Gyms are gearing up to welcome you back (Picture: Getty Images)
The UK is gradually opening up again in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with non-essential retail, pubs, restaurants and hairdressers among the businesses which have reopened so far.
But with people having to resort to workouts at home during lockdown, the one question many have been asking is when indoor gyms might be allowed to open up again.
The good news is you won’t have to wait very long at all for that day, with gyms on the list of businesses due to reopen next.
The news was confirmed on 9 July as Oliver Dowden,,Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said that ‘our lives have been on hold for months now’ as he added that the country had made ‘huge progress against this virus’.
Mr Dowden had previously said on Twitter that – all being well – facilities could potentially open from mid-July.
Following the PM’s announcement to reopen other industries from 4 July, he tweeted: ‘Many people keen to hit the gym & keeping Britain fit is key in Covid battle.
‘We’ve made lots of progress & I know steps businesses have taken to make their spaces & equipment safe.’
The gym reopenings in England follow Northern Ireland, where gyms are already open – but currently there is no date for indoor gyms to reopen in Scotland or Wales.
A number of chains have confirmed they will be reopening their doors in England on 25 July – among them PureGym, The Gym Group, Bannatyne’s, David Lloyd and Anytime Fitness.
What are the new rules for gyms after they reopen?
Gyms have been working on enhanced safety measures (Picture: PA)
This son couldn’t bear to part from his sick mum (Picture: Mohamad Safa @mhdksafa)
A Palestinian man who couldn’t bear to part with his ill mother did what he could to ensure he could still be with her.
Jihad Al-Suwaiti, from Hebron – where they are struggling to fight off a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak – decided to find a way to be able to see his mum Rasma Salama while she was in hospital.
So the 30-year-old climbed the wall up to her hospital room and watched over her every night and day through the window, up until she passed away last week.
The elderly mother was high-risk, having been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Once Rasma contracted coronavirus, survival chances were slim. But as with Covid-19 patients around the world, she was not allowed visitors.
But Jihad couldn’t bear the thought of his mum being alone.
An image of Jihad after he climbed the pipeline one night was captured by passersby and uploaded on social media where it went viral.
Mohammed Safa, a UN diplomat, also shared the image and wrote: ‘The son of a Palestinian woman who was infected with Covid-19 climbed up to her hospital room to sit and see his mother every night until she passed away.’
The image of a crestfallen Jihad watching the window received more than 190,000 likes.
Jihad figured out a way to climb the wall to his mum’s window (Picture: @Daniasalem0)
According to local media, Jihad was the youngest son and having lost his father 15 years prior was heartbroken to lose his mum too.
At first Jihad was angry after learning his mother had leukaemia but as she neared her death, grew to accept it.
A hospital official also shared Jihad’s story online where they wrote: ‘He spent most of his day there, observing his mother’s condition from outside the window, before coming down when he was convinced that his mother was fast asleep.’
Online, people really sympathised with Jihad. Others shared stories of losing their own parents.
His mum Rasma had leukemia and later contracted coronavirus after which she died (Picture: @Daniasalem0)
One person wrote: ‘Lose your mother and it feels like you lost half of your energy, soul, breath. It hurts, really hurts. This year is two years since my mum passed away, and it still hurts me, I cry when I miss her.’
Another wrote: ‘Can this become any sadder when we are only able to comfort our loved ones through a window, phone or tablet? I am also so thankful that we can even do that. She saw her son’s face one last time – I pray she is in peace now.’
Which one takes your fancy? (Picture: Morrisons/Getty)
We might not be having a carnival this year (or much of a summer, really) but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a lovely rum punch.
If you’re craving a Caribbean-inspired fix then rejoice, Morrisons has three new exclusive spiced rum flavours.
The Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rums are the perfect addition to any cocktail this summer and come in three flavours.
You can get your hands on lime-flavoured rum which features citrus aromas with sweet hints of caramel.
The raspberry edition contains a juicy sweet raspberry flavour with a hint of citrus and the passionfruit is a sweeter tropical rum with hints of mango.
And good news – The Dead Man’s Fingers rum is available on offer right now at £17.99 until 8 September.
After that they will then be available at £22.
Some industry commentators believe rum will soon replace gin as the go-to spirit of choice for many consumers, with worldwide sales of high-end rum bottles increasing by 8.3% between 2014-19.
Stefan Kaczmarczyk, from Morrisons, said: ‘We know that rum is becoming more popular with our customers and we want to introduce different products for them to try, which is why we’ve launched these new fruity flavours.’
Each 70cl rum bottle has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 37.5% so drink responsibly.
Brodie was attacked by his mother as a puppy (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
A dog with a wonky face has become a social media sensation.
One-year-old Brodie was attacked by his mother as a puppy, leaving him with facial deformities.
Brodie’s owners, Amanda Richter, 30 and Brad Ames, 23 – who live in Alberta, Canada – fell in love with the canine after seeing a Facebook post asking for applications for his adoption.
After visiting him, Amanda and Brad knew Brodie was the dog for them.
With owners Amanda and Brad (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
His owners describe him as a ‘Picasso masterpiece’ (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Amanda said: ‘I literally looked at the picture and would cry and just be like, we have to go meet this dog.’
Brad said: ‘I spent an hour with him. I had to take him home.’
The German Shepherd and Border Collie cross is blind in one eye – so requires eye drops every day. He also has cranial deformities and cannot eat like other dogs, due to his fused jaw.
Brodie is blind and can’t eat like other dogs (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
He also has cranial deformities (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Amanda said: ‘He definitely looks like a little Picasso masterpiece for sure.’
Brad added: ‘The disability doesn’t slow him down in any way.’
