The Big Butterfly Count is a national survey that assesses the health of the environment by getting us to go out an spot butterflies.

Not only is it helpful for scientists to see how our native wildlife is faring, it also makes a great family day out.

Particularly while many play centres and other attractions are still closed during lockdown, getting outside and giving little ones a purpose while you walk or chill at the park just the ticket.

It’s super easy to get started – and totally free – so you can do it in your garden or local park or wherever you are.

How to be part of the Big Butterfly Count 2020

You can take part in the count either through the app or with a paper counting sheet.

Download the chart here, or the app here for Android or iOS.

The count starts today, so you can get involved any time from now to Sunday 9 August.

During bright weather, get your charts or phone app and set a timer for 15 minutes. Record each new butterfly you see, including the species.

If you see multiple butterflies of the same kind, pop them down separately (so three Painted Lady butterflies would count as three rather than one, despite being the same species).

When you’re done, stick your results by signing in here.

Even if you don’t see any butterflies during your 15 minute time, still input this into the survey, as it’s important for the counters to track.

You can do as many counts as you wish, including counts from the same place on different days. Plus you can take a look at the interactive map run by Big Butterfly Count to get a feel for how the rest of the UK is looking.

Butterfly populations are usually a very accurate indicator of how plants will fare, as they pollinate plants and act as a vital part of the food chain.

Over the last few decades butterfly numbers have rapidly dropped off, so it’s important to track this and make conservation efforts as a result.

Plus, you get to look at the beautiful winged insects and spend some time in nature. Win, win.

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

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

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Walking is an incredible form of exercise.

Not only are you moving your body, strengthening your muscles and raising your heart rate, you’re also experiencing the many benefits of being outside.

Countless studies have shown that exercising in the outdoors can be hugely beneficial for your mental health, stress levels and overall well-being, while fitness experts also recommend walking as a fantastic low-impact option if you want to get fit without putting too much pressure on your joints and muscles.

However, while going for a brisk stroll is one thing, signing up for a trek – such as our Metro.co.uk Lifeline London 10 Peak challenge! – hike or mountain walk shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Like any fitness challenge, you need to make sure your body is prepared and fit enough to get through it.

So, what are the key things to think about when you’re preparing for your first trek or long hike?

Personal Trainer Mollie, has climbed Kilimanjaro, so she knows a thing or two about how hiking and climbing can impact your body.

She says it’s vital to focus on strength.

‘Hire a personal trainer,’ Mollie tells Metro.co.uk. ‘Or join an online program to work on increasing your strength.

‘Not only do your legs need to be strong for all the walking, but your core and torso do too to carry your rucksack.

‘In addition, to master the uneven terrain, your ankles and feet need to be strong too to avoid injury en route.’

Mollie also says it’s important to think about where you’ll be walking – because different environments demand different things of your body.

‘If dealing with elevation, you might consider hypoxic training to physically and mentally get accustomed to limited oxygen,’ she suggests. ‘When I did Kili, I would get out of breath rolling over in my sleeping bag.’

She also says that it is so important to break in your walking boots as early as possible.

‘You can walk in them on a treadmill at an incline with a rucksack on to build up endurance,’ she says. ‘Start with light weights in the bag and increase over time.

’Consider walking places instead of taking the Tube, car or train, too. You will need to gradually build up time on your feet, so start asap.’

Mollie’s final piece of advice is to remember to find your own pace and try not to compare yourself to others.

‘Remember it is not a race, especially at elevation,’ she says.

‘Walk slowly, enjoy the views, chat with the people walking with you, and if you’re lucky enough to do an overseas adventure like Kili, take time to speak to the porters to learn about their culture.’

Loads of us have been walking more since lockdown began. Remember when that was the only thing we could do?

Many have said that regular walks are something they want to continue as part of their new normal, so it’s no surprise that a huge number of us are looking to level-up to scenic hikes and treks in the hills.

However, fitness expert Jenna Rigby says it’s important to pace yourself, particularly at the beginning:

Start small

‘It’s very tempting to want to tackle the most challenging first and your self-belief can get the better of you,’ she says.

‘Carry out some research on the best routes nearest to you and set yourself a gradual increase weekly in terms of timings and terrain.

‘I recommend the National Trust Website for finding the best locations to get started.’ 

Be prepared

Jenna says it always worries her how many people embark on long walks completely unprepared.

‘It’s important to ensure you have all the essentials before setting off,’ says Jenna.

‘Check the weather on the day of your hike and pack waterproofs if there’s a chance of rain.

‘Wear appropriate walking shoes as generally trainers won’t cut it. There’s a high chance on natural terrain of an ankle injury so it’s extremely important to get this right before setting off.

‘I’d also invest in appropriate socks that allow the feet to breathe especially in warm weather.

‘Other essentials include sunscreen, a first aid kit (including blister plasters!) and bug spray.’

Fluids and snacks

Jenna says that ensuring you have plenty of water to prevent dehydration is a non-negotiable.

‘Yes, your backpack will feel heavy at first, but you will be grateful later on when it’s needed.

‘Nuts and fruit are the best snacks as they provide essential carbohydrates and a good balance of fats and proteins to keep you going throughout the day.

‘Sugary snacks tend to be counter-productive so think about fuelling your body for what you’re asking it to endure.’

Use a hiking app

‘If you are new to hiking and there’s a chance you may go into explorer mode use an app to track your steps,’ says Jenna. ‘That way you won’t get lost (yes, that happens to the best of us!).

‘Apps such as EasyTrails and FitBIT have these built in and allow you to not only trace your steps but to review your results once the walk is complete.

‘Knowing how far you’ve walked, steps counted, hills climbed make great tracking for you to progress with week-on-week.’

Aim for heights

‘From a beginners perspective, aiming to reach a certain point and then return to base makes the perfect walk,’ says Jenna.

‘One piece of advice on going down a steep climb or a lot of steps: shorten your stride, and take care to land on the balls of your feet with a bent knee if possible – if you’re landing on your heels for thousands of steps, it can wreak havoc on your knees and joints as there’s no shock absorption.’

Finally, Jenna suggests that you take plenty of pictures.

‘Soak in the natural beauty of your surroundings and enjoy every minute.’

Walking in nature is about more than getting your fitness fix, it’s about absorbing the beauty around you, spending time with friends and family, and being mindful about your surroundings.

But it is so important to be as prepared as possible before setting off.

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

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

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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: a drink in a tin is a wonderful thing.

Whether on a train, in the park, or at home after a long day, few simple pleasures are better than cracking open a cold pre-mixed cocktail in a can.

But if you’ve grown weary of your usual mojitos and G&Ts, rejoice, for there’s a new beverage on the block.

M&S, famed makers of 19 different types of cocktails in a can, is now selling their take on an Aperol Spritz in a tinny.

The Aperetivo Spritz is described as ‘decidedly delicious, slightly bitter with a sweet hint of orange and a light herbal flavour’ and is made with sparkling wine and orange bitters.

A 250ml can will cost you just £2, and feels decidedly fancier than a beer. You could even pour the contents into a proper glass and pretend you’ve paid for an overpriced cocktail from a bar.

If you aren’t a fan of drinks in cans (for some unknowable reason), you can also buy the Aperetivo Spritz in a 750ml bottle for £5.

M&S recommend the new tipple for summer picnics, BBQs, and as a walktail (walking cocktail), or even adding it to ice lolly moulds for a summer treat.

Sam Pembridge, M&S drinks developer said: ‘This is not just any cocktail, this is one of the UK’s favourite cocktails, given the M&S magic treatment and available for our customers in a can!

