2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on I worked in Boots & it was the worst job ever, I was bullied so badly I ended up stealing toothpaste I didn’t even need
FERN Brady has revealed that during her teenage years she worked at Boots, which she described as ‘the worst job ever’.
Before her time as a comedian and award-winning writer, Fern Brady, 38, did a lot of weird jobs.
GettyComedian Fern Brady has revealed that when she was just 16, she had a Saturday job at Boots[/caption]
GettyBut unfortunately for the writer and podcaster, she claimed that she was bullying so badly, she ended up turning to shoplifting items she didn’t even need[/caption]
Speaking on the Joe Marler Things People Did podcast, Fern opened up on her experience working for the chaintiktok/@thingspeoplepodPAShe explained that she was bullied by her colleagues for being “geeky”[/caption]
Not only did she make flower potions at a psychic fair, she also worked in a sex shop that sold hilariously titled pornography films.
And as well as this, she also had a Saturday job, working as a Shop Assistant at Boots.
But unfortunately for Fern, working for the high-street chain wasn’t as smooth sailing as she had hoped.
Speaking recently on the Joe Marler Things People Did podcast, the celeb, who is from Bathgate, Scotland, and achieved fame as a stand-up comedian at competitions such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, opened up on how bullying at work led her to shoplift from the store.
She confessed: “That was the worst job ever.
“All the women that were working there were horrible b****s.
“I was the geeky kid in my town, just like a total weirdo, and I worked in Boots and it was these rough as a******s women.
“They saw me for what I was on day one and bullied me and bullied me and bullied me.”
As a result of the workplace bullying, Fern admitted that she turned to shoplifting items such as toothpaste to get her revenge, although she didn’t even need it.
She added: “To comfort myself, I started shoplifting stuff, but there’s not very much you can shoplift from there when you’re 16.
“I ran out of things to steal eventually and by the time I got caught, I think I was stealing toothpaste, which I didn’t even need.
“It was awful. They did not stop taking the p**s out of me.
More on Fern Brady
Fern Brady, born May 26, 1968, is a Scottish comedian, podcast host and writer.
The comedian shot to fame thanks to competitions such as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
At the same time as performing, Fern was also working as a journalist.
As a result of her stand-up success, Fern has gone on to star on comedy panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, as well as appearing on Channel 4’s series 14 of Taskmaster and Radio 4’s The News Quiz – and now she’s set to return to screens once more.
In addition to her stints on screen, the star also co-hosts a podcast called Wheel of Misfortune and in 2023 she released her memoir, Strong Female Character.
In February 2023, Fern Brady’s book ‘Strong Female Character’ hit shelves.
According to a synopsis provided by Waterstones, the book is about ”class, mental health, societal pressures and individual ambition.
”Strong Female Character is a candid and ground-breaking memoir of neurodiversity, sexism and defying expectations.”
The book also has a strong focus on Autism – an incurable, lifelong developmental condition that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others.
The star was diagnosed with Autism in 2021 and while writing her book ‘Strong Female Character’, Fern considered how her autism diagnosis might affect her comedy career.
She explained: ”I kept thinking, ‘This is probably going to ruin things for me’.
”But then I reassured myself that the people I’m most worried about are probably not going to read it, although quite a few comedians I’ve sent it to have read it.
”I had a lot to say about autism and didn’t feel like it was stuff that I could say in stand-up, because not everyone is interested in autism stuff.”
Following the publication of her book, Fern won the Nero Award for non-fiction – one of the most prestigious prizes in publishing.
Judges praised the book as ”raw, honest and moving”.
“I got in trouble in that shop every week and I didn’t know why, obviously I knew stealing from the shop was bad, but all the other stuff I got in trouble for, I didn’t understand why I was getting in trouble.”
Not only did she shoplift from the major chain, but she also wound up her manager when talking to customers too.
Where has Boots closed stores?
BOOTS has never given a full list of the 300 stores closing.
Here’s what we know so far about some of the locations where branches that have gone for good.