Amanda has even set up an Instagram account for her four-legged friend – @bestboybrodie – so people can keep up with his adventures. The account now has more than 156,000 followers.
Instagram pictures show Brodie enjoying trips out to the lake, splashing around in a paddling pool and enjoying the remains of a Starbucks drink – as well as other day-to-day activities.
He’s still a happy chappy (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
He now has his own Instagram account (Picture: Davey Lieske/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
The couple are planning for Brodie to become a therapy dog, with the hope of him eventually helping others with disabilities.
Amanda added: ‘We’d like to take him maybe into old folks homes, children’s hospitals, group homes for people that have disabilities, that kind of thing.’
It seems as if everyone and their mother got a hot tub during lockdown, with stores like Aldi including inflatable versions in their sales and prompting people to go shopping mad.
While the last thing you’ll be thinking about when sipping a glass of bubbly in your tub is the filter, keeping that clean is a priority if you don’t want to bathe in filth.
Hair, food, and whatever else might fall into your hot tub, and the filter helps (along with bacteria killing solutions you add) to pull them out and keep the water clear.
Filters also keep your machine – which you’ve probably dropped a fair amount of cash on – running correctly, avoiding jams or heater errors.
You should be cleaning these filters around once a week, with more detailed cleans every month or so.
How to clean your hot tub filter
How you’ll clean your filter depends on how long it’s been since the last thorough clean.
Once a week, you should rinse your filter under the tap or hose, loosening any debris or hair (ensure your tub is turned off when you remove the filter).
Open the creases of the filter slightly to ensure you get everything, leave it to dry, then pop back in. Don’t use any shampoos, soaps, or solutions for this.
You can buy special attachments for your hose to get into the crevices, but this isn’t necessary.
Get it all cleaned up before the next heatwave (Picture: Getty Images)
Once a month, on top of your regular rinse, use a spray specifically designed for hot tub filters to clean. You could also dilute neat hot tub cleaner with water for this and put in a spray bottle.
After thoroughly spraying this degreasing mixture onto the filter, allow it to soak in for around 20 minutes before a really good rinse. Then it’s safe to leave to dry and put back in.
Then, once every three to six months, you need to soak your filter.
In a bucket or similar vessel, dilute filter cleaning solution in water as per the instructions on the bottle.
Leave the filter in there overnight, making sure it soaks for eight hours at the very least.
Then rinse to remove all traces of the solution, leave to dry, and put back in the tub.
Depending on the type of filter you have, it may need to be replaced every year or two. It also might be handy to have a second filter anyway, so you can switch between them while soaking and cleaning the other.
Hot tubs are obviously fun, but it’s imperative you do this so it doesn’t break – and so you aren’t bathing in a hot pool of grossness.
Danielle Paterson, a 30-year-old mum of two, decided to use her time during lockdown to transform her daughter’s playhouse into a gorgeous pink paradise.
The senior account manager, from Bedfordshire, transformed the wooden playhouse into an amazing fairy playhouse.
Husband Stuart had bought the playhouse last year from the local garden centre, but the couple took the chance while in lockdown to personalise it for under £100.
The couple had initially bought the playhouse after they had a baby last year and wanted to distract eldest Poppy from any sibling rivalry with new sister Darcy.
They even told Poppy that the house was a gift from her new baby sister, to really make sure they got along.
Before (PictureL LatestDeals.co.uk)
The playhouse transformation, which went down a treat with Poppy, also helped mum Danielle.
She told LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I decided to channel my energies into projects where I could see a quantifiable change. The first was the fairy playhouse and garden!
‘I’ve had the idea in my head since last year but have just never gotten round to it.
‘I loved it but wanted to make it really special for my girls. Poppy is very much in a fairy princess stage, so I decided to paint it pink.’
To achieve the colour, Danielle used Cuprinol paints in sweet pea and white shades.
She added details such as white frills on the arches by drawing around a vase.
Danielle also added lots of fairy lights and to make the fairy garden, she used nine strips of artificial grass from Homebase which cost £4.95 each.
Danielle did it in just two days (PictureL LatestDeals.co.uk)
‘I really liked the idea of having a white picket fence, so I picked up two bits of fencing from Homebase for £6.99 each and spray painted them white,’ added Danielle.
‘Poppy absolutely loves it, and I’ve still got more ideas. I bought some light-up cherry blossom trees from Aldi for £14.99 each and intend to decorate with toadstools and stumps soon to really give it a fairy feel.
‘The whole project took me two days, and cost me just under £100.’
Danielle was delighted with how the project turned out, and says it provided a great mental distraction during the lockdown.
She continued: ‘It was really good for my mental health, because as much as I love my children, I, like a lot of other parents, was finding it a struggle during lockdown mentally.
‘These projects allowed me to have some time to myself – I stick a book in on Audible and just concentrate on the task at hand!’
They started with a paperclip (Picture:@theclipventure)
Jawaad Khan has wanted to own a Tesla Model 3 for a while but with a £40,000 price tag, he wasn’t sure it would be possible.
Taking inspiration from Kyle MacDonald, from Canada, who turned a paperclip into a house in less than a year back in 2005, he decided to start a trade up challenge.
Although his brother Juned, 24, said he would prefer a Lamborghini to a Tesla, he agreed to help and in three weeks, they’ve made six trades and already have a pair of headphones worth £270.
Jawaad tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It started out as a joke really. I liked the car and I thought it was maybe a more achievable goal than a house, which I knew had been done.
‘It’s taken off now and we’re just going to keep going until we get to a Tesla.’
Then they got some mugs (Picture:@theclipventure)
A gaming mouse (Picture:@theclipventure)
Back in June, the brothers, from Ipswich, started with a red paperclip, which they traded for two mugs.
