Animal charity Cats Protection has shared photos of a cat who serves as a warning to never overfeed your pet.
Black and white kitty Dixie weighed in at a whopping 11kg, more than double the recommended weight for a cat.
Dixie, who is one of the largest cats the charity has seen, piled on the pounds due to chowing down on excessive amounts of food and treats.
Eventually the chunky girl was so overweight she couldn’t clean herself.
The six-year-old cat was brought into Cats Protection’s Bredhurst Adoption Centre in Kent along with another cat pal, who was a healthy weight, leading staff to believe Dixie got preferential treatment when it came to dinner time.
A chunky girl (Picture: PA)
She has now been put on a special diet and exercise routine to bring the cat back down to a healthy weight.
Once she’s lost some pounds, Dixie will be put up for adoption.
Centre manager Adrian Ferne said: ‘We come across obese cats every so often but Dixie is one of the largest that we’ve seen among the 43,000 cats that Cats Protection rehomes nationally each year.
She’s the largest cat the shelter has seen (Picture: PA)
‘Dixie was brought to us along with another cat who is a healthy body weight so we suspect she was a bit of a favourite in her previous home and indulged a little more often.
‘She’s certainly very affectionate and friendly.
Dixie has now been put on a diet (Picture: PA)
‘While it’s OK to pamper our pets every now and then it’s also important not to overfeed felines as it will do more harm than good.’
Cats Protection advises owners to weigh out their cat’s food and encourage them to exercise if they are concerned about their pet’s weight.
Would you date someone who refuses to wear a face mask? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Like posing with dosed-up tigers and using emoji, your attitudes towards wearing a mask could immediately rule you out of the running for a date with your dream match.
It turns out that people who are happily donning face coverings for the good of their health and that of others aren’t particularly keen on dating people who are diehard members of the anti-mask agenda.
You don’t have to meet IRL for this dividing line to rear its head.
Tinder reports that masks – whether the views are pro or anti – have become the talk of daters, popping up in bios left and right since April. Some key examples include mentions of ‘face mask tan lines’ and a divisive bio line reading: ‘if you wear a mask while jogging, we’re not compatible’.
The dating app declares that ‘mask-wearing habits may become the ultimate compatibility test of 2020’.
Laura, 31, agrees. She says that if a match on a dating app was against wearing masks, ‘it would be an instant no’.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I work for a Member of the Scottish Parliament so I’ve been dealing with the effects of the pandemic day in, day out at work.
‘I know how hard everyone has been working on the front lines and have family and friends who have been shielding since March. There’s no way I could get past a person refusing to wear a bit of fabric on their face for 10 minutes while they nip into Tesco.’
While strong anti-mask views are a turn-off, showing that you care enough to mask up can win you points.
Laura adds: ‘When someone I’m speaking to sends me a selfie of themselves in a mask I think, “Wonderful! You’re sensible!”‘
Simon, 44, also finds mask-wearing would affect his view of people he dates.
Mask-themed conversations are popping up on Tinder (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I do not enjoy wearing masks and I do not think they are as effective as the government suggests but where i am (Ireland) the government regulations have helped us combat the virus to a point where we have less than 1,000 active cases,’ he explains.
‘So if the government say wear a mask – we should at least try to follow their request and see if it works, anyone who isn’t willing to is – in my opinion – impacting on the risk of the virus spreading as the government is working on the advice of WHO experts.’
If he were chatting to someone who went into a spiel on why being made to wear a mask is an attack on human rights, and so on, Simon wouldn’t be up for continuing the relationship.
‘In the current climate I think I would walk away from someone who has such a strong opinion on something that is clearly affecting so much of the world,’ he says. Anyone who can’t see the measures that the world is taking and can’t do their bit to try to help the process is not the sort of person I’d want to date.’
A fair point, we reckon.
A piece of fabric we sling across our mouth and nose has, in many ways, become a revealing symbol of who we are and how we see the world.
Wearing one in public places could suggest you’re someone who’s cautious, that you care about others, or that you’re someone that follows the rules and prioritises collective needs over individual desires. Skipping the mask and challenging anyone who asks you to wear a covering, meanwhile, may hint at an anti-authority streak, a passion for conspiracy theories, or simply a deep-rooted hatred for having anything hiding just how sculpted your jaw is.
Either way, you’ll likely want to date someone who’s on the same side of the mask-wearing divide as you are – if only so you don’t have an awkward clash in the queue when you go on a cutesy supermarket shopping date.
For both on and off the court (Picture: Urban Outfitters/Sweaty Betty/Lacoste/Nike/ASOS)
Wimbledon may not have taken place this year but that hasn’t stopped people getting in on the fashion.
Tennis skirts are back with a bang and they are being worn both on and off the courts.
Sure, a pleated mini skirt might bring unwelcome flashbacks of secondary school PE lessons, but we’re here to tell you they are everywhere this summer.
Instagram influencers have been sharing snaps of how they’ve styled their own pleated mini skirts, and it’s naturally made us want to get in on the action, too.
This lemon number is a great twist on the classic tennis whites.
The pleating on this Nike skirt is slightly different from the classic uniform style – but it’s another unique feature which adds interest to this pastel piece.
Nothing beats a classic and Lacoste knows how to do tennis attire well. The brand’s tennis skirts are known for their asymmetrical design and traditional pleats.
The brand is worn by many sporting greats – so even if you’re not a professional player, you’ll feel like one in this.
A couple who have been together since World War II celebrated their anniversary 75 years after they married secretly as their families disapproved.
Gordon and Pam Clare from Borrowby, North Yorkshire, defied the odds and stayed together after they ran away to elope.
Along with the help of a supportive aunt, they fled to Cheshire, where they tied the knot.
The pair married on 30 July, 1945, when Pam was 18 and Gordon 20, after first meeting as teenagers at neighbouring schools when growing up in Bolton.
The couple have reached the rare milestone known as the original diamond anniversary – as the 60th was added when Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee on her 60th anniversary of accession to the throne in 1897.
Pam, 93, said: ‘We ran away because Gordon’s parents did not approve at first because we were very young.
‘We went to Kelsall in Cheshire because I had an aunt there who helped us.
‘It was not long after VE Day, so the war was almost over but there was absolutely nothing to buy.’
The couple eloped after their parents disapproved of them marrying young (Picture: North News)
Pam continued: ‘I just had to take what I could get for my wedding outfit, and it was a shade of green.
‘My aunt owned a restaurant and we were there the night before the wedding.
‘It was exciting because we had run away. The village was so beautiful, I remember all the roses were out in full bloom.’
The couple celebrating their 75th anniversary (Picture: North News)
The couple went on to have two children – David who was born in 1946 and Pamela in 1954.
After serving in the Merchant Navy during the war, Gordon, now 95, trained to become an engineer and worked his way up the career ladder to finally lead the commission of nuclear power stations across the UK.
After his final project was completed, the couple moved to North Yorkshire in 1983 to be closer to daughter Pamela and her three sons.
Pam and Gordon, known affectionately as Nana and Tats, have three grandsons, ten great-grandchildren; and their first great-great-grandchild is due in August.
Pam said some of the greatest joys in their lives have come from their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She added: ‘They are wonderful, we are very lucky to have such a lovely family.’
Despite missing out on celebrations in 2020 due to lockdown, including the christening of their youngest grandchild Charlotte, the couple are looking forward to being able to see family and friends again.
Chris and Mariesa were inspired to give elderly dogs the best life possible by their first dog, Mr Moses (Picture: @mrmoproject/Jam Press)
Chris, 33, and Mariesa, 32, have spared no expense in giving their dogs the best life possible.
We don’t say that lightly – they’ve spent $55,000 refitting their house to make it ideal for 20 senior and special needs rescue dogs, after the death of their first dog, Mr Moses, left their hearts broken.
Alongside their brood at home, the couple, from Clifton Park, New York, also have another 104 dogs in their care through their foster programme, Mr Mo Project.
That’s all thanks to being inspired by Mr Moses, a dog who Chris rescued from a kill shelter, where his family had surrendered him because he was ‘too old’.
Mariesa said: ‘Moses was such a light in our lives and such an amazing dog that when he was diagnosed with an inoperable spinal cord tumour, we thought our world would just end and we would fall apart.
‘We sold everything we had to get him alternative treatments but ultimately, he died five weeks later.
‘Chris decided we should start a senior dog rescue so we could help dogs like Moses.
‘Our niche is that we pay medical expenses for the rest of the dog’s life which is a terrible and wonderful idea.’
Mariesa and Chris share their home with 20 dogs (Picture: @mrmoproject/Jam Press)
The couple’s organisation has saved hundreds of dogs from euthanasia and is a non-profit, so along with caring for hundreds of dogs, Chris has to work full-time from home and Mariesa works as an occupational therapist to cover all the costs.
Simply running the programme and covering the hundreds of dogs’ medical care costs the couple around $40,000 (£30,600).
Caring for their own pups is another major expense. Chris and Mariesa have spent thousands customising their home to make it as comfortable as possible for the 20 elderly dogs who permanently reside in their home.
A hydrotherapy pool to help the dogs exercise cost $30,000, while two custom king-size beds for the dogs to snooze on cost $5,000.
Mariesa, who sleeps with the majority of her pets each night, says: ‘We have two king-size beds next to each other because so many of the dogs want to sleep with us.
‘In my bed, I have Delilah on my head/pillow, Mabel next to me in a crown-shaped bed so I can clean her trach when I hear her cough, then next to Mabel, across the top of the bed is Vera who gives a little growl when she needs to go to the bathroom as she is not able to use her front legs to get up on her own.
Expenses include $5k on custom king-size beds for the dogs to snooze on (Picture: @mrmoproject/Jam Press)
‘Next to me as close as humanly possible are mother and daughter chihuahuas, Lacie and Pixie.
‘In my arms is a blue Pitbull named Stig, he kisses me whenever I move and then between my legs, under the covers is Sam, a senior Pitbull.
‘Mya Marie, Major and Fitzgibbons all go between the two beds and in Chris’s bed is always, Frenchie Mercury, our paralyzed French bulldog and Quinn.
‘Our older, blind dogs sleep in packs and play in our bedroom.
‘So Frank the pug and Pesto and Gizmo have their own personal space.
‘The greyhounds sleep in big beds on the floor and Meatball will sometimes come into bed but usually sleeps on a bed on the floor.
‘My puppy Phil sleeps in a bed next to me, he has hydrocephalus and a bad vertebrae in his neck so he wears a neck brace, I can’t let him sleep in the bed because he’s very aloof and can easily fall off.’
Along with a load of money, it takes a lot of time to care for the dogs, with around four hours a day dedicated to the pooches.
The dogs have their own doggie playground so they can play outside with the couple for hours a day, and they go on regular walks – even Mercury, who uses a wheelchair, and the elderly dogs who have to go in baby carriers as they’re less mobile.
