Halloween is one of the most anticipated events of the year for children (and a lot adults too) but this year, as with many other holidays, it is going to be quite different.

With all of us trying to keep own and our children’s mental health in check, now more than ever we need to maintain a sense of normality wherever we can and at the same time – as safely as we can.

Routines and days to look forward to are imperative for children, particularly younger ones, and it is especially vital that we don’t allow Covid to get in the way of special bonding opportunities and memories for families where possible.

Maintaining a sense of normal and keeping days like Halloween on the calendar will help to relax children and also give them what they still need – the fun of childhood.

With traditional trick or treating out of the question, here are a few fun ways to keep your little ones entertained this Halloween:

Petrifying pumpkins

As well as carving the traditional spooky face this Halloween with your kids, why not try something different to bring that pumpkin to life? This is great messy play for younger children.

One thing I love to do is to use black board paint and chalk – you can buy this from any DIY store or online.

Paint the pumpkin and let your little one gets creative with some chalk – as the chalk can be wiped off, they can experiment with all of their ideas and I have seen it create hours of fun. They can have a new pumpkin each day.

Use the whole pumpkin – do not throw out the guts as you can the get cooking with your child make muffins, soup or even a smoothie.

You could also use those guts for some good sensory play with younger children and babies. Nothing more apt for Halloween than handling innards.

Use your left over pumpkin carcass to feed to your garden wildlife. Kids will love this you can help the spot what autumn nature is out and about in their back garden. 

You can also toast the pumpkin seeds for the birds. With pumpkins priced as low as £2, you can get endless use out of those classic Halloween globes!

Terrifying treasure hunt

Depending on the weather, you can do this indoors or outdoors. Go all out and decorate your house and garden in full haunted house gear and hide spooky treats and clues.

This is great fun to get siblings to work together to get a final spooky treat it also encourages positive reading for those normally reluctant to pick up a book.

The fun and reward of walking around in a spooky way and being rewarded with a sweet treat is an ideal way to emulate the trick of treat experience, completely safely.

Dress up, sing songs as tasks in the clues, do whatever you think will make your children laugh and get caught up in the theme.

Horrifying haunted house

Work together with you children to build a haunted house in a room or even a sofa – a ‘fort’ haunted house can be surprisingly good fun.

This is great for imagination and bonding with you little one.

Ghastly ghost stories

Turn off that light. Get the torch. Get the snacks and under the blanket and a pile of books and read into the Halloween night.

You could even do a ‘pass the story line’ game where you start with the first part of the story and each child must continue it.

Let them be as silly as they like activities like this all year round are so positive for imagination building.

Spooky cinema

Go full imaginative play on this one. During the day get your children to make tickets, posters and Halloween snacks for your spooky movie night.

Make your living room as scary as possible and plan your (age appropriate) movies beforehand.

It makes that Halloween night movie feel all that more special and feels like an occasion.

Alarming arts and chilling crafts

This is good for leading up to Halloween too. Gather up your recycling the week before. Grab old loo rolls and cereal boxes and paper plates. Stock up on paints and pens and glue and just get messy.

You can make Halloween characters with the paper plates. The scarier the better!

And a cute thing to do with younger children is to do footprint art, which is something to keep forever.

Creepy camp out

This Halloween there is going to be a perfectly timed blue moon. Why not get that tent out and get the cosy warm clothes on and tell scary stories round the campfire.

Wrap up warm as the weather isn’t looking the best but it’s a lovely way of safely being outdoors for Halloween.

Beastly baking

Baking is always a winner for kids because of the pay off weather your experts or new to baking you there’s recipes for everyone.

You could make Halloween style cookies or a good one that kids love is Pumpkin Rice Crispy Cakes

Devilish dress up and fangtastic fashion show

There are so many ways you can do this one.

If you have got years of Halloween costumes get that dress up box out add some extras from around the house that set the challenge of who can dress the scariest and if they want they can show off there designs on their own little catwalk.

I personally recommend The Monster Mash for the fashion show theme tune! Only because it’s quite the Halloween bop.

Deathly disco

Have a little party with your kids. They’re going to be missing out on any Halloween discos that usually happen this time of year.

So, make a spooky playlist, make some Halloween treats. Dress up as scary as possible and have a little family party with your household.

Adults will probably have as much fun as the kids, here.

Frightful face painting

Kids love any excuse to get messy. Get some face paint and turn your little monsters into… monsters.

Then let them do your face. You wont regret it.

Well…providing you don’t forget to clean up before your work’s Zoom meeting the next day.

Bloodcurdling bat watching

Let’s end on something unique.

There are 17 active bat species in the UK. At this time of year they are busy flapping about mating and getting ready for hibernation. They will be most active just after sunset.

Why not find out if you have any active in your area and go on a little bat walk? See what you can spot – even if you don’t find any, the thrill of the adventure is fun and once you’ve all bonded, whether you have seen a bat or not will likely be the least important thing.

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

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

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Cleaning the oven is never a fun task but one woman has come up with a way to make it a little easier.

The woman shared pictures showing how she got the grease off the door in just five minutes, with very little effort.

She bought the scraper for on eBay for £3.95 and then got to work.

Posting in the Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook group, she wrote: ‘*Warning* disgusting oven alert!!!

‘I never get round to cleaning it because life’s just to busy but I got a Glass scraper from eBay and WOW !!!! 5 mins later I have a clean door!’

‘Used the scraper then pink stuff and a metal scrubber for the last few marks! No back ache from scrubbing it all day either £3.95 well spent if you ask me!’

People in the group were impressed with the trick but others pointed out that the scraper is even cheaper on Amazon. There, you can pick one up for £1.99.

The scraper is usually used for removing paint or stickers from window frames but the sharp blade means it works on the grease too.

Of course, the blade is sharp so you need to be careful and replace the cover when not in use.

One person commented: ‘I’ve just ordered one from Amazon. Thanks for the tip.’

Another added: ‘I would be lost without my scraper.’

‘This is literally the best tip I’ve read on here and will be doing this from now on,’ someone else said.

Do you have an easy hack to share?