From there, they were able to trade for a gaming mouse, then a used coffee machine with pods, then a camera, a smartwatch and their current item – brand new Bang & Olufsen Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones.
The coffee machine (Picture:@theclipventure)
Then a camera (Picture:@theclipventure)
The smart watch (Picture:@theclipventure)
Juned adds: ‘It doesn’t take us too long but we message about 100 people through Facebook marketplace and Gumtree and will maybe get just one or two responses.
‘We want to get something that we can trade going forward as well, so it needs to be something others would want.
Their current item is some brand new headphones (Picture:@theclipventure)
‘We’d love to get a quad bike along the way so we can use that to go and pick up other trades.
‘This method is working so we’ll just stick with it for as long as possible.’
The brothers hope to reach their goal in six months (Picture:@theclipventure)
The brothers are spending a little time every day searching for their next trade, around their full-time jobs – Jawaad runs a company called SignFlow, which is software for time attendance, rota and leave management and Juned is working as an auditor at an accounting firm.
At the minute, they’re trying to keep it within driving distance of Ipswich or London (where they work sometimes) but said that they’d be willing to travel further as the trades get bigger.
They hope to reach their goal in under six months, based on MacDonald’s original project taking less than a year with a bigger prize.
Their antics have gained a following on social media with their TikTok account @theclipventure getting thousands of views.
Then you’ll want to meet Cora – an adorable two-legged miniature poodle who hops around like a kangaroo.
The sweet dog was discovered abandoned with two broken legs, a broken back and a shattered pelvis.
Cora, believed to be six, has made a remarkable recovery and now happily bounces around on her hind legs.
The pooch was completely immobile when she was adopted by kind-hearted Zach Skow in February 2018.
A vet even advised Zach, 40, from Tehachapi, California, to put Cora down.
But Zach went against the advice and wanted to bring Cora, who had her legs amputated, home.
Now the cute doggo just bounces around the house, playing around with passersby while on walks.
Meet Cora (Picture: Zach Skow / SWNS.COM)
Zach, who runs Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue, said: ‘She had severely broken front legs, a broken back and a totally shattered pelvis.
‘With those injuries, I would assume she was run over by a car.
‘We tried to save the legs with surgery but one of them had a bone infection and had to be amputated and the other one couldn’t be fixed and had to be amputated as well.
‘She was depressed – it was a shock for her to lose her legs and it was very painful for her to be immobile.
Zach took Cora in after she was abandoned (Picture: Zach Skow / SWNS.COM)
‘The vet wanted us to euthanize her but I’ve taken in many two-legged dogs over the years and I knew she could get better.
‘Now Cora is the rock star of them all.’
Cora was discovered abandoned with two broken legs, a broken back and a shattered pelvis (Picture: Zach Skow / SWNS.COM)
Cora now hops around like a kangaroo (Picture: Zach Skow / SWNS.COM)
Within three months Cora learnt how to get around on two legs.
After spending time walking assisted by a cart, Cora was able to navigate the world on hind legs.
Zach added: ‘Through perseverance and dogged will she learned how to walk on her own.
She’s still the happiest, friendliest doggo (Picture: Zach Skow / SWNS.COM)
‘We gave her space and we let her be – we didn’t want to be overly sympathetic and carry her everywhere.’
Zach now describes the bouncing poodle as ‘the friendliest, happiest dog’.
He said: ‘She has never met a person or a pet that she doesn’t want to be best friends with.
‘I think her mission in life is to display gratitude wherever she goes.’
Guy and Julie show off their home (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
Getting on the property ladder is tough but you could secure a house worth £1 million for just £2.50.
Yes, you read that right – someone will get this Grade II listed house, which comes with a luxury loft apartment and butler’s quarters for the price of a coffee.
And on top of that, up to £200,000 will go to NHS and hospice charities.
Owners Guy and Julie Vass snapped up Melling Hall in Carnforth, Lancs., 18 years ago when it was a wreck.
They’ve spent the last decade restoring the property and now that their two sons Jonny, 31, and Tim, 27, have moved out, the couple are planning to downsize to a smaller house.
They are now planning to raffle the property – which was recently valued at £930,000.
The exterior (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
Other properties have been sold in the same way in the last few years – with the idea being that sales cover the value of the house but one lucky person gets it for a bargain price.
Retired clothing businessman Guy, 66, said: ‘When we first bought the Hall it was in desperate need of TLC.
Guy and Julie Vass with Toby the dog at the front door of Melling Hall (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
‘We started with the roof using local Burlington slate so it was in keeping with the area and then worked down.
‘For us, it was so important to make sure that everything is in keeping with the original character so we fitted cast iron radiators in every room.
There’s lots of space in the property (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
And more space outdoors (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
‘We refurbished all the original sliding sash windows, renovated the panelled shutters for the windows and every door.
‘In fact, the joiner was here for six months; people must have thought he had moved in with the family.
The huge kitchen (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
‘We used only local craftsmen and worked hard ourselves to bring the house back to what you can see today. It’s now ready for the next 250 years.’
Inside, there’s a huge kitchen, three en-suite double bedrooms and even a former butler’s sitting room.
One of three bedrooms (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
Julie, 62, a manager of a local GP practice, said: ‘Attention to detail is everything in these renovations.
‘Wherever possible original materials were re-purposed such as re-using all the original flooring in slate, stone flag or oak.
‘The finest floor is in the butler’s sitting room, now the dining room, which just shows how important that role was in a Georgian Hall
The living area (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
‘Even the fireplaces were part of the project because we were determined to bring the original fireplaces in local Dent marble back to their former glory.
‘The house is just a fantastic place to live. It gives you everything you could want in a house – great style, tons of space and lots of fun.