‘Our Aperitivo spritz captures the classic bittersweet taste, ready mixed and perfect for summer evenings. I pour mine over ice for maximum enjoyment but sipped straight from the can is delicious too.

‘Our cans are iconic with our customers, we’ve launched many great quality, exceptional value cocktail favourites including the infamous Passion Star Martini and we think this new Aperitivo Spritz is going to join the ranks of these must-have cocktail cans- treat your taste buds and give it a try.’

In other cocktail news, there’s a van you can book for doorstep drinking sessions (as long as you’re in London) and you can now buy Buckingham Palace gin.

Cheers, all.

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Those looking for a different outdoor activity to try with friends will be thrilled to hear there’s a new one opening in London – with boozy twist.

A new BYOB crazy golf course is launching in the capital this weekend.

The team at Plonk Golf are opening a new branch in London Fields, with a similar design to the sister sites in Camden and Forest Hill. 

If the crazy golf course wasn’t enough, the spot also features a retro arcade, pinball parlour, ice cream shack, sandwich shop and tiki bar.

Guests are encouraged to BYOC (bring their own cocktails) – which is a welcome move following the temporary London Fields drinking ban which has stopped people boozing in parks.

Golfers can bring up to 700ml of liquor (rum, gin, vodka or whisky) per four to six people and the venue’s mixologists will get to work transforming the spirit into a delicious cocktail for the group.

This full cocktail experience costs £30 in total and includes a round of golf, ten tokens, two jugs of mixers, sandwiches and access to park games including skittles and snakes and ladders.

To ensure social distancing can be carried out at all times, Plonk is only accepting bookings of up to six people.

There will also be a number of sanitation measures in place, to ensure guests and staff are kept safe.

But, for anyone not ready to venture out from their house yet, Plonk has put together online packs with instructions on how to make your own mini golf course at home.

Those looking for more activities in the capital, there are a number of hidden gems to discover including The Royal Arcade in Mayfair and Postman’s Park at the Barbican.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Black women doctors, dentists, scientists and researchers in the UK have made a powerful call for action against racism and ‘systemic oppression’ in a stark video.

35 Black women from the health sector have created an online challenge to highlight societal inequalities and the challenges they face in the workplace.

In the video, each woman holds up a sign with a list of the changes they are advocating for, from microagressions to misogynoir and structural biases.

The group, Black Female Doctors UK – organised by Hazel, Anna and Deborah who form the committee – are hoping to inspire change for better work environments, career opportunities, healthcare for patients and better treatment in society as a whole.

‘We decided to use this state of hyper-awareness to share our individual views in peaceful protest and in advocacy for change,’ explains the Black Female Doctors UK team.

‘Our advocacy challenge was also a great way for us as Black clinicians, surgeons and dentists to take a stand both in unity and in solidarity towards the global fight against systemic racism.

‘It is a great visual representation, particularly to the younger generation that Black female doctors do exist. And that we are here.’

The campaigners say navigating a career as a Black female doctor can be challenging.

‘It is well known that there are inequalities regarding the general lack of ethnic diversity in medicine and NHS leadership,’ they explain. ‘However, as Black female doctors we occupy a unique space as double minorities.

‘The challenges that this intersectionality between race and gender brings and how we navigate them, from medical school and into our careers, is what was birthed the creation of our network, Black Female Doctors UK.’

Black women in the U.K. are also under-represented in dentistry, STEM, academia, including social sciences and education.

‘We recognise the importance and the need to amplify the voices of the Black female doctor across many fields,’ they say, ‘including those outside of medicine.’

The many inequalities that the campaigners and their colleagues face are varied and complex. The group says they experience both overt and covert racism.

‘This can start as early as school, from being told you are not good enough to study a particular course, to being mistaken for a cleaner in some cases – which undermines our achievements.

‘We are disregarded by colleagues and in some cases even bullied.

‘Many BAME doctors – but Black females in particular – over-police their behaviour and over-scrutinise themselves to maintain a high standard, knowing that should our standards slip we are more likely to receive disciplinary action.’

In 2019, The General Medical Council (GMC) published in its Fair to Refer Report that Black and Asian doctors are twice as likely to be reported to the GMC.

The group adds that there is also an apparent gender and racial pay gap as the NHS pay gap report in 2019 which showed that for every £1 a Black female doctor earns, a white female doctor earns £1.19. 

‘This gap is demonstrable even at consultant level, which then highlights another issue in the inequality that exists in BAME representation in the higher tiers of leadership roles with the NHS,’ says the Black Female Doctors UK team. 

‘This lack of representation at the high tier (and better paid) leadership roles, demonstrate the ceiling of attainment that BAME doctors can reach.’

The campaign isn’t only focused on Black women who work in medicine, the group also wants to shine a light on the inequalities that patients face in their treatment.

‘Black women have been found to have a five times higher risk of dying in pregnancy than their white counterparts in the UK,’ they explain.

‘This is a harrowing statistic and is unacceptable. It demonstrates the urgent need for medical care and practice towards Black women to change. 

‘A medical myth that has been falsely presented as fact historically is that Black people have literally thicker skin and high pain thresholds, all these misconceptions are examples of medical racism and can all result in mismanagement and harm to Black women and Black people.’

They say they frequently hear Black women complain of not being heard or listened to by health care professionals – they say this can not only lead to substandard care, but also a reluctance to engage with healthcare.

‘The treatment of Black women in regards to their medical care also fuels mistrust in the healthcare system,’ they explain.

‘Our NHS is for us all, and if evidence demonstrates that there is a community who are being so severely disproportionately adversely affected within our NHS then we need to look into this and act as a matter of urgency.’

In the caption posted alongside the video on Instagram, the group is encouraging as many Black women in the profession as possible to get involved.

‘We hope this video awakens the advocate in us all, medics and non-medics alike,’ they wrote.

‘Carry on the #AdvocacyChallenge#IAm chain by posting a photo of yourself holding an A4 paper detailing who you are and what you advocate for.

‘Your voice matters! #WeAreHere#BlackLivesMatter.’

Ultimately, Hazel, Anna and Deborah hope that by candidly sharing their views and experiences, more people will wake up to the realities of

‘We hope our transparency will be matched with equal transparency and most importantly action among those in leadership of our NHS and our country,’ says the group.

‘We want better treatment in our working environments, better opportunities for progression in our careers, better treatment for Black patients, Black women in particular, and an end to the unfair and indecent treatment of Black and brown people in our society as a whole.

‘Finally, we hope the campaign would awaken the advocate in anyone who watched it, because each and every person has a voice and that voice matters.’

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

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

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The coronavirus pandemic has made life harder for many, with food banks reporting an increase in people turning to them for help feeding their families.

If you want to help but aren’t sure what items to donate, we’ve got great news.

Morrisons has just launched a food parcel intended for customers to buy and donate to those in need.

The so-called ‘Pick Up Packs’ cost between £1 to £3 and contain a mixture of goods which have been specifically requested by local food banks in the area, such as long-life items including rice and pasta.

You simply pay for it at the checkout and then tell the person behind the till that you would like to donate the parcel, which will then be collected by volunteers from various organisations – easy, peasy, done.

Morrisons new project was put together by one of its employees, Michelle Leary from Basingstoke, who noticed that many customers wanted to help vulnerable people in society but didn’t know what to provide.

The idea was trialled in a few stores with successful results and will now be rolled out across the country.

‘The UK’s food banks are a lifeline for the most vulnerable in our communities and these parcels are an easy way to donate to them,’ said Rebecca Singleton, community director at Morrisons.

‘At Morrisons, we want to play our full part in feeding the nation and ensure nobody gets left behind.’