They’ve invested in a hydrotherapy pool to help the dogs exercise, too (Picture: @mrmoproject/Jam Press)
‘When I get home from work it’s usually time to clean up any messes and then it’s dinner time, it feels a little like groundhogs day,’ says Mariesa.
‘When it’s nice out we spend time outside, they have a doggie playground, they like to roll in the grass and jump on us when we lay outside with them.
‘We don’t watch much TV but when we do, we do it as a family.
‘Bedtime is a process, just getting everyone out to do their business and settled into their spots in the bed, we are usually up a couple of times through the night letting different dogs out and at least four times a day or night, they all like to howl and sing, it’s pretty adorable.’
Life looking after so many dogs is a challenge, but the couple don’t regret a thing.
For them, it’s all about letting elderly dogs live out their final years in luxury.
‘The big thing that brings us together is our passion for saving senior dogs and giving them “the best, for the rest”,’ says Mariesa.
‘We are only able to do that through the support of our friends and followers.
‘It’s a lot knowing that we have to raise 40k each month but somehow, we always do it.
‘All of this because one dog lived, Moses, and we miss him every single day but we hope this rescue is honouring him.’
Is CBD skincare worth the hype? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The skincare industry has always loved jumping on the bandwagon with ingredient trends, whether it’s retinol, activated charcoal or the timeless classic, vitamin C.
The latest ‘must-have’ is CBD (cannabidiol) – one of over 110 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids which are found in the cannabis plant.
You’re no doubt aware that CBD can be taken orally for ailments such as anxiety, arthritis and epilepsy, but what’s the deal with slapping it on your skin?
CBD applied topically can’t hit your bloodstream, which is why a CBD salve won’t make a dent on your anxiety. Instead, it’s absorbed through the epidermis, making its way to cannabinoid receptors in nearby skin cells.
Cannabinoid receptors are located throughout the body, as part of its endocannabinoid system, which helps balance a whole host of bodily functions like pain sensation, mood, memory and appetite.
Our bodies naturally produce endocannabinoids, which are the equivalent of those found in the cannabis plant – but often, we need a little boost.
As with ingesting CBD, there are currently no known side effects from applying it topically – the main risk seems to be the potential of wasting your hard-earned cash.
What does CBD skincare claim to do for skin?
Numerous studies have indicated that CBD can have anti-inflammatory effects when applied to the skin, which could help sooth sensitive conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.
It’s even claimed that topical CBD application can alleviate muscle soreness, as well as relieve sunburn and bug bites.
Research also shows that CBD has the potential to decrease excess sebum (oil) production, which could assist in the reduction of spots, and it’s also thought to have antioxidant properties, which may help with fine lines and aging.
However, way more research needs to be done before it’s confirmed what CBD can and can’t do when it comes to our skin.
‘CBD is like a typical vitamin E or vitamin C where you won’t necessarily notice the results straight away,’ says Jasmin Thomas, who founded Ohana skincare after making her own topical CBD creams when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis back in 2015.
‘You won’t instantly look 10 years younger but it has a long-term impact on your skin.
‘Consistency is key and people with skin ailments notice it quicker. It’s definitely more apparent in people who have ailments like eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, etc.’
Which strength of CBD oil skincare should I buy?
‘Companies don’t actually have to specify exactly how much CBD is in their products,’ explains Charlotte Bowyer, senior consultant at cannabis consultancy Hanway Associates.
‘I’d certainly recommend that consumers look for companies which do, as some may try and get away with using tiny amounts.’
CBD strength is specified in either a percentage or in milligrams.
High end skincare brand MGC Derma (which stands for ‘medical grade cannabis’) chooses not to state how much CBD is in its products as: ‘The perception is that a volume number such as 1000mg can then be compared to other products on the market.
‘The reality is much more complex.’
MGC Derma uses a patented process called “Aquiol”, which it claims provides CBD that performs at the highest levels, providing certificates to ‘relevant authorities detailing our claims’.
CBD comes in varying forms and qualities, so it’s true that comparing numbers is simplifying a process, but it does give bewildered consumers somewhere to start.
To confuse matters even more, there isn’t currently any solid evidence on how much CBD should be in a skincare product to make it effective.
‘If you look at other actives like retinols, the therapeutic recommendation is normally between 0.25% – 1%, maybe 1.5% at best,’ says Ohana’s Jasmin.
‘Why are people using more? There’s a company that sells a body oil for £285 and they put 7% CBD in it.
‘Your skin cannot absorb that much so it’s a total waste of CBD and a total waste of customer money.
‘I could go on about this forever but it’s the whole problem with the industry – lots of people in the market at the moment don’t know much about it and aren’t working with experienced formulation scientists.’
Unfortunately, there is little to no research on how much product to use, or how much CBD needs to be in said product. Useful.
Is it worth spending money on CBD infused skincare products? (Picture: Metro / Getty)
What regulations are in place for CBD skincare?
A Cosmetic Product Safety Report (CPSR) is required for all cosmetic products in the UK but there are no specific regulations regarding CBD skincare – except for it not containing any THC (the psychoactive cannabinoid) and not claiming it can cure you of disease.
‘CBD cosmetics products are prohibited from making any kind of medical claim,’ explains Charlotte.
‘Brands should avoid claims like “treat bruises”, “fight eczema” or “healing skin”.’
You’ll notice that many products contain disclaimers, such as: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”.
As mentioned above, companies aren’t obligated to tell you how much CBD is in your product, so they’re not actually breaking any laws if it turns out there’s a minimal amount of the ingredient present.
We’re dealing with a relatively new ingredient when it comes to skincare and it may be a while before consumer protection laws catch up, so tread carefully.
CBD oil is not the same as hemp seed oil
This is important. On my quest to find CBD skincare products to try, I was left incredibly confused.
Some online stores include hemp seed oil products that don’t contain cannabidiol under their ‘CBD’ category.
It doesn’t help that some beauty journalists don’t seem to know the difference either, repeatedly including products that don’t contain cannabidiol in CBD roundups.
CBD oil comes from the hemp plant (a cousin of the marijuana plant), and is taken from the leaves, flowers, stalk and stems.
Hemp seed oil comes from – you guessed it – the seeds of the hemp plant, which are the only bit of the plant that don’t contain CBD. In fact, they don’t contain any cannabinoids at all.
Hemp seed oil is a beauty wonder in itself and and is not to be sniffed at – it’s known for its non-comedogenic (non-pore blocking), anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties.
While CBD has similar benefits, it binds to cannabinoid receptors in the skin – which hemp seed oil cannot do – and it’s much more expensive.
So, don’t be fooled by sketchy marketing.
If you’re unsure about whether a product contains CBD, then check the ingredients list AKA the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients).
Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight, meaning the product contains more of the ingredient at the top of the INCI than the one at the bottom.
The INCI should contain ‘cannabidiol’, ‘CBD’, ‘phytocannabinoid-rich/PCR-rich hemp oil’ or ‘broad spectrum hemp oil’ somewhere on it – these are all recognised names of CBD.
If it doesn’t say either of those and just says ‘cannabis sativa seed oil’, be aware that this is hemp oil and does not contain CBD.
Tried and tested CBD skincare products
We wanted to see what all the hype was about so Metro.co.uk got in some CBD skincare to test.
I normally use a steroid solution for flare-ups of scalp psoriasis, so I switched to applying a few drops of CBD oil.
I usedLDN CBD oil once or twice a day, depending on the severity of the itch. It wasn’t a miracle cure, though it did seem to calm the scalp and keep it soothed for longer.
It’s a way more expensive option than my usual NHS prescription of Betacap but I’d rather use it than steroids, so I’ll keep testing other CBD options on it.
I also tried using the LDN CBD drops directly on my face as a serum, as well as adding them to existing moisturiser, which felt hydrating and didn’t cause breakouts, which I was concerned about.
However, I’ll stick to ingesting the drops for my anxiety, as I didn’t notice enough of a difference on my fae to justify the cost.
I’ve been using these drops – which contain 2% pure CBD – for a few months now. I wish I hated it as it’s expensive but alas, it’s dreamy.
Despite being fragrance free (I prefer my skincare routine to be a somewhat aromatherapeutic experience) it feels really luxurious, soothing and hydrating, without leaving my skin feeling sticky or clogged.
Plus, the bottle looks great on your bathroom shelf, which is always a bonus.
Metro.co.uk’s tester loved this serum, containing hyaluronic acid, hemp seed oil and CBD oil (though it doesn’t say how much CBD oil).
She noticed her breakouts calming down after a few weeks of using the serum once a day and says her skin feels super hydrated after using it.
Eye serum for dark circles and puffiness, MGC Derma, £80 for 15ml
(Picture: MGC Derma)
Really into this eye serum – it’s light and refreshing and can be used under an eye cream, or alone. I use it alone on my eyes in the morning and it feels great. No idea if it’s the CBD, the caffeine or the vitamin C – most likely the combo.
The pump tube is great as it keeps the product fresh – eye creams that come in little jars are just asking for bacteria to grow.
As mentioned above, MGC Derma does not state how much CBD is in its products, which is frustrating when deciding if you want to spend £80 on an eye serum. (I do not, despite enjoying this product.)
The chalkiness is less apparent than other mineral offerings, but still enough to stop me from buying another bottle, which is a shame as it’s great otherwise and doesn’t feel greasy – even when used in a hot, humid climate.
Metro.co.uk’s tester was a huge fan of this face mask, which contains 50mg CBD as well as combination of shea butter clay, coconut oil and essential oils.
‘The face mask was really good, it didn’t feel dramatically different to anything that doesn’t have CBD in but it did feel really good quality,’ she says.
‘It felt purifying and moisturising which is rare. One of the best face masks I’ve used.’
This luxurious balm contains 400mg CBD per (beautiful) jar and is handmade in Oxfordshire.
It’s incredibly rich thanks to the shea butter, and it moisturises dry legs and feet like a dream.
As it’s hella expensive I save mine for nights where I’m doing yin yoga right before bed, so I can let the potent hempy lavender scent lull me into a relaxing sleep.
Not skinare per se, but this little stick deserves a mention. Containing 100mg CBD, hemp oil, peppermint and menthol, it claims it can soothe sunburn, aching muscles and headaches.
I was sceptical that it would be better than the Siddhalepa ayurvedic balm I normally use, but it seems to take away the itch from mosquito bites faster, and has been great for rubbing on temples/forehead when I have an anxiety headache, so I’m sold.
Also worthy of a mention is 1CBD skin balm which Metro.co.uk’s tester used on his sore back. He said the balm – which is infused with 300mg full spectrum CBD per jar as well as lavender and eucalyptus oils – was great for soothing muscle pain.