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

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One of the most flexible people has earned the name Rubber Boy as he can stretch his body and turn his head 180 degrees.

Chirag Krishnakumar Panpaliya, from Varsha in Maharashtra, west India, is super flexible.

The 20-year-old’s skills include extreme front and back bending and twisting his shoulders right round.

Chirag dreams of adding his name to the Guinness Book Of World Record one day and has been practicing and refining his talent for over a decade.

The impressive yoga artist can even type on a keyboard with his feet over his head.

He said that he started off practising extreme yoga postures at the age of seven.

13 years later, Chirag continues to impress his peers with what his body can do.

Video footage shows Chirag contorting his body in various ways, stretching his behind his head.

He can bend his body and even ‘spin’ his stomach in a way that might make you want to look away.

Though Chirag’s moves are certainly unlike the average yogi’s, he isn’t the most flexible human in the world just yet.

That accolade belongs to American contortionist Daniel Browning Smith, who holds the title of the most flexible person in history, owning a total of seven Guinness World Records.

Daniel owes his flexibility to the genetic condition hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome.

Those affected by this condition often have extremely mobile joints that are vulnerable to dislocation and skin which is easily bruised. 

While many people with hEDS have severe muscle and bone pain alongside a range of autonomic nervous system and endocrine problems, Daniel says he experiences only moderate pain.

Do you have a story you want to share?

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Carving a pumpkin is fun but it’s also messy and time consuming.

Any parent who does the tradition with their kids knows that it involves lots of scraping at the sides to make it hollow enough.

But one mum has shared a genius have to save you time, effort and mess.

Nina Rutherford, from Falkirk, posted the five minute pumpkin carving hackon Facebook last Friday to help others save time when creating their spooky decoration.

She slices the top off and puts a handheld whisk inside. She turns it on and gently moves it around the sides to scrape some of the flesh, holding the pumpkin firmly at the same time.

Then, with the waste all dislodged, she is able to scoop everything out, leaving a clean pumpkin, which she can then carve shapes in and add a tealight inside.

She shared her hack on Facebook the same day captioned with: ‘I feel I need to pass on this Halloween pumpkin hack: once you have cut the top off get a hand mixer (with one or two whisks on it as both work) and use this to detach all the insides of the pumpkin.

‘Take the whisks right to the edge of the pumpkin so it scrapes the bits off then just scoop out the insides that are now all mush. It has just taken me five minutes to do the inside of a pumpkin.’

Since posting the hack on Facebook, the post has had 14,000 shares and over 2,000 comments from impressed viewers.

Tyler Jay Young wrote under her post: ‘Game changer.’

Nicole Gray said: ‘I think we’ve found a genius hack for doing our pumpkin!! You know that pumpkin we keep forgetting about.’

Chloe Connaughton mentioned a friend and said said: ‘Bet you could’ve used this hack yesterday instead of scooping it all out.’

And Hollie Melay-Brown wrote: ‘Omg genius this is.’

Once you’ve scooped out the insides, you don’t need to throw them away – try our easy pumpkin pie or pumpkin loaf recipes instead.

Do you have an easy hack to share?

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

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Almost all Black children have heard racist language at school, according to a new report.

The Young and Black report, released today by YMCA, has revealed that 95% of young Black people have heard and witnessed racist language at school, and 78% have heard and witnessed racist language in the workplace.

Worryingly, young Black people in the UK said that they now grow up expecting to experience racism because of the colour of their skin.

Young Black people also feel that racial stereotypes might negatively impact their development and opportunities. 49% say racism is the biggest barrier to academic attainment, and 50% say it is teacher perceptions of them.

‘The report highlights that this is not just the action of individuals but it is institutions themselves that are perpetuating a culture of prejudice, discrimination and exclusivity,’ reads a statement from members of the YMCA Youth Advisory Group.

‘What struck us most was the sheer level of acceptance but also exhaustion in the Black community, for people so young to be so tainted by this. It is time those with a platform, resource and power did some heavy lifting to make society fairer.’

When it comes to entering the workplace, young Black people feel that employer prejudice affects their chances of getting a job. 54% say that bias at the recruitment stage is the main barrier to employment.

Half of young Black Brits also feel that lack of diversity is a barrier to getting a job, while 52% specified lack of diversity in leadership.

The institutions responsible for equipping young Black people with the tools to tackle their future are the same ones they feel are holding them back. And education and employment are not alone in this.

When asked about police attitudes to race, the majority of young Black people say they do not trust the police to act fairly towards them, with 64% worried about being treated unfairly.

More than half (54%) of young Black Brits say they do not trust the police to act without prejudice and discrimination, and 55% worry about being falsely accused of a crime.

The report draws on evidence from a survey of 557 Black and mixed ethnicity people aged between 16-30, conducted between 15-23 September 2020. The researchers also used focus groups via Zoom. These sessions included 5-10 young Black people aged between 16-30.

Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England & Wales adds: ‘It is shameful that young Black people growing up in the UK continue to do so within a society that engulfs them with racist language and discriminatory attitudes. For too long we have allowed systems to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to what has been taking place right in front of our faces.

‘Bias and barriers chip away at and ultimately shape the life experiences of young Black people in the UK, putting them at a significant disadvantage. To improve the lives and experiences of young Black people in a meaningful way, systems embedded within institutions must be reviewed and changed.

‘However, we cannot do this without building a bridge to a community which has been beaten into fundamentally not trusting the very systems that need their help to be changed.

‘We must listen to what young Black people are saying, right now, and create the fundamental and vital change they are crying out for in order to create a better present and a brighter future. Change must come swiftly, collaboratively, meaningfully and with longevity.’

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

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

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If you’ve been missing some Dishoom in your life, then rejoice, the restaurant is set to reopen its Covent Garden branch.

The Bombay Iranian café has been closed due to a renovation in January but will now relaunch to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

The establishment will be warmly welcoming guests for the soft launch from Wednesday 18 November to Thursday 3 December, before the official opening the following day.

And the good news is that during the soft launch (a preparation stage for the team before the official launch) guests will be offered 50% off food.