The dining room (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
‘Although obviously not a small house, the rooms are so well proportioned that they are always warm and welcoming and just great spaces to be in.’
The couple have held lots of parties in the house through the years and even had 100 guests for New Year’s Eve once.
Julie added: ‘When it comes to entertaining, the house just takes it all in its stride.’
The lucky winner will also have the keys to a two-bed loft apartment in nearby Kirkby Lonsdale.
A bathroom (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
Julie said: ‘The two-bedroom self-contained loft apartment is a bonus and gives excellent views across the countryside from every window.
‘It would also be a great base for running a business from home.’
They decided as well as securing a sale for their house, they wanted to help a local hospice as Guy lost his mother Irene to cancer when she was diagnosed when he was just 16 years old.
Another bedroom (Picture: Guy & Julie Vass / SWNS)
He said: ‘She was well cared for at the end and I always knew I wanted to do something.
‘Many years have passed and my head and my heart say this is the right time; Julie and I have worked hard, brought up our two wonderful children here.
‘It’s now time to downsize and rather than just putting the house on the market we decided to take the chance to do something significant to help the local community by looking after our local hospice, the NHS and other deserving charities.
‘End of life care is the one thing no-one wants to talk about but it’s the one thing that everybody needs so Julie and I want to play our part in supporting it.’
The second prize also nets you £5,000, which will be shared between the two entrants who generate the highest number of sales by informing other people of the draw.
The draw will take place on September 15 and tickets can be bought online.
Peep the tabby baby in the middle (Picture: @idafloreak)
When Ida Floreak was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of a cat meowing outside, she thought it was her own cat, Bruce.
But then she remembered the stray cat Salami that she’d been intermittently feeding for a few weeks, and went down to check she was okay.
Sure enough there was Salami at the front door, but she didn’t just want to come in for some kibble, she actually wanted a safe space to give birth to her kittens.
Ida, who lives in New Orleans, told Bored Panda: ‘One day, Salami started meowing insistently at my door at 5am.
‘I had started feeding her at this point so she knew to come by, but she had never been so insistent and certainly never so early.
‘Salami came inside and just meowed at me for a few hours so I figured something was about to happen; she was so round at that point.’
Salami had been hanging around with Ida’s cat Bruce for a while (Picture: @idafloreak)
By 9am, Salami had had her four kittens, and artist Ida was certain she’d do everything she could to keep them safe.
Ida had been trying to gain Salami’s trust for a while with the endgame of getting her spayed and vet checked, but she ended up having a litter (with Ida nicknamed the Deli Meats) before any of this could happen.
By 9am the babies had been born (Picture: @idafloreak)
It’s rare for a cat to seek out a human before having kittens, as they’re normally very private animals.
Salami also bucked the trends by sticking around with Ida afterwards rather than hiding away, and although the four babies have now gone to friends, mama cat is still living with Bruce and Ida.
Salami wasn’t shy around Ida at all (Picture: @idafloreak)
‘I was able to get her fixed and vaccinated, and she and Bruce hang out all day together,’ said Ida.
‘She’s adjusted really well, and is a very sweet and loving little cat. All of the kittens have gone to friends: one is in Mississippi, and the other three are all in my neighbourhood. I’m glad I get to still have a connection with them.’
The kittens now live nearby or with friends (Picture: @idafloreak)
After Ida shared the story online support poured in for her – both for giving Salami somewhere safe to have babies and also getting her spayed.
One person wrote: ‘Thank you for opening your door and your heart for Salami and her kitties! You are a special person!’
Salami has now been spayed (Picture: @idafloreak
Another said: ‘Thank you for rescuing this darling girl. So pleased she came to you. I have had this same experience, we are the chosen ones. Salami trusted you.’
Not only did Salami gain some babies that day, she also got a home. And all she needed to do was ask for it.
McDonald’s has reopened its restaurants for dine-in customers from today.
In a move which will also allow some restaurants to take part in the Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme next month, the fast-food giant is back for all customers.
The chain reopened dining areas after a successful trial at four restaurant sites.
Around 700 restaurants across the UK, excluding Wales which has restricted eating in restaurants, are now open to customers and include table service.
McDonald’s has already reopened its sites across the UK for drive-thru and takeaway sales after they were temporarily shut in March.
Customers will be served their food at their table, with orders being taken through the McDonald’s app or at tills and kiosks.
In a statement, the company said: ‘Social distancing measures will be in place and, to prevent congestion, the restaurant will carefully manage the number of customers inside.
‘When arriving, customers will be asked to use the hand sanitiser provided and follow the safety measures laid out in restaurants to help keep them, other customers and restaurant teams safe.’
Customers will need to order via the app or at kiosks from now on (Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Customers who eat in will also be asked to leave their contact details by using their smartphone.
It added that the move will enable ‘some restaurants’ to take part in the Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, halving dine-in bills by up to £10 per person on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August.
Last week, McDonald’s said it has also recommended that franchises cut the price of popular items and meal deals after the government slashed VAT on hot meals from 20% to 5% for the next six months.
There is 30p off the price of Happy Meals by 30p and 50p off breakfast meals, with cuts also recommended for Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, and McNuggets.
Anyone who’s been craving the stuff (us poor folks without a car), get in on it.
Some of the shortlisted sheds (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Award season might seem like a distant memory considering the global pandemic we’ve had since then, but these are the gongs you should all have been waiting for – the 2020 Cuprinol Shed of the Year.
Yes, it might not sound as glam as the Oscars but these awards show off some of the most impressive summer houses, outdoor stores and home bars you’ve ever seen.
For these people, the shed is somewhere more than just a place to store the deckchairs.
There are nine categories, including two new ones – the Lockdown Repurpose and Lockdown New-build.
