livewire’ who loves to play, readily bouncing around and playing with her siblings.

Now five months old, Kara has found a loving home and departed Battersea this week. Her mum and siblings have also found new homes.

Georgia Randall, team leader at Battersea’s Old Windsor Cattery, said: ‘All of the cats we see here at Battersea are wonderful in their own unique ways, but there is something extra special about cats like Kara.

‘As anyone who has met her will tell you, she’s taken everything in her stride and has become a little livewire that loves to play all day, every day.

‘It’s truly a joy to see and I know she’s going to be an amazing addition to her new family.

‘Watching her defy the odds and exceed our expectations for such a young cat with her health limitations, truly proves that even the smallest of underdogs can be top cats.’

To help other cats like Kara, donate to Battersea online.

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19-year-old Brad Duff decided on Sunday to meet his friend Reece Lornie, also 19, for a couple of drinks at his house.

As we can all probably relate to, those few quiet jars turned into a lot more. As not many of us can relate to, though, for the Dundee teenagers it also ended in a one-way ticket to Ibiza.

Brad and Reece, both plumbers, got drunk and had a look at flights. When they saw that tickets to the party island in the Balearics were going for £150, it was the push they needed to upend their Monday mornings.

Within six hours, they were chilling by the pool at the Ibiza Rocks hotel. And, not long after that when Brad sent his girlfriend a selfie from his destination, he was dumped.

Reece said: ‘Brad came to mine on Sunday and we were having a couple of drinks. I’ve no idea how we got on to talk about holidays but we ended up on the internet and found a good deal to get to Ibiza. 

‘We bought a one-way flight out here and six hours later we were here. We were just sitting in mine having a drink and next thing you know we’re in Ibiza. 

‘Brad’s girlfriend has left him because of this, she went mental at him. 

‘Obviously she didn’t know we were coming out here because we didn’t and then she woke up on Monday morning with a photo from us saying we were in Ibiza.’

This hasn’t bothered the lads, with Reece saying: ‘We’re having a great time. We’ve been to Ocean Beach every day since Monday, just chilling there. We have spent a fortune there so far. 

‘We’re just enjoying the 34-degree weather, it feels like liberation after lockdown.’

Thankfully they also haven’t lost their jobs or families either. Reece said: ‘When I told my mum and dad they didn’t think it was real, they just thought I was joking. They’re okay with it now though. 

‘God knows when we’ll be home. We need to get a return sorted soon though because I’ve got work. 

‘I rang my boss the next day and told him what had happened. He was alright about it, he just said “you only live once”.’ 

Probably the only boss in the country for whom YOLO makes an appearance outside of disciplinary proceedings.

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While the economy crashes and jobs are lost, many Brits have found that lockdown has been beneficial for their money in one tiny way: they’ve cut back their personal spending and managed to put away some extra cash.

When lockdown began, many of us had dreams of saving bucketloads of money due to no longer being able to fritter away our money on pub trips and the daily commute into work.

While some of quickly had those dreams by dashed by a new online shopping addiction and paycuts, others actually managed to stick to tighter lockdown budgets.

In fact, research from money.co.uk suggests that UK households have dramatically cut their spending, saving an average of £2,879 each in the 13 weeks of quarantining.

Should we keep up certain financial habits in lockdown, the experts behind this research reckon we could each save £8,638 by the end of 2020. Nice.

To show how much you could save if you maintain your lockdown budget, money.co.uk have created a calculator, which you can play around with on their website.

The areas where people have made the most savings have been on clothes (who needs a new outfit when you’re home all the time?), running the car, and meals out.

The survey found that UK households have saved £34.39 a week on average on buying clothes, £34.14 a week on running the car, and £33.57 on paying for meals out.

For Londoners, though, the biggest savings have come from decreasing alcohol consumption… or at least having the same alcohol at home rather than paying for overpriced pints at the pub.

On average, our decreased pub trips have saved us £27 a week, whereas for Londoners this jumps to £39 a week.

Cutting back on haircuts and beauty treatments has saved Brits around £25 a week, and ditching desk lunches and takeaway coffees has helped us put away a further £21 a week.

Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, said: ‘During lockdown, many people have cut back on their spending on non-essential items. The savings have been largely made by households cutting back on the amount of cash they spend on items like alcohol, cigarettes, clothes, make-up, cosmetics and grooming products, meals out, haircuts and beauty treatments, plus shop bought lunches and takeaway coffees.

‘They’ve also spent less because many are not having to use their car to travel to work and have also cut back on other outgoings like sports and gym memberships.’

While the end of lockdown may signal a return to our old spending habits (or, if Super Saturday is anything to go by, compensation for the months lost by spending immense amounts on booze and entertainment), the study also found that many people plan to keep up some of the financial habits they developed over the past few months.

If we do keep it up, we could save an average of £8,638 by the end of 2020.

If households continue to save at the same pace now that lockdown is relaxing, they could save an astonishing £8,638 on average by the end of 2020.

Salman adds: ‘Almost 8 out of 10 householders we surveyed (79%) say they aim to continue to save as much as possible even though lockdown is relaxing.