Additionally, the supermarket has also partnered up with the Trussell Trust, the organisation working to stop hunger in the UK, to release an online donating mechanism, with the goods going directly to the charity.

Customers can buy a £10 voucher on the Food Boxes section on the company’s website, and these will then be sent to a local food bank of their choice.

Morrisons is also donating £10million of its own cash to food banks across the UK.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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As part of our brand new charity campaign Metro.co.uk Lifeline we’re organising a sponsored trek to help raise vital funds in support of The Hygiene Bank.

Here, one of their charity partners, Sharon Goodyer, explains the difference The Hygiene Bank has made to the people she supports:

‘The pandemic has hit all of us hard, but none more so than families living in poverty. 

Over the last four months, my organisation, which helps feed families in need, has worked with 18 food banks, raised over £82k to buy food and delivered 2,000 large bags of good food every week. These went to families in lockdown, single parents who weren’t welcome in shops as childcare was not available, and the self-employed whose income stopped overnight.

But while making sure people have food in their tummies and cupboards is essential – so is looking after their other basic needs. 

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

For the last three years I’ve been running the Summer Kitchen in Thanet, which operates out of a local school during the holidays and offering free meals to those who need them. On top of that I also run workshops teaching parents how to cook with more vegetables and cater for local community events.

However, ever since I started running these projects, I’ve also had people ask me for things like nappies, washing powder and sanitary towels, as well as food. 

It’s not rocket science to know that having access to something as simple as deodorant or soap can make all the difference to someone’s self-esteem and confidence.

That’s why I decided to get in touch with The Hygiene Bank, after reading about them online, to see if they could help me. Within hours, one of their local volunteers, Libby, who organises for donated stock to be distributed in and around the Thanet area, had got in contact and we soon had a van full of donations brought to the school.

It was so simple yet amazing, that I’ve been working closely with the charity ever since to make life a bit more joyful for those struggling on very limited incomes. I’ve had people come in asking for toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, shower gel… all the things so many of us take for granted.

Most women, I’ve noticed, are the first to drop these sorts of items off their list of priorities when times get tough.

I remember speaking to one mum who’d been brought in for a meal by a friend. She was unemployed and barely able to make ends meet on Universal Credit. I could tell she was really depressed and utterly fed up.

I asked her what she needed and if there was something she really missed and she simply said ‘bubble bath’. It’s such a tiny thing, but for that woman it felt like a real luxury – something that might make life feel a little less exhausting for her. 

The next time she came in I’d put a little display together of bubble bath, shampoo, conditioner and a face pack, and a smile lit up her face. The woman asked if she could have one thing, but I told her that she could have it all. It was her treat. But really, when should something like shampoo ever be considered a treat?

And it’s not just adults that worry about these things.

Smelling nice and looking clean is important to children, too. Those that don’t are ostracised. When your housing conditions are not the best, disposable nappies are essential. Families find it difficult enough to get clothes and bed linen washed and dried, without having to worry about dealing with towelling nappies. This is where the Hygiene Bank’s role is most appreciated.

Last summer we were so grateful when Libby contacted us and said she had a big consignment of nappies, trainer pants and mattress liners. The families had often told me what a big part of their budget they spent on these and all the ways they tried to economise.

When we opened all the big boxes together they were excited to be able to find the right sizes for each others’ children. Parents often say to me ‘are you sure? Doesn’t somebody need it more than me?’, but the sheer relief on their faces when I insist it is for them tells it all, really.

I have heard some people say families who use food or hygiene banks are greedy, but that’s just not the case. 

When you’re already scraping pennies together to get by, something like a broken washing machine or car repairs can literally break the budget and you’re tasked with having to lose something from your shopping list to make things easier.

Of course, it won’t be food – so it has to be the other staples like shower gel or even nappies and sanitary pads. Can you imagine being in that position? How can anyone be called greedy for wanting to give their baby nappies or have pads for their period? 

What I love about the community who use these products that are so kindly donated by the public is how much they look out for one another. 

When they come in they’ll happily share or swap things to make sure no one goes without and that’s the whole ethos of The Hygiene Bank. 

The sad thing is that the pandemic is only set to make things worse due to rising levels of unemployment, which is why we really need to do all we can to help.’

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Lockdown has sparked a renaissance in property porn, with many of us lamenting the fact we’re stuck indoors in home that we don’t love and planning on moving on to better things.

That might mean getting a flat with a little balcony or somewhere that allows a dog, but of course we’re also allowed to have unrealistic dreams of pools and stunning architecture.

Take this Bondi, Sydney, house, for example, which was designed by architect Clinton Cole and makes us want to physically cry with jealousy.

The home was reported on by Daily Mail Australia recently, showing just how much beauty can be created even in a narrow space.

This four-bedroom house was designed by Cole in 2016 for a family who’d bought a home just nine metres wide and wanted to maximise the space.

With four bedrooms, the home is stylistically beautiful, with multiple levels to give the illusion of space.

One feature that stands out is the vertical garden, with screens used to house plants upwards to accommodate greenery without much ground room.

And we couldn’t leave out the glass pool, which sits flush with the dining room so you can see the water over dinner.

Huge windows and screens are used throughout to help the space flow better, with little by way of walls to box it off.

The stairs move up over the island in the kitchen and what would be small hallways are opened out into mini courtyards so it feels open despite its small size.

The bathroom is the crowning glory of the property, though. A freestanding Balinese bath made of stone sits in the middle, and there are double sinks and a shower.

It basically looks like the type of bathroom we see on Instagram, and we would like to be in right about now.

The award-winning home has never been valued and the existing owners have no plans to sell (not that we could afford it anyway).

For now, we just have to dream that this might be the kind of thing we own one day.

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

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

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There’s been a surge in interest around buying property in light of Rishi Sunak’s announcement that stamp duty has been scrapped for all house purchases under £500,000 until March 2021.

However, experts are still advising that people take their time in making such a huge and important purchase, instead of rushing to meet the March 2021 deadline.

Tom Martin, Mortgages Director for Halifax said: ‘From speaking to customers directly every day, we are seeing the demand to get moving as soon as possible. However, we would suggest taking time to do the research and seek expert advice before doing so.’

Taking the time to understand the jargon and acronyms used in the property industry is one element of buying a house that’s crucial. You want to know what you’re agreeing and signing up to when you ink your name on that dotted line and make it legal.

We spoke to experts from the property industry, from estate agents to solicitors and mortgage brokers, to get the low down on the jargon you need to know…

What does STC mean when buying a house?

STC stands for Subject To Contract and when buying a house you may read or hear the phrase ‘Sold STC’.

This means that the owner of a property has accepted an offer put to them by a prospective buyer – but it’s not yet a done deal in the eyes of the law.

The process of buying the house is not yet complete and all of the correct paperwork must be drawn up and signed before the sale becomes legally binding and is described as ‘completed’.

‘STC or Sold Subject to Contract is an interesting one, and is sometimes the source of confusion for first time buyers and sellers,’ says CEO of GetAgent.co.uk Colby Short.

‘This term means that an offer has been accepted but that the sale isn’t yet legally binding. There are still a number of ways that a sale can fall through at this point. If you see a house you like but it’s marked STC, don’t be afraid to approach the estate agent and express your interest, in case the sale doesn’t work out.’

Glossary of terms you need to know when buying a house

Adverse credit – ‘This means any blips on your credit report which might prevent you from getting a mortgage.’ – David McCrum who owns AMS Mortgage.

Affordability calculator – ‘Every lender uses this to ascertain how much they would be willing to lend. Factors like your income, monthly commitments and financial dependents aew taken into account.’ – Richard Hayes, CEO and Co-Founder of online broker, Mojo Mortgages.

