Have two of your key interests intersected here? (Pictures: Getty/Nutella)
Nutella is offering lucky chocoholics the chance to win one of 200 limited-edition Christmas jumpers.
The chocolate spread wizards have made a red jumper with Fairisle print and a row of Nutella jars and love hearts front and centre.
There’s also a Nutella branded label on the lower left side, so people will be under no doubt as to your chocolate obsession.
You won’t be able to buy these bad boys on the high street – instead, you’ll have to enter a competition to win one.
To be in with a chance, you have to go to the Nutella website and click ‘Enter Now’.
After that, just fill in your details, jumper size, and answer a Christmas jumper related quiz question.
Festive and chocolatey – what’s not to love (Picture: Nutella)
James Stewart, Marketing Director for Nutella, Ferrero UK & Ireland, said: ‘This year, we know spreading Christmas cheer is more important than ever.
‘That’s why we want to give Nutella fans something extra special to help them celebrate the festive season.
‘Whether it is sprucing up your Christmas breakfast table with our seasonal jars, or upping your Christmas jumper game with our new knitwear, we hope that Nutella can help to spread the love this year.’
She looks cosy (Picture: Nutella)
Have you got your Christmas jumper sorted? (Picture: Nutella)
Interested parties have until December 6 to enter, and you can enter a maximum of three times per email address.
The £30 Argos sofa (Picture: @birdcalledpriya; Argos)
After moving into a new flat together, one woman left the task of buying some furniture to her partner while she worked some night shifts.
But it was only when she showed off their new bargain sofa to a friend that she realised he’d actually bought one to fit a doll’s house.
The friend, named Priya, posted screenshots from their message conversation where the penny dropped for her pal Melissa.
The conversation started with Priya asking how the new flat was going and Melissa explaining that they were adding furniture slowly.
Priya reminded her to check out the Black Friday sales and Melissa replied saying her partner Kieran had snapped up a sofa for £30 from Argos, before she sent a picture of the grey corner couch, complete with pink fluffy cushions.
When people ask me why I donât want to be in a relationship- I will now be using this conversation with a friend as part of my case… ð¤¦ââï¸ pic.twitter.com/I65Gk1wrXO
She added that it was being delivered the next day.
But taking a closer look, her friend Priya found the same item on the Argos website, with a doll taking a seat, and she had to break the news.
She said: ‘Mel, you know that’s for a doll’s house, don’t you? It’s for a kids dolls house. You must have known that. It doesn’t even look like a proper sofa!’
Melissa replied: ‘I’ve been on nights. I’m gonna kill him!’
Posting the pictures on Twitter, Priya added the caption: ‘When people ask me why I don’t want to be in a relationship- I will now be using this conversation with a friend as part of my case…’
While Melissa might not have been impressed, others thought it was hilarious.
One said: ‘I wish you hadn’t pointed it out so we could garner their reaction when it actually arrived and was miniature.’
Another added: ‘This is hilarious, but I feel I need to confess getting all the way to the final checkout button before realising that the cute knitted dress (size M) I’d got for a bargain from GAP was from the kid’s section.’
Lucy had encephalitis and is now a model (PIcture: Triangle News)
Four years ago, Lucy Dawson was a student at the University of Leicester, studying criminology, with dreams of joining the police force.
Out of the blue she suffered two manic episodes and her behaviour became increasingly erratic.
Her parents rushed to help and she was admitted to hospital and sectioned under the mental health act.
She spent three months on a psychiatric ward and was suffering from huge seizues, including one where she fell out of bed and burned her leg on a radiator, which means she now has to use a cane or crutch to walk.
However, Lucy did not actually have a psychiatric condition – instead, she was suffering from a rare brain disease called encephalitis, which occurs when the brain becomes swollen, often due to an infection.
Now 25, Lucy has worked hard on her recovery, managed to graduate from university with a 2:1 and has gone on to become a model.
Lucy, of Lincoln, Lincs, said: ‘Considering how absolutely horrific everything was, and how I really, really thought I was done, I don’t know how this has happened.
‘My parents thought they’d lost me – literally they were told I was going to die.
‘Now I live by myself, I’m self employed, I still have to pinch myself.
‘It hasn’t only been a physical and neurological journey, but the psychological trauma was so hard.
‘There were days where I would just wish my life away and cry every single day.
‘I have a vivid memory of reading about a 21-year-old dying of encephalitis on Facebook, and that was the moment I changed.
‘I thought that these people would do anything to have a voice, their families would do anything to have that person back.
‘You can’t spend another second wishing that your life was different, or wishing that you hadn’t woken up, because they would so desperately trade places with you.’
Lucy was enjoying her third year of university when she started having intense migraines and felt depressed, spending a lot of time in bed.
Lucy in hospital (Picture: Instagram.com/luuudaw/ by Triangle News)
‘My friends said it was like I had had a complete character change,’ she remembered.
Then, out of the blue Lucy had two manic episodes.
She tore her room apart, began laughing and crying manically, and screaming about how she would never get a boyfriend.
Her parents rushed to help her, and she was taken to Lincoln County Hospital where she was sectioned.
On the way, Lucy had tried to jump out of their car while moving, and ripped out all of the curtains in the hospital waiting area.
She was placed in the psychiatric unit, and was there for three months until she was correctly diagnosed with encephalitis.
‘The whole time, they followed this narrative that I was having a mental breakdown,’ she said.
‘So throughout those three months, every single day, my behavior got worse until I was unrecognisable.
‘Slowly bit by bit parts of my body started shutting down.
‘I could speak less and less every single day. I made no sense.
‘Eventually, I became catatonic – so just couldn’t move at all.’
Doctors decided to try electroconvulsive therapy – which is rarely used by the NHS anymore – to blast small currents through her brain.
‘That’s not a treatment for what I actually had,’ Lucy said.
‘But somehow, this was a complete miracle, it sort of reset my brain.’
She was moved back into a hospital bed, but she kept having huge seizures.
One time, she says she had such a violent seizure she fell out of bed and burned herself on a radiator, leaving a huge mark on her left bum cheek.
Lucy was released from hospital at Christmas, but couldn’t walk and had to use a wheelchair to get around. She couldn’t move her leg and spent most of the day sleeping.
After Christmas, her family continued to push for treatment and she was finally diagnosed with encephalitis in January – three months after initially being admitted to hospital.
Doctors thought her mobility issues were due to the brain illness but a locum doctor realised the burn mark was on her sciatic nerve, making it difficult for her to move her leg.
Slowly, over time, with the care and support of her family, Lucy recovered, and even managed to graduate from university.
‘The first day I went to campus and I started crying – I just felt so overwhelmed.
‘The year leading up to it, I’d hardly left my house really, especially not by myself,’ Lucy explained.
‘I was sort of petrified to be anywhere by myself and also the implications of having a brain injury – with lights and sounds – can be very overwhelming.’
She gained a 2:1, the same grade she had been predicted previously.
‘I became aware of how horrendously misdiagnosed the condition is,’ Lucy said.
‘That’s why it’s so important to me to speak up about it.’
She was signed by Zebedee – a model management agency specialising in working with disabled people – and is now a full-time model for major brands.
Lucy said: ‘I think there is a general ignorance to the fact that there’s a lack of disabled representation.
‘Go on your favourite brands on Instagram, scroll down and see if you see a disabled person on their page.
‘The answer more times than not is no.
‘Disabled people buy clothes, disabled people buy makeup, and I know that girls always tag the brands they’re wearing.
‘All it would take is for these brands to go on the tagged photos, and instead of reposting the same girls all the time, post a disabled person.
‘When they don’t, it’s a bit of a kick in the face.’
Lucy has also started her own social media campaign showing disabled people being sexy.
James Taylor, from disability equality charity Scope, added: ‘Disabled people are often overlooked by the fashion industry.
‘When disabled people don’t see themselves represented, then talent and potential goes unrecognised and negative attitudes and stigma go unchallenged.
‘The media has a huge responsibility and power to influence the public.
‘We want to see more disabled people represented in modelling and across the media as a whole.’
Dr Ananta Dave, medical director at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We are truly sorry for any care that fell below our expected standards and the impact this has had on Lucy and her family.
‘We are committed to delivering high quality, safe patient care and have a robust internal investigation process in place to learn lessons for the future.’
Bria Williams, 26, and her husband Adrian, 25, have managed to clear their debts in just 18 months (Picture: Mercury Press)
Last year, Bria Williams, 26, and her husband Adrian, 25, made a decision: they were going to go all-in on sorting out their massive debt of $96,000 (£72,253).
In the space of 18 months, with a lot of hard work and determination, the couple managed to clear their debt entirely.
The balance was spread between between $11,527 (£8,677) on credit cards, $38,678 (£34,509) on car loans, and Bria’s $44,859 (£33,768) student loan.
They began to realise how bad their debt really was right after they got married three years ago, when Bria’s car needed replacing.
The couple admitted they didn’t take credit card debt seriously, but soon changed their mindset and started to drastically cut back their spending.
Project manager Bria said: ‘We had credit card debt which we didn’t class as real debt, my car died so I needed a new one and then Adrian got a new truck over lockdown.
‘I would pay for household things on my credit card.
‘I think I’m a very frugal person and I don’t like spending money.
‘Adrian was really into saving and I just thought what is the point in doing that when you’ve got loads of debt?
‘We decided to get on top of it so we could eventually start saving properly and put it towards something positive and our future.’