‘The biggest opportunity to save money, according to our study, is in cutting back on going for meals out. More than a third of the 2,000 people we surveyed said that would be the top priority for continuing to save money.

‘Cutting back on shop bought lunches (30%), takeaway coffee and new clothes (29%), running the car (20%) and buying alcohol (17%) are the other areas people are likely to continue to try and cut back in order to save once lockdown is over.’

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

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When most people talk about thrush, they tend to refer to female health.

But while vaginal thrush is common, this is actually a misconception as the condition can happen to all genders – so yes, men can get thrush too.

No need to panic if your junk is feeling a tad itchy today, but it’s important to be aware of the symptoms, and that it’s not just a female health issue.

So what is penile thrush? Hold on to your dicks, here we go.

What are the symptoms of dick thrush?

First off, know that the condition presents itself somewhat differently in men and women, though there are similarities.

According to the NHS, the most common symptoms are as follows:

• Irritation, burning and redness around the head of the penis and under the foreskin
• a white discharge – like cottage cheese
• an unpleasant smell
• difficulty pulling back the foreskin

Penile thrush doesn’t always just affect the dick itself; you may notice red, itchy or painful rashes over your armpits, groin or between the fingers – and these may also release white or yellow discharge.

However, do note that you can have thrush without displaying any of the above symptoms, too.

How can you treat penile thrush?

Now for the good news: thrush is very easy to treat, though you may feel a little uncomfortable while your pride and joy heals up.

Call your local GP or sexual health clinic (to check if they are open before you head over, as most are not doing walk-ins during lockdown) and explain your symptoms.

Most likely, they will prescribe an over-the-counter treatment.

Alternatively, you can swing by the pharmacy directly and speak to them – however, if you have recurring thrush it is best to talk to your doctor so that they are aware of it (as they may prescribe a different, longer treatment).

‘Thrush is treated with antifungal medications, which can be in tablet form (such as a fluconazole capsule), in pessary form (a clotrimazole tablet you insert into your vagina) and also in creams (clotrimazole cream),’ says Dr Sarah Walsh, a gynaecologist, who is also the co-founder of Hanx condoms.

‘The symptoms should clear up within a week, after taking one dose (table or pessary) and using the cream regularly in the affected area.

‘The antifungal creams can help relieve the symptoms whilst you wait for the medication to treat the infection.

‘Other things that can help with the irritation includes using warm water and gentle cleansers in the affected area, and avoiding scented products.’

Usually, with medication, thrush should clear up within a week or so, although it can sometimes heal on its own.

Yes, it might be a tad awkward to tell a medical professional that there is discharge coming from your penis or that you can’t strop scratching your dick and/or balls.

But they’re heard it all before, so don’t avoid getting help because you feel embarrassed.

Look after your dick.

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I had thought – maybe naively – that self-isolating with my boyfriend during the coronavirus crisis would be fun.

We’d been together for about seven months and due to our fast-paced city life and busy jobs, until then, we tended to only hook up at weekends.

Even so, the thought of suddenly having to spend 24/7 together didn’t put us off – we saw it as an opportunity for some quality time to get to know each other, not to mention the chance to have sex whenever and wherever the mood took us.

Within hours of the announcement being made, I’d packed up a lot of stuff and zoomed over to his. 

To be fair, our first week together was amazing. It felt like we were living in our own bubble away from the rest of the universe and we didn’t care about the news or the things happening around the world. 

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We blacked-out about 90% of our social media and spent days watching movies, reading books, and, like everyone else, baking.

We also spent a lot of time having sex, as predicted. No room, position or hour of the day was off limits. 

At first it felt so liberating and decadent. But then week three hit – and the ick. 

Suddenly, and without apparent reason, I started to feel grossed out whenever I thought about having sex with my lovely, handsome and funny boyfriend.

It wasn’t the kissing or the hugging, it was just the idea of our naked bodies writhing together. And that was it, I felt a nudging ‘urgh’ about getting down and dirty with him.

I tried not to let it become a big deal. I still liked to settle down on the sofa and have a cuddle with him, but whenever he tried to take it further I made my excuses and moved away. 

After three days he asked me if anything was wrong. I said no. 

But the truth was that by then, even looking at him turned me off. The ick had well and truly got to me. 

I racked my brain for what had changed – why didn’t I want this man anymore? 

I hated myself for feeling this way. He had done nothing wrong, it was all me. 

As the days passed the silences between us got longer. Even though we shared the same bed, the distance that had grown was unmissable. 

I just felt so sad. So toxic. I racked my brain for what had changed – why didn’t I want this man anymore? All I could come up with was that I didn’t find him physically attractive.

I felt ashamed and low. 

After confiding in a friend, she suggested I friend-zone him for the remainder of lockdown. She said my icky feeling could just be down to the pressure of being together all day, every day, and tried to reassure me that everything might go back to normal once lockdown was fully lifted.

They also suggested I tell my boyfriend the truth. So I did.

As I spilled my guts out to him, I felt a massive punch of guilt. He was confused and angry at first, especially as, like me, he’d thought being together in lockdown was a romantic risk that we were sure to survive.  