APRC (Annual percentage rate of charge) – This is the full cost of your mortgage loan. ‘The APR is the total cost of your borrowing, rather than interest rate alone. The APR includes fees and expenses related to taking on the mortgage that are repaid over time, along with the interest and loan principal.’ – Matthew Addison, StepLadder’s CEO and co-founder.

Bridging loan – Bridging loans are short-term, high-rate interest loans that can help people complete the purchase of a property before they are able to sell their existing home.

Buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages – These are for buyers intending to become landlords who want to buy property to rent it out instead of live in it.

Completion date – This is the date you will be working towards during the entire process of buying a home. The completion date is the point where you actually own your new home and have the keys.

Conveyancer – Like a lawyer. ‘A person whose job is to manage the legal process of moving land or property from one owner to another’ – Cambridge dictionary.

Conveyancing – The branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the transfer of property between owners.

Covenant – Look out for these in the contract of any new home you are looking to buy. It’s essentially an agreement in the lease, deed, or other legal contract that may prevent the owner from doing something related to the property.

Deeds – A legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights.

DIP (Decision in Principle) – A DIP, also known as an Agreement in Principle (AIP) or a Lending Certificate, is essentially a confirmation of how much money your mortgage provider is willing to lend you to buy a house.

Disbursements – A payment, especially one made by a solicitor to a third party and then claimed back from the client. In property terms this might include stamp duty, search fees, Land Registry fees and so on.

Early repayment charge (ERC) – If you suddenly come into more money, through a big promotion, bonus, inheritance and so on, it won’t necessarily work out well for you to use this cash injection to pay off a big sum of your mortgage. An ERC is a penalty charge your mortgage provider may hit you with if you overpay on your mortgage by more than they allow, or pay off the whole loan too early. Some times it mays to stick to the original agreement.

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) – ‘An EPC shows potential buyers how energy efficient a house is – which gives a sense of how expensive your energy bills might be. However, Rishi Sunak recently announced a £5,000 grant for homeowners looking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. This comes into place in September. So, if you find the perfect home with a poor EPC rating, now might be a good time to take the leap.’ – Colby Short, GetAgent.co.uk

Exchanging contracts – The term ‘exchanging’ in property refers to the final step in buying a house, which occurs once the buyer and seller have both signed the contracts. Once you have exchanged contracts you are in a legally binding contract to buy the property.

Fixtures and fittings – Anything attached to the property that can’t be removed that you will likely inherit when you purchase the home.

Freehold – Someone who owns the freehold of a property owns both the property and the land it’s on. (This is different from owning the leasehold).

Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) – An adviser who helps you find and arrange a mortgage. ‘They are there to make sure you get the best possible deal and answer any questions you have about your mortgage. Finding a good adviser is an important starting point when looking to purchase a property.’ – Gemma Harle, managing director of Quilter’s advice network

Interest only mortgage – A mortgage where the monthly sum you pay only covers the interest charges on your loan, not any of the original capital borrowed.

Joint mortgage – When there is more than one person on a mortgage eg a couple is buying a house together.

Key Fact Illustration/European Standard Information Sheet (KFI/ESIS) – ‘This is basically the illustration/quote offered by a lender based on a customer’s mortgage need. It details out everything about the product recommended, including the rate, monthly payments and the term of the mortgage.’ – Richard Hayes, Mojo Mortgages.

Land Registry – The government body holding records of all registered properties in England and Wales.

Leasehold – ‘A leaseholder essentially rents the property from the freeholder for a number of years. If you’re buying a flat, you’re likely to be buying a leasehold, or buying into a share of the freehold. Leaseholders naturally have fewer rights, plus leaseholds have lifespans, so avoid any with under 80 years left.’ – Samm Hall, Hall’s Property Group.

Loan to income (LTI) – ‘This is basically the income multiple that the lender will use to determine how much they would borrow. So, a x3 LTI for someone earning £50,000 will be £150,000.’ – Richard Hayes, Mojo Mortgages.

Loan to Value (LTV) – ‘ This simply means the size of your mortgage in relation to the property price. So, if you are buying a property worth £200,000 and borrowing £100,000, your LTV would be 50%.’ – Richard Hayes, Mojo Mortgages.

Maintenance or service charge – This usually apply to those purchasing a flat or apartment and refers to the amount of money that must be paid every month towards the upkeep of a leasehold property. Service charge usually covers things like repairs, maintenance and improvements to communal areas or the building structure.

Mortgage deed – A legal document relating to and acknowledging, the Mortgage lender’s interest in the property

Mortgage offer – A formal written offer to you from a bank or building society to lend an approved amount against a property

Property chain – ‘Quite simply, a property chain occurs when a number of buyers and sellers are linked together by a common objective: moving home. Each buyer or seller represents a link in the overall chain, from the first buyer right the way through to final seller, and each depends upon the other for their transaction to be successful.’ – Petty Son and Prestwich Estate Agent.

Repayment mortgage – A repayment mortgage is a term generally used in the UK to describe a mortgage in which the monthly repayments consist of repaying the capital amount borrowed as well as the accrued interest.

Retention – Where the lender holds part of the mortgage advance back until specified repair works to the property have been completed

Stamp duty – This is the tax paid to the government when you purchase a property and is one of the main things that Rishi Sunak has changed the rules on in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, until March 2021, you only have to pay stamp duty on propertys worth over £500,000.

Subject to contract (STC) – See definition above, earlier in the piece.

Survey – ‘A property survey is a detailed inspection of a property’s condition. The surveyor inspects the property and tells you if there are structural problems like unstable walls or subsidence. They will highlight any major repairs or alterations needed, such as fixing the roof or chimney chute.’ – HomeOwners Alliance.

Title – This states who the legal owner of a property. A copy of this document can normally be obtained from the Land Registry.

Variable interest rate – A variable interest rate (sometimes also called an adjustable or a floating rate) is an interest rate on a loan that fluctuates over time.

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There’s a lot to be anxious about at the moment.

The coronavirus pandemic has had a knock-on effect on so many different areas of our lives – from our dating routines to our socialising habits.

Our work lives are also changing (or are about to) and this is causing a lot of concern.

Whether it’s the impending economic recession that’s likely to result in a number of job losses, or the fact that the pandemic could slow career progression (and pay rises) down.

Career anxiety is rife in the current Covid-19 climate.

But the good news is experts are here to offer some some simple ways to feel less anxious about work.

Try to take emotions out of it

Craig Jackson, a professor of occupational health psychology at Birmingham City University, says: ‘Career anxieties often come with emotions attached – shame, guilt, embarrassment, anger, or fear. 

‘Try and remove yourself from these feelings and look dispassionately at what has happened with your position. Have you been manoeuvred or positioned into where you are by other forces? Do you have the power and influence to move yourself back to a non-precarious position?

‘If you’re feeling emotional (tearful, sad or panicky) do not make any decisions as you will not be at your most logical and balanced.’

This is a great rule to follow in all aspects of life – big decisions should never be made when emotions are running high. 

Keep in mind that it will pass

Anxiety thrives on uncertainty and there’s a lot of that going around at the moment.

A good way to get out of a negative cycle is to acknowledge that anxious thoughts won’t last forever.

Professor Craig adds: ‘It seems terrible now, but in the future this may be a funny story, anecdote or even a learning experience.

‘It could even be the launch point for the best thing that could happen to you. We do not always know what is around the corner – and sometimes it is a good thing awaiting us. 

‘The current situation will not last and things will pass so keep optimistic about the future. Try to keep a level and rational head and only make decisions when feeling on an even keel.’