Are CBD skincare products worth the hype?
In some cases, absolutely – judging from anecdotal evidence. However, there’s not enough scientific evidence to back most claims up because not enough relevant clinical trials have been done.
‘It’s a new industry and people are struggling to raise capital, so they can’t do everything that they need to do, like study groups and trials,’ explains Jasmin.
As with everything concerning CBD, a lot more exploration needs to be done before we truly know its powers.
There’s also no telling if something would be good anyway, without the addition of CBD. A product may be shady in its minimal use of cannabidiol, but that doesn’t neccessarily mean it’s not worth using. (Although, do you really want to give your money to a company with loose morals?)
Unless you’re made of money, it’s probably not worth experimenting with expensive CBD skincare unless you have a skin condition that bothers you.
It’s also worth noting that a high price tag doesn’t necessarily equate to a product’s quality – CBD is an expensive ingredient but do be aware that skincare usually has huge gross margins.
It’s a murky world out there – as with anything, do your research before you splurge, and don’t expect miracles. There’s no one-size-fits-all cure when it comes to skin, and change doesn’t happen overnight. You usually have to use a new product for a few weeks before you start to notice a difference.
Trust your own opinions and don’t take what the cosmetics industry or beauty journalists (who can be biased) tell you as gospel.
Soothe sunburn with things lying around your home (Picture: Getty)
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s scorching outside.
But as much as we love the sun, we don’t love the sunburn that can come with it.
Sometimes we can take all the right precautions (the sunhat, sunglasses and lashings of SPF) but simply lose track of the amount of time we’ve spent outside.
If you do find yourself with telltale red lines, there are some simple home remedies which can help.
Of course, it’s worth pointing out that sunburn should be avoided at all costs – as it can result in more serious problems, such as skin cancer, further down the line.
But for those who accidentally burn and need help with it ASAP, here are some easy things to try using things you’d find around the house…
Coconut oil
While coconut oil has often been cited as a good home remedy for sunburn, there’s little research to back up that it actually helps bring it down.
However – due to its high fat content – it has great moisturising and nourishing properties which can help alleviate dryness and itching.
A cool shower/bath
Sunburn gives off a small amount of heat – making it warm to touch – because of the concentration of blood involved in the healing process.
This means we can feel warm and uncomfortable after sunburn, but a cool shower can help.
Ada Ooi, founder of 001 Skincare, tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I recommend taking cool baths or showers to alleviate the discomfort. You may wish to just use water and skip using any foaming body cleansing products because they can dry out skin more.’
Tomatoes
Beauty expert and co-founder of Raw Beauty Lab Sonia Bainbridge has a lesser-known hack to try which involves a familiar vegetable.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Whilst it might seem counterintuitive, applying slices of tomato to the sunburnt skin can do wonders to alleviate both the heat and redness from a burn. This is one of my favourite after-sun hacks from long summers spent on Australian beaches.
‘Tomatoes are packed with a powerful antioxidant, lycopene, that can not only help protect the skin from UV damage if consumed but will also help to alleviate redness post-burn.’
Shaving foam
Shaving foam is designed to prep the skin for a shave, so has soothing and hydrating properties.
It makes sense, then, that some people find this helps with their sunburn.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner told Healthline: ‘Some shaving creams also contain menthol, which has cooling and anti-inflammatory benefits. This also may explain why some people report skin benefits as a hack treatment for sunburn.’
Lavender oil
Bianca Estelle, a skin specialist and medical aesthetician, explains that a certain essential oil could help with sore skin.
She says: ‘Lavender boasts anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with sunburn and it can aid the skin’s natural healing process.’
Rose water (made from rose petals and distilled water)
Dr Nitasha Buldeo, founder of Organic Apoteke, says rose water can soothe, heal and cool burnt skin and scalps.
She comments: ‘I remember as a child playing out in the South African sun all day and complaining to my grandmother that I had a headache. Out came the home distilled rose water. She poured a small amount onto her palms and then would put it onto the crown of my head applying pressure as she allowed the rosewater to be absorbed by hair and scalp.
‘If smelled wonderful and always worked. Rosewater was also sprayed on red, inflamed sun burned skin to soothe and heal.’
Greek yoghurt
Your fridge is likely to hold some unexpected ingredients which can help soothe sunburn.
Dr Rita Rakus says: ‘Greek yoghurt is very calming and soothing for the skin, packed with lactic acid which is known to soothe the skin and probiotics which helps to soothe inflammation on the skin.’
Apple cider vinegar (but with caution!)
Apple cider vinegar (which is diluted with water) has been known to help with sunburn due to its antibacterial, cooling effect.
However, it’s worth pointing out that apple cider vinegar can sometimes cause its own burns – so it’s not recommended by dermatologists.
Mark Jeffries with Poppy, the dog he decided to bring back home to Edinburgh (Picture: Kaitelee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)
When Mark Jeffries decided to travel to Koh Lanta, a Thai island, he never imagined he’d be stuck out there for four months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But he doesn’t regret going – in large part because while on his trip he decided to bring four dogs back to the UK to find them forever homes.
He even kept one as a pet after forming an instant bond with the dog on the island.
Mark, 26, spent two years working as an electrician in Australia then decided to travel to Bali at the start of the year. He was shocked to see people wearing masks in January, but still wanted to travel after his visa expired in Australia in March, so flew to Thailand to volunteer at an animal welfare charity.
Just days after he arrived on Koh Lanta, a strict lockdown came into place and the island was closed, allowing no new visitors to the island and banning Mark from departing.
Rather than getting bogged down with restrictions, Mark made the best of the situation, spending a dreamy four months living in a bungalow on the beach with nine-month-old dog Poppy as his best pal.
The pair formed an instant bond while Mark spent four months in a bungalow on the beach on Koh Lanta (Picture: Kaitelee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)
When restrictions lifted and Mark got ready to head back home to Edinburgh, he knew he couldn’t leave without Poppy – so decided to bring her with him, along with three other dogs destined for new homes in England.
The travelling group included three-legged dog Tippy, Max, who had been attacked with a machete, and Flea, named for a nasty bug infestation.
All three dogs are now in loving homes in the UK – including Poppy, who’s found a forever home with Mark.
The trek back to the UK with four dogs was tough, but the end result makes the effort all worth it.
Mark said: ‘It was a four day journey to get back, with four dogs.
‘I had to get up at 5.30am to make sure the dogs were ready to go, then there was a 20-hour taxi journey to Bangkok Airport.
What a cutie (Picture: Kaitelee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)
‘We had to stop every two or three hours to let the dogs go to the toilet and feed them, it was chaos.
‘The taxi driver took me to his house for nine hours and let me have a shower and freshen up and the dogs could have a leg stretch.’
The journey involved flying from Bangkok to Qatar, then on to Amsterdam – where the dogs went missing as they had been taken to the wrong side of the airport.
From there they were picked up in the car and took a ferry to Harwich, Essex, where Tippy, Max and Flea were reunited with their new owners.
Mark’s mum, Jill, 51, had been eagerly awaiting him and Poppy joining her in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, after he arrived in Britain on 13 July.
Mark is happy to be with his mum and Poppy at home, but admits he does miss his blissed-out life on the island.
He said: ‘I’m glad to have got the dogs back and got them settled, but when I was there I had a small bungalow on the beach, and Poppy would be there while I was at work.
‘Somebody wanted to adopt her so I had to make a decision: was that going to happen, or was I going to bring her back to the UK?
‘I miss everything about it.
The journey from Thailand to the UK with four dogs was challenging, but Mark doesn’t regret a thing (Picture: Kaitelee Arrowsmith / SWNS.com)
‘When the coronavirus stuff first started, my mum was worried about me, but then she realised being on an island was probably safer.
‘She was really excited to get me and Poppy back; now it’s a fight over Poppy every day.
‘Poppy is by my side all the time because she was with me every day.’
Poppy was rescued from the streets by Lanta Animal Rescue, who feared the dog wouldn’t survive due to her friendly nature.
Mark met the dog when he volunteered for the charity and formed an instant bond.
With the help of his friends and family, Mark was able to raise £3,000 to be able to bring Poppy back home and help out the charity.
Poppy is now loving life in Edinburgh and hanging out with Max’s other dog, Lexi.
Mark said: ‘There are so many dogs waiting to be rehomed.
‘Poppy was brought in with two other dogs, and they both got adopted.
‘It was her first night on her own so I brought her back to my bungalow, and a night turned into a week.
‘Somebody else wanted to adopt her so I had to decide if I was going to keep her for myself.’
Joan Martindale’s clubbed nails revealed she had lung cancer (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
When Joan Martindale noticed her fingernails and toenails getting wider, more bulbous, and starting to curve, she dismissed the changes as no big deal.
It wasn’t until her manicurist of ten years raised alarm bells that she finally sought medical advice – and discovered her curved nails were a sign of lung cancer.
The 73-year-old grandma ended up being diagnosed with squamos cell carcinoma and had to undergo a five-hour operation to remove a 4mm tumour.
She credits her monthly manicure with saving her life, and is now sharing her story to raise awarness of this lesser-known sign of cancer.
Joan, from Tutbury, Staffordshire, said: ‘Going for a manicure saved my life. It was incredible she could pick it up from just looking at my nails.
‘I’ve told her I shall be eternally grateful to her. When we’ve got rid of this Covid we’re going for a big slap-up meal.’
Joan, who kicked a 20-a-day cigarette habit and switched to vaping back in 2013, started experiencing unusual symptoms just after Christmas in 2019.
Her ankles and feet swelled, which doctors initially thought was due to water retention, and both her toenails and finger nails changed size and shape.
The curve in her nails was spotted by her manicurist of ten years (Picture: Kennedy News)
Joan remembered reading about clubbed nails being an indicator of illness, but brushed off concerns and went about her life as normal.
Then on 13 March, she went to see her manicurist of ten years, Linda Bertram, who noticed her nails were ‘bent right over’ and begged her to seek medical advice.
‘I noticed my toenails got wide and bulbous on my big toes,’ says Joan. ‘I don’t usually look on Google but I was curious and it said it could be something to do with heart or lung cancer.
‘Touch wood, for my age, the doctors have said I’m in good health so I did think “Oh no, it’s not me, I’ll wait a little bit longer”.
‘Then when I went to have my nails done in March Linda asked if I was alright.
How your nails can be a sign of lung cancer
Finger clubbing, also known as digital clubbing or Hippocratic fingers, is a phrase used to describe specific changes to the shape of the fingers and fingernails. It can be a sign of various diseases, including lung cancer.
Finger clubbing happens in more than 3 out of 10 people (35%) with non small cell lung cancer but only about 4 out of 100 people (4%) with small cell lung cancer. You may also get it with mesothelioma.