Dishoom will be open daily during this time, serving their signature menu of Bombay comfort food.

You can eat breakfast, served early until late, alongside the Indian restaurant’s house masala chai.

Guests can also enjoy Dishoom’s Christmas specials and festive feasts.

But don’t forget, you can only book indoors for groups of up to six people from the same household.

Luckily, Dishoom has outdoor seating so you can get a table and enjoy dinner with people outside of your household. However, these tables can’t be booked and work on a first come, first serve basis.

The restaurant says walk-ins are welcomed but advises booking reservations for busier periods.

The team said it looks forward to welcoming guests to the new-and-improved premises.

The restaurant will pay homage to the Irani cafés of Bombay, whilst also telling the story of the Indian city’s theatrical journey from Parsi theatre to silent film and the thrill of the Talkies era.

Go forth and get your masala chai fix.

Do you have a story you want to share?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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Our weekly series How I Save invites people to take an honest look at how they handle their personal finances.

Each week we ask a different person to talk us through their approach to saving, then get them to track a week of spending, including what they bought and what they paid for each purchase.

Then we bring in an expert’s perspective on their money habits so they (and we) can boost savings.

This time around we’re chatting with Aimee*, a 27-year-old living and working in London.

How Aimee saves:

I earn £30,000 a year and in my savings account right now I have £1,700.

I’ve saved this much money mostly by not paying rent for a month and a half during lockdown while I was staying out of the city. I’ve also since moved into a cheaper place with a flatmate, so I’m saving on rent and bills each month on top of going out less because of Covid.

Last year, I was living alone in a more expensive place, which put me under a bit of strain.

I’m saving mainly for a safety net and travelling. Buying a home feels so far away but that’s also on my mind whenever I check how my savings account is doing.

Normally I just direct debit £100 a month into a separate savings account right after I get paid and try not to touch that account. Lately I’ve also been trying to relegate my shopping habit to charity shops, but the results have been mixed.

I struggle with saving because I’m a pretty typical millennial in that if there’s a good experience on offer I’ll struggle to say no if I’ve got the cash. I’m also a sucker for a good outfit, so clothes shopping is definitely a factor.

Lockdown is helping me save in a big way because I’m not seeing that many people and I’m not going anywhere expensive. I’m not even paying for a travel card anymore because there’s no point.

I absolutely appreciate that I’m one of the lucky ones, and it feels strange and kind of uncomfortable to look at a pandemic and say that it’s helping me financially.

The pandemic is also a big motivation for me to save right now, because if 2020’s taught us anything it’s that literally anything could be around the corner.

How Aimee spends:

Monthly expenses:

• Rent: £848.50
• Gym; £35
• Phone: £15
• Netflix: £8.99
• Amazon Prime: £7.99

A week of spending:

Monday: Me and two other friends have our birthdays in the first week of October so we had a Covid-friendly gathering at our place.

We got ingredients for a boozy brunch and later on we ordered a takeaway (which was largely my treat for the other birthday people).

Total spent on Monday: £74

Tuesday: It was my grandma’s birthday that coming weekend, so I sent her chocolate and bubbly. I also picked up two vases from the charity shop for birthday flowers.

Total spent on Tuesday: £33

Wednesday: Got some bits from the supermarket and condoms from the pharmacy. I also used some birthday money to buy myself a pair of boots I’ve been coveting.

Total spent on Wednesday: £130.05

Thursday: Did a bigger grocery shop and popped into another charity shop on the way, where I picked up my Halloween costume (yes I’m dressing up even if we have to stay in) and a shirt.

Total spent on Thursday: £32.83

Friday: Nipped out to get two over the door hooks

Total spent on Friday: £1.99

Saturday: Worked from home then the boyfriend came over. We drank wine I already had in in front of the TV.

Total spent on Saturday: £0

Sunday: Got coffee and a cinnamon bun with my flatmate after we went to yoga, thus undoing the work put into yoga. The circle of life. Also grabbed a slice of banana loaf for the boyfriend.

Total spent on Sunday: £8.99

Total spent this week: £280.86

*Name has been changed.

How I Save is a weekly series about how people spend and save, out every Thursday. If you’d like to anonymously share how you spend and save – and get some expert advice on how to sort out your finances – get in touch by emailing ellen.scott@metro.co.uk.

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

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Care home manager Louise Lambert is always asking residents how regular they are.

She uses the ‘Bristol stool scale’ – something most people who have worked in care and nursing will have come across.

The chart is used to classify human faeces into one of seven categories, which can then diagnose other health issues.

It was developed at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1997 as a clinical assessment tool and is now used in countries around the world.

So when it came to her 40th birthday, staff at Ashcombe House in Basingstoke, Hant, decided to incorporate something she is always discussing into the big day.

Louise Lambert said it was a day she will always remember after the unusual surprise was wheeled out.

The staff asked the care home chef Vicky Holloway to create the birthday treat.

Colleague Michelle Martin, who helped to organise the cake, laughed: ‘It really was an amazing day and surprise. The cake was fantastic.

‘It’s because she’s obsessed with bowel movements and making sure the residents are regular. They then line it up what number is it [on the scale].

‘That’s a big issue in care homes – to make sure people are going and, if they aren’t, we have to ask why not.’

Louise added: ‘I have never been more shocked and surprised. The residents and staff have done an amazing job.

‘It is wonderful to be able to celebrate my big birthday with my residents who love life and enjoy having fun. It’s a birthday I will never forget!’

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Cleaning can be theraputic. If you have the right soundtrack and the right mindset. But we can probably all agree that cleaning the bathroom is the worst.

It’s always a bit gross, you have to use the most intense cleaning products and it, without fail, always takes the longest.

If you live with housemates or a partner, you definitely pull the short straw when it’s your week to clean the bathroom.

Research by tombola found that more than a quarter of Brits (28%) spend 470 days over their lifetime cleaning. That’s the equivalent of 34, two-week holidays. Depressing.

Unsurprisingly, almost 40% say they hate cleaning the bathroom more than anywhere else.

More than a quarter (27%) said the second area they hated to clean was the outdoors, particularly the gutters, windows and using the pressure washer.