Judges whittled down hundreds of entries to compile this year’s shortlist of 27 sheds.
The winner from each will be decided by public vote, then an overall winner will be crowned by a panel of shed experts with a giant golden crown for the winning shed.
The overall winner will also receive £1,000, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products.
Public voting is now underway will close on Sunday 9 August.
Let’s take a look at the shortlist
Budget
Respite by Pat Crook (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Budget Pallet Hobbit House (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
The Dragon’s Rest by Patrick Seaman (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Cabin/Summerhouse
Jo’s Garden Shedio by Joanna Thornhill (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Jane’s She-Shed by Jane Moyle (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
The Wooky (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Pub & Entertainment
Pallet Hollywood by Mark Killick (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Pizza Folly by Colin Naylor (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Pallet Hollywood by Mark Killick (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Unexpected
S.h.e.d by Dr Rhiannon Jones (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Bucko’s Bar by Len Lavelle (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
The Bemusement Arcade by Alan Beresford (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Unique
Silas the Silo (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Old Bill by A M Backshall (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
huthaus by Colin Humphreys (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Workshop/Studio
Suitcase Train HQ by Sheena Powell Bevan (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Colin Furze workshop (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Just Lovelly Darkroom (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Nature’s Haven
Bedouin Tree Shed by Daniel Holloway (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
The Cosy cabin by Trever Carswell (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Shed Wedge (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Lockdown – Repurpose
The shed school by Ashley Bates (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Sarah’s Shed by Sarah (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Stand Up From the Shed by Scott Bennett (Picture @Fabrice Gagos/Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Lockdown – New-build
Rk2 (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
lok down by Michael Roberts (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Lockdown life by Kathryn Little (Picture: Cuprinol Shed of the Year)
Head Judge and founder of the competition Andrew Wilcox said: ‘More than ever, the events of recent months have shown us what a valuable role sheds can play in our lives.
‘They are spaces where we can help our NHS heroes, educate our children and care for our family.
‘They highlight all that is great about Britain – our ingenuity, our eccentricity and our determination to help others.’
Kirsty Woodbine, Marketing Manager for Cuprinol, said: ‘We’ve been astonished by the quality of entries to this year’s competition.
‘All our entrants have responded with real creativity and imagination, but more than that the introduction of this year’s new lockdown categories has shown a real outpouring of kindness and community spirit.
‘This year more than ever Cuprinol Shed of the Year has served as a platform for those going above and beyond for each other.’
British workers feel the need to take a break every 43 days to avoid total burn out, according to a new study.
The study of 2,000 office workers, conducted by by One poll, found that taking days off at least once every six weeks helps to stave off exhaustion at work.
70% of employees said they suffer fatigue and feel run down if they go too long without booking annual leave.
The key signs of needing a holiday include feeling stressed (56%) and finding that your mental well-being is starting to suffer (53%).
For three in 10, they said had sleepless nights when they needed some time off, and 23% will book a break if they find themselves crying for no particular reason.
But with travel restrictions and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, more people are opting not to use their leave – as they can’t go abroad as easily.
However, the study found that you don’t have to travel anywhere in order to feel the benefits of having time off. 70% are just as happy to spend a few days resting at home.
The study also found seven in 10 adults don’t feel the need to book a holiday abroad or in the UK to recuperate – being just as happy to spend a few days at home.
Of those who would book a break right now, almost half said they would really enjoy the opportunity to simply relax in the garden.
And 43% want nothing more than to put their feet up in front of the TV, while 41% would use the time to read a book.
Taking long walks (43%), exercising (32%) and pursuing a personal interest (23%) are also high on the agenda when they do get to enjoy some time off work.
But one fifth of workers relish the thought of booking time off to do absolutely nothing.
When asked how they are feeling about work right now, 26% think they are coping well, but one in 10 adults feel stressed, and a further 8% are exhausted.
More than one in 20 workers are at the point where they feel unable to concentrate, and 15% say they are fed up.
So it seems that lots of us are overdue a break from work, even if we don’t plan on doing anything during that time. It could do wonders for our mental health.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
The new Jaffa Cake lollies (Picture: Morrinsons/Getty)
When the weather is nice, an ice lolly is the perfect way to cool you down.
And now Morrisons is combining lollies with one of the nation’s favourite biscuits.
The supermarket is launching jaffa lollies, which will remind you of the classic taste of a Jaffa Cake.
The treats feature a frozen orange jelly coated in dark chocolate.
They’re just 99 calories per lolly and cost £1 for a pack of five. You can pick them up in-store or online.
The lollies have been on sale for a few weeks and have already had great reviews on the Morrisons website.
One says: ‘Just the right amount of chocolate and the jelly is lovely and tangy. And chocolate icecream what’s not to like! Good for the price.’
Another adds: ‘These are excellent. Top half is a very juicy, tangy, orange flavoured jelly with an unusual (but nice) texture for a lolly. Bottom is a simple chocolate ice cream. The combination is delicious. They’re quite small, but at 5 for a pound you can’t complain. Kids (big and small) will love these over summer. Fill yer boots!’
It’s not the only new fruity product at the supermarket this month.
Earn money from drinking wine (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Love settling down with a glass of vino in the evening? Well, now you can get paid to do so.
Wine company Vintage Roots is looking to recruit someone to try its new organic produce.
Towards the end of the summer, the brand will be sending 12 bottles of wine to the chosen individual – for a review of each one in return.
If the free wine wasn’t enough, they will also be paid £250 for their services.
The company is looking for an honest critique of their wines, from a consumer perspective. So, if you know your Sancerre from your Sauvignon, this could be the job for you.
It’s worth pointing out that this isn’t a full-time role, it’s just a one-off job that will need to be completed by the end of September.