The couple cut out all non-essential spending (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)
Sales rep Adrian added: ‘I would just make random purchases on my credit card.
‘Things that I didn’t want to be out of pocket for, I’d just swipe my credit card and think I’ll pay for it later.’
The pair, from Durham, North Carolina, were inspired to go all-in on budgeting and make some big changes to reach their debt-free goal.
They quit using their credit cards, budgeted for their bills and grocery shopping, gave up hair and nail appointments and invested in second-hand clothing.
Bria said: ‘We stopped eating out, we did our food shop at stores with the best rates, I didn’t get my hair done, nails and became quite thrifty and buying nice second-hand stuff.
‘We gave up a few trips, some of our friends went to Europe and we didn’t go.
‘Some of our friends would laugh that we weren’t doing stuff because we were trying to become debt free.
‘If we went to see family we would drive instead of flying.
‘It was hard trying to become debt free and also enjoy ourselves.’
They hope to celebrate being debt-free with a holiday to Antigua (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)
The couple went through their bank statements to work out exactly how much they needed to spend to survive – then cut out any non-essential expenses.
Any money they had leftover from paying bills and buying groceries went straight towards paying off their debts.
Rather than having any savings, all money the couple had banked were used to pay off debt.
Less than two years later, the couple are completely debt-free.
They’re planning to celebrate with a holiday to Antigua.
‘We definitely feel like we’ve had a weight lifted off our shoulders especially with the holidays coming up,’ Adrian said.
‘It’s hard now trying to work out how to not spend what we now have and use it for our savings.’
Bria added: ‘Our end of debt goal was December 2020 and we managed to beat that even with getting Adrian’s truck.
‘It does feel good.’
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.
Looking for some extra cash? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
A skincare company is looking for someone to test and review their products for a whole year.
The successful applicant will get a year’s supply of beauty products from Scandinavian health and beauty brand New Nordic.
As if that’s not enticing enough, the company are also offering the successful applicant £300 for their trouble.
The lucky new hire will have to try the products and post a review on social media every month.
The role starts at the beginning of 2021, with 12 reviews expected in total.
The products they’ll get will be the equivalent to two lots of the brand’s whole Beauty In & Out range, which includes creams, serums, supplements, shampoo, conditioner and more.
You’ll have to post reviews of the products on social media (Picture: Ella Byworth)
Karl Kristian, founder of New Nordic, said: ‘Over the past few months we know that some people have spent more on skincare products than they ever have before, many faced with troubles of irritation, spots and oily skin.
‘With the rules of wearing a mask continuing to stay for the foreseeable, we hope that the successful applicant will enjoy trying out our new Beauty In & Out range, putting it to the test and reporting back to us. The winning applicant will be committed, a lover of skincare and someone that likes to share and recommend products to friends and family.
‘For many, reviewing skincare is a hobby of theirs so we hope that this opening will allow someone to indulge in some self-care while getting paid at the same time.’
To apply, you need to go to the New Nordic website, add your details to the form and share your favourite ‘skincare hack’.
Applicants also need to be at least 18 years old and UK residents.
You’ve got until December 13 to apply, and winners will be announced on December 17.
If there’s one thing we’ve all done a LOT of this year, it’s staying in.
So the fact we’re looking forward to a festive season at home might seem a little strange.
But when it comes to the festive season, 2020 has taught us that it’s the little things that really do matter the most, so we say, embrace it and the many joys of staying in will reveal themselves!
Quality time spent with family and friends (when possible) is what life is all about and just because we’ll be IN, doesn’t mean we can’t go ALL OUT.
Celebrating under one roof can be just as much fun as being out on the town and you can make your nights even more memorable thanks to Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port.
After all, no Christmas is complete without this after dinner treat and to spread some extra cheer after a tough year, Cockburn’s Port is inviting us all to throw our own dinner parties with our nearest and dearest.
In fact, to ensure they’re the best nights in EVER, the iconic brand is giving away hundreds of amazing Big Night In hampers packed with delectable treats, incredible food and of course a bottle of Cockburn’s Special Reserve.
Find out more below, but first here are just 10 (more) reasons why we can not wait to stay IN this festive season.
No office Christmas party
We will not be missing the drama of the office Christmas party this year…
We are aware this could be controversial… But we will not miss the office Christmas party this year.
From awkward interactions with our boss to embarrassing ourselves on the dancefloor, it’s a hotbed of potential humiliation.
The free drinks always run out after about an hour and if we’re honest, hanging out with Linda from Accounts just isn’t our idea of a good time.
So this year we can put away our small talk and relax in the knowledge that if we cover ourselves in shame doing karaoke, it will only be in the presence of those who truly love us.
No crowds!
We don’t want to sound like a party pooper but while going out in the lead up to Christmas always sounds super fun, the reality can often be quite different.
Standing at a hectic bar for half an hour while we wait to be served, battling to find a spot where we can all sit together, struggling to get a cab home; these things are not fun.
With a series of nights in you can always be sure to find a comfy place to sit AND you won’t need to get the night bus home…
The clothes!
Say YES to celebrating in comfort!
Sales of loungewear may have gone through the roof since March 2020 but they show no sign of stopping. And there’s a reason for that.
It’s comfortable.
So this party season we’re continuing to fly the flag for comfy clothes. Our indoor celebrations will be styled up in cosy knits, oversized hoodies, flattering leggings and cool joggers. Add fluffy slippers (very on trend this winter) and we’re done.
That’s right, no ankle twisting strappy stilettos, no skin tight dresses that leave us holding our stomachs in all night and no shivering in the cold in a skimpy outfit waiting in line to get in to a club.
But don’t get us wrong. We might be staying in, but we’ll be glamming up with sequins, killer jewellery and a festive headband or two.
The food is really good
Staying in means tasty dishes like Toad in the Hole
At this time of year, the food gets really good.
We have the ultimate Christmas Day feast to look forward to, of course, but even before that culinary joy we can indulge in some of the most delicious comfort food ever.
From seasonal soups to Toad in the Hole and hefty lasagnes to moreish pies and bakes; there’s a whole world of dishes we neglect in the summer months.
So ditch the salads and relish some hearty fare that will make staying in truly tasty!
You can be the HOST with the most
Show off your hosting skills with an epic dinner party (even if it’s just for your family or flatmates!)
And speaking of incredible food…
Now is the time to flex your dinner party hosting skills.
How many guests you can invite will obviously depend on the restrictions in place at the time, but whether you just treat your closest family, your flatmates or can get the neighbours round, show off your hosting prowess to make your nights in legendary.
Why not create your own bespoke festive cocktail to get the party started, before cooking up a storm with pre-dinner nibbles, a delectable starter, a moreish main and not forgetting an indulgent pudding…
And anyone who’s feeling artistic will love the chance to create a ‘gram-worthy tablescape. Think printed tablecloths and runners, mis-matched dinnerware and vintage-inspired glassware. Oh so chic!
Make simple centrepieces with flowers from the garden and for a lovely finishing touch, how about doing something different with place names? Tie each set of cutlery in some twine with a sprig of fragrant rosemary, adding a gift tag with the name of the guest written on it. It’s a simple but effective way to make sure your dinner party stands out.
And don’t forget the drinks. We recommend retiring to the sitting room, lighting the fire, playing some chilled tunes and settling down to talk into the small hours, with a glass of Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port.
It goes beautifully with cheese, dessert and great conversation.
Cockburn's Special Reserve Port: The perfect accompaniment to the perfect night in!
Cockburn’s Special Reserve is matured for longer than other reserve Ports
However you’re spending your evening, a glass of Port will ensure it has a touch of delicious sophistication.
Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port was first created in 1969 and since then the winemakers have stayed true to the original style of this remarkable wine.
Made from only the finest, most concentrated, handpicked grapes from Cockburn’s vineyards at Quinta dos Canais, the wine is then aged in seasoned oak where the special ingredient is added; a good serving of Time. In fact, Cockburn’s Special Reserve is matured for longer than other reserve Ports.
It’s these extra years of wood ageing that give Cockburn’s Special Reserve its characteristic balance, smoothness and elegance. Something we can all aspire to!
Here’s how to serve it!
Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port goes beautifully with a great conversation
A glass of Special Reserve is enjoyed best with a long lunch or epic dinner party.
So get your friends or family together and pour Cockburn’s Special Reserve Port into nice big wine glasses, so you can take in the full aromas of the wine.
The experts recommend serving it at room temperature or slightly cool in warmer weather and paired with cheese or other desserts.
There’s no need to decant Special Reserve because it pours from the bottle just the way it is supposed to be enjoyed.
And once opened it will stay in good condition for six to eight weeks.
Visiting a Winter Wonderland is easy
Get decorating sooner rather than later to create your own Winter Wonderland
And the reason it’s so easy is because you’ve built a Winter Wonderland in the comfort and convenience of your own home!
You may usually wait until closer to Christmas to buy your tree and set about decorating the house, but this year, we could all do with a few more weeks of festive joy and good tidings.
So we say get going now. There’s always something so magical about fairy lights twinkling in the darkness and they’ll make every room feel special.
In fact, we’ll be keeping ours up well into the new year.
The TV is amazing
Gone are the days of struggling to find something good to watch on TV.
The reality is, we’re actually behind on pretty much all the best box sets and biggest shows, so there’s never been a better time to do a spot of binge watching…
From comedies to brighten even the most miserable days to thrillers that keep us on the edge of our sofas, we’ll be watching them all.
And it goes without saying that Christmas movie nights will now be a weekly occurrence.