The easiest room to clean for Brits was, in fact, the dining room with only 1% stating they hate cleaning that room more than any other.

How to make cleaning the bathroom quicker and easier

Using household staples like baking soda and vinegar can speed up your cleaning routine, transform your appliances and means you don’t have to use any damaging harsh chemicals. 

You’ve probably got these ingredients deep in the back of a cupboard, so dig them out and fly through your most hated chores this week:

Cleaning the toilet

Sick of scrubbing the toilet every couple of days? Complete this task every fortnight and you won’t have to:

Add white vinegar to the cistern and bowl.

Begin scrubbing it.

Next, soak some kitchen roll into the vinegar and leave it under the rim of the toilet.

After 15 minutes, remove the kitchen roll and flush.

Not only does this remove bad odours and keep the bowel clean – but it’s all without the use of harsh chemicals.

Better yet, the vinegar will clean the cistern with every flush.

Unclogging the sink

Pour a cup of baking soda down the sink.

Leave for 1 hour.

Boil 3 cups of white vinegar and pour down the sink.

The fizzing action will help to remove built up grime.

Cleaning the windows

To achieve a gleaming, streak-free sparkle, spray the window with your usual cleaning spray.

Next, use a kitchen towel to wipe away the excess moisture. Do not press too hard.

Lastly, use a coffee filter to buff your windows dry – the filer will absorb the spray, and leave your windows sparkling clean.

Do, however, make sure to wear gloves when doing this so your fingers don’t consume the coffee smell.

Tips to speed up other hated chores

Beyond the bathroom, there are plenty of other household chores that we just can’t stand.

According to a survey by tombola, the list of our most detested chores includes cleaning the oven, ironing, and washing and drying the dishes.

So, here are some top tips to help your breeze through these unpleasant tasks in super quick time:

Cleaning the oven

To remove stubborn stains, mix white wine vinegar and baking soda into a paste.

Spread over the inside of the oven and glass door.

Leave for at least 30 minutes but ideally overnight.

Finally, wipe it clean and you’ll have a sparkling oven free of built-up food residue.

Ironing clothes

Remove the ironing board cover and spread tin foil over the board.

Replace the cover.

The foil will now reflect the heat onto the underside of garments, acting as a second iron – halving your time needed to iron.   

Washing/drying dishes

If you stick to washing dishes in a specific order, you should be able to change the dishwater less often through the task.

This will save you time, water and energy.

Begin with glasses – these dry quicker and will have fewer water-marks if you wash them whilst the water is at the hottest.

Next is cutlery, before moving onto plates.

Leave the heavily soiled things like pots and pans until the end.

Do you have any handy cleaning hacks to share? We want to hear from you.

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

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With everyone having more time at home this year, lots of people have welcomed new pets.

Now, the most popular names for puppies and kittens in 2020 have been revealed by Pets at Home.

And it turns out that the constant news cycle has had an impact on all those new additions to the family, with a 145% increase in puppies and kittens named Boris this year.

Pets at Home tracks the names of pets through the registrations to its VIP Club over the past 12 months.

For dogs, Bella, Poppy, Lola and Alfie were the top choices. For cats, Luna, Bella, Poppy and Charlie were most popular.

Claire Gavin, Director of Innovation at  Pets at Home, said: ‘Welcoming a new pet is incredibly special and deciding on a suitable name is a big decision.

‘The companionship of our furry friends has been so important to many pet owners during lockdown and it’s clear that those special moments have been a highlight in what has been a really tough year.’

You can search and see the most popular choices for a whole range of animals with the Pets at Home name finder.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Most of us are keen to leave our mark on the world in some way or another.

Well, now you can see your name up in lights… the Northern Lights to be exact.

The Aurora Borealis in Arctic Europe – which includes Finnish and Swedish Lapland, and northern Norway – will soon be named and you can submit your own suggestions.

Tourism board Visit Arctic Europe is asking nature lovers to come up with names for the different storms that create the various light displays. 

Aurora season typically falls between late August through to the end of April and more than 100 auroras can be seen during this time.

To decide which auroras receive a name, the Space Weather Prediction Centre uses a tool which analyses the sun’s X-ray activity. Based on this data, they can see that the strongest, most visible auroras that will follow.

Using this information, Visit Arctic Europe will then select a name for that specific aurora borealis and publish it on their website and Instagram. 

They already have a selection of names that come from the region’s history, culture, and mythology – but they’re encouraging people to submit their own non-Nordic inspired names as well.

A message posted by the company reads: ‘The Northern Lights come in different colours and shapes. Some are very delicate, but still awe-inspiring, and some stronger, so strong in fact, that we decided to start giving them Nordic names.’

But if you have a suggestion, they are open to hear it. Simply submit your name on the website.

Jesse Ketonen, the communications manager for Visit Arctic Europe, told Lonely Planet: ‘Culturally, the aurora is very important for the Nordic and Arctic region. We wanted for other people to have the opportunity to participate.

‘Auroras have had meaning for local people and visitors for as long as we can remember.

‘We wanted to start naming them to give them an even better reverence when you go back to your memories. And we did it for the local community, too, to share the experience around the world.’ 

Do you have a story to share?

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

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The last Adidas x Ivy Park collection was an absolute smash, selling out quickly (and somehow making the Sainsbury’s uniform look hella chic).

The newest iteration – named Drip 2 – has new colourways and styles, with the same activewear focus that made the brand so popular in the first place.

A women’s clothing collection sits alongside a gender neutral collection, and accessories and shoes to match.

Expect neutral honey tones alongside bright coral and neon yellow, and calming forest green and baby blue.

Mesh and knit are big themes here, keeping things free-flowing but also adding in an element of warmth to see us through Winter.

Modelled by Beyonce, the looks also make a clear point of showing off curves and enhancing body shapes with those amazing pull-you-in fabrics (aka not shapewear, but will smooth out your silhouette and make you feel great).

As with previous collections, this focuses on clean lines and colour-blocking to make for a dramatic effect – even if you just wear it for working out.

Prices start at £21.95 for a three-pack of logo sock, heading up to £169.95 for a pair of Ultraboost OG sneakers.