The wine taster will be sent two cases of wine: the Rose Summer Six and Six Bottle Wild Thing Red and White Case.
The Rose Summer Six case – which is worth £58 – includes one bottle each of the following: Giol Perla Rosato Frizzante, Domaine de Brau Rosé, Jas d’Esclans Rosé Côtes de Provence Cru Classé, Albet i Noya Curiosa Rosat , Adobe Rose Reserva and Bohem Tempranillo Rosé.
While the Six Bottle Wild Thing Red and White Case is worth £50 and includes three bottles of Wild Thing Sauvignon Blanc and Wild Thing Merlot.
To enter, applicants need to post a picture of themselves on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, enjoying their favourite wine with friends. They should also tag @VintageRootsWines on Instagram, or @VintageRootsltd on Facebook and Twitter, with the hashtags #summerwinetaster #comewinewithme.
Individuals have until 31 August to apply and entrants must be UK residents over the age of 18. The winner will be announced on 4 September.
It’s okay if you feel a bit uneasy about answering that question, even to yourself.
Money is a touchy subject. So many of us are terrified to even look at our bank accounts, let alone get honest about how much we’re really saving versus how much we put away.
To open up the conversation, our series How I Save is exploring the reality of how people handle their personal finances.
Each week we ask a different person to track their spending for seven days and tell us about their struggles to save or their brilliant tricks for handling their budget. Then we get some expert advice that they and we can learn from to boost our savings.
This time around we’re chatting with Rose*, who’s the anonymous blogger behind Instagram account ThisGirlsDebt.
How Rose Saves:
I earn £25,000 per year before tax, national insurance and pension contributions.
I’m currently working my way through my debt free journey and became debt-free in March 2019.
At the moment I’m working on building my fully funded emergency fund which will include three to six months of expenses (the next step after that is to start investing!)
I currently have £2,500 in my emergency fund account and £550 in another savings account for some home projects I’m working on.
Saving was a little slower between becoming debt-free and starting a new job in January.
I was spending a lot of money commuting each week and my new job has meant I’m saving on petrol as it’s predominantly home-based, with only a couple of days in the office. I’m lucky enough to have my business miles paid for by work, which is why you’ll see no petrol costs added to my weekly spend!
I’m putting away £200 as soon as pay day comes around, and I’m following another Instagrammer’s saving challenge too (where I can), which challenges you to put away different amounts of money each week.
I find saving that way to be quite enjoyable and I’m more inclined to save more! Weekly amounts vary and can be anything from £5 to £75.
Once my emergency fund is completed, I’m going to be creating a holiday fund so that I can travel more and then get ready for a big holiday for my big 4-0 in a couple of years time!
(Picture: Ella Byworth/ Shutterstock)
How Rose Spends:
Monthly expenses:
Home (mortgage, water, gas/electric, council tax, home insurance): £567.70
Monday: I head down to the office for two days on Tuesdays and Wednesday (travelling down on monday) . I didn’t get time to have something to eat before the journey so I grabbed a meal deal at Tesco for £3.80 on the way down.
Total spent on Monday: £3.80
Tuesday: Nothing spent today! I do my weekly food shop on a Saturday and so had already picked up things for lunch.
Total spent on Tuesday: £0
Wednesday: Wednesday I head back home from the office, so after two days I made the 150-mile return trip!
I leave around 5:45pm and got hungry on the journey home so £6.98 on a Mcdonalds for tea.
Total spend on Wednesday: £6.98
Thursday: There was a knocking or jiggle in my car. I noticed it last week, and it was bugging me! So I had to take the car along to the garage to get checked over.
It ended up needing to have a link arm replaced and so that was £69.95 to get that sorted – not as bad as I was expecting, but something everyone can always do without.
Great to have an emergency fund in the bank to cover any unexpected expenses as and when needed.
Total spent on Thursday: £69.95
Friday: I had the day off! I saw my mum, went for a walk and decided to grab lunch from the local bakery – for two rolls, two cakes and two drinks it was £9 – not too bad!
Total spent on Friday: £9
Saturday: I did the weekly shop today. £32.93 was spent on some replacement toiletries, cleaning supplies, as well as lunch-able items and salad for the coming week.
I’m currently challenging myself to use up all the frozen food in my freezer so I wont be buying any additional meat, etc, for a while, until the freezer stuff is gone.
Luckily the toiletries and cleaning supplies aren’t a weekly purchase and should last me at least the month (that’s what I budget for, anyway).
Total spent on Saturday: £32.93
Sunday: I went for Sunday lunch today and also picked up a gift for a friend, but still quite a cheap day really. £20.25 for a Sunday lunch at the local pub and then £11 on a gift and card (gifts are budgeted for each month).
Total spent on Sunday: £31.25
Total spent this week: £153.91
How Rose could save:
We spoke to the experts over at Plum, the smart app for managing your money to find out how Rose can save better (and what we can learn from her spending).
Here’s what they said:
Hi Rose, thanks for sharing your week with us! It seems like you’re already a pretty savvy saver, but we may have a few tricks to help you maximise your finances even more.
Spending
Your spending is relatively low, as are your bills, suggesting you’re already quite conscious of how you spend your money (keep up the good work!).
It’s also nice to see you’ve been enjoying your post-lockdown freedom, visiting the bakery and going for a pub lunch. Treats like this are important, especially after months being cooped up inside, but you might want to think about whether you’ll need to adjust your saving patterns to accommodate extra spending in the months to come.
You’ve mentioned that you like to factor your spending into a monthly budget, so now might be a good time to take stock and see if your budget needs a revamp.
Take a look at your spending during lockdown versus your current spending, and see if you need to put a bit more cash towards things like travel or eating out (now that our entertainment options have finally expanded beyond sitting in the park).