Self-efficacy is key

While there’s a lot of support out there for employees, you and you alone are the only person who can help you feel less anxious about your career.

Professor Craig says: ‘Rarely will someone tap you on your shoulder and fix your problems for you – most people are busy trying to take care of themselves, never mind you. 

‘”Paddle your own canoe” and rely on your own self-efficacy for improving your career security. Tough times can actually reveal themselves to be great job opportunities in disguise.’

Step back and pause

Slow things down – this will help to make things feel less overwhelming.

Professor Craig says: ‘Do not feel rushed to “do something” about it or move on to something else – stay where you are for now and take your time to think. 

‘Don’t rush to jump ship to something that might look more secure or safer. Try and take some time to pause and think – even if it is only one day, it will help. Wallow in the situation and appreciate it. 

‘You might be in a precarious position – but you’ve survived this far, right? You might decide to make changes, but do so after pausing and thinking about things first.’

Look to others who have bounced back

A redundancy, or a different work setback, can feel very isolating.

But it’s important to remember there are other people out there who have been in similar situations and they might be able to offer practical career advice.

Professor Craig says: ‘Find someone who has been through similar tough times. Their words and experience will provide comfort and assurance that things will move on and you will probably come out of it for the better in the long run.

‘The world is full of people who have had enormous career setbacks, scandals, or who even hit rock bottom, but they have bounced back into an even better position – and often used their original setback as a launch point.’

Notice catastrophic scenarios you might be creating

When everything around you is pretty stressful, it can be easy to spiral into  catastrophic thinking (imagining the very worst case scenarios).

Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, advises: ‘When you notice that you’re having a catastrophic thought, tell yourself it’s just that – a thought. It’s just something your mind does when you feel a certain way. 

‘Take it one day at a time and don’t try to predict the future or consider the most negative outcome. Put the focus on what you can control.’

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In an ideal world, being forced indoors with our partners would lead to us feeling more connected to them, developing shared hobbies, and having more time to get creative in the bedroom.

A recent study has found, however, that 41% of couples have been having less sex than usual since lockdown hit, and a quarter feel like they spend too much time together.

The Lockdown Love report by Mentimeter asked 1,651 people about their relationships since coronavirus, and the results make for somewhat sad reading.

40% of respondents felt like they didn’t have enough space and 36% felt that them and their partners weren’t making the effort for each other anymore.

In fact, 16% of relationships might be ending after lockdown, with 10% saying that it’s only a matter of time.

It’s not all bad. Half of those who responded said they spent more quality time with their partner. That’s a silver lining, right? Right?!

There are also those lucky 14% who say they’re having more sex – and the quality of the sex people are having has been largely unaffected.

Although it seems a gloomy outlook for the future of our relationships, many of these problems are easily fixed with a little understanding and honesty.

On top of that, physical space will help bring that spark back as we ease out of lockdown, and we’ll hopefully be able to add more romance due to the reopening of restaurants and bars.

It could also be a flashpoint where we remember what’s important and push ourselves to make the effort with our loved ones.

Therapist Vienna Pharaon, who worked on the study said: ‘We must remember that this lockdown created immense amounts of stress and trauma for so many people.

‘As we begin to look at the lessons or takeaways from this time, it’s important that we are gentle with ourselves and each other.

‘I’d encourage people to think about their own personal takeaways from this time. What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about your partner?

‘Consider questions like: Who did you miss? What have you remembered to appreciate? What or who were you okay not having in your life? Answering these questions might be emotional and confronting. They might also bring forward clarity and direction.

‘Sit with that. Ultimately you’ll want to get intentional with how you co-create your lives together.’

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One beauty brand is bringing out a new skincare line that will get us hurrying to our bathroom sinks in no time.

Glossybox is launching its first ever skincare range, with 10 different products to choose from.

The Glossybox Skincare collection – which the brand says is suitable for all ages and skin types – is made up of four cleansers, one exfoliator, two moisturisers, an eye cream, a night serum and a mist.

All the products in the range are made from natural ingredients. They’re also cruelty-free and vegan – even the aesthetically pleasing pink packaging is made from recyclable sugarcane.

The new collection is set to launch exclusively for Glossybox subscribers at 9am on 12 August, before going on general sale at 12pm the same day.

Prices will range from £12-£18 for subscribers – which is 20% off the RRP. For non-subscribers, prices start from £15.

But the skincare line has been brought out with nation’s skincare needs in mind.

The team at Glossybox have spent over a year collecting feedback from customers and have created the collection based on their comments.

They also had full control of the supply chain and developed the products with the help of leading skin care specialists – so the formulas are super-hydrating and free from any nasty chemicals.

In other beauty news, Superdrug has just launched its 49p sale, with savings across beauty and grooming gift sets.

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The property market is a bit of a jumble right now.

While it is normal for it to fluctuate overall, coronavirus has thrown a wrench in the mix for people looking to get a foot on the ladder.

Unfortunately, many banks have cut down on the percentage of loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages, meaning that those looking to buy a house for the first time may now need a bigger deposit in order to afford to buy.

Or, look further afield for cheaper homes.

With this in mind, we have researched property prices in cities across the UK and compared these to London, which is notoriously expensive.

Here is what your money could get you if you abandon the capital.

What kind of property you can get for £150,000

Let’s start with Manchester.

For £150,000, you can move into a beautiful two-bedroom luxury flat, which is smack in the middle of the city centre, and a short walk from Manchester Oxford Road train station and the canal.

If that is too expensive, there are other flats within the residential building from £114,950.

As an example, if you got a mortgage with Natwest over 25 years, with a 10% deposit equalling to £15,000, your monthly rent would be £599.

Not bad for a new, fancy two-bed.

Let’s compare to London.

As you probably know, you won’t get close to the city centre with this type of budget, but you can still get a decent home if you are willing to travel (very far).

Over in South Norwood, located in zone 4, there is a one-bedroom flat that boasts ‘views towards Croydon’ and ‘excellent local amenities’.

But the standard of the property is nothing close to the Manchester new-build and requires a refurb, so you would need to set aside cash for that, too.

The monthly rent would be the same as above (£599) with Natwest, but it’s 0.8miles from the nearest train station so could also mean a long commute – unless you work from home.

So, luxury flat in superb location or slightly dingy refurb job out in the sticks.

Tough choice, right?

What kind of property you can get for £250,000

OK, let’s up the ante, and try another site and city.

This time, we’re looking at Bristol – where you can get a two-bed end of terrace house with a huge garden for £250,000 on Zoopla.

There are also two reception rooms and one bathroom.

The property is located in Ferndene, so it’s not very central, but Bristol as a whole isn’t that huge of a city so it would be fairly easy to drive into town.

If you don’t drive however, this could be an issue.

Over to London.

As we’re looking at houses only this time, we are sorry to report that there are no options in any central spots – but if you’re OK with Dagenham, Hornchurch or Sutton, there are a few options, including a two-bed that comes in at £248,000.

So you could take the remaining £2,000 and spend it on the house warming.

The terraced house is in decent condition, but could use an update to its interior.

It too has one bathroom and a garden (though this one is much smaller and more of a gravel patch).

However, don’t get too enamoured unless you are older – this home is marketed at those over 60 and forms part of Homewise’s lifetime lease plan, meaning you will get a discount of anywhere between 8.5% and 59%.

Then again, if you’re after a place to spend your retirement years and don’t fancy the hustle and bustle, it could be a sweet deal.

What kind of property you can get for £350,000

Up for a move to Liverpool?

Grab two mates and move into a three-bedroom flat in the city centre. Minutes away from bars, restaurants and shops, it’s a perfect property for millennials or families.