It’s cold outside
Go outside? We don’t think so…
We love an autumnal walk as much as anyone, but we’re in winter now kids and that’s a whole different ball game.
Chapped lips, wind blown cheeks, freezing hands and feet? No thanks.
Soon there won’t even be any beautiful golden leaves to look at, so staying in is definitely feeling like the best option.
Put the kettle on, grab a good book and curl up on your favourite chair, safely protected from the harsh winter weather.
Kitchen discos are the best discos
Every track will be a dancefloor filler at your own at home disco!
Dancing is a great way to release all those feel-good endorphins and to shake off a bad day.
And the benefit of having a kitchen disco (or ‘any room you like’ disco) is that you can guarantee you’ll love every track on the playlist.
No dodgy songs, it’ll be ‘all killer, no filler’ as you throw some shapes to your favourite tunes ever.
Glitter ball and flashing lights optional.
Proper conversations and quality time
Staying in gives us all more opportunities to actually talk and spend quality time together.
So whether you put the world to rights over a family dinner or reminisce over a glass of wine, embrace the slower pace of life that staying in allows.
And why not instigate a game night or two? Board games, charades, the name on the head game; they’re a brilliant way to hang out, laugh and create memories.
And there’s nothing cosier than sipping a glass of Cockburn’s Special Reserve over a tense game of Backgammon!
Make your BIG NIGHT IN even better with Cockburn's
Filled with delicious food, treats and that all important bottle of Cockburn’s Special Reserve, you’ll have everything you need to host the best night in ever.
Answer the question and fill in the form and that’s it! Click HERE to enter.
And to be in with a chance to win the grand prize, a trip for two people to the beautiful city of Porto, Portugal, just share a photo of yourself enjoying your big night in on Instagram with the hashtag #CockburnsBigNightIn.
Alejandro Porro has dropped an incredible 20 stone thanks to changing his diet and exercise routine (Picture: Caters News)
‘To put it bluntly, I was killing myself,’ says Alejandro Porro of his previous lifestyle.
The delivery driver, 28, weighed in at 34 stone, and was constantly binge-eating takeaways and sweet treats.
He knew he needed to make a change.
One day, after realising just how heavy he had become, Alejandro vowed to never eat junk food again.
He stuck to his word and began exercising the very next day in March, 2017.
Now, he’s dropped an incredible 20 stone without any surgical intervention, and has gone from an XXXXXL to a large, weighing a healthy 14st 2lbs.
‘I’ve always been the bigger kid but it got out of hand when I got into my early twenties,’ said Alejandro, from Florida.
‘I was extremely unhealthy and would spend most of my time playing games whilst munching on pizza and snacks.
‘I wasn’t living, I was just existing.
Alejandro before his weight loss, when he was constantly bingeing takeaways and sweet treats (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘I knew I was heavy but I didn’t know how heavy as my scales only went up to 21 stone.’
Alejandro was shocked and ‘disappointed’ when he weighed himself on freight scales at work. The following day, he replaced the crisps, biscuits and doughnuts with fruit and vegetables.
He said: ‘I remember feeling upset with myself and questioning how did I get to that size.
‘I cleared out my fridge of all the junk and reached out to other people who lost weight online for some tips.
‘I was easily consuming at least 5,000 calories per day so it was really difficult.
‘But I was determined to change my ways.’
A day in Alejandro's diet:
BEFORE
Breakfast: Cookies, Oreos and doughnuts washed down with chocolate milk
Lunch: McDonald’s – three cheeseburgers, three McChickens, two fries
Dinner: Large pizza and fries
Snack: Two litres of Mountain Dew, more doughnuts, ice cream and sweets.
NOW
Breakfast: Oats or eggs
Lunch: Grilled chicken, rice and vegetables
Dinner: Ground beef or turkey with vegetables and rice
As well as changing his diet, Alejandro introduced some simple movement to his daily routine.
He started to walk more and chose to take the stairs rather than getting an elevator.
Once he was ready, he joined the gym, and managed to lose 18 stone in 15 months.
Along with losing weight, Alejandro gained a whole lot of self-confidence.
Alejandro says his excess skin is like a trophy as it shows how hard he has worked (Picture: Caters News Agency)
This prompted him to enter a transformation show, and he ended up landed first place.
Alejandro said: ‘I never thought I’d be where I am today!
‘I lost all of the weight naturally by training daily and measuring my food.
‘I now eat healthy balanced meals and consume 2,500 calories per day.
‘I’m very proud and comfortable in my own skin.
He hopes his story will inspire others to chase down their goals (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘I’ve got a lot of extra skin on my gut but I embrace it and consider it as a trophy.
‘I’m still working on my body as I could always get stronger and faster.’
Alejandro is sharing his story to inspire others to make a change.
‘I am lucky because I have never let my body affect my mental health and I didn’t have any major health scares,’ he said.
‘I am so happy in my skin and proud of myself.
‘I want to show others that anything is possible once you put your mind to it.’
In eight weeks, there have been nine incidents (Picture: Adam Vaughan Photography)
I walked into Primark to return some school clothes that I had bought for my son.
Afterwards, as I was browsing the aisles, I popped some new items in the bag I had used for my returns and went back to a different counter to pay for these.
At the till, a white cashier saw me reach into the Primark bag, and insinuated that I had stolen the new clothes. I tried to explain why I hadn’t used a basket (it hadn’t occurred to me, since I had a bag readily available) – but this conversation quickly turned into a situation of covert racism on her part.
I left feeling humiliated, embarrassed and bewildered. If I had intended to steal, surely I would not have tried to pay or go to the checkout in the first place.
But I was not surprised: this is not the first time I’ve been racially profiled.
In fact, I’ve been subjected to so many racist incidents and microaggressions over the past few months that, spurred on by a sense of helplessness and frustration, I’ve started documenting them all on my Instagram account.
So far, in eight weeks, there have been nine incidents, which I’ve relayed to people via videos online.
Just two days before my experience at Primark, the manager of a restaurant was excessively rude to me and a dark-skinned friend, because our children had moved around the venue (we made them sit down within seconds).
I looked around and noticed many other families with children doing the exact same thing. The difference? They were white.
I calmly expressed that I was unhappy with the way the manager was speaking to us. But a few minutes later, when my friend tried to order a bottle of wine, we were refused service. We left and went to a Black-friendly restaurant.
The list goes on.
When these moments occur, it doesn’t seem to matter that I am a woman with four degrees who is finishing off a PhD scholarship and has worked in conflict zones abroad, collecting data for Black and Indigenous health and well-being.
Or that I recently delivered the speech of my life to over 11,000 people at a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in Manchester.
Racism in the UK does not care for your personal story or achievements.
After George Floyd’s death and the BLM protests, everything changed for Black and brown British people, we finally got a chance to be heard. We’ve also been able to highlight how prevalent racism is in the UK.
Experiencing racist profiling is exhausting, lonely and, at times, I fear for my safety (Picture: Adam Vaughan Photography)
And yet, despite obvious displays of racism in this country, when I share my experiences online, I often get asked: ‘How do you know it is racism?’
My answer is simple: I am a woman with brown skin who has lived in a white society for 41 years. I know what racism looks and feels like.
From being adopted outas a baby because I was ‘half-Black’ to being bullied and hit by white boys and girls at school, and now, as an adult, being undermined by white colleagues, institutions and the general public.
Racism is part of my life story in Britain.
At the time of writing, the video I recorded about the Primark incident has been viewed over 51,000 times. I have since tried to escalate the matter to the company’s headquarters.
The diversity of support online however has been remarkable and it came at a time when I had begun to lose faith in myself and this country. People’s humanity and kindness can be healing, and it can also help counteract racial cruelty.
A lot of the comments and messages I have received have been from younger generations, which gives me hope for the future.
But to end racism, white British people must do more than speak up on social media. They need to learn about their country’s history and become racially literate.
The harsh truth is that Britain is responsible for the global genocide of Black and indigenous people, and our government has destroyed many of these peoples’ culture, land and lives.
We need to overhaul parts of the school curriculum and teach people to recognise colonial dialogue and understand that the ideology of white superiority still exists in Britain today.
And I also hope the Government will provide slave reparations to improve the quality of life for Black and brown British people who were colonised. The remuneration can assist in healing the scars left by British colonisation by promoting Black wellness, higher education scholarships and building housing.
Experiencing racist profiling is exhausting, lonely and, at times, I fear for my safety.
I am speaking out on social media because of my son; I don’t want him to spend his life watching his mother subjected to racism.
I shouldn’t have to endure this fight alone – and I want white people to see what Black people go through and to understand that racism is often subtle or covert.
That’s why I film these situations, with the hope that white people become racially literate so they can stop their racism when it happens. Go the extra mile, shield us and help challenge racists and institutional racism.
I will continue to document racism until I see a tangible difference in the UK.
If making some people uncomfortable is what it takes for them to realise that racism exists in this country, then so be it.
A Primark spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We were deeply concerned by the customer’s complaint as we do not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind. We fully investigated the allegations and found no evidence of racism or racial discrimination. Primark prides itself on being a brand for everyone and we understand how important it is that everyone who comes into our stores has a positive experience. We are very sorry that this wasn’t the case on this occasion, and have been in touch with the customer to discuss this further.’
Who says you can’t dress down and dress up at the same time? (Pictures: House of Fraser)
House of Fraser has launched a ‘Dress-IN Gown’, just in time for (virtual) party season.