Size-wise, items go from a 2XS (equivalent to a 0 to a 2) to 4XL (equivalent to a 32 to 32).

By our own prediction, the most sought-after items will be the knit catsuits, the mesh jackets, the wide leg track pants, and the suit track tops.

It launches at 12pm today, and if past drops are anything to go by it’s going to sell out extremely quickly.

Get your hands on Ivy Park Drip 2 here.

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

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

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December 2011. It was a time when I didn’t comb my hair for a week and my house was a complete tip. But it was also when I received the most precious gift of all – my son Raffio. 

I remember anxiously waiting for my doorbell to ring on the day he was set to come to his forever home. When it finally did, there stood this little person who I would solely be responsible for, and my heart just filled with love. 

Raffio was just 18 months old when he was placed with me under a kinship order. 

He is my brother’s son and was subject to a care order before he was born due to the severe and complex nature of his biological parent’s needs. We only learned about Raffio’s existence when he was 10 months old and as much as my brother wanted to care for him, his personal circumstances wouldn’t allow him sole custody. 

The local authority’s plan was to find a permanent placement for Raffio within the family rather than have him independently adopted. When I was asked if I would consider being his mummy, my answer was an instant yes. I couldn’t think of anything more fulfilling and rewarding.

I know some colleagues and friends were shocked by my decision as it would make a significant impact on my life. At the time I was in a job that involved working unsociable hours and frequently travelled internationally, so could see why they were concerned. 

What hurt me more was that none of my close family circle supported me as adoption is often shunned and hidden by the Asian community. It’s assumed that if you have to adopt there is something wrong with you.

My social worker even told me prior to my adoption panel approval, that in her 20 years of working in the sector I was the first single, Asian woman she had come across adopting a child. She told me I should feel very proud of myself as I was setting a precedent. While I felt empowered by my decision, I couldn’t help but wonder why more women hadn’t considered adoption.

Taking on Raffio meant that I would become a single mum overnight, but that didn’t worry me. I knew that I could provide this little boy with a loving, secure and stable home and that with time and patience would come the most amazing bond.

Of course, those first few weeks were both exciting and scary, and all sorts of doubts raced through my head. From our second night together he was difficult to settle as he had severe acid reflux and would constantly cry and refused to be cradled. 

It was heartbreaking to watch and I had no manual to provide me with the answers, but it was also a very natural reaction for Raffio, as his little world had been turned upside down. 

He’d had a complete change in caregiver, new surroundings and despite my every effort to try and keep his routine and things familiar, he knew something had changed, but just wasn’t old enough to verbalise his feelings. 

All I could do was shower him with love and help create a safe environment for Raffio to get through any bad days. 

Being a mum was a completely new experience for me. Apart from the odd bit of babysitting for cousins and friends I had zero experience of looking after a child, let alone raising one. 

Luckily for me, Raffio’s foster carer – who I’d spent time with before he came to live with me – was very hands on and instrumental in getting me up to speed with his routines, likes and  dislikes. When he moved we made sure he came with all his favourite toys, blankets and teddies. 

Over the years it has been quite the rollercoaster, but our relationship has flourished beautifully.

Now 10, Raffio is a total character and an instant charmer. He is always on the go and with a story to tell. When he was much younger he would refer to me as his darling and he still sometimes calls me that, which is very endearing.

What I love most about him is his ability to empathise with others. Raffio has a very caring side and on days when I am run down or feeling under the weather he wants to take care of me.

I always wanted him to maintain some sort of contact with his biological parents, so opted for an open adoption, which means they were able to have some sort of contact, whether it was physical or through letters.

So far, due to personal circumstances they haven’t been able to be involved much in his life. But I’m really happy that Raffio has got a really close and strong relationship with his former foster mum whose care he was in from day two of coming into this world until he was placed with me. 

While over our first couple of years together my sole focus was ensuring Raffio settled with minimal disruption, I’m opening up to the idea of dating. Although if I meet a man who is worth my time and is genuine, then he needs to accept all of me, the whole package – and that includes my son. 

Nearly nine years on from the day that little boy turned up to my house, I sometimes wish I could turn the clock back to relive those priceless moments over again.

I often look back at his baby pics and they instantly transport me to a time and a place which seems so long ago now. 

I remember my friends taking me out a few days before he was due to move in with me – they called it my last big jolly until my boy turned 18. I must have taken it literally as the night ended at 4am with me lying in the recovery position on my sofa! 

Looking back I feel like everything in my life has led me to this path where I met my son. My choices, my heartbreaks, my regrets… everything.  Because if I had done one thing differently I might never have met Raffio. 

He makes me proud every single day and I feel truly blessed to be his mum. I may not have given birth to him, but he was born in my heart. 

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We’re all looking for the perfect workout. The workout that will help us get stronger, fitter and better at functional movement.

A hypertrophy workout could be just what your fitness regime is missing. And don’t be scared by the scientific-sounding name, it’s actually a pretty simple concept.

Hypertrophy means to build muscle by increasing the size of your individual muscle fibres. Hypertrophy workouts are performed with lower weight and higher repetitions, generally 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps, but this can vary.

It sounds weird, but hypertrophy is all about causing damage to the muscle tissue, in a process known as microtrauma. It is then the healing of this trauma that causes the increase in size of the muscle tissue.

‘Hypertrophy is the phase of training where you build muscle size, but there are many other factors that also come in to play when it comes to building muscle, such as nutrition and rest and recovery,’ explains Gary Williams, head coach at UN1T London Bridge.

‘So it doesn’t automatically mean that people will “bulk up” from training alone. But hypertrophy is a very important part of any training cycle as it is really the foundation of where your training starts from.

‘You build up your strength endurance during hypertrophy training and the bigger the base you can build, the higher your peak will be when you move into other phases of training.’

Gary says that hypertrophy training is all about the volume of work and repetitions at a manageable, but still challenging weight.

‘So, if you are completing 3 sets of 12 repetitions, the weight that you use should be heavy enough that you cannot do more than 12 reps, but not so heavy that you cannot get to 12,’ he explains.