After a long chat we decided to self-isolate from each other, still in the same house. 

I moved my things to another room. Our only communication was through phone messages and calls, to make decisions on what to cook, and when to go and get our meals from the kitchen. In the evenings, we’d chat over long calls, discussing all sorts of things – even recommending films to watch on Netflix that evening. 

That first night, I felt relieved that I was away from his touches and cuddles, but I also wondered if I had made the right decision. Was I being cruel?

After two weeks, I realised that I still had feelings for my boyfriend and confessed in one of our long chats. Within seconds, I was knocking on his bedroom door and we had the most amazing sex.

Afterwards, he looked me deep in the eyes and we both smiled. Whatever had caused the ick, had gone.

We are now back to having sex, but we are limiting our intimacy and I think that’s for the best. 

I can’t pretend I’m not worried about my feelings changing again, and I know it worries him too, so I do my best to make sure he knows how much I fancy him.

I really hope the ick doesn’t return, as I do really love being with him.

Who knows whether it was caused by the pressures of lockdown, but now conditions are easing I just want everything to return to normal.

So we can go back to the way our relationship was – spending time apart, together.

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

Share your views in the comments below.

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There are some products that seem made for Instagram – and The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution is one of them.

Leaving your face looking like it’s covered in the blood of your enemies makes this peel ripe ground for Instagram selfies.

Add in the price and it’s a far more accessible way to get that classic vampire facial selfie without paying hundreds of pounds for the actual PRP microneedling treatment.

But is it worth the hype?

Our weekly series, Is It Worth The Faff?, is here to explore whether viral beauty products and treatments are worth you spending your hard-earned cash, looking at the faff involved versus the results.

This week, we’re tackling The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution (catchy name), also known as the red facial and the vampire peel.

What is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution?

If you’re new to the world of acids, the idea of smothering chemical-sounding stuff on your face is a tad scary – especially if said acids have the appearance of blood.

Think of this particular acid as a way to exfoliate without scrubbing at your skin.

It’s a 10-minute exfoliating facial that contains alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), which essentially eats at the skin’s top surface to clear imperfections and add brightness and smoothness, and beta hydroxy acids (BHA), which helps to clear out the pores.

You’ll find AHAs and BHAs in a lot of acid toners and solutions for daily use, but this facial combines them at a higher concentration to pack more of a punch in a weekly go.

It’s recommended that you smear it over your face twice a week for a maximum of ten minutes (if you’re new to acids, do six or seven minutes at first).

Deciem claims: ‘This combined 32% AHA/BHA solution offers deeper exfoliation to help fight visible blemishes and for improved skin radiance. The formula also improves the appearance of skin texture and reduces the look of fine lines with continued use.’

Oh, and it costs £6.30 for a bottle – far cheaper than your average fancy face mask.

Faff involved

There’s minimal faff required here – and the effort involved is pretty fun, especially as it’s so suited to Instagram.

First you clean your face and pat it dry. Then use your little pipette to drop some of the red liquid either directly on to your face (for that dripping blood look) or into your fingertips.

When you do this bit, it’ll look super dramatic. Worth a quick pic.

Then you want to gently smooth it in – no rubbing, please. Apply across the face and neck, avoiding the eye area, making sure you get into the creases of your nose and along your jawline.

Then you just have to wait ten minutes. Don’t leave it on for longer, as ten minutes really is all the time it needs to work. As we said, if you’re new to acids, aim for seven minutes the first time you use it.

The first few times you use the stuff, you’ll likely experience a light tingling sensation as you smear it on. Don’t panic – this is normal.

If your face feels like it’s on fire, though, don’t try to power through. Wash it off and don’t wait for the full ten minutes to be up.

Once your time is up, you gently wash it off (again, no scrubbing, please), then apply moisturiser. If you’re doing this during the daytime, make sure to load up on sunscreen (yes, even if you’re inside all day), as AHA and BHA increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.

The results

What I like most about the Peeling Solution – other than the way it makes me look metal as f*** when I open the door to the postman – is that you can see and feel instant results.

The moment I wash the product off my face, my skin feels baby soft and super smooth.

The next day, I’ll often spot one or two small whiteheads, but no major reaction or negative effects.

I’ve been using the Peeling Solution for a month or so now, and while the effects might not be obvious to anyone else, I can feel a difference – my skin feels and looks smoother and I’ve noticed fewer blackheads and blocked pores.

Is The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution worth the faff?

For £6.30 a bottle, the answer’s obvious: absolutely, yes.

I’m a fan of face masks and this has immediately taken the place of all my usual favourites – because I know exactly what’s in it and I can feel it working.

The faff is minimal – and as I’ve mentioned, looks scary and wonderful – and the results are brilliant.

At a low price for a high concentration of active ingredients, it’s worth the minimal money and time it requires.

Just please make sure to protect your skin and load up on suncream after use. You should be doing this anyway, but once you go down the direct acids route, your usual problem-free sunbathing could leave you with a sorely burned face that’s definitely not worth the faff.

Do you have a beauty hack to share or a product you want to see us test?

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

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