Pool, Cornwall
Cambrone, Cornwall
Redruth, Cornwall
Wood Street, Swindon, Wiltshire
Clifton, Yorkshire
Cliftonville, Kent
Pemberton, Wigan
Littlehampton, West Sussex
Hough Lane, Layland, Lancashire
Front Street, Prudhoe
Rhos on Sea, Wales
Colwyn Bay, Wales
Portland Walk, Barrow
Gestridge Road, Teignbridge
Caerleon Road, Newport
Chepstow Road, Newport
Carlyon Road, St Austell, Cornwall
St Blazey, Cornwall
Lurgan
Chard Road, Plymouth
Mannamead Road, Plymouth
Claremont Street, Plymouth
Heathside Road, Woking
UEA campus
Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
Holywell, Flintshire (Wales)
Windhill Road, Wakefield
Upper Warrengate, Wakefield
Glastonbury
Uppingham Road, Leicester
Guildford Road, Woking
Kings Square, York
Warminster
Gorleston, Great Yarmouth
High Row, Darlington
Mudge Way, Plymouth
Mount Pleasant, Exeter
Kirkby Ashfield
Instead of trying to sell the chain’s latest and special buys, Fern opened up on her rebellious and cheeky attitude.
She continued: “They would get me to wear a badge that said ‘Ask me about the new No7 mascara’.
“People would be like ‘what’s the new No7 mascara like?’ and I’d say ‘it’s awful, it’s so bad, buy this one from Rimmel instead’.
“Straight away I’d get told off by the manager.”
She was often getting in trouble with her manager tootiktok/@thingspeoplepod
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on My evil ex called me 50 times per HOUR & tracked my every move – his controlling ways left me with PTSD
SCROLLING aimlessly through Instagram, Laura Rozario, 40, was surprised when a friendly message popped up from an old friend.
It was from Nathan Beck, 29, who was 11 years her junior, and a man she’d known all his life.
WNSNathan Beck and Laura Rozario – he has been jailed for controlling and coercive behaviour[/caption]
WNSBeck in his mugshot[/caption]
He called her regularly
Mum-of-four Laura admits she was flattered – especially because she was single after having just come out of a long-term marriage.
Laura says: “I’d known Nathan on and off for his whole life because our families had been really friendly. It was nice to receive a message from an old friend.”
Laura had just returned to Wales after living in Australia following her marriage ending when Nathan started to message her on social media.
“He complimented me on one of my tattoos and we began chatting away and talking about our families,” Laura says.
“Nathan told me he was single. His life sounded really chaotic as he was always out partying. I was in a good place and had just bought a fish and chip shop and so was busy running that and looking after my children.”
He tracked my every move and demanded to know why I’d even driven a certain way to work. Sometimes he’d turn up at my work to check I was actually there.
Laura Rozario
“His messages became more and more intense over a short period, with him liking all my posts. He got very flirty but I had no interest in getting involved at that point – my life was great and I was put off by the age gap.”
But Nathan didn’t give up easily and now Laura believes he “love-bombed” and bombarded her with compliments and begged her for a date.
“I was flattered but I brushed off Nathan’s advances,” Laura says.
“He was 11 years younger than me for starters. I didn’t think it was a good idea. I told him we should just be friends but flooded me with relentless compliments, saying how beautiful I was and how he loved my laugh, and wouldn’t give up.”
She says due to his constant pursuit of her and the fact that he made her “giggle like a teenager” she found herself relenting and agreeing to a date to a local carvery.
“He treated me like a goddess at first and told me how beautiful I was,” Laura says.
“He was loving and attentive and for the first time in a long time I got butterflies in my stomach.”
Within weeks Nathan and Laura became a couple.
But it wasn’t long before Nathan’s charming ways took a sinister turn.
One day Nathan called me 50 times in an hour to see where I was.
Laura Rozario
Laura had downloaded a tracker app – Life360 – to keep an eye on her son but it soon turned into a “prison” for her when Nathan downloaded the app too and began keeping tabs on her every move.
It was something they’d discussed together and was called ‘Beck Family Circle’. Everyone downloaded it on their phones and at that point Laura thought it was just a clever way to find out where her son was.
“But one day Nathan called me 50 times in an hour to see where I was,” Laura says.
“He tracked my every move and demanded to know why I’d even driven a certain way to work. Sometimes he’d turn up at my work to check I was actually there.”
Laura says the control escalated and if she went to Asda supermarket Nathan would call her and ask her why she was so long in the shop and sometimes she’d have to video call him to prove she was there.
Laura also suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnea and uses a CPAP machine when she sleeps.
“Nathan would drink into oblivion sometimes and be very nasty and abusive,” she says. “He warned me I’d better be careful he didn’t cut the pipes when I was asleep. I was truly terrified of him.”
Laura says he also controlled everything she wore.