‘If you wanted to get technical about your training and know what your “1 Rep Max” is, you should be looking to lift between 65%-75% of your 1RM for 8-12 reps for 3-6 sets.

‘We use these principles at UN1T for our members when it comes to our three different phases of training, Hypertrophy, Strength and Power. Our classes in our Hypertrophy Phase will be designed around 3 sets of 8-12 reps with our members taking part in our 1 Rep Max Test so they know exactly the weight they should be lifting during that particular phase.’ 

Now it’s time to try it out for yourself. Gary has shared one of his hypertrophy workouts that he teaches regularly.

You will need weights for this one, so it is probably best to do it in the gym. And make sure you speak to a trainer if you are unsure on any of the moves.

The ‘BU1LD’ Hypertrophy Workout

‘This session is all about causing overload to a particular muscle group in what are known as Compound Sets,’ says Gary.

‘A Compound Set is where you perform two exercises targeting the same area of the body back to back. They are super effective during a Hypertrophy Phase as it is a time efficient way of getting the volume of repetitions in and fatiguing the intended muscle group, all of which are needed to build lean muscle tissue.’

In this workout, perform 10-15 reps on Exercise A and then immediately go into Exercise B for another 10-15 Reps.

Once both exercises have been completed, rest for 90 secs before repeating a second and third round. 

UN1T 1 

Exercise A: Olympic squat 

Set feet up hip- to shoulder-width apart, engage through the core and then break at the knees ensuring that knees track the line of your feet as you lower down until your thighs are at least parallel to the ground. 

Exercise B: Bulgarian split squat

With your back foot raised on a bench/stool take a step forward, roughly the same distance as you would step when performing a lunge.

Put a majority of your weight through your front leg and drop your back knee straight down towards the ground. 

UN1T 2

Exercise A: Pendlay row

Standing with feet hip- to shoulder-width, perform a hip hinge until your chest is parallel to the ground.

Grip with hands wider than shoulder-width and lift the barbell up towards the bottom of your sternum. Take the bar back to the ground and reset before your next rep.

Exercise B: Seated narrow band row

Sit down with legs outstretched and place a resistance band around the soles of your feet.

Keeping your elbows in tight to the side of your body, row your hands back until elbows break the line of your torso before controlling the band back to your starting position.

UN1T 3

Exercise A: Barbell bench press

Lying flat on the bench with your feet planted into the ground, place your hands on the barbell with a wide enough grip so that your hands remain above your elbows throughout the movement.

Lower the barbell down to the bottom of your sternum, with your elbows pointing out at roughly 45 degrees.

With a powerful drive, push the barbell back up above your chest.

Exercise B: Dumbbell pec fly

Lying flat on the bench, start with dumbbells directly above your chest and palms facing.

Slowly lower dumbbells out wide, keeping a slight bend in your elbows at all times, until you have a straight line running from your hand, to elbow, to shoulder and across your chest to the other side.

Following that same line, squeeze through the pecs and return back to starting position. 

UN1T 4

Exercise A: Barbell Romanian deadlift

Starting from a standing position, hinge from hips keeping the bar as close to your thighs and shins as possible as you lower the bar towards the ground.

Ensure that you keep your back flat throughout and perform the movement with only a slight bend in the knee, keeping your legs as long as possible.

Drive hips forward and return to upright position.

Exercise B: Hamstring walkouts

Lie down on your back on the floor with your knees at 90 degrees and heels on the ground.

Push the weight through your heels and lift hips away from the floor. Slowly walk your heels away until straight keeping your hips up as high as possible.

Then slowly walk them back to the start position.

UN1T 5

Exercise A: Barbell shoulder press

Start with the barbell at chest height and hands slightly wider than shoulder-width.

Keeping as strict as possible, drive the barbell up above your head until arms are at full extension.

Try to finish with your head slightly pushed through your arms to activate the rear deltoid as well.

Exercise B: Dumbbell reverse fly

Start in a hip hinge position with chest over towards the floor and back flat.

With a soft bend in your elbow lift the dumbbells out wide keeping you hands and elbows in line with your shoulders, squeezing your shoulder blades back.

Slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position. 

Do you have any fitness tips to share? We want to hear from you.

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

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Nothing says adulting like Play-Doh.

That’s what the Hasbro brand is hoping as it has released new Play-Doh for adults which come in ‘grown-up’ scents.

You will be able to play with dough that smells like ‘overpriced latte, ‘smoked meats’, and ‘freshly-cut grass’.

There is also ‘spa day’, ‘dad sneakers’, and ‘mom jeans’.

Play-Doh for Grown-Ups ‘is the semi-childish fun you deserve to have every once in a while,’ according to the Amazon listing.

Reports of the new product say it will be exclusively available on Amazon and Walmart.

It seems Amazon shoppers are especially keen as the product has already sold out.

We guess there is an appeal to working away your pandemic stresses with a bit of mindless Play-Doh fun.

The scented product line was inspired by ‘comical trends, iconic themes, and pop culture favorites,’ according to a spokesperson.

Over on the Amazon listing, it states: ‘It won’t solve your first world problems, but it’s a great gift for men or women, fun white elephant gifts, stocking stuffers, fidget desk toys, gag gifts.’

It adds: ‘Being grown-up doesn’t have to stink: This variety pack of funny themes can also be funny anniversary gifts for mom and dad, a fun touch to your groomsman or bridesmaid gifts, and more.’

While many of us might think it’s an adult spin on a kid’s plaything, Play-Doh for Grown-Ups is actually a nod to its earlier days.

Invented in the 1930s as a wallpaper cleaner, Play-Doh was used to clean soot and dirt from wallpapered walls.

With the popularity of vinyl wallpaper and the decline of coal furnaces, Hasbro rebranded the item for kids.

And now it’s harking back to its initial demographic.

It may be the perfect gag gift this Christmas for someone who needs to just have a bit of play time.

Do you have a story you want to share?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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Adidas is releasing a new line of Star Wars-inspired trainers.

The shoes pay tribute to ‘The Child’ – AKA the adorable Baby Yoda – and celebrate the second season of Star Wars spin-off The Mandalorian.