The flat, which is offered at £300,000 (yay, £50,000 discount) can be found in Alexandra Tower, which has 27 floors.

As for the home, it’s very modern with contemporary interior, lots of light, and also boasts a 24-hour concierge service and parking on site.

If you prefer to stay in London, you’ll need to say bye-bye to the housemates – as you will struggle to find a centrally located three-bed at a similar price.

But you could get a studio in Clerkenwell for £350,000, which is around the corner from Barbican Underground.

OK, it’s tiny flat but it’s not all bad; the property is located inside a Grade II listed art deco mansion block, which has a communal swimming pool, roof terrace and a small gym.

The kitchen isn’t…. great (it’s outdated and there’s no oven), and you’ll struggle to fit a sofa in the room, but that’s just the joys of capital life.

Just keep repeating that to yourself.

What kind of property you can get for £450,000

Firstly, if you have saved up a big enough deposit to afford a home at this price, we salute you – but you can actually get gorgeous homes in Newcastle for far less.

For the sake of our research, let’s stick to £450,000.

There’s a two-bedroom duplex penthouse in the city centre that will speak to your inner hipster with its open plan design, high ceilings and quirky features (like the brick walls, exposed metal beams and funky tub).

Not to mention the views of the Rivery Tyne.

Yeah, we’d happily live here.

Surprisingly, in this price range, London doesn’t fair too bad.

OK, you won’t get a flat in Chelsea, Westminster or Shoreditch, but if Whitechapel appeals, there is currently a beautiful two-bedroom flat up for grabs.

Located 0.3miles from the Underground station, the home features a spacious kitchen, balcony and small but cute bathroom (we particularly like the wood detailing on the sink).

But here’s the downside: you would have to shell out £1,797 every month for a 25-year mortgage, so it’s a pricey spot to purchase if you’re on your own.

Then again, if you’re buying with a partner or friend, or fancy getting a housemate, it’ll end up at an average London price per room (£898.50).

No hipster vibes though.

What kind of property you can get for £550,000

Time to visit Edinburgh.

Prepare yourself to be amazed: although this student town is pricier than many other cities in Scotland, you still get amazing value for your money.

How does a gorgeous, detached five-bed house with a humungous garden featuring two decked areas sound?

Did we mention the property also has French doors that open up to the aforementioned garden? And there’s a private driveway, too.

The home is only four miles from the city centre, located in Liberton.

Let’s find out how this compares to the Big Smoke.

A five-bedroom house with a (much, much smaller and not as fancy) garden is available in East Ham.

The interior is in good condition, though the kitchen looks circa 1980 with its wooden cabinets, which brings down the overall look of the property.

However, the glorious top floor room with its skylight makes up for that. Almost.

Location-wise, you are moments from Upton Park Underground (Zone 3).

Both properties cost £550,000.

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It’s safe to say that 2020 has been a year like no other. 

Life in lockdown has forced us all to adapt to new ways of living, from how we work and stay in touch with friends and family to, most interestingly, how we find love.

Lockdown romance

For over 100 days, we’ve been confined to our homes and have been strictly advised to limit our interactions with anyone outside our households, meaning that those in search of a relationship have had to be pretty creative when it comes to dating.

Naturally, virtual dating has since been on the rise, with dating apps such as Bumble offering a safe platform in which to connect with other people while physically meeting them has been off the cards.

This long-distance approach to love seems to have transformed the rules of engagement – for the better. With physical intimacy restricted, many have used this strange time as the perfect opportunity to take things slow and truly get to know a person rather than rushing into things, giving potential romances a little more time to naturally flourish. 

Platforms such as Bumble have made the process of dating a little more exciting, too, giving the routine of traditional courting a much needed reboot. The option to video call your prospective lover have seen a rise in some very unusual yet heartfelt dating ideas, from virtual romantic dinners and cooking classes, to happy hour and joint workouts – even chilling out while watching the same movie has been made possible thanks to the wonders of the internet.

In many ways, this new approach to dating has had its benefits, forcing us all to have a taste of what a more meaningful relationship can look like as we talk more to one another and get used to a new normal together. It’s a phenomenon that has led to over 50 per cent of Bumble daters hoping to find more meaningful, longer lasting relationships after lockdown.

As surreal as these past few months have been, it’s also put everyone on the same level, giving even the shyest of individuals an easy and diverse topic to explore comfortably as they get to know someone new – and all from the physical and emotional safety of their homes.

So, now that lockdown measures are easing and we’re not forced to stay at home, will we choose to leap right back into traditional dating, or having dating apps launched a new age of romance?

The new normal

Super Saturday saw thousands of people flocking back to pubs and restaurants for that long-awaited drink with friends and family, and as many more returning to the hairdresser so they could look and feel more human again.

But not everyone is as enthused about this sudden rush back to normality. Combine this with the prospect of finally coming face to face with someone you’ve been getting to know through a dating app and all the other stresses we’ve been under recently, and you’d be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment.

However, when it comes to finding love, virtual dating can still help us out, even if we have the option to not depend on it as much any more. 

Bumble is making it easy for its users to both mentally prepare themselves for this new shift and communicate to others their thoughts about dating in the new normal without the stress, thanks to its new badging system.

This simple system allows users to pop a badge on their profile which lets everyone else know what they feel most comfortable with when it comes to dating in a post-lockdown world. So, if you are eager to get out again and cannot wait to finally meet that person you’ve created that virtual connection with these past few months, you can say that you’re up for socially distanced dating, or want to socially distance with masks.

Whether you’re dating someone new or making plans with someone special, you can check their badge and get straight to planning how you’re going to date while respecting their boundaries. Socially distanced picnics in the park this summer and romantic walks on the beach are in our stars.

But there’s one other badge option for those who aren’t looking to rush into things just yet, and this one says you’re happy to continue virtual dating for the time being. This way, you can avoid the potentially awkward situation of feeling obliged to meet in person if you’re not feeling mentally or emotionally there yet, and continue doing what’s best for you.

In a time where respecting others and their boundaries is more important than ever, this simple yet effective system takes the pressure off dating so you can focus on the fun side of it and have one less thing to worry about as we continue to adapt to new ways of working, living and travelling.

Apps such as Bumble will also continue to be a safe and reliable means of finding love long after lockdown ends, because they enable you to get to know someone a little more than you might have done before, and give you the chance to build up your confidence before physically meeting them. 

If there’s one thing to thank the lockdown for, it’s that it’s given the world of romance some perspective, and has helped many realise the value in building relationships through talking again.

Do you have a Bumble story to share? Maybe about a recent virtual date or lockdown love story? Let them know by DM’ing @bumble_uk.

While the rest of us have been lazing around on the sofa all lockdown, one group of pals is taking on an important challenge.

Inspired by the story of Ledger Smith, who in August 1963 skated 685 miles from Chicago to Washington DC in only 10 days to attend Martin Luther King Jr.’s march, a group of 51 skaters have strapped on their wheels and vowed to skate a total of 685 miles over the course of July to raise money for the Black Lives Matter movement.

The group, which is hosted and organised on Facebook, is made up of new skaters and seasoned roller derby players, all of whom will skate a minimum of 15 miles each to contribute to the cause.

Don’t worry, all the social distancing measures are being observed. Skaters are participating outdoors, either alone or in small social distanced groups, and track their miles to share and total at the end of each week.

We’re now two weeks into the challenge and the group has raised £1,172 and skated 576.15 miles.

Money raised will go to two chosen charities: The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and the Angelou Centre, a Black-led women’s centre supporting Black and ethnic minority women in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Katie Corps, one of the organisers, said: ‘When we heard about the story of Ledger Smith we were hugely inspired and wanted to do something to show our support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

‘We set up the group on Facebook thinking around 10 people would want to be involved. Things snowballed from there – the skating community invited all their friends!