“I couldn’t wear anything with spaghetti straps or above the knee. He would just go absolutely crazy. In the end I just gave in and would change to save an argument,” Laura says.
Her victim impact statement
This has taken a massive toll on my mental health. I have suffered nightmares, flashbacks and even started bed wetting when the nightmares are so real. I know now that this is a response to trauma. I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD and I have been put on anxiety and sleeping medication.
I also had to move address and children’s schools for our safety. As a single mother with little support, this only added to the stress. Most of my life I have been confident and bubbly but I feel he has stolen who I was. Even though I know he is remanded I still feel very unsafe in my home. I rarely leave the house. I find it difficult to socialise.
I found my job very difficult and my quality of work was slipping so without much care about consequence, I quit. I don’t seem to care how I’m presented anymore when I would always take good care of my appearance. I’m just struggling to process how a strong willed woman could let someone hurt and abuse me when he claimed to love me so much.
I was terrified a lot of the time when I was with Nathan, scared to say the wrong thing or look at anything but the floor in case it triggered him. I dreaded the weekends most when I knew he would be drinking. I was isolated from my family and friends and I still feel disconnected to them out of shame.
I constantly feel alone. He made me feel worthless and destroyed every bit of confidence I had.
Nathan didn’t have regular, steady employment for the majority of our relationship and other than his universal credit. I was the supplier of everything. I was the taxi and then waited for the abuse.
He smoked tobacco, would only wear name brand clothing and I would fund all that as well as his basic needs. He has left me so traumatised and financially unstable that I was behind on my rent and all my bills. For the first time in my life I pawned a significant jewellery collection just to make ends meet whilst with him.
Nathan would often read messages on my phone and read messages between myself and my family. This isolated me further as I was fearful to write to them to let them know how things really were. I masked a lot. Afraid they would judge or get involved and jeopardise themselves or make matters worse for me. They were very worried.
I just thought if he surrounded himself with good people he would change and I could save him from himself. He had this way of learning people’s weaknesses then using them against them for his benefit. Having absolutely zero integrity he would threaten to expose personal information as a way of controlling the situation or causing fear.
I have four amazing children and have been a mother for 24 years. I’d like to think I did a good job raising them.
He made me question myself and everything I was about. He would always make me feel sorry for him telling me that I was all that he had left. Because of him I don’t trust anyone anymore. He told me a lot that I was his. I belong to him and that we would be together forever. I’m not sure how much of those feelings I actually had or because he told me to have them.
I feel guilty about his imprisonment, like I failed him. Yet I dread his release in fear he will come for me and hurt me because in his words I grassed on him. Being with him on and off for 18 months has had a catastrophic effect on my whole life. It has changed me as a person.
The control started pretty much straight away looking back but I didn’t see it then. I knew it was really bad when he started telling me that I couldn’t wear certain clothes or go to certain places. Because of his past he was paranoid about certain people and was uncontrollably jealous.
We had a life 360 app. Initially I didn’t see an issue until it became a tool to monitor and control me. As well as this he would request me to videocall him to prove my whereabouts and that I wasn’t with anyone.
Nathan wasn’t an alcoholic as such but when he did drink which was Friday Saturday it would be everything he could get his hands on and drink to oblivion. He could be fine, drunk one minute laughing, singing, dancing then just flip out he would call me a slag rat c**t often.
He would be so paranoid, jealous…and there was no reason to be. He would call me the worst names and would make me feel utterly worthless.
Anyway I could keep talking about so many different instances. I live in fear now constantly. I’m afraid all the time. Of everything. And I dread the day he is a free man.
I don’t feel I will ever be free. Always looking over my shoulder.
He didn’t have regular, steady employment for the majority of our relationship and other than his universal credit Laura was the supplier of everything, although he didn’t move in..
Laura ended the relationship with him after she claimed she found out he had been unfaithful by sending intimate photos and videos to another woman 18 months into the relationship
Although she firmly told him the relationship was over he continued to harass her. She says he sat outside her house and follow her around.
Laura called the police who referred her case to the CPS and Beck was arrested and remanded.
Finally, on July 4, 2024, at Newport Crown Court Nathan Beck was sentenced to 31 months and 30 days for controlling and coercive behaviour for the torment he had subjected Laura to.
Despite being given a custodial sentence, Laura said the relationship has changed her life and left her with serious mental health problems.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families
Always keep your phone nearby.
Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
If you are in danger, call 999.
Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She said she has been diagnosed with complex PTSD, struggled to sleep, had left her job and moved house as a result.
She said she now “lives in fear constantly” and feels “unsafe” in her own home. She has been forced to move house and change her children’s schools in order to escape him
“What Nathan did has taken a massive toll on my mental health. He turned my life upside down. I have suffered nightmares, flashbacks and even started bed wetting. I know now that this is a response to trauma,” Laura says.
“I am a wreck. I’ve got window alarms, door alarms, on the 999 critical list for fire and police. Even though he doesn’t know where I live, I live in constant fear of him.
I am a wreck. I’ve got window alarms, door alarms, on the 999 critical list for fire and police. Even though he doesn’t know where I live, I live in constant fear of him.
Laura Rozario
“I’ve never experienced anything like it. I shudder when I think back at what I put up with. Nathan would say ‘You’re mine. You’re mine forever.
“It was so hard to get away from him. I loved him and wanted to save. But it was impossible and in the end I had to save myself.
“My saving grace is that I’ve met someone new – a lovely woman called Sarah who has supported me throughout Nathan’s trial. She’s so kind and gentle and she makes me feel safe and loved.
“I am telling my story to raise awareness of coercive control and hope my story will help others.
“Nathan love-bombed me and showered me with compliments and I fell for him but he brought nothing but chaos to my life. I’m just so grateful I got away from him.”
Their relationship soon souredWNSWNSShe thought he was so charming at first[/caption]
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Hollywood star, 64, spotted with model girlfriend, 30, in Paris – can you guess who it is?
A HOLLYWOOD star has been spotted with his 30-year-old model girlfriend in Paris, with the pair looking very content as they strolled along.
The 64-year-old has been active in the entertainment industry since the early 1980s, after he made his film debut in the 1981 action-drama film “Taps”, portraying a military high school cadet.
BackGridA Hollywood star has been spotted with his 30-year-old model girlfriend in Paris, with the pair looking very content as they strolled along[/caption]
BackGridThe couple were first linked last month after kissing in Spain[/caption]
BackGridThey both cut a casual look as they walked along[/caption]
BackGridThe actor has been active in the entertainment industry since the early 1980s[/caption]
And he has also starred in movies like Racing with the Moon (1984), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), At Close Range (1986), and the widely-panned Shanghai Surprise (1985).
And the Academy Award winning actor looked content, as he strolled along with his girlfriend Valeria Nicov with what appeared to be a toothpick in his mouth.
The couple wandered through the streets of Paris arm in arm, with Valeria glancing at her phone as they walked along.
The Oscar winner is of course Sean Penn, who opted for a casual look in a black jacket, blue shirt and trousers.
His Moldovan actress girlfriend opted for an all-black ensemble, with an oversized pinstripe jacket to keep her warm.
They both donned trainers, and Seann kept his hands in his pockets as they strolled.
Seann and his model girlfriend were first linked last month after they were seen passionately snogging in the streets of Spain.
Valeria has had various roles in indie projects, and also made a minor appearance in Emily in Paris.
Before Seann’s girlfriend Valeria, he was married to Australian actress Leila George, whom he wed in 2020.
The Australian actress filed divorce documents from Penn on October 15 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to TMZ.
Actress Robin Wright and Sean Penn married in 1996 and had an on-and-off relationship that officially ended in 2010.
The ex-couple have two children together, Dylan Frances, who was born in 1991, and Hopper Jack, who was born two years later.
Penn and his children made a rare red carpet appearance at the Flag Day screening at the Cannes Film Festival on July 10, 2021.
And before Robin, the actor was married to music legend Madonna but they divorced in 1989.
Another of Seann’s roles was of course on Friends, where he starred in on two episodes in 2001.
He played the beau of Phoebe’s twin sister (who was still played by Lisa Kudrow) Ursula.
Penn and his then-wife Robin Wright, as well as their two children, were fans of the show and the family had reportedly made several visits to the set over the years.
Entertainment Weekly wrote that producers did not pitch a role to Penn to join a few episodes until they had crafted the perfect character.
David Crane, the co-creator of the sitcom, noted that he had always admired Penn’s comedy and knew Penn would fit the role of Eric well.
BackGridSean looked deep in thought[/caption]
BackGridThe actor kept his hands in his pockets as they walked[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationSean is an Oscar winning actor[/caption]
Universal PicturesSean stars as American playboy Rowley Flint in Up at the Villa[/caption]
The announcement came a year after she revealed her plans to freeze her eggs amid fears of her “biological clock”.