Plum’s Diagnostics feature could help you with this, by categorising your spending so you know exactly where your money’s going.
Saving
Congratulations for getting those debts paid off! Becoming debt-free is a crucial step in so many people’s financial journey. The fact that you’ve conquered this milestone means you’re in the best place possible to start saving and strengthening your finances for the future.
Given that you’re currently juggling a range of saving strategies, Plum could make your life a lot easier by combining all your efforts within one, automated app.
For instance, our AI saving function would help you squirrel small bits of money on a weekly basis, our Pay Days feature would instantly transfer that £200 into your Plum account on payday and some of our more quirky saving features, like Rainy Days (which sets aside money every time it rains), or the 52-Week Challenge could motivate you to boost your savings even further!
Meanwhile when you’re ready to try out investing, Plum offers a wide range of carefully curated funds to choose from. Remember that investments can go down as well as up so it’s not a good place for any money you might need quickly in the short-term.
It’s also worth considering where to store the money that you’ve already set aside. You mention that you’re currently building your emergency fund, which you’ve already racked up quite a bit of cash for, as well as a holiday fund. Ideally you want this money to be placed in a bank account that you can access immediately, but that has a high interest rate.
This is easier said than done as many high street banks have recently cut their interest rates dramatically, so it’s worth checking if you could get a better deal away from your regular bank.
For instance, Plum allows you to create an easy access savings Pocket with an interest rate of 0.6% AER, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your money’s not losing value between now and the big 4-0!
*Name has been changed.
How I Save is a weekly series about how people spend and save, out every Thursday. If you’d like to anonymously share how you spend and save – and get some expert advice on how to sort out your finances – get in touch by emailing ellen.scott@metro.co.uk.
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.
Lots of people’s beauty routines have changed (Picture: Getty)
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted so many areas of our lives, from relationships and friendships to work and travel – but it’s also had a knock-on effect on the world of beauty.
Salons were forced to close their doors in March, which meant – for the first time ever – people were forced to try at-home alternatives.
Not only that, but being inside for months saw many adopt a ‘makeup-free’ approach and dedicate less time to grooming.
But now, as restrictions are lifting and day-to-day life is etching closer to some form of ‘normality,’ what does that mean for people who have broken their beauty routines?
They say, after all, that it takes around 66 days to form a habit. So will makeup-free routines and laissez-faire attitudes to grooming stick around?
We spoke to some people who have changed their views on beauty, as a result of the pandemic.
Grace Revington, from Bournemouth, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I have massively changed my ways in terms of beauty. Prior to Covid-19, I would have my nails done every three to four weeks and I’d also wear makeup most days – so much so, that the eczema on my eyes would not go away.
‘But in lockdown, I think I just put on a red lipstick for my birthday Zoom back in April. More recently, if I have gone to the pub, it has felt nice to put some mascara on but I genuinely won’t consider going to get my nails done. I am also furloughed and can’t spend any money.
‘I thought my eyebrows were in need of some attention but, actually, I’ve got used to the outgrown look so I won’t bother booking to get them waxed either.’
As a result, Grace has adopted a more stripped-back approach.
Grace now goes for minimal looks (Picture: Grace Revington)
She adds: ‘I haven’t felt like I have had to dress up for anyone and, honestly, I couldn’t be bothered.
‘I’ve enjoyed spending my time on furlough going for long walks, reading at home and focusing on being healthier – in terms of eating better and treating my skin better.
‘I also think, with my situation with work, I am trying to be more efficient with money and saving my makeup “for best” means I won’t have to repurchase key products too much.’
Before the pandemic, Kezia Kho was living an intensely busy life, studying and working in London.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I always felt an unspoken pressure of needing to look “put-together” wherever I went. I wore a full-face of makeup every day.
‘The pandemic completely shifted my attitude towards beauty in that I no longer wear makeup at all – except for important Zoom meetings.’
Kezia rarely wears makeup now (Picture: Kezia Kho)
Kezia’s consumer habits have also changed.
She adds: ‘I haven’t bought a single beauty product because I haven’t felt the need to. I think this has to do with my shift in priorities – I don’t think I feel the need to impress anyone anymore.
‘The pandemic has brought much bigger challenges and priorities in my life. I’m much more comfortable just being who I am, keeping things simple, and I feel better because I’ve shifted my focus to my health and staying safe.’
Another person who has done a U-turn is Elisa – but not only in regards to beauty.
Elisa says: ‘I decided in the craziness of it all to move to southern Spain to live off-grid and be self sufficient.
‘I miss having my lashes done like crazy but the pandemic really changed how I felt about the whole beauty industry and why we do it.
‘I still love makeup and fashion but if it’s that or changing your lifestyle to look after your family, well… family come first.
‘Initially, I did my own makeup, lashes and hair at home, but then I just realised none of it really mattered. ‘
For others, the pandemic has changed the way they engage with beauty.
Ollie Tunmore, a 23-year-old from Brighton, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I know that myself and many of my friends are all in the same boat where we have collectively decided to not bother at all with makeup when we are just around the house, whereas at the start of lockdown I was keen to do so to still feel human.
‘Now we are starting to surface out of lockdown, it’s shifted my emphasis of when and how I do my face and engage with beauty treatments.
‘I now don’t do anything to my face (other than skincare) during the week at all, as I like to utilise the chance to give my skin a break in the day-to-day of just working from home.
‘It has, however, placed a greater emphasis on me wanting to make considerably more effort for the times I do leave the house. Now, I spend much more time and effort on my appearance for the times I do go out to socialise.’
The pandemic has also given people something they were craving before – more time.
Many have used this opportunity to spend time on things that interest them. Ollie, for example, launched his own beauty Instagram account during lockdown, which features product recommendations and makeup looks.