It happens in stages:
the base of the nail (nail bed) becomes soft and the skin next to the nail bed becomes shiny
the nails then curve more than normal when looked at from the side (this is called Scarmouth’s sign)
the ends of the fingers may then get larger (when they are called drumstick fingers)
Finger clubbing is unusual, so if you notice it happening it’s important to talk to your GP as soon as possible.
‘I mentioned the swelling in my ankles and then she said she didn’t want to upset me, but that she thought there was something wrong with my nails and that they needed to be looked at by a doctor.’
The following Monday, Joan booked a GP’s appointment and got a chest x-ray done at Queen’s Hospital Burton in Burton-on-Trent.
After a number of tests, Joan was told she had a tumour on her lung.
Joan also had some lymph nodes removed that came back clear, something she hopes is a sign the cancer hasn’t spread further, and is now undergoing chemotherapy to blast any remaining cancer cells.
Despite the shock diagnosis and the surgery, gran-of-two Joan said she feels ‘lucky’ it was caught and treated quickly, especially during lockdown.
Joan said: ‘I’ve got such a positive attitude and I kept thinking “I’ve got to go through all this because I want to see my grandchildren grow up”.
‘I’ve always been an optimist and just keep thinking I’ve been so lucky for it to be diagnosed and all sorted so quickly.
‘It was a bit rough lying for five hours on my side with my arms stretched above my head, but the surgeon and the team were absolutely brilliant.
‘I’m just keeping my fingers crossed now that it’s gone away. I haven’t vaped since the operation.’
Joan reckons she might have gone to the doctor about her bent nails at some point, but would have put it off for longer in lockdown had Linda not urged her to seek help.
The grandma was told she had a tumour on her lung (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)
‘I’ll be eternally grateful to Linda because she really gave me the nudge and told me I needed to do something about it,’ she said.
‘This symptom needs to be known about so conditions can be diagnosed early – the more people know about it the better.’
Beauty therapist and nail technician Linda Bartram said she was taken aback when she saw how Joan’s nails had changed in the course of a month.
Linda, 59, said: ‘At Joan’s previous appointment I had noticed her nails were starting to just slightly bend over.
‘On the day I mentioned it they’d bent right over. I can remember when I did anatomy and physiology nearly 20 years ago and was taught nails tell you so much.
‘I remembered it when I saw Joan’s nails and remember saying ‘I don’t want to alarm you, Joan, but you need to get the doctor to look at your nails’.
‘Then the ball rolled very fast, and thank goodness it did.
‘I love Joan, she’s been a client for a long time, she’s just incredible, and we’ve got a great relationship.’
It can be tricky to show how you feel without the bottom half of your face (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Much like our need to shove a load of exclamation points and smiley faces into our emails, we rely on facial expressions and body language to soften the words we say and make sure they’re received as intended.
That’s a bit tricky when the bottom half of your face is covered by a fabric mask or covering.
The eyes may be the window to the soul, but it’s a struggle to convey a smile only using them.
Luckily body language expert Judi James (you might remember her from our excellent series, Love Island or Lie Island) is on hand to offer up her wisdom on how to communicate effectively while wearing a mask.
Here are the techniques she recommends picking up.
Smile like a cat
This is all about the smize, as Tyra Banks calls it – making sure a smile travels up to your eyes, which is especially important when people can’t see your mouth.
‘Cats use a ritual of eye narrowing and slow blinking to ‘smile’ at one another and humans are more than capable of focusing on similar techniques with a bit of practice,’ says Judi.
Slow down your blinks and slightly squint your eyes to show a smile – not so much you’re glaring. It’s worth practicing this in the mirror.
Tilt your head
‘We often do this when we are listening or greeting someone, and it is a part of our normal transactions that can still make us look interested and even upbeat when we’re in a mask,’ says Judi.
Up the eye contact
When the bottom half of our face isn’t in action, eye contact is even more important.
Judi says: ‘Brits will have to focus on becoming more comfortable with eye contact.
‘Looking down in a cut-off can signal you have no desire to communicate, and eye contact and nodding will register positive and active responses.’
Use your eyebrows
You’d be surprised how much your eyebrows can say, from a double raise to show excitement or surprise to a suggestive single raise.
‘Raising eyebrows makes us look engaged or excited to see someone and the small eyebrow shrug, where we raise and drop them quickly, will show engagement and even say hello,’ Judi explains.
Use your hands
Hand gestures are key, too. While a handshake might still be off the cards, waves and talking with your hands will do the trick to encourage connection.
Judi says: ‘We need to use alternatives to handshakes and smiles, such as mimed rituals like the empty embrace to register excitement at meeting a friend, or the more exaggerated but low waving of the hands to signal rapport.
‘When we speak, we do need to be clearer than normal as even people with perfect hearing will lip-read as part of the listening process.
‘The more we learn to use illustrative and emphatic gestures the more comfortable our chats will be.’
I would simply wake up amid sexually-charged dreams (Picture: Tatyannah King)
Yep, you read that correctly – I have nocturnal orgasms.
And I’m grateful for them because my sex drive has declined tremendously in lockdown due to the natural stress of navigating life during a global pandemic.
But when I was younger I had no idea what was happening was normal.
I remember one day as a teenager, I was with my sister and two of my cousins and we happened to get onto the subject of orgasms. I looked at them in all seriousness and asked if they had ever had one during their sleep.
They looked at me with completely blank facial expressions, as though I had just spoken to them in a foreign language.
‘You mean like… moaning in your sleep or something?’ one of them asked. ‘Yeah, how would you even know if you were sleeping?’ another chimed in.
I quickly laughed it off and changed the subject, but it left me confused for some time.
A few days after this conversation, I did some more research – I figured I couldn’t be the only woman in the world who experienced them – and what I found is that around 37 per cent of women will experience sleep orgasms by the age of 45, according to a study conducted by the Kinsey Institute.
Typically we’ve learned to associate this with ‘wet dreams’ that adolescent boys have. However, climaxing during sleep is different in a myriad of ways.
For women, there isn’t obvious physical evidence of orgasm – like ejaculate – rather, women can be awoken through experiencing a jittery sensation and pulsations in the vagina.
The body has mysterious ways of filling the void of pleasure by subconsciously trying to find other ways for sexual release
I would simply wake up amid sexually-charged dreams and immediately feel involuntary, rhythmic contractions tremble throughout. And it felt like a rush of orgasmic euphoria.
At first I would only have them a few times a – but now (especially during lockdown) it happens multiple times a month. I’ve noticed it’s particularly during times when I experience a ‘sex drought’ because of a low libido.
As a graduate student studying human sexuality to become a sexologist, there’s never a dull moment in my programme, and it’s very much one of the coolest parts of my life right now.
I’ve learnt that the body has mysterious ways of filling the void of pleasure by subconsciously trying to find other ways for sexual release. The more stressed I am, the lower my sex drive is.
The lower my sex drive, the less sex that I have, making it more likely that my body needs some sort of subconscious liberation. I have had sleep orgasms while in a relationship too, but they aren’t as common as when I’m single (or social distancing).
Just last week, I fell asleep while binge-watching season five of Love Island on Hulu, and the last thing I recalled was watching two of the contestants, who were coupled up, go into the ‘Hideaway Suite’ (a secret room in the villa where the contestants presumably have sex due to the amount of privacy they have).
Next thing I know, I was having a sex dream about some of the hottest contestants taking turns to feed me grapes, give me a full body massage and lick me everywhere.
As I woke up, I felt my heart beating rapidly and my vulva start to pulsate vigorously. It was one of the best dream and orgasm combinations I’ve ever had in my life.
I’ve tried to figure out if I can purposely induce them, but it hasn’t worked so far. Though a study published in the journal Dreaming found those who sleep on their stomach are significantly more likely to have sex-related dreams compared to those dozing off in other positions.
Research also states that they’re most likely to occur during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, when a person’s brain is the most active. During this stage, there is increased blood flow to the erectile tissue.
Learning this made me feel better and helped me realise that orgasming in one’s sleep – at any age and any gender – isn’t abnormal.
Would some extra cash persuade you to change your eating habits?
A company is offering to pay meat lovers £2,000 each to go vegan for a month.
Research agency VeganLiftz has revealed it’s looking to recruit three meat eaters who are willing to go plant-based for a month, to highlight the benefits of a vegan diet.
Anyone interested needs to live in Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham, Liverpool or London – as these cities have been found to have the most meat-eaters.
Candidates will be asked to keep a log of their experience – all the highs and the lows – so it can be used as a case study.
The three applicants will have a vegan diet plan they can refer to throughout the 30 days and will have a fitness check before and after, to check everything is as it should be.
They will also be asked to take photographs of themselves during the month, to note any visible changes.
According to the advert, the company hopes to start the trial in September and is looking for people aged 18 to 60 years old, with no underlying health problems – such as obesity, diabetes or hyperthyroidism. They also need to have been on a meat-based diet for at least a year.
Jason Hughes, founder of VeganLiftz.com, said: ‘Our main aim at VeganLiftz.com is to debunk any myths out there around veganism and help our community educate themselves on a plant-based lifestyle.
‘As such, we are always looking to demonstrate the real-life affects being vegan has on a person’s health and fitness – it’s important to us that the case studies we produce from our latest recruits are honest, relatable and informative, and both negatives and positives are reported on so people can make an informed decision on whether veganism is right for them, and how best to implement it.’
Anyone looking to apply for the job can do so via the VeganLiftz website.
A very dignified O face (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Today is the annual Orgasm Day, where people across the world celebrate great sex and climaxing (perhaps celebrating by climaxing, you do you).
Orgasms are a surprisingly poorly understood bodily function, with search engines fielding thousands of queries about how they work, who’s having or not having them, and in some cases whether they even exist for women.
In honour of this hallowed day, we’ve compiled a list of some of the biggest questions surrounding orgasms, so you can find out the stats on orgasm fakers, tantric orgasms, multiple orgasms, and even more.
How many orgasms do people have?
As with anything, the number of orgasms people across the world (or even across the road from each other) are having varies wildly.
In Germany 2.54% of those surveyed had never had an orgasm at all, and in Brazil 30% said they orgasm weekly (but rated the orgasms they did have as more intense than in other countries).
Overall, the worldwide average was around two to three times a week.
How many people fake orgasms?
There have been a number of studies about faking orgasms, and the stats typically show that women are more likely to do so than men.
This may be because it’s harder for many women to orgasm through penetration alone, which might make them feel like they need to feign climax to show their partner they’re enjoying themselves even if they can’t reach orgasm.
It also may be down to the fact that many men ejaculate when orgasming, so it’s harder for them to fake it.
Dr David Delvin stated in the study: ‘Doctors used to think that multiple orgasms were quite rare. But in our survey, 70% of the women had had them. Most commonly, they had two in a session.’