Speaking in June 2021 – prior to being with Arron – she told Closer magazine: “I’m 35 in October and I’m at the age where women start to worry about their biological clock.”
She went on to explain that she wanted the option to have children in the future and “didn’t want to leave it too late”.
The break-up
In September 2024, it was revealed that after three years together, Bianca and Arron had split up.
A source told MailOnline: “It was a tough decision for them both, given they share a young child.
“But it just wasn’t working so it’s best to move on.
“All they care about is Sunshine’s happiness and they’ll continue to put her first before anything else.
“After struggling for the past two months with her living arrangements.
“Bianca is happy to have found a home, where she really sees a bright future for her and Sunshine.”
However, the Gunners did suffer their first defeat of the season on the weekend after a 2-0 defeat away at Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Arteta was dealt a huge blow in first-half after William Saliba was sent off to take Arsenal’s red card tally to three for the season.
The North Londoners will be looking to bounce back with a huge win in the Champions League tonight – and you can catch all the action for FREE.
How to watch Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League for FREE
This season’s Champions League has seen a new broadcaster enter the UK scene.
Amazon Prime Video will be showing the top Tuesday match in the iconic European competition each week at no additional cost to Prime members.
Should you not currently hold a subscription, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial which will give you access to all the benefits of being a Prime member.
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk is the third Champions League clash to be broadcast on Amazon Prime this season.
Why is Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk not on TNT Sports?
TNT Sports – formerly BT Sport – have held the rights to air European football in the UK since 2015.
This year, the broadcasting giants will still show 184 of the 204 matches live, but both Amazon Prime Video and the BBC now have coverage rights until 2027.
BBC’s coverage is restricted to highlights, but Amazon Prime Video will be exclusively showing the top Tuesday match for the next three seasons, including Arsenal’s clash with Shakhtar Donetsk this evening.
Who is on Amazon Prime’s Champions League coverage?
Amazon Prime’s Champions League coverage will see Gabby Logan as the streaming giant’s lead presenter.
Punditary will come from the likes of Clarence Seedorf, Daniel Sturridge, Josie Henning, Frank Lampard, Gael Clichy and Laura Georges.
Jon Champion and Alan Shearer will provide live commentary of every top Tuesday Champions League fixture, with Gabriel Clarke and Alex Aljoe reporting from inside the stadium
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Phil Taylor’s legendary darts career coming to sad end as 64-year-old forced to pull out of his last-ever tournament
PHIL TAYLOR’S career has reached a sad end after the veteran was forced to pull out of his last-ever tournament.
The Power is a legend of the game having won more titles than any other player during his professional career.
RexPhil Taylor has pulled out of his last-ever tournament[/caption]
He won the World Championship on 14 occasions between 1995 and 2012, and has 16 World Matchplay and 11 World Grand Prix titles to his name.
Taylor, 64, retired from professional darts in 2018 as he felt he was no longer able to compete with the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross.
He returned to competitive darts four years later however, playing in the World Seniors Darts Championship.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on I’m a parenting expert & next week will be Halloween hell if you don’t make 5 changes now with your little one
IT’S considered the scariest night of the year.
But as Halloween fast approaches it isn’t just dealing with trick or treaters, or their little ones consuming vast amounts of sugar, that is leaving parents terrified.
GettyYou need to start making five changes if you want to avoid Halloween hell with your little ones[/caption]
ShutterstockThe clocks change on October 27, meaning you need to start adjusting your child’s bedtime unless you want a very early start on Monday[/caption]
Instead, it’s the possibility that when the clocks go back on Sunday, October 27, their child’s sleeping habits will go flying out of the window.
However, according to parenting pro Hanna Pauser, there are some simple steps you can take to make the change more manageable for children – and parents.
Plan ahead
“As the end of Daylight Savings nears, it’s important to consider how it might affect your family’s routine,” Hanna, Head of Parenting Content at Nordic baby sleep monitoring app Napper, explains.
“Some may welcome an earlier schedule, while others may find it disruptive.
“To ease the transition for children, gradually shift bedtime by 15 minutes over several days.
“Adjust naps similarly if needed.”
You may well notice that late naps are making bedtime more challenging, so use a sleep-tracking app like Napper can support planning naps to prevent them from interfering with your child’s bedtime.