It’s highly unlikely we’ll be getting Christmas parties this year in the traditional sense and dressing up for a virtual do is somewhat less exciting.
While there’s definitely something to be said for the self-care and sense of normality that dressing up can represent, many of us will likely be hoping for a happy cosy medium.
Enter House of Fraser and their soon-to-be-released Dress-IN Gown.
Part of their In-In Collection, the gown is made of organic bamboo towelling fabric and has draping bell sleeves and a long train to help you feel extra glam and warm at the same time.
If you pair this gown with some bold makeup and jewellery, no-one on the other end of the camera will dare suspect you’re wearing slippers underneath.
She does look fierce (Picture: House of Fraser)
You could even pair with heels if you really want to feel the party fantasy (Picture: House of Fraser)
This gown comes in one size and will cost £60.
It’s going to be released on 11 December, and it’s available for pre-order now.
Where to get other dressy dressing gowns
If this has inspired you to shop around for other dressy dressing gowns ahead of Christmas 2020, here are others you might also be interested in:
Chi Chi London Khloe Leopard Satin Robe, in Champagne
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
Some of the items from Black Friday deals (Picture: Boots)
Black Friday falls this week and if you’re looking for some beauty products and gifts, Boots is a great option.
The brand doesn’t have a Christmas ad this year, but it will still have lots of the big brand name gift sets you’d expect, and some of them are reduced for the sale.
Lots of the offers have already launched across its website so you can check them out before Friday.
Sadly, some items have sold out but Boots stores are all still open, if you want to see if your local branch has what you want in stock.
We’re brought together some of the best deals it is offering in 2020.
Oral-B describes this as their ‘best toothbrush ever’ but it has a huge RRP of £300. Boots lists the pricing history and it has been on sale before between £99.99 and £150, with a lowest ever price of £78.99.
Although the Black Friday price is slightly higher at £90, it’s still a chance to get a top of the range toothbrush with a discount.
If you haven’t grabbed an advent calendar to start December off in style next week, this one gives you a mini beauty product every day, and £2 from the sale goes to Macmillan.
It includes items from Botanics, Liz Earle, MASQD, No7, Soap & Glory and Sleek Makeup.
Get this mascara, matte lip colour and finishing powder trio with 50% off compared to if you bought the items individually. It’s a great chance to save a little you’re a fan of one of these or just want to try them all out.
Grab four KVD Vegan Beauty bestsellers half-price with this set. It includes:
• KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick In Lolita – Full size • KVD Vegan Beauty Cake Pencil Eyeliner in Trooper Black – Full size • KVD Vegan Beauty Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black – Mini • KVD Vegan Beauty Go Big or Go Home Volumizing Mascara – Mini
This epilator uses a fully flexible head so you can get to all the hard-to-reach places. It can also be used as a shaver and includes a trimmer head for extra sensitive areas.
You should change your mascara every three months so if you’re due a new one, Black Friday is a chance to get this big brand name at a discount. It promises to give volume, length and curl.
Another gift set, which is better than half price. It includes nine products in beautiful packaging and signature Ted Baker designs. The items include:
One of the star offers for Boots’ Black Friday deal, this stuff has a huge £32 saving. Described as an ‘ age-fighting face mask that works like a facial’ it contains PHAs and Nordic birch sap, to exfoliate, illuminate and brighten your skin
This gift set, which is exclusive to Boots, includes four full-size products. You’ll get Cleanse & Polis Hot Cloth Cleanser, Instant Boost Skin Tonic, Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash and Nourishing Botanical Body Cream, as well as two pure cotton cloths. The set costs £40, which is a saving of £28 on buying them all individually.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
The rice water recipe (Picture: deebekksta/TikTok)
TikTok is always full of helpful hair and beauty hacks but it’s hard to know which ones really work.
One recent popular video comes from Bekkii Vosper, who used rice water to transform her dull damaged hair.
And according to one top hairdresser, it really is a good idea.
Bekkii, from Australia, started the video by showing her dry and damaged ends, before showing how she washed some long gran rice in a sieve under a cold tap.
She then put it inside a jar and topped it up with water. She screwed the lid on and shook the jar up to get the starch to leak into the water.
After that, she poured the rice water into spray bottle with a little apple cider vinegar.
Bekkii used the spray after washing and conditioning her hair and then let it dry.
Reacting to the results she said: ‘Oh my god my hair looks so good. It’s so silky and so shiny. I can’t believe it.’
She captioned the video: ‘Shiny hair who? Hahah I would absolutely recommend doing this!!’
The video has been viewed over 280,000 times and lots of people commented on the trick.
One person said: ‘I’ve been doing this for two years now but without ACV (apple cider vinegar). So good right?’
Some advised different techniques, including some who advised doing it before shampooing so that the rice water would be rinsed out. Some also said that it is quite strong and should only be done every few weeks.
Top London hairdresser and salon owner Ozzie Rizzo tells Metro.co.uk that rice water is actually a great thing for yout hair
He says: ‘The cloudy water left over from soaking rice, is hugely beneficial for hair growth and overall hair health. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B, C and E, as well as amino acids which all contribute to both strengthening and conditioning of the scalp and hair follicles.
‘Rice water has many different uses and can not only be used just for hair growth but also damage repair, scalp conditioning and to add shine. The amino acid found in the water is ideal for repairing split ends which are caused due to a lack of protein.’
Ozzie recommends using rice water in a couple of ways, which differ slightly from the TikTok video.
‘There are two types of rice water you can easily make at home and use as a hair mask. The first is boiled rice water and the second is fermented rice water,’ he says.
‘The excess boiled water which is left after the rice is cooked can be used instead of a conditioner and is commonly poured over the hair after shampooing. We would recommend leaving for 5-10 mins to really ensure all the nutrients have been fully absorbed and massage well into the scalp before rinsing.
‘Doing this once to twice a week over a month, should show some improvement to your overall hair health.
‘Fermented rice water is one that has been left to ferment for up to 48 hours and is to be diluted before using on the hair. Fermentation helps to lower the pH level of rice water and enhances the vitamins and nutrients level in the water, which nourishes the hair cuticles and promotes hair growth.
‘Fermented rice water is acidic, and when you rinse your hair with it, it restores the pH level of your hair. Simply use the same way as boiled rice water but leave on for a longer period of time (15-20mins).’
Jack Ball from Ozzie Rizzo salon London adds: ‘It helps to fill in any gaps in the hair cuticle, which can be caused by damage either from heated tools or over colouring.
‘The rice water helps to fill in the thinning cuticle which makes hair fuller and thicker allowing light to reflect creating an amazing shine and smooth surface.’
What’s in store today? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Get ready for the day ahead with your daily horoscope for your star sign, today for November 25, 2020.
Taurus, you may be in need of some quiet time today as you get out of your normal routine.
Leo, it is time to get stuck in with a brand new challenge.
If you have the Pisces star sign then it is time to invest in yourself, while Capricorn might find it is time to get on with some household chores.
Read on to see what today has in store for you…
What star sign are you?
Aries: March 21 to April 20
Taurus: April 21 to May 21
Gemini: May 22 to June 21
Cancer: June 22 to July 23
Leo: July 24 to August 23
Virgo: August 24 to September 23
Libra: September 24 to October 23
Scorpio: October 24 to November 22
Sagittarius: November 23 to December 21
Capricorn: December 22 to January 21
Aquarius: January 22 to February 19
Pisces: February 20 to March 20
Aries
You may be in your element as the Moon entwines with Mars, enhancing confidence and energy levels. It can bring out more impatient qualities too so if you need to hold a conversation, take a measured approach.
Taurus
Make space to enjoy some quiet time when you can explore an interest, or get to grips with something that you might not be able to when you’re in your normal routine. This could be a time of discovery, when a seed is planted and grows.
Gemini
Whether you connect online or off, a chat with friends can make your day and leave you upbeat. If you’ve been busy with intense matters then you might benefit from doing something that engages your interest or that gets you motivated.
Cancer
As Mars is hotfooting it through your career zone, you may feel thrilled as the results of your efforts start to show up and things begin to fall into place. Looking for companionship? Venus urges you to liaise with those who share your passions.
Leo
Leo, you may have challenging times ahead (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
You may be longing to take on a challenge that’s unlike anything you’ve tried before. The more obstacles you face, the more eager you might be to get stuck in.
You could be keen to go some place where exciting new discoveries can be made.
Virgo
Time for something beautiful, Virgo (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
You may be ready to tackle an issue that makes you highly emotional. If you do start talking about it, tears could flow or other feelings could emerge.
If this is something you have no control over, let it go.
Libra
Don’t try to go it alone (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Don’t try to go it alone as the focus on your relationship sector suggests that the more you get others on board, the easier it will be for you.
There can also be comfort in getting support from others.
Scorpio
Apply yourself now, Scorpio (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
If you have domestic or other regular tasks to get on with you can complete them quickly, leaving you time for more enjoyable activities.
Keen to get a project off the ground? If you apply yourself now, everything will fall into place.
Sagittarius
Strike out on your own, Sagittarius (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Motivation can be at a premium and your enthusiasm for life catching so others could find themselves swept along.
Your focus may be on striking out into the unknown and making new discoveries.
Capricorn
Capricorn, pour time into household tasks (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Pouring energy into household tasks can see you accomplishing much.
But today’s lively Moon-Mars aspect could give you the impetus to get on with something that you had meant to make a start on for some time.
Aquarius
Get ready to brainstorm, Aquarius (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Ready for a brainstorming session? If you need creative solutions then a dynamic line-up in your sector of planning and communication can find you ready to connect with like-minded people. You may be delighted with what emerges.