‘We now have over 70 people in the group and 51 who are committed to skating, from roller derby players to first-time skaters.

‘The weather hasn’t been on our side so we’ve been out in the wind and the rain, but everyone is really excited to smash our skating goal and raise money in the process!’

If you’d like to support the skaters’ challenge, you can donate through JustGiving and follow the group’s progress on the Skate Against Hate 2020 Facebook page.

Do you have a story to share?

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Cat owners will know that our feline pals absolutely love to play with hair bobbles, bits of string, and whatever other rubbish they can get their paws on – completely ignoring the fancy toys us humans stupidly paid loads of money for.

But it’s important to keep a close eye on your cat’s chosen playthings.

Learn from the case of Waffles, a five-year-old tabby who almost died after he sneakily ate a load of hair elastics and pieces of string, which formed a huge tangled mass in his stomach.

The indoor cat’s owners, Ryan Gallacher, 27, and Danielle Carlin, 26, noticed that Waffles was acting a bit out of sorts, so took the cat to the vets.

They were heartbroken when the vet suspected that their pet might have cancer – but then surgery revealed that the large mass in Waffles’ stomach was actually hairbands, string from cat toys, and yarn from his scratching post.

He was sent home and given a lampshade to wear with instructions not to let him jump around too much, but the couple noticed the stitches appeared to be swelling, and took the poorly cat back to the vets, where he was told to come back in a few days.

Hours later, Danielle was horrified to see the wound had opened up – leaving Waffles’ intestines hanging out.

The cat then had to be rushed back to the vets for a life-saving operation.

Ryan and Danielle didn’t have pet insurance as they thought Waffles would be low risk, because he doesn’t go outside.

His hairband habit ended up costing the couple £5,000 in healthcare.

Ryan said: ‘We never knew – it must have been going on for months.

‘The vet said he had never seen anything like it before.

‘Waffles has always been quite a sickly cat, he is constantly wanting to be fed, and we just thought he was eating too much food and would be sick but not bringing anything up.

‘We took him to the vets expecting to be told it was nothing, and the vet said he could feel something in his stomach and wanted to do a scan.

‘They found a mass and initially thought it was cancer and needed to be operated on immediately.

‘We brought him back the next day and the vet still didn’t know what it was, if it was going to be cancer – but the vet said it was hair bands.

‘Danielle had never noticed them disappearing, they weighed 100g.

‘The strangest thing was he ate the bits from dangly cat toys.

‘We thought we had a bargain for getting him for £40 but he’s ended up costing more than I’ve ever bought in my entire life.’

After the second operation, Waffles got his own onesie to stop him scratching at his wound and opening it back up again.

He also had to live in a cage for three weeks to stop him jumping around too much.

Thankfully, Waffles has now made a great recovery and is back playfighting with his brother Kevin – but dangly cat toys have been banned from the flat in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.

Ryan said: ‘He’s all good now, we are paying off the second operation.

‘He’s all back to normal and fighting with his brother.

‘Any toys we get now will not have dangling bits on them and we would say to cat owners: “make sure you have pet insurance”.’

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If you’re climbing the walls after moving back home over lockdown, you’ll want to start packing your bags – because London rents have dropped.

According to SpareRoom, the UK’s average monthly room rents have fallen by 2% – and that drop is almost entirely fuelled by the fact that they’ve crashed in the capital by 7%.

The ‘lockdown quarter’ between April and June this year saw the average national room rent drop from £603 a month to £590.

In London however, the decline was even steeper, with the average room dropping from £777 last year to £725 today – meaning that we’re back to 2017 level rents.

Interestingly, when you take London out of the mix, the average UK rents have actually increased slightly, showing just how much of a massive impact London is having on the market. Belfast has seen the biggest climb in rents, closely followed by Portsmouth. On the other end of the spectrum, however, Edinburgh closely follows London for sharp declines in rent.

So, where are the best bargains to be had in London?

If you’ve got big bucks, head over to Holland Park, where rents are down a massive 20% from £1,146 to £919 a month. EC1 (Holborn, Finsbury – peak City) is down 17% from £989 to £824 and east London is down by 5% to £685.

Matt Hutchinson, SpareRoom Director says: ‘Restrictions on moving home, the fact that people’s incomes have been negatively affected and a “flight from London” to other areas of the UK are all likely to be factors’.

‘Another possible trend that could be putting downward pressure on London rents is a move away from areas with London Underground connections, which traditionally command a premium.

‘With ongoing working from home and coronavirus fears putting people off getting on the tube, people may be looking instead at areas on the overground. That would explain why rents are faring better in some areas of southeast London.’

The rental crash may be indicative of a looming financial disaster but for those of us who are still in work and don’t have any option but to rent, this does make London more accessible.

Of course, rents aren’t fixed so prices may well shoot back up in a few months but at least for now, why not make hay while the sun shines?

Do you have a story to share?

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When Sonya Karimi, 31, from New Orleans, Louisiana, adopted elderly pugs George,13, and Bodhi, 10, and Boston terrier Sam, 10, she noticed they struggled to climb her stairs.

Bodhi found it especially tough due to a torn knee ligament.

Rather than having to carry the pups up the stairs each time they wanted to go up a level, Sonya decided to get creative.

She built the dogs their very own stairlift, which even her younger pug Emery, four, enjoys.

Sonya used to work with the elderly, so has seen stairlifts in action. She figured out how to build her own, crafting the wooden structure and getting Zach’s retired engineer parents to help out with the wiring, which is neatly tucked undeneath the stairs.

The DIY project took just three months to complete, and uses a motor meant for a car so that more than one dog can sit in the cart at a time.

Sonya, who owns four rescue dogs with fiancé, Zach, said: ‘Our most recent foster dogs Bodhi and Sam grew up together and are both around ten years old.

‘I noticed Bodhi was walking strange after we adopted him and found out he had a torn ACL. The surgery was going to cost around $3,000 (£2,700) and we didn’t know if he would do well under anaesthesia.

‘It only really bothered him when he was walking up and down the stairs – I’ve worked with geriatrics in the past and I have geriatric dogs so I thought there had to be some way to make it easier for them to get upstairs.

‘At work, I’ve seen how helpful stairlifts are to people so I was surprised there wasn’t anything similar for dogs with all the different products that are available for pets nowadays.

‘So I thought that we might be able to create something ourselves for our dogs to use.

‘They’ve adapted to it so quickly, I thought I’d have to train them for a while to get used to it but they just get on it as if they’ve had it for years!

‘The two older pugs love it especially – they won’t use the stairs, they will sit there and wait until the ride is ready for them and it’s so cute.’

Once the project was finished, the couple used treats to coax the dogs on to the cart before securing the latch and transporting them upstairs when needed.

Sonya said: ‘It was funny after we initially did the training because they would just sit in a line by the elevator thinking they would get a treat for it.

‘We’re proud that we were able to do it all from scratch.

‘I was so shocked there’s nothing out there like it, with a range of pet products and money we’re all willing to spend on our pets nowadays.’

Sonya now plans to paint the stairlift like the famous streetcars in their home city of New Orleans.

‘I did wonder if I was going overboard with the idea but once we posted about it, the amazing feedback I got confirmed even more that we did the right thing for our pets,’ she added.

‘If you’re not a pet person you might think it’s crazy but our dogs are like our children so we’re willing to do anything we can to make their lives easier.’

Do you have a story to share?

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

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When I meet new people, I tend not to tell them that I have Tourette’s Syndrome. It can make everyone involved feel awkward, and the last thing I want is to deal with intrusive questions about my disability.