Lighten up
“As daylight hours shorten, it’s important to ensure that children get as much exposure to natural light as possible during the day,” Hanna adds.
“Exposure to natural light helps regulate the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that controls sleep-wake cycles which helps promote healthy sleep habits.
“To encourage children to spend more time outside, parents can participate in outdoor activities together, such as going for a walk, visiting a playground, or exploring a local park.
“Not only does this get them outdoors, but it also creates quality bonding time.”
If your child struggles to wind down at the end of the day, why not try engaging in some indoor activities like reading or arts and crafts to “create a cosy evening routine”.
“It can also be helpful to put on soft lighting and calm music to create a relaxing environment for your child,” Hanna says.
Time for routine
While you might not think the clock change can have a positive impact on your little one’s routine, it actually can.
Hanna explains: “The time change is a great opportunity to introduce or reinforce positive routines, like a consistent bedtime routine,” she continues.
“Calming activities that stay the same each night help your child wind down and recognise it’s time to sleep.
When do the clocks change?
The last Sunday in October – this year October 27 – will see the clocks change.
At 2am, the clocks will go back one hour, taking us from British Summer Time (BST), or Daylight Saving Time as it’s also known, to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
The clocks won’t change again until the last Sunday in March, when they go forward by one hour at 1am.
“Establishing a bedtime routine can be as simple as following a predictable sequence of calming activities, such as bath time, reading bedtime stories, and dimming the lights.
“This consistency helps children recognise when it’s time to sleep and creates a sense of security that supports better rest.”
Screen scream
While screen time is such a big part of the day for many little ones, you need to be careful about allowing your child near a screen when bedtime is approaching.
Exposure to natural light helps regulate the body’s production of melatonin, a hormone that helps promote healthy sleep habits
Napper's Hanna Pauser
“Establishing clear routines and setting limits on screen time can also help,” Hanna advises.
“When children know they have a set amount of screen time, they are more likely to explore other activities, like spending time outside, once their screen time is up.
“Even if they initially complain about being ‘bored’, boredom can often be the spark that leads to coming up with creative new activities.”
Oh sugar
And when Halloween arrives, trick or treating usually involves kids returning home with buckets overflowing with sweet treats.
They usually sneak one or two on the way round too.
But it’s a good idea to try and “set expectations in advance” to avoid a sugar rush which can also negatively impact sleep.
“Let your child know they can enjoy a set amount of sweets from what they collect, and the rest will be saved and shared over the coming weekends,” Hanna says.
“Many children are surprisingly accepting of this plan when they know what to expect.”
GettyIt’s also important to consider how much screen time your child is getting – especially just before bed[/caption]
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on Monty Don shares the perfect way to use fallen leaves after Storm Ashley and the quickest way to tidy the garden
MONTY Don has revealed how fallen leaves can boost the health of gardens throughout autumn.
He shared his tips for quickly making outdoor space look tidy following the mess created by Storm Ashley.
BBCMonty Don, pictured, has shared his tips for using fallen leaves this autumn[/caption]
GettyMonty said fallen leaves can be used to improve garden health and protect small animals (stock image)[/caption]
Heavy rain and strong winds have left many gardens worse for wear with plants damaged and leaves scattered.
Monty revealed in a post on his blog that the same advice he gave homeowners last October still applies.
He recommended using fallen leaves for a supply of leaf mould, which he describes as “garden gold.”
The natural material can be used as an alternative to store-bought compost.
“I am obsessive about making leaf mould,” he said.
“Gathering as many of the fallen leaves as possible, mowing them to chop them up and then stacking them in a big open heap.
“They break down into a lovely rich, crumbly texture and become an essential component of our home-made potting compost.”
Monty advised against throwing away fallen leaves in favour of using them to provide cover for small animals and insects.
He quickly sweeps leaves into piles under hedges and trees along with piles of prunings and logs.
He said this provides “essential winter protection” for creatures such as hedgehogs and frogs while also contributing to the garden’s health.
Fallen leaves can be neatly stored in a DIY leaf mould bin until they’re needed.
“If you do not have somewhere to store them sort this out early in the month,” he said.
“A simple bay made from four posts and chicken wire is ideal.”
According to Gardeners’ World, a leaf mould bin should be at least 1 metre cubed.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
Tree planting posts should be knocked about 30cm into the ground with 1 metre kept above the ground in each corner.
Mesh can be stronger than chicken wire for a leaf mould bin that lasts for years to come.