Eight familiar Adidas styles make up the collection, all of which have been reimagined in Baby Yoda’s green, beige and brown shades.

They even come with themed soles – with some boasting Baby Yoda himself on the base.

The collection is due to launch online this Sunday (1 November), after the season drops on Disney+ this Friday.

The Top Ten shoes, which are children’s trainers, are the cheapest in the collection, at £42.95. Whereas, in adult sizes, the Gazelle, NMD_R1 and Superstars styles all start from £74.95.

People became obsessed with Baby Yoda after watching The Mandalorian last year. But as fans will know, the character isn’t actually called Baby Yoda – nor is it the Yoda in baby form – as the series is set after his death.

This isn’t the first time that Adidas has brought out a new collection to pay homage to popular TV. The brand launched a Game of Thrones-inspired version of its Ultraboost trainer ahead of the show’s final series.

Elsewhere in the world of fashion, Levi’s has launched its own store in Soho dedicated to repurposing and recycling your denim. It offers an in-store tailoring service which helps customers turn their own jeans into something else or give them a much-needed update.

Likewise, Zara has launched its own lingerie collection that’s perfect for working from home. It features beautiful pyjamas, sculpting pieces, bodies, dressing gowns, two-pieces, slips and more in blush pink, grey, black, silver and nude.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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Feeling warm sand between our toes and going for a swim in the sun feels like a distant memory of yore.

At the moment, we can no longer show off our hotdog legs or scuba diving pics, we can only reminisce about the good old days.

One avid traveller is missing it all so much, she decided to create the most cliched poses loved by people on holiday.

For Shauna Waugh, a South Africa-based freelance travel writer, traipsing through cities and countries is her job.

So you can imagine how she’s doing, being confined within her four walls during the pandemic.

To cheer herself and her followers up, Shauna has been recreating cool images seen on social media and showing what the 2020 counterpart looks like.

Shauna showed that we might not have giant turtles to pose with or iconic landmarks, but at least we will always have our sense of humour.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CC68BdqMJ45/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCb_sdGMfFV/

The creative writer mimicked pictures we normally see of influencers, whether underwater, posing by a waterfall, or chilling in bed with a wonderful view.

Shauna recreated the looks, opting for a glass of water to pretend she’s underwater (coupled with a Nemo toy to imitate the fish).

In another pic, she is seen rolled up in a duvet, pretending its a cool surfing shot.

The duvet makes an appearance in another post where Shauna is wrapped around it, standing in the kitchen and imitating a woman looking out from her bed.

Toys were also used in the making of the snaps as Shauna used Legs to imitate the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and again to mimic a train shot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDmebqtspaz/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCQmgwOMJ_7/

And what do you do when you don’t have the Taj Mahal to pose with? Use toilet tissue to impersonate it, of course.

With a pretty impressive makeshift Taj, Shauna managed to get the cliche shot in front of it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CB3-HWTM0pl/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJpIO9jxBu/

It wasn’t just about using props either, the writer also used angles to illustrate a rock-climbing image.

Who needs a surfboard when you have an ironing board eh?

Do you have a story you want to share?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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A group of friends who set out to create the ‘world’s worst Airbnb’ in a north London field were shocked when they received interest for the listing.

The friends Rhys Simmons, Jamie Kamaz and Hitchin created the spot by placing a mattress and a bedside table (which was complete with two glasses of water and an unplugged lamp) underneath a tree.

The trio are behind YouTube channel Passion Squad – an entertainment variety channel showcasing all kinds of stunts, pranks and quirky content.

Rhys, from Enfield, said: ‘Myself and some mates came together to create the worst Airbnb ever seen.

‘We gathered together a load of items we found on Facebook for free to assemble a terrible Airbnb experience.’

To their surprise (although maybe not so bizarre for 2020), the listing received some interest from people wanting to come and stay at the ‘establishment.’

Had the friends decided to take punters’ money, they would have turned a profit.

The group decided to embark on this particular project because they were displeased with the price of their last Airbnb stay. 

Rhys said: ‘We were not pleased with the previous price on our last Airbnb stay, so we decided to take it upon ourselves to make our own.

‘It led us to create what is almost definitely the worst Airbnb ever created.

‘This was an insane accomplishment. To create the worst Airbnb in the world and then get a crazy amount of requests to stay is something that we will never forget.

‘You never know, we may have to open this thing up for full-time business!’

For anyone searching for a considerably nicer (and warmer) place to stay, these are the most wish-listed homes on Airbnb.

Do you have a story to share?

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

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A mother has told of her relief at ignoring doctors who told her to abort her unborn baby after discovering he had Down syndrome. Mother-of-four, Yami Johnson, from Brooklyn, New York, has said medics treated her unborn son’s down syndrome diagnosis as ‘bad news’ that prompted doctors to ‘put pressure’ on her to terminate her baby, claiming he would be ‘too much hard work’ to raise.

Yami, 46, even refused an abortion consultation that was arranged for her and decided to keep her baby, putting aside the ‘negativity’ from doctors who made her think a down syndrome baby was ‘bad news’. But her son, Noah, now aged two, has defied doctors to grow up to become a happy and fulfilled toddler whose infectious smile has gained him 83,000 followers on an Instagram page dedicated to him.

Yami is speaking for Down Syndrome Awareness Month to show that having a child with down syndrome is ‘not a curse but a blessing’. She has also called for a change to attitudes towards children with the condition and the families who raise them.

Single mom, Yami, said: ‘I found out my baby has Down syndrome four months into the pregnancy. When doctors told me they made it sound like bad news, they made it seem like such a terrible thing.

‘That really did scare me and made my think about the diagnosis in a negative way. They offered me termination and reminded me I had that option every week until I passed the last date.

‘They even scheduled an appointment to discuss a termination without my consent. I felt like the life of my child was not supported and I felt pressurized to terminate.

‘It’s really sad that I was almost convinced to abort because Noah lives a happy and healthy life. Having Down syndrome is not the end of the world and it’s not a curse or a punishment, it’s actually a blessing.