Pisces
Embrace your image, Pisces (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
This can be a good time to invest in yourself if you are looking to enhance your image.
With the Sun in a prominent position, feeling great could make the difference between going for those opportunities or not.
Tough times breed creative innovation. The pandemic was bound to push us to our limits and make us think outside of the box.
That is the only explanation for what we’re about to discuss.
Behold the BallBag mask; a face mask designed to look like a set of testicles, complete with artfully wrinkled skin.
Why would you want to make the bottom half of your face look like actual balls?
That’s not something we can provide a definitive answer for, sorry.
The mask is the creation of Will from Blackpool, who goes by the name of Billy.
He says he wants the mask to spread happiness and joy wherever you wear it… because what’s more joyful than a set of crown jewels?
You have to praise the artistry (Picture: billysballbags.com/Jam Press)
It’s made using skin-safe silicone and Billy can create masks to match your skin tone, so there’s no clash.
Billy says he’s already sold out of the first batch. Expect to see some people actually wearing BallBag masks out and about, then.
The product designer has experience with creative makeup and prosthetics, and started making balls when he needed a set of dangling testicles for a friend’s stag do.
Those testicles were a massive hit, so Billy decided to launch his own product line.
Along with the masks, Billy also makes testicle themed baubles, keyrings, coin purses, earrings, and even a wall hanging that looks like the tip of a penis.
You can ask for the mask to match your skin colour (Picture: billysballbags.com/Jam Press)
You can take your pick from especially low hanging fruit or testicles with some added hair for realism.
While the BallBag face mask is currently sold out, Billy hopes to be opening orders back up soon.
So if you fancy your own, keep an eye on the product page and be ready to part with £24.99.
In the meantime, do feel free to buy a set of cock and balls baubles to deck out your Christmas tree.
A brief interaction with a delivery driver might be the only face people say while isolated during the pandemic.
To make that interaction not so brief, and to help tackle loneliness as a result, Asda has launched a new initiative that will see some delivery drivers wear a ‘happy to chat’ badge.
It’s hoped these badges will encourage people to start a conversation and have a proper chinwag; which could be life-saving.
Drivers are not required to wear the badges – it’s entirely up to them – so you know that anyone wearing the badge is genuinely up for chatting.
The idea is that you’ll order your shopping, notice the badge, and feel more able to converse, giving you that oh so essential moment of social connection.
The scheme is backed by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), a charity that offers support and companionship.
‘The times that we’re in at the moment, sometimes we’ll be the only person the customer sees all week,’ said one driver.
They hope the badges will spark conversations and help to tackle loneliness in lockdown (Picture: PA)
Drivers have also been given guidance from the RVS in identifying whether or not somebody on the doorstop is exhibiting signs of loneliness, so they can engage when it’s most needed.
Anna-Maree Shaw, chief customer officer at Asda, said: ‘It’s a challenging time for everyone, especially those experiencing loneliness.
‘While Asda colleagues have always made an effort to have a quick chat and raise a smile, we want to make sure that whether it’s in our stores, at the doorstep or in the community – we’re here for customers this Christmas.’
Sam Ward, deputy chief executive and director of services at the RVS, said: ‘Royal Voluntary Service is incredibly proud to be part of such a wonderful initiative alongside Asda. We all understand that Christmas can be difficult for those who are on their own and that this year stands to be trickier than ever.
‘With the help of this fantastic project, it shows that even just a little Christmas kindness will go a long way in making the festive season easier for those in need.’
There’s something for everyone in our list of the best Christmas hampers 2020
Here’s a list of the UK’s very best Christmas hampers – so you can take a moment to toast friends and family with the finest food and drink, right up until the point that you happily slip into a mince pie-induced food coma.
Whether it’s cheese and wine, craft beers, chocolate or traditional festive foods that flat your boat, we’ve got you covered for Christmas 2020. Elastic waistbands at the ready…
The spirits of Christmas, £140
(Picture: Tom Savano)
A luxury Christmas hamper sure to put a large dose of festive cheer in a lot of lives; in addition to the award-winning craft spirits, this beauty is bundled with handcrafted sweet and savoury treats to complement the ultimate Christmas drinking experience.
A charity hamper initiative from handcrafted cocktail brand Tom Savano, it links up with small artisan food and drink brands – and all profits will go to The Trussell Trust, helping feed those families in desperate need.
Includes: smooth chocolate whisky and sea salted caramel fudge, Tom Savano Kentucky Winter Old Fashioned, Tom Savano Reposado Margarita, Tom Savano Caribbean Dawn Mai Tai, 2 x Tarsier Pink Gin Minis, Irish Yellowman Honeycomb, chili jam, whisky marmalade, Bloody Mary ketchup, maple rosemary cashews and a lovely variety of artisan crackers.
Designed for families to share at Christmas, this beauty is packed with festive favourites from small British artisan producers. Included is an excellent iced Christmas cake from Shropshire, traditional Christmas pudding, festive spiced fingers and more. Much of the food is award winning including coveted Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Food.
When it comes to cheese, it doesn’t get much more delectable than a Vacherin Mon’t d’Or, which here is the centerpiece of this delectable Christmas cheese board. Also features Montgomery cheddar & creamy potted Stilton, a bottle of Fonseca Port and a selection of fruit.
For charcuterie lovers, the Italian Cheese & Charcuterie board is a real winner. A very generous portion of top quality parma ham, salami plus a tasty pecorino, melt-in-the-mouth mozzarella, pear chutney and more.
Christmas Cheeseboard, £80, OR Italian Cheese & Charcuterie board, £45, Macknade
Family Fun, £145
(Picture: Hampers.com)
Christmas is all about spending quality time with loved ones, so The Family Christmas Hamper, full to the brim with festive treats for the whole family, is perfect for any large gathering this winter. Children of all ages will adore the assortments of chocolate and popcorn on offer, while the Croft Port and Freixenet prosecco are sure to be popular among adults.
Elegant and indulgent, this grand dame offers decadent savoury options such as lime and chilli olives, sweet cured ham and pickle crisps and red onion marmalade as well as sweet treats like chocolate-covered marshmallows, cherry and dark chocolate shortbread, a Christmas cake and a traditional Christmas pudding. To top it off? Raise a glass because this luxurious hamper also includes a bottle of Argentinean Malbec and crisp Pinot Grigio. Cheers to that!
This feast of Italy’s finest includes a hand-picked selection of produce that can always be found at the heart of a festive Italian table. Includes: panettone (the classic Italian tear and share!), prosecco, cannoli and mostarda (or mustard fruits) to enjoy with a Christmas cheese board.
This lovely wicker hamper is packed to the brim with treats from small artisan British producers including buttery shortbread from family bakers in Edinburgh, heavenly dark chocolate made in Devon, award winning Lincoln breakfast tea, crumble fudge, raspberry and vanilla jam handmade in the Lake District and award winning Worcestershire sauce crisps.
London bakery The Proof has created a stylish Christmas hamper for those with a sweet tooth. With a mix of festive puddings and artiseaal products from independent suppliers, it comes presented in a wire shopping basket. Includes ‘Proofiteroles’ or the Merry ‘Proofmas’ chocolate Yule log, as well as mince pies, chocolate and orange biscotti and the Proof’s signature mini macaroons.
Available for delivery within London and across the whole of the UK for December.
Gluten free, dairy free, eggless and utterly scrumptious… looking for the ultimate eco-friendly gift for a vegan chocolate lover? Look no further! This box is bursting with goodness: Positive Bakes chocolate brownies and cakes, a dark and white chocolate bar (luxury chocolate topped with freeze dried raspberries and strawberries) tea and tea strainer, (or coffee beans if preferred) all this comes with a sweet mug made by Devon based artisans Pippi and Me Ceramics.
Share Luxury Christmas Chocolate Gift Set, £64.95, Positive Bakes
The Entertainer, £100
(Picture: Cath Kidston)
Celebrate Christmas in style with this range of gorgeous products in Cath Kidston’s Christmas 2020 Star and Moon print, including champagne flutes, serving dishes, double-walled tumblers, napkins and a table runner. It’s a hamper that offers everything you need for a festive evening.
The Entertainer Hamper £100,
Gin-Tastic, £95
(Picture: Didsbury Gin)
Looking to bring a little party atmosphere home this festive season? Didsbury Gin teamed up with Snaffling Pig to create a ‘Gin-dulgence box’ – packed full of a variety of vibrant, zesty gins, premium tonic, snacks and other treats to help bring some brightness to even the gloomist of winters.
The beloved biscuit brand has partnered with some great British brands to create a luxury Christmas hamper that everyone will love.
Includes Gusbourne sparkling wine, prosecco, Sipsmith gin, Tregothnan tea and Godminster cheese. And of course a Happy Christmas Biscuit Tin full of their pretty and tasty biscuits.
Heaven for those with a sweet tooth, this beautiful hamper from London’s Hummingbird bakery includes a lemon raspberry ripple cake with lemon cream cheese frosting, a selection box of 6 cupcakes (2 Red Velvet, 2 Black Bottom and 2 Carrot), and 24 mini cupcakes. Delivery to selected London postcodes (there is a map on the company’s website) as well as by collection.