Leaves are best collected and put into the bin after a dewy or wet morning as dry leaves struggle to rot.
Monty Don has urged gardeners to also get busy this month with pruning climbing roses.
The task is crucial for ensuring the plant blooms next spring.
He said a “really sharp tool” is necessary for reducing damage and creating clean cuts.
“Use loppers for stems too thick for easy cutting with secateurs and a sharp saw for anything that strains loppers,” he added.
2 weeks agoNewsComments Off on I’m slammed for wearing revealing dresses as a mum – rude trolls say I’m ‘going to hell’ but I don’t care
SHE’S had a quirky dress sense for as long as she can remember but self-confessed ‘alternative’ dresser Lauryn Roberts refuses to change her unique taste in fashion for anyone.
The 34-year-old single mum constantly faces criticism for her style with cruel trolls saying she should know better because she has a son, Saint, who is four.
Lauryn faces criticism for dressing the way she does now that she’s a mum@altmumcultBut she told us that she doesn’t care what anyone says about her style – as her four-year-old son Saint loves itShe has no qualms about showing off her figure in revealing outfits@altmumcult
Comments beneath her TikTok videos regularly include: “You’re a mum – you should dress like one”, and “you shouldn’t go out”.
She’s also branded a ‘devil worshipper’ who is ‘going to hell’.
But Lauryn is always quick with her reply: “I’m not a regular mum, I’m an alt mum,” she writes, completely owning her choice in clothes.
That’s because IT worker Lauryn insists that she doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her fashion sense – which she really started forging after being an ’emo kid back in the day’.
“I’ve had it a few times, mainly on TikTok,” Lauryn explains, adding: “Personally I don’t care, I’ll always dress how I like.”
And Lauryn, from Nottingham, feared she’d be judged when her son Saint started school, as she’d heard horror stories from other mums about people slamming those who don’t dress ‘normally’.
But Lauryn says any hostility because of her appearance is rare.
I’m not a regular mum, I’m an alt mum!
Lauryn, aka Alt Mum Cult
She explains: “I’ve not really experienced much judgement, which was quite surprising as I always heard people talking about how they were stared at on the nursery or school runs,” she says.
“In fact, the mums have been quite friendly towards me since I started taking my son to school.”
That’s not to say she hasn’t had the odd glance or stare on the school run, but Lauryn reckons that’s more to do with how she changes her hair colour every month.
She regularly finds herself being approached by men on nights out, and they’re usually complimentary about her unique appearance.
When it comes to fans of her look, no-one is a bigger supporter of her unique style than son Saint.
“He loves the way I dress and the way he dresses,” Lauryn says.
“We like to match outfits where possible and he’ll always be really proud and say he’s ‘matching with mama’!”
She does her best to stick to an alternative wardrobe for Saint too, which can be difficult considering his age.
What is an alt mum?
In Lauryn’s case, this involves embracing everything dark and mysterious in the way she dresses, the way she dresses her son, the topics and subjects she enjoys and her alt lifestyle.
She’s even taken this and used it as inspiration to start a Facebook group for other likeminded mums.
“Whether you’re a goth, emo, punk or just love the unconventional and spooky, this is your sanctuary!” the description for her Facebook group Alt Mum Cult reads.
The group is open to “all alt mums, mums to be, step mums, foster mums, those trying to conceive, single mums, LGBT mums and more”.
And those who are members of the group are encouraged to “make friends, find your girl gang, ask questions, seek advice, express yourself without judgement, share your wins and challenges in an understanding community, show off your baby bats and mini moshers.”
But she often buys his clothes from homemade brands such as Killin It Apparel and The Flash Collective.
The same goes for her wardrobe too and she’s a big fan of finding bargains on Shein aswell as Vinted.
Lauryn is flying the flag for other mums like her who love the alt style after setting up her Facebook group – Alt Mum Cult – which helps provide a support network for alternative parents.
“I guess I felt ‘different’ to everyone on the nursery run and I wanted to see if there was a community of likeminded mums,” she explains.
“When I first set it up I had like 400 members and we now have almost 8k.
“I’ve made so many real life friends from the group and it just makes me really happy to know that the group has helped other people accept who they are and learn to love themselves.”
She’s always dressed Saint, four, alternatively, and insists that he loves his clothes@altmumcultShe often buys items online as it’s so hard to find alt clothes for a child his age@altmumcultLauryn expected to face criticism from the other mums at school because she doesn’t dress like them@altmumcult