So the fact I told my current boyfriend, Ian, within an hour of meeting him was unusual to say the least.

We met in 2018 after spotting each other around town during that year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and a chance encounter at a pub led to a conversation at the bar. When Ian began telling me about his day job working with disabled children at a primary school, I felt comfortable enough to open up.

I’ve had Tourette’s since I was nine years old. For me it manifests as an assortment of vocal and motor tics including, but definitely not limited to, squeaking, stretching and tensing my muscles. I was self-conscious of it growing up, but over the years I’ve learned to manage it and now, I consider it to have made me who I am today.

From the get-go, Ian was respectful and kind about my condition. He didn’t laugh, or ask invasive questions, nor did he ignore it completely. Instead, he quietly acknowledged and, as we started dating, accepted its presence in my life.

Not long after we made our relationship official, Ian mentioned that as a child, he had a twitch that caused him some distress at school. After reading about the symptoms of meningitis in a newspaper, he had developed a noticeable compulsion to tilt his neck all the way back, as a way of checking for the disease’s characteristic neck stiffness.

Teachers and students made fun of him, but other members of his family had their own, less prominent ‘habits’ – small noises or movements that usually went unnoticed – so nobody thought any more of it. The way Ian described the feeling of being unable to help but do it, however, mapped almost exactly onto my own experiences.

The more time we were together, the more I noticed Ian ticcing in other ways.

When we sat on his sofa watching television, I’d turn to see him stretching and straining to open his eyes as wide as possible. Or, if we found ourselves working together in the same room, the silence would be punctuated by a quiet but distinctive throat-clearing.

It was clear to both of us that even if Tourette’s wasn’t the culprit, Ian was definitely experiencing tics of some kind.

Eventually my curiosity got the better of me, so I sat down and asked him about it properly. It turned out that Ian’s tics were much more complex than the surface level ones that I’d noticed.

As he described each one – from clicking his toes to the compulsion to spell out certain words in his head – I found myself thinking that his words could just as easily have been coming from my mouth.

I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was excited when I found out that my partner could empathise with an experience so personal to me. It’s difficult to explain how a tic feels, how exhausting it can be to not be in full control of your own body and how that takes its toll on you mentally – but with Ian, suddenly I didn’t have to, because he just got it.

That’s not to say that past boyfriends hadn’t been understanding, but there’s a new level of connection when Ian doesn’t just sympathise, but empathises too.

Similarly, he’s now able to talk about things that he worried were weird, or embarrassing, because he knows that I’ve been through it before.

Of course, when two people with tics date it’s not always fun and games. Over the past two years we’ve definitely had our fair share of tic swaps – that is, one of us picking up on the other’s movement and doing it too. Sometimes when Ian scrunches his face, I find myself scrunching up my own, and then feeling guilty in case he thinks I’m mocking him.

In actuality, it’s not that I’m trying to copy him – ticcing people simply have a way of setting each other off.

More seriously, I’ve always worried about passing my Tourette’s onto any future children, and that concern has only grown more prominent now that I’m dating someone with tics, too. It’s not known exactly how a person gets Tourette’s, but at least part of it is thought to be genetic. With Ian and I both in our early twenties, it’s not something we’ve had to talk about too much, but I know he’s thought about it as well.

I wouldn’t change anything about either of us, though. Our tics have made me appreciate our relationship more. I’m happy to be able to support him as he comes to understand why his body works as it does, and it’s refreshing to know that I’ll never feel like my own tics are a burden to him.

It’s allowed me to feel seen and understood in a way I’d never experienced before, and it’s brought us so much closer together. 

I used to think that true love was just something you could feel for other people, but now I know it can be more than that. The way I feel about Ian – tics and all – has also helped me appreciate parts of myself that I always tried to ignore before. 

Seeing my tics and experiences reflected in someone I love has changed the way I see myself for the better, and I know Ian feels the same way. 

Having a disability like Tourette’s is often unpredictable and I don’t know what the future holds – but tics or no tics, I’m glad to have Ian by my side.

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Now that we’re heading out of lockdown and into the real world, it’s absolutely understandable that we want to spend more on beauty treatments and products.

But with salon appointments limited – and in many cases also our funds – it’s just not an option to get blow-dries on the reg.

The Revlon One-Step is a product designed to give you a salon-style blow dry without making your arm go dead from holding up the brush and dryer.

It was something of an ‘it’ product when it was first released last year, and before-and-after shots were on every beauty blogger’s Instagram extolling the tool’s virtues.

Influencers, with their perfect, social-media lives, may make beautiful pictures, but us regular people can’t always be sure that their opinions are going to apply to us.

That’s why I – the most regular of people – am trying out the Revlon One-Step as part of our weekly series called Is It Worth the Faff? (IIWTF), in an effort to find out whether it’s truly worth your time and money.

What is the Revlon One-Step dryer and styler?

If you imagined a large barrel brush and a hairdryer had a baby, that baby would be the Revlon One-Step.

You may have seen similar heated brushes for sale in the past, but this one is designed slightly differently. Its oval shape and detangling bristles remove frizz and add volume to the root.

Many hot air stylers aren’t designed to be used on wet hair or spin as they go. The Revlon version is used on damp hair and moved by you, with the aim of getting you a result you desire without tangling – as well as saving you time on styling.

The Revlon One-Step can be purchased at Tesco for £50, which is about what we’d expect from a big brand hair tool.

Faff involved

As you could expect from the name, there is little to no faff involved.

I gave my hair a quick towel dry and added some heat protection before plugging the One-Step in and turning it up the highest setting.

Then you take your hair in sections, making sure the thick barrel lifts those roots up, before pulling down smoothly.

I’ve seen tutorials with people twisting the barrel more (like you would with a barrel brush in a bouncy blow dry – try saying that five times fast) to create curls, but my hair is a little bit short for that.

You can flick the styler inwards or outwards towards the end for a different look, and use on fringes or bangs for a sleeker style or a more 70s feathery thing.

Overall it took about 6 or 7 minutes to dry and style my hair, which is about to my shoulders.

If you like a dryer with low heat, this isn’t one for you. There is a cool setting but it doesn’t feel super cool, and anything after that it’s fairly hot.

The settings seem to be more about how strongly it blows air out, with high and low both seeming to give off a fair amount form of heat. Perhaps not one for your daily style if you’re worried about heat damage.

The results

The time it took to do this along with the fact my hair is shiny and smooth are massive wins here.

I’m not going to write home about the uniqueness of the style itself, as it does look exactly like how it would had I used a barrel brush and standard dryer, but the One-Step has the added benefits of ease of use and time-saving.

If I was actually going anywhere and not just sitting in my house watching TV I’d be more than happy with this as a finished look.

Is the Revlon One-Step worth the faff?

As a lazy person who likes to look like a slightly less lazy person, absolutely.

Since I got this (which was actually Christmas, thanks mum), I haven’t got my straighteners out once.

£50 isn’t nothing, but it’s reasonable when compared to other products on the market and very worth it when you consider you’re getting a couple of tools in one.

If you’re the type of person who finds drying your hair to be the worst part of any given day, this cuts the time at least by half and leaves you with hair that looks like it was done on purpose.

I wouldn’t say it was ideal for use after every wash due to the high heat, but if you alternate between air-drying and using this – as well as using proper heat protection – this is a great option.

Make sure you also use a bond repairing shampoo and conditioner like Olaplex and a heat protector, and it’s also nice to finish off with the cool setting once your style is set to add shine and smooth those ends.

Otherwise, you’ll likely find that this styler is a game-changer for you.

Do you have a beauty hack or hero product you’d like to share?

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

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