Choose any five festive edition marshmallow flavours to make one sumptuous Christmas bundle: S’mores, Choc & Honeycomb, Cookies & Cream, Mint Choc Chip and Choc & Hazelnut. The perfect complement for a dreamy cup of cocoa or to try toasted. The gourmet marshmallows are handmade in the UK by artisans and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
A stunning food and wine hamper bursting with delicious artisan produce, created with family gatherings in mind. From cranberry crunch biscuits and maple syrup fudge to a round, fruit and nut topped cake and luxury Christmas pudding, to chilli and garlic savoury biscuits and hand-decorated, chocolate-covered marshmallows, it has something for every palate.
Low carb? No problem! This one is a surefire winner for meat lovers. Includes traditional favourites like pigs in blankets, stuffing and chipolatas, pork sausages, bacon medallions, rump steaks and unsmoked bacon along with with roasting potatoes, carrots, parsnips and sprouts, all delivered with disposable cooking trays to make washing up a little easier.
Luxury Turkey & Beef Hamper with Veg and Trimmings, £69, Muscle Food
Happy Porkmas, £99
(Picture: Pork Pie)
Year round this one is their best seller. The wicker hamper contains the brand’s famous pork pies along with smooth and creamy local blue Stilton, red cheese and chutney. Comes packaged with one red, one white and one sparkling wine to accompany the feast.
Sheer luxury is what this one feels like, with a dry-aged chateaubriand, sublime truffle butter and caviar from one of London’s most famous suppliers. Rounded off with artisan chocolates, this is a divine hamper.
Luxury Steak & Caviar Christmas Hamper, £85, Farmison & Co
Seafood Feast, £50
(Picture: Knock Knock Groceries X Randall & Aubin)
Premium grocery box service Knock Knock teamed up with London’s premiere seafood restaurant Randall and Aubin to offer these maritime beauties. The luxury seafood box comes in two sizes: – Assiette de Fruits de Mer (£50) – Plats de Fruits de Mer (£100) and both feature house salads and dressings alongside either seven or nine different types of seafood, including a whole native lobster, Poole mussels, dressed Weymouth crab and Atlantic shrimps.
This one contains everything you might need to create a delicious charcuterie board at home. Starting with a selection of award-winning salamis, sausage and a very tasty chorizo and a pack of sliced meat, there are marinated olives, moreish cheese sablés, handmade Scottish oatcakes and a savoury onion marmalade.
It’s impossible to convey how tasty the carefully sourced selection of meats is – this is small batch, well-produced meat that is cured and seasoned by people who really care, and it shows. Absolutely delicious and a treat for those who aren’t into your usual festive foods. Long lasting too – the meats have a long use-by date, so you can eat them well into the new year.
Filled with a host of English and French produce, London’s local wine merchant makes lovely, luxe and traditionally hampers.
If you haven’t tasted the ultra-creamy, smooth, truffled Delice de Bourgogne cheese before, let us tell you that alone is worth getting this hamper for. Sally Clark’s mince pies will beat most other mince pies into submission. Deep filled with a rich mincemeat that retains a bite and just the right amount of pastry.
Their Knightsbridge hamper beautifully offers a luxurious and glorious selection of food and drink including: Délice de Bourgogne with Truffle, Fromagerie Delin, Montgomery’s Vintage Farmhouse Cheddar, Sourdough Crispbread, Duck Rillette, Sweet Sally Clark’s Traditional Mince Pies, and some lovely champagne to toast your good fortune.
Possibly the very best thing you could give a carnivore, this steak tasting box includes delectable and superior steaks from Darts Farm Butchers that includes 40-day hung &and dry-aged steaks. Cuts include: 8oz fillet steak x 2, 10oz sirloin steak x 2.14oz rump steak, 48oz Tomahawk steak and a 12oz hanger steak, along with a bulb of garlic and a few sprigs of fresh rosemary.
Packed full of delectable and smooth Yorkshire Wensleydale favourites, this cheese-tastic hamper contains: Yorkshire Wensleydale, Wensleydale and cranberries, Fountains Gold cheddar, cheddar with caramelised onions, aged Red Leicester, Wensleydale Blue, Cartwright and Butler traditional oatcakes and crackers, a fruitcake and delicious local chutney and honey.
Artisan cheese, paired wines and fine food goodies from the Jermyn Street fromagerie is presented a stylish wooden gift crate. The Windsor comes with all the fixings for a perfect winter’s day: Paxton & Whitfield Dorset goat cheese, Paxton & Whitfield Celtic soft cheese, Paxton & Whitfield cheddar pounder, cherry, orange and almond Chocolate Clusters, Cote de Duras white and red wine, and a lovely Paxton & Whitfield slate board and chalk Set.
All that’s needed for a perfect, decadent winter breakfast at home on Boxing Day.
This wonderful and cleverly unique hamper includes dark sourdough, organic marmalade, London Honey Company Oxfordshire honey, eight frosted Christmas buns, granola, half a dozen eggs, smoked salmon, blueberries, crème Fraîche, Greek yoghurt, orange juice and GAIL’s House Blend Coffee
Nine busy buzzy bees decorate this hamper, beautifully illustrated by the Lake District-based artist Becca Hall. The strong canvas bag is packed full of all things honey-flavoured including a mixed flower honey, wholegrain honey mustard, BBQ sauce with honey, Seville orange marmalade with honey and milk chocolate-coated honeycomb.
Lakeland For the Love of Honey Hamper Tote, £29.99, Lakeland
Salted Caramel Celebration, £50
(Picture: Cartwright & Butler)
The first thing you notice about this hamper is its sweet, eye-catching green tin, but once opened you will be overwhelmed with salted caramel goodness. From salted caramel biscuits coated in ultra-thick milk chocolate and salted caramel fudge to salted caramel shortbread and toffees. True decadence for all lovers of salted caramel.
New and exclusive to Farmison & Co, this classic Beef Wellington is made to the original recipe with Madeira-infused mushroom duxelles, light pancakes to protect the all butter flaky puff pastry and not forgetting the all important meltingly tender, aged centre cut fillet of beef. The Wellington is frozen and defrosts in transit, so you must bake within 24 hours.
A gorgeous group of grapes in this impressive 12-bottle hamper, it’s an ideal gift for the wine lover in your life. Beautifully presented in a traditional wicker basket, it includes wonderful selection of fine reds, whites, rose and prosecco. Cheers!
British prosecco brand The Emissary is low in sugar, less calorific, 100% vegan and created on a family-run Italian vineyard using environmentally friendly techniques. It’s also utterly delicious. Their Christmas Hamper will delight anyone who loves an excellent glass of fizz. Includes three bottles of the DOC and three bottles of the DOCG presented inside a luxury hamper.
The Emissary Mixed Case Christmas Hamper £150, The Emissary
Beer & Cheer, £32
(Picture: Beer Hawk)
This is a great, affordable hamper for a beer-lover. It features a mix of 12 outstanding craft beers, including some absolute crackers from BrewDog and Tiny Rebel.
This limited-edition beer selection box is only available during the 2020 Holiday season and was designed for craft beer fanatics.
Contains: 6 IPAs, 4 lagers, 1 pale ale, 1 bitter, and a free beer glass to boot.
Old Pulteney whisky has partnered with fresh fish delivery service, Fish To Your Door to create a winning scotch and seafood hamper fairly brimming with delicacies for a luxe and coastal-feel Christmas.
Includes oysters, lobster, smoked salmon and crab, as well as a bottle of Old Pulteney 12 Years Old. Firm bodied and smooth, with sweet notes of honey and cream and a distinctive sea salt top note, the single malt makes the nice splash on top of Fish To Your Door’s fresh oysters.
Giving the classic Negroni a wonderfully festive twist, these pre-mixed spiced Negroni cocktails are a perfect winter warmer.
The delicious drinks blend together gin, vermouth and Campari for the Negroni taste but add Brothers Pimento Dram to create the familiar festive flavour. Comes in a box of 3, 6 or 9.
Winter Spiced Negroni Cocktail Box of 6, £39, Nio Cocktails
Honest Brew, £34.90
(Picture: Honest Brew)
Less of a stocking filler and more of a fridge filler, this 12 beer gift case adds even more of Europe’s leading independent breweries into the mix. With a selection that spans a wide range of styles, countries and ABVs, this is a great gift for someone who loves to discover new beers. Comes with a tasting glass too.
An ideal hamper for the dog lover in your life, especially if they’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth. This Dog Breeds Hamper Tote has beautiful illustrations of man’s best friend and inside you’ll find: Salted Caramel Sauce, Toffee Fudge Biscuits and Clotted Cream Fudge and Chocolate Caramelised Almonds.
Lakeland Dog Lover’s Christmas Gift Hamper, £24.99, Lakeland
CBD Christmas, £55.99
(Picture: Body and Mind Botanicals)
A great way to gift a loved one the power of CBD. They can self-soothe by drinking some award-winning tea, indulge in CBD dark chocolate, try the CBD relaxing oil or soak in the bath. All powered by amazing plants.
Celebrate all things Welsh with this luxury hamper which features the finest selection of favourite Welsh food and drinks brands, curated by us for you to enjoy at home. Includes: Radnor fiery ginger beer, Gower Cottage brownie butter, as well as toffee waffles, dark ale brewed from Welsh mountain water, venison salami, piccalilli, rhubarb and ginger gin, and dark chocolate coffee liqueur.
Chocoholics will love this fabulous selection of sweet indulgences, including Moser Roth Marc de Champagne truffles and organic caramel and sea salt chocolate. There’s also a milk, white and dark chocolate selection to choose from, or they can warm up on a chilly winter’s day with the hot chocolate stirrers.