When it comes to penises, men normally need a refractory period after ejaculating, so it’s a lot harder to make multiple orgasms in a single sitting happen.
Perhaps the big question here is not whether we can, but whether we should? While it’s great if you’re a tantric specialist who can come to kingdom come, if you’re happy with one – or even none – then that’s absolutely fine.
If you find that sex begins to hurt or become uncomfortable, stop. Quality over quantity.
How many people can’t orgasm?
Anorgasmia – the inability to reach orgasm – is much more common than many of us think.
For some, it’s a psychological issue, while for others it’s caused by medication, physical trauma of the genitals, or hormone imbalances.
Primary anorgasmia is when a person has never had an orgasm, while secondary anorgasmia refers to when someone has reached orgasm in the past, but now cannot.
In men, secondary anorgasmia is more common, particularly when it comes to those undergoing or who have undergone prostatectomy.
While orgasms are great, they aren’t the be all and end all of sex (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Can those with vaginas ejaculate and if so is it pee?
‘Squirting’, as you may have heard of it, is the process whereby someone with a vagina ejaculates forcefully when reaching orgasm.
Estimates range from between 10% and 50% of women who are able to ejaculate, although apparently there’s a consensus among scientists that this number is higher. They believe that pretty much all women are able to ejaculate, but don’t notice it as the fluid goes back into the vagina after sex.
As for what this ejaculate is made of, it surprisingly still remains something of a mystery.
Numerous research projects have taken place to determine where it comes from and what it is, and these appear to show that it may pass through the bladder in some way despite not being urine (as ultrasound scans showed empty bladders beforehand, filled bladders during arousal, and empty bladders after ejaculation).
The fluid also is normally clear, and contains low levels of creatine and urea – which would be found in much higher levels in pee. Tests showed it contained PSA (prostate specific antigen) like male semen.
What’s the point of an orgasm?
It seems fairly obvious why those with penises have orgasms from a biological sense. After all, this orgasm propels the sperm into a vagina (or a sock or tissue depending on the day) to fertilise the egg.
There’s a theory that, in women, the orgasm was a trait to stimulate ovulation after sex, which somehow stuck around after there was more access to mates and ovulation became more random.
Specifically why it stuck around after it served no evolutionary and reproductive purpose isn’t known, but we’re happy that the orgasm didn’t die out with our ancestors.
Looking for a place to rent? (Picture: Getty Images)
When you’re hunting down a place to rent, you’re likely to come across all sorts of strange terms in listings, contracts, and spoken by estate agents bigging up a property.
It’s important to know what these things mean so you know what you’re getting for what you pay – and to make sure you’re not getting a bad deal simply because you aren’t sure what someone’s on about.
It can feel embarrassing to admit that you don’t know what an AST or ESP is, though, so rather than suggesting you interrupt someone’s spiel on a property viewing to ask what they’re on about, we’re here to help.
We chatted with rental site Movebubble to break down some of the common renting jargon you’re likely to spot while flat hunting.
Arrears
Unpaid rent that is outstanding to the landlord.
AST
The AST is an acronym for Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This is the most common form of contract between tenants and property owners and it details the conditions of the tenancy. Once the AST is signed, sealed and delivered – you’re ready to move into your new home.
Break clause
A provision built into your agreement that allows you or the landlord to end the tenancy early, such as allowing you to move out after six months with no notice.
It’s worth asking if there’s a break clause built into your contract so you’re aware of just how secure your tenancy is – and how easy it will be to leave if you need to.
Build-to-rent
Build-to-Rent represents homes built exclusively for renters and build on the idea of holistic living for renters. Instead of dealing with a landlord, you rent from the operators of the Build-to-Rent building.
Buy-to-let
Buy-to-let is the name given to properties bought by a landlord specifically to rent it out.
Check in and check out
This is a tad more involved than a hotel check in.
Before you move into a property, a managing agent or landlord will conduct a check-in. They essentially walk you around the home and point out anything you need to know, such as the location of smoke alarms, how locks work and the locations of gas and electric meters.
The check-out takes place at the end of the tenancy and compares the property to its pre-move in condition (minus fair wear and tear).
It’s worth taking pictures and making note of any issues when you move in, so the landlord can’t later use, say, a broken window that was like that when you go there, to keep money from your deposit.
Contents insurance
Insurance that covers the personal items of a renter, including furniture, computers, jewellery, etc, rather than the actual property.
Credit search
A search done online to check your credit history and make sure you’re not someone who’s unlikely to pay their rent on time.
Items that have been damaged during the tenancy and are counted as the fault of the renter.
Learn the lingo before you sign that letting agreement (Picture: Getty Images)
EPC
An energy performance certificate lets you know a property’s energy efficiency. Landlords are required by law to provide a valid EPC that has a rating of E or higher.
Fixtures and fittings
Items provided by the landlord at the start of the tenancy. Double check what’s included, especially if your flat is listed as ‘furnished’!
GSR
The gas safety record is a certificate that states all gas appliances, pipework and flues are safe in the property. Landlords are legally required to provide a gas safety check every 12 months.
Guarantor
Someone who guarantees the rent if you are unable to make payments – so yes, if you decided to ditch your flat and just not pay your rent, they would need to front the money.
Your guarantor will need to sign the contract when you let the flat.
Holding deposit
The amount you pay to secure the property after a ‘let agreed’ occurs.
The holding deposit is typically one week’s rent and is deducted from the first month’s rental payment.
Inventory
The letting agent or landlord records an inventory which states the contents and condition of the property. The inventory is then used at check-in and check-out to cross-reference the overall conditions of the home before and after you move in.
Let agreed
Every renter and landlord looks forward to hearing the all-important ‘let agreed’; which means a deal in principle has been agreed for the rental property. Once a let is agreed and you pay the holding deposit (more on that later), the property will be removed from the rental market.
Managing agent
The agent who looks after the property and manages aspects like maintenance repairs.
Notice period
The amount of time a landlord or renter needs to provide before the tenancy is ended and the renter moves out.
Again, make sure to ask about this before you sign a contract.
Double check what fixtures and fittings are included (Picture: Getty Images)
PCM
Per calendar month, meaning rent that’s paid 12 times a year rather than on a weekly basis.
PW
Per week.
Right to rent
The right to rent check shows that you can legally rent a property in the UK. Landlords and agents are required to perform a right to rent check before you move into the property.
Security deposit
A deposit held against the property in case you are responsible for any damages during the tenancy. Security deposits are capped at five week’s rent, so if you’re asked for more, raise the alarm.
Sharing
When several renters live together but don’t form an official family.
Subletting
When a renter lets part of the property (or all of it) to someone else. Remember – you must have permission from the landlord to sublet.
TDS
Tenancy deposit scheme, which is an official scheme where the landlord must hold your security deposit.
Wear and tear
Natural damage that inevitably happens in a property over time. Renters are not liable for wear and tear, as it’s considered the result of ageing and the property being lived in.
Zero deposit scheme
Zero deposit replaces the traditional security deposit (more on that later too), which currently sees renters paying five week’s worth of rent. The scheme is designed to help tenants so they don’t need to pay a full security deposit before moving in.
Hoping to get away this summer? It might still be possible (Picture: Getty)
Fears continue to mount over the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus in Europe, leading many to move their holiday plans, or cancel them altogether.
But never fear – there are some destinations which still have low infection rates at the time of writing and no quarantine restrictions on arrival or return.
Before you do book, always check the latest FCO advice, and be aware that your travel insurance may not cover you in the instance of cancellations.
And if you’re feeling unwell or suffering from symptoms of coronavirus, do not travel.
You don’t need to quarantine when you get there, but there will be temperature checks on arrival.
Norway
The Northern Lights in the Lofoten Islands, Norway (Picture: Getty)
No quarantine is needed for Brits upon arrival to the Scandinavian country.
Norway has kept coronavirus cases relatively low since the beginning of the outbreak, reporting just 9150 cases.
In the last 14 days, only 149 new cases have been reported.
France
Fancy an Eiffel? (Picture: Getty)
There are currently no restrictions or need to quarantine upon arrival to France for travellers from the UK.
However, travellers from any country showing signs of a COVID-19 infection upon arrival in mainland France will have to carry out a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a dedicated location indicated by the French authorities.
France has reported 11,892 new cases in the last two weeks.
Greece
Dreamy Santorini might be back on the cards this summer (Picture: Getty)
There is currently no need to quarantine, however, you’ll need to complete a Passenger Locator Form at least 24 hours before travel to Greece.
You also may be required to take a test on arrival and practice social distancing and self-monitor for symptoms.
If you test positive, you will be contacted within 24 hours, and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
Estonia
Try somewhere new this year? Estonia is a haven for architecture (Picture: Getty)
No quarantine on arrival is needed if you were thinking about a trip to Estonia.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, Estonia has had just 2042 confirmed cases, and 26 in the last 14 days.
Croatia
Dubrovnik Harbor aka Game of Thrones’ Kings Landing (Picture: Getty)
No quarantine on arrival is needed, but the Croatian government has introduced a new online entry form which you’ll have to complete before you fly.
If you decide to take a trip to Croatia, pack your masks – Croatia has made it mandatory for passengers to wear face masks on public transport, in taxis, in shops and other commercial premises.
The country has reported 970 new cases over the last 14 days.
Poland
St Mary’s Basilica in Krakow, Poland (Picture: Getty)
No quarantine on arrival is needed.
Poland has reported 5636 new covid cases in the last 14 days.
You must wear a mask on public transport in Poland, but you don’t need to wear one in public where you can keep a two-metre social distance.
Austria
Fresh, mountain air could be just what the doctor ordered (Picture: Getty)
According to the FCO, entry to Austria without the need for a COVID-19 test or quarantine is now possible from the UK.
The previous requirement for a COVID-19 test or quarantine was removed on 27 July 2020.
Austria has reported 1731 new coronavirus cases in the last 14 days.
Czech Republic
The Lesser Town Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic (Picture: Getty)
A popular destination for Brits, with over 300,000 visiting every year, there are currently no restrictions in place on entering the Czech Republic if you are travelling from the UK.
The Czech Republic has reported 2618 new cases over the last 14 days.
Denmark
Catch the colours of Copenhagen (Picture: Getty)
You can enter Denmark without a two-week quarantine if you are arriving from the UK.
If you are coming as a tourist, you need to show proof of a holiday stay lasting a minimum of six nights, which could include a stay in a rented summerhouse, at a campsite, at a hotel or at a private home or privately-let summerhouse (like an Airbnb).
Denmark have reported 542 new coronavirus cases over the last fortnight.
Germany
Are you Berl-in or out? (Picture: Getty)
There are currently no general coronavirus-related restrictions on entry into Germany from the UK, however, you may have to go into quarantine if you are entering from an area where there is a high rate of infection.