Ollie adds: ‘I think the main aspect that’s changed my attitudes because of the pandemic, fundamentally, is having the time. I’m not now spending two to three hours a day commuting, so I have much more time to invest in my hobbies and interest.
‘Keeping up with skincare trends, makeup tips, trying new products and treatments has always been a passion of mine, but the pandemic forcing us all inside for months on end provided the free time to invest more into these hobbies and spend more time focusing on ourselves.’
Malvika Sheth is another person using the extra time to her advantage.
She’s dedicated the extra hours to her Instagram account – where she shares makeup tips and looks.
She says: ‘As a content creator, I’ve really enjoyed using this time to get into more of a creative flow.
‘It’s been equally therapeutic and beneficial for my business to play around with makeup, makeup trends and makeup hacks a lot more during lockdown.
‘It’s been great, too, to finally put some of the PR packages/products that have been sent to me to use, and in general, experiment with new products as opposed to sticking to my old, simple daily makeup routine.’
This could be us but you haven’t been to Lidl yet (Picture: Lidl)
With staycations and mini-breaks at an all time high due to obvious reasons, it’s understandable that many of us have reignited a love of the outdoors.
Some of the kit can be expensive, though, so it’s always nice to find a great bargain.
Lidl has today launched a two-person kayak that you can stick in the boot and use on your next adventure – and it’s only £39.99.
The two-person vessel features detachable seats and a double-bladed aluminium paddle, as well as a waterproof bag to keep your belongings safe at sea (or in your local pond).
The handy waterproof bag helps avoid phone accidents (Picture: Lidl)
The body of the kayak is made from robust PVC, resistant to salt water, oil, ozone and cold weather. The Kayak also comes with an on-board repair kit so customers can guarantee safety on-board.
As with any products in the middle of Lidl, this is while stocks last, so if you’ve got your heart set on rowing away into the sunset you’ll probably want to head to the shops quickly.
Impulse buys have been a bit of a ‘thing’ since the country shut down, with hot tubs and gym equipment seemingly being delivered to every second house over the last few months.
Hopefully your kayak won’t end up being a white elephant like a few of these pieces, and will see you enjoying the great outdoors throughout the summer.
Brandon from Spain found the message which had Nicolas’ contact details on it (Picture: Brandon Ryan)
A therapist who wanted to share some wisdom to a stranger went for an old school method of reaching out.
Instead of using social media or another website where he could chat to strangers, Nicolas Aujula decided to go for a message in a bottle.
The 35-year-old, from South West London, thought someone might be in need of encouraging words and direction in their life.
Nicolas, who works as a regression therapist and hypnotherapist threw the bottle with a message into Bournemouth beach on a day trip back in June 2018.
And 20 months later, it washed up in the coastal town of Xabia, Spain, in late April this year during the height of global lockdown.
Shortly after, Nicolas received an email from a local called Brendon Ryan who got in touch to say he had found the bottle on the beach.
Nicolas was pleasantly surprised to receive a message from Brendon, especially during a time the world was going into lockdown, causing people to isolate themselves.
This therapist threw a message in the ocean (Picture: Nicolas Aujula)
In his note, he had written: ‘Follow your dreams, for your soul came here to thrive not just survive. Life is a series of moments take each memorable one for that’s what you take when you leave this world.’
We asked Nicolas why he wanted to throw this message into the ocean.
He told Metro.co.uk: ‘Working as a therapist, I’m used to working with people to encourage and reflect.
‘I have seen a rise in people talking about a lack of emotional connect due to our digital ways – my message was about following your dreams to focus on what makes you feel fulfilled and also to cherish the inner wealth of our life experiences that shape us to be who we are now.
‘We don’t take our money but our experiences beyond death so it’s important to create memorable experiences where possible I believe. I just wanted to remind someone of that, hoping that my words would inspire them and give something to reflect upon.’
Nicolas hoped that the message would reach someone. He used a small glass bottle instead of a larger one so it would be easier for it to travel.
Nicolas wanted to pass on a positive message to a stranger (Picture: Nicolas Aujula)
Once he threw it in a few years ago, Nicolas got on with his life and forgot about the bottle.
So to receive a message from Brandon – who also tweeted about it – was totally out of the blue.
Nicolas added: ‘Considering the bottle has been thrown at sea in Bournemouth back in mid-2018 I had put it in the back of my mind. I was pleasantly surprised yet amazed especially after hearing it had reached Xabia.
‘It was lockdown when the world has gone into shutdown and my life had taken a much quieter pace so it was lovely to get a bit of positive news with all the chaos of Covid-19.
‘Being reminded of that message seemed like synchronicity especially as people were thinking about the mortality of life on a much larger scale.
‘Maybe the stillness of the world enabled its founding and the final part of its voyage, it’s food for thought.’
Anyone else suddenly wanting to throw a message into the ocean?
People with strong opinions about Marmite are likely to have something to say about its latest product.
Marmite-flavoured houmous is now a thing and it’s being sold in supermarkets.
Made with cooked chickpeas, tahini sesame seed paste, lemon juice, garlic purée and the yeast spread, the new dip is available online at Tesco, priced at £1.50 a pot.
But it looks like the unlikely combination has been around for a while.
Back in March, a Twitter user posted a picture of some houmous on top of their Marmite on toast, with the caption: ‘Marmite and hummus on toast. Lunch of the gods!’
To which the brand responded: ‘The Marmite combinations are flooding in. Marmite and hummus anyone?’
The new Lynx Africa and Marmite toiletries feature notes of lavandin, white moss and green herbs, alongside woody profiles of sandalwood and cedarwood – all underpinned by a salty punch of Marmite.