Land Girls coffee is a new brand that has launched to support women in farming across the globe. Coffees are grown exclusively by women in Fairtrade plantations and this beautiful Christmas gift pack includes 2 bags of their specialist coffee and a beautiful hand stamped locally baked biscuit made by a local farmer’s wife in her small Rutland bakery. (the kitsch hen).
A celebration of small British brands, this vegan, luxury hamper is warming in every way. Packed with treats like Meridian’s mince pie filling and Booja Booja truffles, it also has hot chocolate bombes and a Christmas scented candle. 50% of each hamper goes to Age UK, which works to give older people the support they so urgently need.
A sweet gift set with soft, fluffy slippers along with body cleanser, shower and body creme, hand lotio, and a back scrubbing brush. The scented products smell heavenly – a restorative and refreshing lime, basil and mint.
Baylis & Harding Urban Barn Lime, Basil and Mint Giftset, £29.94, Amazon
Jolly Juicing
(Picture: Exalt Drinks)
Fantastic and healthy hamper for those who might be looking for an alternative to the calorific norm. Some of these act as post-workout powerhouses while others are lighter blends using green vegetables, fruit and supplements – but what they all are is a hit of health.
A variety of delicious blends such as: Fauxtella – an indulgent, guilt-free chocolate hit packed with hazelnuts (and protein). Better Than Botox – green juice with apple, mango, lime and ginger-infused with a massive 10g shot of collagen and Chilled AF, which is raw fruit mixed with 15mg of a well-known organic plant extract. Juices have a 21-day shelf life. They really do taste exceptionally good.
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
We apologise in advance if you were thinking about shelling out for it but didn’t strike when it was on the market for that amount.
Why? Because that same house has now been renovated and is up for sale again.
But this time, the asking price is £275,000.
It’s still fairly cheap compared to the average price of a detached house in Britain, which is around £383,000.
But of course, you do get less space than the usual house on the market, as this one, called Rose Cottage, is just 13ft wide and 26ft tall.
Rose Cottage before its renovation (Picture: SWNS.COM)
The 120-year-old house was in need of a refresh (Picture: SWNS)
The kitchen, in particular, required a lot of work (Picture: SWNS)
The same goes for the bathroom (Picture: SWNS)
The two-bedroom home in South Knighton, Leicester, has been around for 120 years or so, and was in need of a bit of a refresh.
It was bought at auction last year, and over the course of 12 months has been through a total transformation.
Now, along with a fresh lick of paint on the exterior of the home, the house has new laminate flooring throughout, a refurbished kitchen, and new fittings to make it feel more modern.
There’s also a new roof and combi boiler.
The exterior has had an upgrade with a fresh lick of paint and a new roof (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby )
There’s a patio garden to the rear (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby )
On the ground floor is a lounge, a sitting and dining room, and the kitchen.
From the sitting room you can go out to a small patio back garden, in case you’re feeling a bit claustrophobic.
On the first floor are two bedrooms and one bathroom.
New flooring has been added throughout (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby
The kitchen has been given a makeover (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby)
The property description reads: ‘Unique and quirky are just two ways of describing this two double bedroom detached property having been thoughtfully modernised throughout and being located within the highly desirable area of South Knighton in Leicester, close to many well regarded schools and boutique shops.
‘Newton Fallowell Estate Agents in Oadby are very proud to bring to the market For Sale one of the most unusual and rare properties in the UK.
And the bathroom is looking far more modern (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby)
There are two double bedrooms (Picture: Newton Fallowell Oadby)
‘Measuring approximately 13ft wide and built circa 1900, Rose Cottage offers an opportunity to acquire something very special.
‘The accommodation briefly comprises of a front lounge which has been extended to the front aspect along with a sitting/dining room and open plan kitchen to the ground floor.
‘The first floor offers two double bedrooms and contemporary fitted bathroom with new combi boiler.
‘To be sold with No Upward Chain, this rare opportunity must be viewed.’
Gemma has welcomed a new baby after cancer treatment (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
Gemma Isaacs always knew she was at risk of getting breast cancer.
Her dad and many people on his side of the family had the BRCA1 gene mutation, which means a high risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.
But when a tumour was picked up by chance when she was just 31, it still came as a shock.
Now, two years on from her diagnosis, Gemma has achieved a huge amount.
She completed chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free, had a double mastectomy followed by radiotherapy, ran a half marathon just a few months later and co-founded BRCA Sisters – a support group helping young people affected by genetic cancers.
And Gemma, now 33, feels like her life has come full circle with the birth of her miracle second baby, despite worries that treatment had caused an early menopause.
Gemma, husband Daryll, and two-year-old daughter Ella welcomed Jack Alfie Issacs on 21 August.
Gemma, Daryll and baby Jack (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
Gemma tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I had a very easy pregnancy which I would say was marred only by a fear of something bad happening again from my past experiences.
‘After dealing with chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, not much feels difficult anymore! For me, feeling “normal” feels very abnormal, but it is nice to be known as Gemma who just had a baby rather than Gemma who had or has cancer.
‘I am not sure I will ever shake the feeling of waiting for something to go wrong, particularly as now things feel so positive but I am trying to enjoy every moment.
‘Being a family of four is something, after being diagnosed, I never believed would happen and I am not sure the reality has actually set in.
‘I challenge myself every day to enjoy the moment and not live in the past of the future but celebrate the present because that is all I really know for now. To have two healthy children is amazing and I couldn’t wish for anything more.’
Gemma during chemo (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
Before her eventual diagnosis, Gemma had spent years debating whether to have the test to find out if she also had the gene mutation, which would put her at high risk of developing cancer.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It’s not just it’s not as simple a decision as just to have a test or not. If you have the test and it’s positive, then there’s a decision to be made about whether to have surgery and that’s quite impactful.
‘I had kind of planned in my head that I was going to have a family and once I finished having children, I would have my test because I thought then I would be happy to go ahead and have surgery. That was my mindset.’
Initially, Gemma was on a high risk screening programme, but when her daughter Ella was born, Gemma felt she wanted to find out to plan for the future.
Gemma with her husband and daughter (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
She adds: ‘I was 30 when my daughter was born and that is when I started having MRI scans because I was high risk. My first MRI came back with something possibly there and while it turned out to be nothing, it was so stressful.
‘I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore and just wanted to find out about the gene mutation. Having a baby changed my perspective.’
Gemma went for the test in August 2018 and was told it could be a month before she got her results.
Gemma tried to stay positive throughout treatment (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
But when the results where delayed she went to see her doctor to chat about what was happening and asked her doctor for a quick breast exam while she was there.
He didn’t find a lump – but a slightly swollen lymph node indicated something could be wrong and ordered a scan and biopsy.
A few days later, on 17 September – the same week as her daughter’s first birthday – she was told she had a small mass in her right breast.
Gemma after a hike (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
She says: ‘I was shocked. I had always thought it would happen to me some day but just not then. I hadn’t noticed any changes in my boobs and I’d just happened to ask about an exam because I was in the doctors office anyway.’
Gemma was told she would need chemotherapy and radiotherapy was worried that the treatment would mean she wouldn’t be able to have any more children.
She was able to harvest eggs and embryos before starting treatment but wasn’t sure what impact it would have on her body.
Training during treatment (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
The day after the procedure, Gemma started six months of chemotherapy.
Although the treatment was hard and caused her to lose her hair, Gemma wanted to stay positive and keep life as normal as possible.
She says: ‘People would say things like “I don’t know how you cope” but you just have to.
She lost her hair during treatment (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
‘Throughout my cancer journey, exercise was really important to me. I would go to the gym and run as much as I was able to. Before cancer, I ate well and trained. Obivously it doesn’t matter who you are – cancer can affect you, but I wanted to keep that up and I feel it really helped my recovery.’
During her treatment, Gemma was told that she definitely did have the BRCA1 gene mutation and she decided to have a double mastectomy to lower the chances of developing breast cancer again from 87% to 5%, which was scheduled for after she finished chemotherapy.
Gemma posted about her story online and found other women with the BRCA gene and soon started to organise casual meetups for people in a similar situation to come together and talk.
Gemma after her double mastectomy surgery (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
After her surgery in April 2019, she started radiotherapy and at the same time, she began training to raise money for the BRCA sisters. Together with four other women, she ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising over £7,000.
Before coronavirus, they were organising monthly meet ups in pubs or cafes for people affected by BRCA and other genetic cancers.
Leaving hospital after her surgery (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
Gemma finally finished cancer treatment on 19 July 2019, but it continued to have an impact on her health.
She says: ‘The hardest thing had always been when they told me that it could affect fertility because my daughter had just turned one and we’d always planned to have more kids.
‘Everything else I saw as short term – my hair would grow back, treatment would end – but I felt like something had been stolen from me when it came to having another child.
Gemma with Ella (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
After finishing treatment, she went to see a fertility doctor who told her that it looked like her ovaries had stopped working and her hormone levels were low. They started talking about hormone replacement therapy to prevent things like osteoporosis.
Gemma wanted to try all she could to help her body heal and she decided to try a hormone-free vegan diet, with the support of her team.
Two months later, her cycle returned, although still very irregularly.
In November she returned to the fertility doctor again who said that her ovary function had improved but not enough for her to fall pregnant.
But Gemma continued with her diet and by the end of the year, she had fallen pregnant with Jack.
Ella and baby Jack (Picture: Gemma Isaacs)
Now a happy mum-of-two, Gemma says: ‘I feel like this is the happy ending for me and I can go on and help other people.