Wearing a face masks is required in certain public areas in all of Germany’s 16 states. The rules vary from state to state so it’s best to check if you’re planning a visit.
There have been a reported 6666 new cases over the last 14 days.
Hungary
Buda-best dig out your passport (Picture: Getty)
Travellers from the UK can enjoy the best of Hungary without a quarantine, however, you have to do a bit of admin beforehand.
You must show two negative COVID-19 tests, taken 48 hours apart and within five days prior to your entry date.
Hungary has reported 221 new covid-19 cases in the last two weeks.
Italy
La dolce vita awaits (Picture: Getty)
You won’t need to quarantine upon arrival to Italy if you’re travelling from the UK.
You will only need to self-isolate if:
you’re arriving from a country where there are still self-isolation requirements
you travelled to a country for which there are still self-isolation requirements up to 2 weeks prior to your arrival in Italy.
Formerly a coronavirus hotspot, Italy has reported 3270 new cases in the last fortnight.
The Netherlands
Amster-dam what a view (Picture: Getty)
Passengers travelling to the Netherlands from the UK don’t need to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival, with the exception of travellers from Leicester, who are strongly advised to self-quarantine.
This is correct at time of writing, though it is plausible to assume other areas that which go into local lockdowns – such as Greater Manchester as of Friday 31 July – would be issued the same advice.
If you’re travelling to or from the Netherlands you must complete a health screening form and have it ready to show on request during your holiday.
San Marino
San Marino on your list? It should be (Picture: Getty)
There are no longer any Covid-19 related restrictions on entry into San Marino, although visitors must follow social distancing and sanitisation rules.
With just two new cases in the last fortnight, it could be a safer bet for a getaway.
Slovakia
Slovakia has a lot to offer (Picture: Getty)
The rules changed earlier this month, on 20 July, and there are now no restrictions in place on entering Slovakia if you are travelling from the UK.
Slovakia have reported 318 new cases in the last two weeks.
Slovenia
Go Slo – Slovenia is a beautiful spot in Europe (Picture: Getty)
Since 17 July, travellers from the UK have no longer been subject to quarantine upon arrival to Slovenia.
Health checks are conducted at all border entry points. If you display signs of coronavirus infections you will be refused entry, unless you hold a permanent residence permit for Slovenia.
There have been a reported 237 new cases in the last two weeks.
Turkey
Fancy some Turkey? (Picture: Getty)
All tourists have to have medical checks when entering the country, as well as fill in a passenger locator form, but won’t be forced to isolate.
If the test is positive, however, then you will have to go into quarantine, and will need to stay at a private medical facility in Turkey at your own expense.
Turkey has a reported 12, 984 new cases in the last two weeks.
All information correct at time of publishing. Covid-19 figures for each country taken from European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
This could be your chance to get inside the world-famous club (Picture: Getty)
Getting into Berghain is an achievement.
Notorious for its high turnaway count, the techno hotspot is known for attracting the crowds but is incredibly selective of who actually gets inside.
However, it seems there’s an alternative way into the most popular club in Berlin.
A new sound installation that’s open until Sunday could be your ticket in.
The new exhibition – titled Eleven songs – Hall at Berghain – is running at venue’s iconic Kessel Hall, combining city noises, murmuring and helicopter blades.
It’s running until Sunday (Picture: STEFANIE LOOS/AFP via Getty Images)
It looks a little different in the light (Picture: STEFANIE LOOS/AFP via Getty Images)
It’s been brought to life by artists Sam Auinger and Hannes Strobl (also known as Tamtam) who have taken advantage of the acoustics of large industrial venue, by using the space itself as an instrument.
This installation is the first time the world-famous club has been open since March. But, in order to stick to social distancing guidelines, only 50 people are allowed inside at a time.
Artists Sam Auinger and Hannes Strobl are behind it (Picture: STEFANIE LOOS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sit back and listen (Picture: STEFANIE LOOS/AFP via Getty Images)
Thankfully, there’s no dress code and the venue’s renowned bouncer Sven Marquardt will not be on the doors – making it much easier to enter.
Carsten Seiffarth, curator and director of the sound art gallery Singuhr (which the exhibition is in partnership with), said: ‘You listen, you experience, you can close your eyes or leave them open and follow the sound across the room.
‘It’s also about having an experience with this room and feeling emotions that go beyond just listening.’
After their visit to the installation, Agence France-Presse described the experience as ‘rhythmic throbbing, soft city noises, murmurings and even the whirling of helicopter blades’.
Most clubs in Berlin have been closed since early March, as the coronavirus pandemic hit Europe.
But it seems it’s not good news for the events industry, as the German government recently announced that large-scale events and festivals would remain banned until at least October.
Lockdown has left many of us cooped up in close proximity to the biscuit tin, and ignoring the constant call of the fridge has become an exercise in self-control.
Add in restaurant closures and you’re left with a nation of nibblers craving the culinary variety that lockdown eliminated.
Enter the mukbangers; YouTubers and social media influencers who record and live stream themselves gorging on vast quantities of food, such as 100 spicy dumplings or 11 hot dogs.
Roughly translated as ‘eating-broadcast’, this food phenomenon began in South Korea in 2010, and has gained mass appeal over the last decade. What began as basic streaming during dinner has become a nuanced internet genre, with multiple subcategories and dedicated followings.
Mukbangs remain most prolific in East Asia, where abandoning polite eating etiquette still feels exciting. Over 5 million people watched Eat With Boki scarf down a ten pound crab, while over 8 million fans viewed Banzz (generally heralded as the mukbang godfather) eating ten hamburgers in under five minutes.
However, the mukbang’s global appeal has snowballed in recent years, with a notable rise during the pandemic.
Steven Sushi’s channel typically averaged around 45,000 views per video pre-coronavirus, which rose to a standard 100,000 during the height of lockdown. Professional eater BenDeen usually enjoyed his dinner in front of 120,000 fans, but once restaurants closed his audience rocketed to an average of 300,000. There has also been a trend of mukbangers recreating their favourite takeaways such as McDonald’s at home, with viewers putting in requests for home-made Taco Bell.
Take a look at the titles of mukbang videos from the last three months and you’ll spot a trend for lockdown-themed editions, whether in the form of videos scratching the itch for fast food options people can’t get hold of or shovelling in delivery options.
YouTubers Bloveslife sums up mukbang’s lockdown boom by explaining that ‘people want to eat what I’m eating’ during a time when people can’t access their favourite foods or reduced budgets mean they can’t afford them. Her channel offers viewers the eating out experience from the safety of their homes.
Since launching her channel in 2017, Bloveslife has amassed 2.74 million subscribers for her mammoth seafood boils.
Speaking to us from her home in Ohio, the 45-year-old explains that people enjoy watching her videos because she ‘eats unapologetically’ and they find that ‘satisfying.’
Bloveslife tells us: ‘Eating unapologetically means I may get sauce on my face, I’m gonna slurp, you may hear me belch, you may hear me smack. You’re gonna hear the “mmmms” and the “awwws” as I enjoy what I eat.’
As a former business owner, Bloveslife, real name Bethany Gaskin, has a shrewd understanding of her channel’s brand, which has made her a multi-millionaire, combined with profits from her ‘smackalicious sauce mix’. Upbeat and glamorous, the mum-of-two is keen to keep her videos light and avoid anything controversial.
The internet star believes her videos help people relax and feel positive about food, saying: ‘By showing myself having that experience with my food, I’m helping some people with eating disorders, helping some people with their anxiety and even helping some people with autism to communicate.’
Providing companionship seems a key part of the mukbangers’ appeal. Watching someone devour their dinner while they chatter about their day offers connection, something that has taken on a renewed importance thanks to the isolation brought on by life in lockdown.
Counsellor Amanda Greenlees, who specialises in eating behaviours, believes watching people eat can help us feel less lonely.
She tells us: ‘Food is our primary means of communication, it’s also our primary means of relationships. When we’re in a lockdown we’re not able to have those relationships anymore so watching someone eat gives a semblance of connection.’
This sense of intimacy is even more pronounced with mukbangers such as Veronica Wang, who shares personal details of her life with her 1.68 million subscribers.
Veronica, 28, has posted multiple emotional videos about her family and relationship issues, always combined with shovelling in her haul. Often filmed in her car, this Canadian’s mukbangs usually involve fast food, and her mukbang brand is intertwined with how she presents herself on Instagram.
As a slim woman partial to pouty selfies and bikini shots, Veronica reassures viewers that they are not alone in their over-indulging, and breaks apart the idea that weight is entirely down to what you eat – after all, if she can remain svelte despite piling in mountains of fast food, there must be more to your size than simply making the ‘right’ food choices.
The comment section is brimming with such statements, with one subscriber writing: ‘Veronica: eats so much food and doesn’t gain a single pound. Me: One French fry and I gain like 700000000 pounds’
Amanda says that easing our guilt around food may be part of the mukbang’s draw for some viewers, especially during lockdown, when many of us are eating for comfort or distraction.
She explains: ‘You get to watch someone else do something that you’re not allowed to do. There’s such a big culture of restriction around food, societally and individually. We constantly tell ourselves, “I mustn’t have this, I mustn’t have that” so to see someone completely ignore those boundaries and do whatever they want is probably part of its appeal.’
Stephanie Soo’s eating antics have earned her 2.26 million subscribers. The Korean American scoffer varies her content with different cuisines and ‘story-time’ discussions. Like many Western mukbangers, Stephanie, 24, often collabs with other YouTubers in videos that tend to attract high numbers of views. One viewer said of Stephanie’s collab with Bloveslife: ‘This was so cute and funny. Like watching two friends have lunch’.
While some fans compliment the petite star on her outfits or animated personality, many simply lambast her ability to remain slim or envy her eating foods they restrict. A common statement from a fan will read: ‘I’m on a diet but love watching Stephanie’s videos imagining it was me.’
Bethany, known as Bloveslife, has millions of followers who watch her massive eating sessions (Picture: Bloveslife)
For some viewers, watching mukbangs offers consumption without consequence as they feast vicariously through the YouTuber. Mukbangs offer the watcher a calorie-free binge, and for some struggling with disordered eating, they may even act as a virtual substitute for meals.
Amanda Greenlees suggests that by mukbanging, people may be reclaiming their power around food and rebelling against societal taboos. She tells us: ‘There is a sense of powerlessness that lots of people feel when they eat and especially when they binge-eat, so by choosing to mukbang, they’re taking some power back. Also, they’re dissipating the shame, because they’re gorging openly, they’re owning their behaviour and nobody can shame them for it.’
Another pull is the obvious oral fixation. The transference of food from plate to body via the mouth is a highly carnal, sensuous act. Bloveslife stresses that there is an art to eating, making lots of noise and handling the food with her long diamante nails.