‘It’s what makes Noah special and we see it as something good rather than something bad.

‘A lot of parents with a down syndrome kid will agree with me when I say having Noah like he is, is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

Noah, who was born on January 27 2018 was also diagnosed with an incurable congenital heart defect, lung disease, sleep apnea, when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep, and kidney problems.

Yami said she was warned about her unborn son’s possible health issues at the same time she found out about Noah’s down syndrome. He has already had two open heart surgeries to fix his faulty heart and is now expected to be able to live a relatively normal life with the support of regular medication and a night time breathing aid.

‘I was devastated when they said he had all these problems and it was hard for me to deal with at first’, said Yami, a skin care consultant.

‘The Down syndrome thing didn’t really bother me because I had a friend whose child has Down syndrome and I grew to accept what our life would be like. I knew that I would still love my child no matter what.’

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome.

The condition occurs when an individual is born with an extra copy of a certain type of chromosome and causes learning delays, low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm.

Noah has missed some developmental milestones, including being able to walk and talk by himself, but his mother Yami continues to be delighted by the affection he shows, and joy he gets from his life.

She said that Noah’s ‘adorable smile’ and infectious character made him an instant hit with friends and family who just couldn’t get enough of his joyful energy. But Yami said she grew tired of sending out updates and photos to individual people about her son’s progress, so she decided to create an Instagram page dedicated Noah and accessible to all.

But what she didn’t realize at the time when she set up the page is that aside from her loved ones, ‘super Noah’ would go to become extremely popular on social media.

With 1m500 posts and more than 80,000 followers Noah’s story has captured the hearts of people from across the US and abroad, an unexpected success that Yami is taking advantage of to educate her audience about life with a Down syndrome toddler.

Yami, who also has three three other sons aged 28, 23 and nine, said: ‘I had no idea all these people would follow him, it’s crazy. I made it because I found it so much work sending out photos and updates to everyone I knew.

‘I just post photos of our everyday life, most of it is just cute and funny photos of Noah but I also use it to educate our followers about the condition. I wish I had found a page like Noah’s when I was researching about Down syndrome when I was pregnant.

‘This is my way of getting across what it’s actually like to have a Down syndrome child. I want to show off our positivity and I know it has helped a lot of moms and dads come to terms with their own situation.

‘He is so adorable and does the funniest things, that’s why I think so many people like him. When he smiles people just gravitate towards him.

‘It’s his down syndrome that makes him special and I celebrate him like a superhero.’

Yami added that she believes awareness and acceptance of people with Down syndrome is growing and improving. But she says there is still work to be done for expectant parents who are told their unborn baby has the condition.

She has called for medical professionals to stop treating Down syndrome as ‘bad news’ for parents and has said children like Noah should be ‘celebrated’.

Yami said: ‘The fact Noah has down syndrome allows me to love him even more. His Instagram provides a positive image for parents who might be scared.

‘Having a child with Down syndrome is special and I wouldn’t change how Noah is.

‘It’s been a good thing for me, having Noah has given me a new perspective on life. He’s taught me to slow down and enjoy the little things in life.

‘Having a baby like Noah is a blessing.’

House buyers could save thousands of pounds if they purchase before the end of March 2021.

The government announced a stamp duty holiday earlier this year, which means no one has to pay it on houses up to £500,000.

But with the end of the year approaching, time is ticking for those looking to buy because the sale must be completed rather than just started by the deadline to qualify.

During the first lockdown, the housing market ground to a halt, meaning many sales were delayed.

Now, the stamp duty holiday has meant increased demand.

As banks try to catch up, while often dealing with fewer staff in the office due to social distancing, the time it takes to get approved for a mortgage has increased.

Now, the median number of days it takes from starting a mortgage application to completing on a property is 115, according to data by online broker Trussle.

It means you should start your mortgage application by 6 December to beat the stamp duty holiday deadline.

The average time from mortgage submission to approval has increased by 50% since this time last year (from 16 days to 24 days).

The number also varies slightly across the country, as things like searches carried out by different councils can vary, and some people are already facing being too late.

In the East Midlands, the average time it takes to complete is 166 days, so ideally, applications should have been in on 16 October.

In the East of England, the number is 157 days, meaning applications should have been in this week.

For buyers in London, it’s taking around 149 days to complete, so you should submit your mortgage application by Monday 2 November.

Those in the North West have until 23 November, as completion is taking an average of 128 days and in the West Midlands, the date to aim for is 1 December as it takes an average of 120 days.

For Yorkshire and Humber, it’s an average of 115 days, meaning buyers should apply by 6 December.

Both the South West and North East take an average of 111 days, meaning the date is 10 December.

Finally, those in the South East wait an average of 96 days so they should aim to get the application in just before Christmas.

It’s important to note that it also takes time to find the right house, get the offer accepted and complete the paperwork before the application actually goes in so if you are planning to buy and avoid stamp duty, you should be hard at work right now.

Things can also slow down and become backlogged quickly so the times could change. These are only average times so it might take much longer for some and be much quicker for others but it does give you a bit of an idea.

For a more detailed idea of how it will take in your particular circumstances, it is best to chat to your broker and solicitor.

And for first-time buyers buying a property, you won’t have to pay stamp duty on the first £300,000, even after the holiday ends, meaning you won’t need to rush.

The data was collected by Trussle from people getting a mortgage through them up until 21 October.

Miles Robinson Head of Mortgages at Trussle comments: ‘The stamp duty holiday deadline is looming, which is understandably causing concern. There are delays across the market and we are urging buyers not to delay their mortgage application if they want to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday before the holiday ends on the 31^st March next year.

‘We hope that this guidance provides helpful timelines for those in different regions across the UK. 

‘We must also advise that those looking to buy a new home should make sure they budget enough to pay the stamp duty land tax just in case the purchase does not complete before the deadline.

‘If a buyer were to pull out after they’ve already exchanged, sellers may be in a position to sue for consequential loss at this point, and buyers may lose their deposits.

‘This is going to cause a lot of stress and uncertainty for customers over the coming months, and we’re urging all buyers to take the necessary preparations.’

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