‘I want to support others going through BRCA diagnosis or breast cancer but I also want to do more to show the benefits of movement and exercise for those going through cancer.
‘I feel like everything I’ve learned has given me things to build on.’
Meet Moya. He is a rare white lion with the most fabulous mane.
The spectacular carnivore, who lives in the Glen Garriff Conservation lion sanctuary, South Africa, has the most luscious locks.
The six-year-old lion was photographed by British photographer Simon Needham, who said the first time he saw Moya, he was shocked by his looks.
He said: ‘I love animals, but Moya’s stunning coat blew me away the first time I saw it.
‘It was difficult to get close to him, but I had a few moments when he came close enough for me to get a few great shots as he walked his territory.
‘When you are in the moment you don’t really get a chance to appreciate the beauty of it all but obviously, afterwards, I realised what lovely pictures we had.’
Check out his mane (Picture Simon Needham/Splitpics)
At the conservation, they have several white lions, but white lions are rare in the wild, because the colouring is the result of a genetic mutation in which two copies of the gene must be present for the white coat to show up in the animal.
Simon, who is originally from Leeds, said he was shown around by Suzanne Scott, the director of the non-profit lion sanctuary.
Simon said he hoped his photographs of Moya would help raise awareness of the sanctuary and for the plight of lions in the wild.
He added: ‘I think the story is one of conservation awareness and to highlight the very serious issues that lie in this world where many of the most iconic animals are on the brink of extinction in the wild.
‘If I can help to contribute to this in some small way then I’m honoured to be able to help.’
He looks even more majestic in black and white (Picture Simon Needham/Splitpics)
Simon works as a director and professional photographer and sells work, giving 50% back to conservations.
‘I’m really happy that we can bring some light onto this subject and at the same time bring support to GG Conservation,’ he said.
We’ve never seen such a beautiful lion. We can only imagine how adorable Moya was as a cub.
Kate, 16, lives with misophonia (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
‘Most people have a noise they don’t like, so I didn’t consider getting any help for it – until it progressed into panic attacks over the sound of breathing or speaking,’ says Kate, 16, from Wales.
Kate lives with misophonia, a disorder that has been controlling her life for the past nine years.
People with misophonia are affected emotionally by common sounds – usually sounds made by others. Fight-or-flight and anger responses can be triggered by common sounds such as breathing, yawning or chewing; and can make the sufferer feel as though they need to escape.
Kate says that the disorder really took hold two years ago, when she started to dislike chewing noises. This turned into having an extreme reaction to sniffing and shouting.
Kate says misophonia affects her all day, every day, and it’s made leaving the house impossible.
‘I have to go to less busy places and prepare myself to go out with others,’ she tells Metro.co.uk. ‘I have to wear noise cancelling headphones on full volume all day every day – especially with lockdown because it gets worse around certain people who I happen to live with.
‘Even the thought of a noise or seeing someone do something that should make a noise, like touching their face, can be triggering.
‘People think I’m trying to control them when I’m just trying to prevent a panic attack.’
Kate adds that her education has been affected, because once she hears a trigger noise it’s all she can think about. She’s unable to work when she’s anxious or distracted.
She hasn’t eaten dinner with her family in a year and a half.
‘I doubt I’ll be able to get a job or continue my education’ (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
‘I dread events where not everyone knows about my misophonia, including Christmas or birthdays’, she adds.
‘I doubt I’ll be able to get a job or continue my education.
‘When I hear a noise I dislike, I feel a huge amount of anger bottled up and I need to leave to immediately let the anger out however I can – which is usually ticcing.
‘It’s hard to describe. Most people hate the sound of a fork scratching a plate or nails on a chalkboard. For me the feeling is way worse, and way more often.’
Kate says one of the worst things about living with misophonia is the lack of support and awareness. Her neurological disorder prevents her from living a normal life, but as not many people know about it, she doesn’t know who to talk to. Not even counsellors have been able to help.
‘I don’t have a choice when it comes to being open about it with close friends and family,’ she explains.
‘If a family member stays with us, my parents have to explain everything to them, which makes me feel really guilty because I feel like I’m making their life a lot harder.
‘I don’t tell people unless it’s necessary though. I find it embarrassing.’
What is misophonia?
According to the Misophonia Institution, misophonia is a condition where a person has a severe sensitivity to specific soft sounds and visual images. When they hear these sounds, the person has a strong emotional reaction such as hate, anger, anxiety, rage, resentment and physiological distress.
They say: ‘A person experiencing misophonia generally has excellent hearing. It’s not a sensitivity to the volume of sound, but an emotional and physiological reaction to specific sounds.
‘The misophonic reaction appears to be an involuntary physical and emotional reflex caused by the sound. The sound directly activates the Autonomic Nervous System which is located in the brainstem and the Limbic System, which is associated with emotion. This is a direct connection between the sound and a reflex reaction.
‘Misophonia seems to occur more frequently in a person with a higher level of anxiety, stress or compulsive behaviour.’
Kate uses movies as a form of distraction, to help calm her symptoms. She also uses fidget toys and noise cancelling headphones, and her cat helps to calm her down.
At the moment, Kate isn’t receiving any treatment. She’s hoping to see an audiologist to get a hearing aid that blocks out background noises. For now, she’s relying on her mum’s help to protect her.
She says: ‘Some people go out of their way to make trigger noises around me because they think normalising it will help (which it doesn’t, it actually makes it worse) but my mum always warns me before she eats or drinks so I can leave the room or look away.
‘She tells other people about it which is very helpful because not a lot of people know about misophonia so it can be hard and confusing to others when i explain that I don’t like noises.’
Kate’s parents say Kate had sensory issues as a young child, such as the feeling of towels, the sound of scratchy coats and the feeling of seams in her socks.
Kate’s mum, Sally, says: ‘Kate hid her misophonia from us at first and when we would eat dinner, she would have her head down covering one ear with her hand and she would just eat as fast as she could, usually leaving food and making excuses to just get away from the table.
‘When she first told me the problem, it was very confusing as I had never heard of anything like this before.
‘Misophonia is quite often hereditary but the only sound I have a problem with is things with a certain scratchy texture such as certain wallpaper and those scratchy 3D stickers.
‘It’s heartbreaking. She basically cannot function properly now, the past six months she seems to have just given up and has stayed in her room as that is the only way she can control the sounds around her.
‘We eat separately, don’t drink around her, speak too loudly, sing, whistle, hum or make movements that trigger her such as touching our face, moving our feet, rubbing hands or picking our nails.’
Kate is currently seeing a therapist at CAMHS, which has been helpful in terms of learning calming techniques.
Just two months ago, Kate’s parents found a misophonia community on Facebook. They didn’t realise there were so many who suffered from the condition – the group had 3,500 members.
The group, Misophonia – Parents of Children with Misophonia, has taught Kate and her family so much.
But they feel there still needs to be more awareness of the condition.
‘I mention it to doctors and therapists and even they look confused,’ says Sally. ‘There is no cure or help and I’m terrified that new symptoms are being added to the list every day.
‘I’m concerned for her future and don’t know how she will be able to go off to college or get a job.
‘I would love to be able to raise awareness for this condition and hope that if anyone is suffering and has never heard of misophonia, just to reach out for support, and know that you are not alone.’
An Australian dad has shared his recipe to create mouthwatering sausage rolls.
Stephen revealed details of his homemade pastry, which includes three kinds of meats and veggies to balance it all out.
The dad said he wakes up early to make the baked goods for his wife and child.
That way, they wake up and can get to work and school with their delicious homemade treat to eat for lunch.
If you want to make your own version of Stephen’s recipe then you can pick up all the ingredients in any supermarket.
You’ll need beef mince, pork mince, and bacon rashers as well as courgette, onion, celery, and sun-dried tomatoes.
But there is a skill to making the rolls as you have to ensure the veggies don’t make the pastry soggy.
Yum (Picture: Facebook)
Thankfully Stephen shared his method on a Facebook group, where the whole thing went down a treat with followers.
On his post, Stephen wrote: ‘Making food for school lunches saves heaps of time in the morning and my kids love a hot sausage roll for lunch.
‘Vegetables can cause the pastry to go soggy if you don’t evaporate the moisture when frying,’ he added.
One person commented on the post, saying: ‘They look really delicious. Should I ever sleep in I hope someone in my household thinks to make baked goods for when I wake up,’
Another joked: ”Be there in five, they look great.’
Others commended Stephen for preparing the lunches while his family rested.
One mum wrote: ‘I love that you let them all sleep in.’
Stephen replied, saying: ‘My wife deserves to sleep in, she works very hard and I need to let her have her beauty sleep’.
How sweet.
Recipe for ‘best ever’ sausage rolls:
Ingredients:
Beef mince 500 grams
Pork mince 300 to 500 grams
Bacon three rashers
Courgette x one
Onion x one
Celery x three stalks
Sundried tomatoes x 60 grams
Pastry x five sheets
Eggs x three
Bread crumbs x 1 cup
Method:
Fry bacon and vegetables for 15 minutes, until the liquid evaporates so the pastry doesn’t go soggy
Mix beef and pork mince with two eggs and bread crumbs, add in the vegetables and mix
Cut pastry sheet (any brand of choice) in half, place mince mix and roll up
Mix the third egg in a bowel and using a basting brush, brush egg on edge of pastry
Set oven to 160 degrees and place in oven. Remove from oven when pastry is brown and crispy.