For some mukbang fans, the physicality of eating – the sounds, the up-close visuals – is the most appealing part, which is where ASMR mukbangers come in. Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), is defined as a tingling sensation moving along the spine in response to sonorous noises.
Canadian mukbanger Lovetoeat ASMR, began her channel as solely ASMR, with lots of ice-crunching and tea gulping videos, complete with crinkling packets and fizzing sodas. With a growing channel followed by more than 5,000 subscribers, Lovetoeat, 28, said people enjoy her speechless videos as they find them ‘soothing.’
She tells us: ‘Some people like to just listen to eating sounds to fall asleep, so they don’t wanna hear me talk.’
Lovetoeat, from Toronto, explains that while she has introduced talking mukbangs, which ‘feel like I’m talking to my friends while enjoying a meal’, she has chosen to adhere to a common ASMR trope of concealing her upper face. While Lovetoeat dons sunglasses, other ASMR mukbangers only film from the nose down, making the mouth the inescapable focal point.
The localised camera work is a common style throughout the mukbang sphere. Many munchers sit behind a large, food-laden hotplate with only their face and hands showing, the resulting videos resembling a kind of puppet show. Black backgrounds and wearing grease-proof polythene gloves are also popular.
One ASMR mukbanger who raises the genre’s visual bar is Zach Choi. With a following of 9.1 million, this Korean American guzzler incorporates stop-motion filming in his intros.
Performing under the tagline ‘silence is golden’ Zach, 33, remains mute during his mukbangs but creates an audio landscape by opening containers, laying out crockery and, of course, eating.
Famous for downing 100 cocktails shrimps (with sauce) in under six minutes, Zach varies his sounds with different textured foods. Raw honeycomb is popular as it’s both crunchy and squishy, while aloe vera leaves are squelchy and mozzarella sticks are squeaky. Visually speaking, anything stretchy or gloopy is popular, with noodles being a firm favourite. An emblematic image from the mukbang phenomenon involves the YouTuber gazing wide eyed at the camera while noodles cascade from their mouth.
Adding another dimension to the mukbang craze are the edible optical illusions crew, who cram fondant shoes and cookie phones into their mouths. One such YouTuber is HunniBee ASMR, 25, who has amassed 4.33 million fans by crunching into candy champagne bottles and gummy pencils.
HunniBee, real name Naomi MacRae, plays upon the East Asian aesthetic, with lots of miniature confectionary, colour-themed mukbangs and anime motifs.
Her softly spoken videos are credited with helping viewers unwind during times of stress, which is especially important amid a pandemic, with one fan writing: ‘You literally make me relax when I’m stressed people with anxiety or stress or not feeling well! Thank you for making these videos’.
While female mukbangers dominate the Western genre, the most infamous male mukbanger remains Nikocado Avocado. This American mukbanger’s videos combine gorging with emotional diatribes, which his 1.99 million subscribers lap up.
Nik, 28, turned to mukbanging after quitting veganism three years ago. Coming from a mostly raw plant-based diet, Nik, real name Nicholas Perry, now crams in Big Macs, KFC and anything covered with cheese, including five pounds of mozzarella balls.
Nik’s channel relies upon drama, and is littered with revelations about his marriage, crying fits and manic outbursts involving head shaving and smashing things.
All those antics offer a welcome distraction from apocalyptic news headlines, plunging the viewers into his frenzied world where all outside concerns disappear for the duration of his repast. The comment section reflects this with statements like: ‘It’s like a low budget version of Real Housewives and it’s even more hilarious.’
The phenomenon of the mukbang has always relied on vicarious enjoyment and forbidden thrills, with the use of ASMR sounds and visuals allowing views to transport themselves into the eater’s shoes and escape their own reality, where meals are reasonably sized, economically conscious, and come with all the pressures of body image and physical health.
In the midst of a pandemic, when we’re restricted to our own homes and confronted by harsh realities of physical health, limited budgets, and difficulty accessing all the foodie wonders we desire, diving into the online world of mukbang becomes all the more appealing.
Mukbangers rebel against the culture of shame that surrounds eating and allows an escape from the real-world effects of eating massive amounts of unhealthy food, while concurrently pulling up a chair at a virtual dinner table for people who may be craving human connection.
While motivations for watching provide plenty of food for thought, on the other side of the camera, mukbangers are living the dream.
‘I get paid to eat,’ says Bloveslife. ‘I get paid to do and try things I never dreamed I would do. I couldn’t be more blessed.’
Nicola completed the project even while having coronavirus (Picture: LatestDeals)
48-year-old Nicola Hill didn’t exactly start her lockdown DIY project on a whim, instead being basically forced to do it after a small flood wrecked her utility room floor.
The mum-of-two and civil servant from Stoke on Trent tool up the laminate and discovered lovely 1960s tiles which were splashed with old paint.
The terrazzo tiles – despite being on-trend – needed a lot of love, so Nicola tried using a special tile cleaner to restore them to their former glory.
Unfortunately, though, the acidic cleaner had the opposite effect and left a white, powdery coating on the tiles. With that in mind, she instead decided to completely revamp the space.
Nicola went for an amazing DIY geometric floor pattern using stencils and Frenchic paint – and she spent just £40 to £50 on the entire project.
Underneath the old flooring were some unloved but pretty tiles (Picture: LatestDeals)
She told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I came up with the floor idea from seeing other people’s outdoor patio areas on Facebook.
‘My partner is a maths teacher so the maths side of it was worked out by him, although I ordered the wrong size stencil as I didn’t listen to him!
‘He therefore made me one from a cardboard box which allowed the repeat pattern to work on the 9” tile.
‘These tiles were irreparable and a new floor was out of the question. I was recovering from Covid when I did it and had been off work for some weeks due to the side effects.
The stencil was made by Nicola’s husband (Picture: LatestDeals)
‘I’m not used to sitting still so became really fed up and low so would sit on the floor and take my time creating it.
‘It was a bit painstaking but worth it.’
Nicola started by cleaning the floor before painting with sugar soap and leaving to dry.
She then worked from the middle outwards, using the Frenchic paints that have become so popular lately to create a pattern.
The finished result is beautiful (Picture: LatestDeals)
The stencil – which was made of a sturdy dress box – was masking taped down to keep Nicola’s grip, and a specific stencilling brush was used before Nicola dried the area with a hairdryer.
‘Cost-wise, if we discount the price of the wrong size stencil, it cost the price of two tins of Frenchic paint and a stencil brush which equates to around £40 to £50 at most,’ said Nicola.
‘I used Swanky Pants paint for the base coat and the colours in the stencil are After Midnight and Blackjack.
‘I sat with a hairdryer to help dry the first coat before applying a second coat and then moving the stencil.’
Nicola is delighted with how her project turned out and felt a real sense of accomplishment with its success, especially given that she completed it while being ill.
‘I was really quite proud of myself given I was so poorly too, it looks amazing – but none of my family has seen it yet which is frustrating.
‘It’s really transformed the room with minimal cost.’
Do you have an amazing DIY transformation you’d like to share?
Mother-of-four, Brandi Morrison, right, have trained her children how to lift weights to build muscle (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
A bodybuilder mother lets her three year-old son lift weights – and says pumping iron, clean-eating and protein shakes have given her other boys aged seven and 10 ‘insane abs.’
Fitness buff, Brandi Morrison, 33, lets her youngest son Ragnar, three lift dumbbells even though he is still a toddler. He can be seen confidently working with a dumbbell in a video Brandi shared with Metro.
She has also taught his older brother Preston, seven, and Cedrik, 10, how to bench press, dead lift and bicep curl during lockdown and says her young sons are thrilled with their newly-honed muscles.
The boys, from Peoria in Arizona, started pumping iron earlier this year to help them get bigger for football. They now workout with their bodybuilding parents at home almost every day. Stay-at-home mom Brandi also insists the children must eat a clean and healthy diet to help them get stronger and has admitted her four kids have never had a McDonald’s. She also lets the older boys drink protein shakes to boost their fitness progress.
Brandi, who is married to quality control officer, Rocky, 36, said: ‘I make sure (Ragnar) uses a low weight, like 3lbs or 5lbs dumbbells. He does squats, squat jumps, push ups, pull ups and he’ll lift with weights a couple of times a month.
‘It’s a lot more body weight stuff for him. He enjoys it and we show him the movements and correct him if it’s something that would hurt him, but typically he’s amazing at picking up the movements.
‘When we ask him to show us his muscles he flexes and we compliment how big and strong he’s getting. He’ll say things like ‘Yes I am’ with a big smile on his face.
‘I think his favorite part is when we use him as the weight. Like benching him, bicep curls, tricep extensions behind our head. It’s us being all together and to him it’s a sure way of playing and having fun.
Preston, aged seven, can dead lift, bench press and squat weights just like his parents (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
‘I don’t anything wrong with it, we would never put our kids in harms way and if they didn’t want to lift weights anymore then that’s fine, but they want to and really enjoy it.
‘A lot of kids nowadays sit in front of the TV or on electronics and that does more harm than what weightlifting does for my kids. Nutrition is a big part of their lives too, they know that protein is good for their muscles and carbs are good for recovery, we’ve taught them you can’t outwork a bad diet.
All four children, Cedrik, 10, Rocky, 8, Preston, 7, and Ragnar, 3, all take part in some form of strength training (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
‘I don’t think they’ve ever had a McDonald’s, we encourage healthy eating all the time. Sometimes after practice they will have protein shakes when I do, they are good for you.’
Brandi and Rocky are both competitive powerlifters who usually train in a gym, but when the coronavirus lockdown led to public gyms shutting up for months on end, the couple decided to start working out at home instead. The lockdown also meant Preston and Cedrik could no longer attend football training for the teams they had only just joined.
As a fitness substitute, the brothers asked their parents if they could join in to help them bulk up and get stronger for when they are allowed to re-join their teammates on the football field. Over the last few months, since March, they’ve become hooked on pumping iron and according to Brandi, have made some ‘impressive gains’.
Preston, pictured with dad, Rocky, during a dead lift workout (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
They work out with their parents most days, and are even joined by their other brothers Rocky, eight and Ragnar, three, on the odd occasion, who also use low weights under supervision.
Brandi said: ‘We are watching our kids enjoy fitness and we are proud of them, it’s amazing to see them develop. I don’t force it on them at all, I just ask them if they want to join in when it’s time for me to work out.
‘I am being careful not to overwork them, but Preston and Cedrik have been doing it for so long now that they do all types of bodybuilding exercises. ‘Only they do the more serious weightlifting exercises with us, they want to get bigger for football so asked if they could join in.
‘I think it’s really good for them, I don’t think there is anything wrong with them wanting to lift weights and be healthy. I know some people don’t agree with it but everyone brings their kids up in their own way.
As well as weighted exercises, the Morrison family also take part in resistance and bodyweight based exercises (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
‘We don’t push them too hard and they do use low weights, but we have shown them how to do all of the main bodybuilding exercises. We do squats, dumbbell curls, lateral raises, bench press, shoulder press and deadlifts.
‘Preston can deadlift 65lbs now, it’s insane how well they are doing. Both of them are getting really strong and they have got insane ab muscles too.’
Whilst light strength training can be good for a child’s development, research by academic medial centre, Mayo Clinic, suggests that a high amount of bodybuilding or weightlifting can have a negative impact on a child’s growth.
The site advises against children trying to build muscle mass because doing so can put too much strain on young muscles, tendons and areas of cartilage that haven’t yet turned to bone. Instead children should only take part in ‘light resistance and controlled movements’ and doing so can have positive impacts on endurance, bone health and injury prevention.
Alongside daily workouts, Brandi has said she ensures all six members of the family eat a healthy diet day in and day out, with fast food and sugary snacks banned.
The Morrison family pride themselves in living a healthy lifestyle, combining exercise with a clean-eating diet (Picture: Brandi Morrison/Metro.co.uk)
She said: ‘We all eat super well, nutrition is such an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. We have taught them about what is good to eat and what is bad to eat and they know what foods help them get stronger.
‘We never buy cookies or chocolate treats and we never have fast food. Their grandma bought them doughnuts recently and they barely ate them because it’s not what they’re used to.
‘Childhood obesity is such a big problem and we don’t want that for our kids.
‘I don’t think anyone can say we’re doing anything wrong with the lifestyle our boys have, they are really healthy and are enjoying it, and as long as that’s the case then they will keep on working hard.’
New to anal masturbation? Here’s where to start (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Let’s talk about the butt.
Don’t be scared. We’ll take it slow.
For many, our first venture into the realm of anal play is with a partner, delving straight into ‘trying anal’ as a way to take a sexual relationship up a notch. This can go poorly – the nerves around a new sensation can make you tense up, causing difficulty sliding anything into the anus and frustration all round.
Far better, we reckon, to test the waters alone first, to figure out what feels good and get used to what anal feels like without another party as the audience to your self-discovery.
But even delving into anal play alone can feel a bit nerve-wracking, prompting a hurried Google search for how on earth to get started.
We’re here to help, with a beginner’s guide to approaching anal play solo.
What is anal masturbation?
Exactly what it sounds like, anal masturbation is the actual of sexual self-exploration using simply your body or toys, but focused around the anus.
It doesn’t have to involve penetration – surface-level touching counts, too.
Why should you do it?
‘One of the biggest appeals of anal masturbation is that it allows the individual to explore an often untouched erogenous area at their own pace to establish what they do and do not like,’ says Mia Sabat, in-house sex therapist at Emjoy.
‘While it’s often assumed that anal sex is an act that must take place between two people, the reality is that we can often experience anal sex alone – and enjoy it. Any act of masturbation is an act of giving yourself pleasure, so this naturally applies to anal play too.’
Masturbation is a great way to figure out what you like and what feels good. You might discover that anal, perhaps a previously unexplored area, feels fantastic, and can then bring that knowledge into sex with a partner.
Or you might try it solo, hate the sensation, and decide against it. At least you know, and were able to work that out without the stress of dealing with another person’s feelings.
What are the benefits of anal masturbation?
Pleasure! For many people, anal stimulation feels absolutely wonderful, thanks to nerve endings throughout the region.
Just like ‘regular’ masturbation focused on your genitals, anal masturbation can relieve stress, boost your mood, increase your sexual confidence, and even help you sleep.
‘If you want to masturbate, and are curious to discover more about you and your sexuality, then masturbation can only be beneficial to your mind and body,’ says Mia. ‘It’s natural to be curious about your body and the range of pleasures it can experience, and it’s time to let go of the shame that surrounds anal masturbation.
‘Not only is masturbating pleasurable, but it helps us look after our minds and bodies, and connect with our sexuality by helping us get to know our body and desires better.
‘Anal masturbation especially is exceptionally pleasurable, thanks to multiple nerve endings located throughout the region. With adequate dilation and lubrication, anal sex both alone or with another person can be an extremely pleasant experience.’
Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with (Picture: Ella Byworth/ metro.co.uk)
How can you get started with solo anal play?
We’re not overstating this: relaxation is key. If you’re tensed up and not in the mood, anal play of any sort will not be enjoyable, simply because of how the muscles around your butt function.
Mia explains: The first and most important thing is to be relaxed and to not feel pressured in any way to explore this part of your sexuality if you don’t want to. As long as you are doing something you want to do or try, you are in control.
‘Anal sex, in any form, needs relaxation. It is important for it to be a joyful experience, and for you to feel at ease about the process.
‘Take your time before starting and awaken your excitement with erotic fantasies, movies or books before beginning anal play or penetration.
‘Physically, you can start by playing with the buttocks: stroke the entire area and place your hands on the folds where the legs and buttocks meet.
‘Then slide your fingers along the fold, from the inner thigh to the outer area, and repeat this movement as many times as your body asks to help you warm up.
‘Then, slowly massage your lower back, caressing the outside of your anus, and moving at a pace that makes you comfortable and excited. Once aroused, you can think about moving towards penetration, if that is what you want to do.’
Start small and slow – one of your fingers is an easy starting point, wearing latex gloves or a condom if you’re nervous about cleanliness – and build your way up to larger buttplugs and dildos.
What are the best toys for anal masturbation?
An important thing to note: you should only put things in your anus that are designed to be put in there.
That’s because anything that isn’t a toy designed for anal play may get sucked up inside you and be tricky to get out, causing damage and requiring a rather embarrassing (and likely painful) hospital visit.
You need something with a flared base or something to hold on to at the end, for easy removal.
It’s also crucial that toys don’t go from the anus to the vagina, so we’d recommend having separate toys for those two areas.
‘I would recommend beginners first try using a plug, or several of different sizes of plugs, to experiment with pleasant, progressive dilation,’ says Mia. ‘These types of plugs are designed to be safely left in the anus or used during anal play, which means all you have to worry about is having fun and enjoying yourself.’
What lube should you use for anal play?
While the vagina has natural lubrication, the anus does not. That means that lube isn’t an option, but a necessity.
‘If lube isn’t used, your experience with anal pleasure will likely cause small fissures (tears) in the tissue lining your anus, which will result in pain, discomfort and even bleeding,’ says Mia. ‘Not only will this be unpleasant experience, but it will likely deter you from engaging in anal-focused sexual experiences in the future.’
Have a search of your preferred sex toy sites and you’ll find plenty of lubes specifically designed for anal sex.
A note: while numbing options might sound appealing for those feeling a bit nervous, we wouldn’t recommend them. It’s important that you can feel what’s going on down there, including pain – which is a sign to stop what you’re doing.
Keep an eye on the type of lube you’re using, too. Water-based is safe for use with both condoms and toys, but isn’t as long-lasting, so you’ll need more of it, silicone-based works with condoms but not with silicone toys (friction causes break down), and oil-based lasts longer but doesn’t work with condoms or toys as again, it can cause breakdown.
If you’re sticking to manual stimulation with your fingers, oil-based is a good shout. If you’re bring toys or condoms into the mix, go for water-based.
Lube is key (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Do you need to do an enema?
Nope, you don’t need to. It’s your body and you’re the one exploring it – it’s really up to you how to prepare.
We’ll answer the big question: yes, you might see some poop. It’s normal and to be expected, and frankly, if you’re deeply uncomfortable with the idea of fecal matter being anywhere near you, anal play might not be for you. Poo comes out of your anus. Accept that, move on.
While enemas sound like an appealing way to clear all risk of poop, they can bring more risk than they’re worth.
‘I highly recommend against the use of enemas,’ says Mia. ‘While some think that enemas make anal play more hygienic, this is a highly misunderstood concept.
‘Enemas bring many negative side effects as they can damage the area, irritate cells in the rectum, generate excess mucus and cause dryness in the rectal area which can cause fissures, and lead to the spread of STIs.
‘Ultimately, it’s important to remember that anal sex is anal sex: let go of any stigma, shame or embarrassment surrounding fecal matter, remember it’s a natural part of anal play, and don’t let it hold you back from enjoying a truly pleasurable experience.’
How should you prepare for anal play?
We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: relax and prepare mentally, first. Make sure you’re in the right headspace before you get going.
Then it’s on to the physical bits.
You might feel more comfortable going to the toilet and having a shower first, to lower your chances of encountering large amounts of poo.
Clean your hands and fingers well, trim and file your nails to get rid of sharp corners or edges that could cause injury, and cover with a condom or latex gloves for extra comfort.
Make sure your toys are clean before use and you have a good lube stash.
What should you do for aftercare post-anal play?
‘When you finish an anal sex session, it is good to clean up in the same way you would after any other session,’ says Mia. ‘For example, if toys have been used, it is good to wash or wipe them thoroughly and make sure they are clean from both body fluids and lubricants.
‘When it comes to the body itself, a normal cleaning without exaggeration or extra force will be more than enough. Don’t be intimidated if fecal matter appears during or after intercourse – it’s a natural to be exposed to small amount of visible or invisible fecal matter when engaging in anal sex of any sort. Simply wash yourself externally with soap and water, and you’ll be clean as ever.
‘After anal sex, you may feel like you want to go to the bathroom or experience sensations similar to flatulence – this may feel slightly irritating or embarrassing, but there’s nothing to worry about – there is no risk of incontinence with anal sex.’
Go slow (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
What are the signs that anal play has gone wrong?
If at any point you feel sharp pain, stop. Don’t try to ‘push through it’ or assume pain is just part of the experience.
‘If you take your time to enjoy foreplay, focus on pleasure and use lube, you shouldn’t experience any soreness or discomfort during or after anal sex,’ says Mia. ‘If you find yourself feeling tender or uncomfortable after engaging in anal sex, you should consult your doctor, and reflect on your technique to see what might be the cause for your discomfort.
‘Small tears can occur during anal sex, just as they can during vaginal intercourse, but know they heal quickly, with the greatest threat lying in the increased risk of contracting an STI.
‘It is very rare for anal sex to result in physical trauma, though it isn’t uncommon to experience haemorrhoids after engaging in anal play, which sometimes require an over-the-counter treatment or a doctor’s opinion.
‘If you are in continuous pain or lose control of your bowels, you could have a fissure, which should be treated by a doctor. Avoiding extreme practices like fisting, engaging in anal sex with a lack of dilation, or having anal intercourse without lubrication are the best ways to keep your health front of mind.
‘Taking anal sex slowly, and at a pace that only results in pleasure, rather than discomfort or pain, will help keep you and your anus healthy throughout your experience.’
