LIFESTYLE
Why holiday shopping could be more frustrating this season as shoppers are urged to follow golden rule
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
As shoppers flood stores during the biggest shopping season of the year, retail workers are bracing for what many describe as the most demanding — and often demoralizing — stretch of the job.
“It magnifies everything,” said Nick Leighton, host of the podcast Were You Raised by Wolves?, which he co-hosts with comedian Leah Bonnema. Together, they dissect etiquette and the subtleties of social behavior.
“People are stressed, they’re busy, they’re frazzled,” he said. “When that happens, we tend to forget other people exist.”
Whether it’s gridlocked parking lots or shelves picked clean, the holiday retail environment can become a pressure cooker where manners evaporate quickly.
November and December have long driven retail sales, prompting companies to hire large numbers of seasonal workers to manage the surge.
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People visit Garden State Plaza during Black Friday shopping on November 28, 2025 in Paramus, New Jersey (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
These workers often absorb the brunt of shoppers’ frustration. Some customers treat employees as extensions of a corporation rather than as people.
This year, there might be even fewer employees to handle crowds of holiday shoppers.
Companies say they could cut back on seasonal workers because of economic uncertainty, while at the same time, shoppers are expected to spend more than they did last year.
“Yelling at a worker isn’t doing anything,” Leighton noted. “Everyone else is busy, too…. Your shopping isn’t more important than the next person’s.”
Here are some expert suggestions on how customers can be kinder, more polite and more empathetic toward the people helping to execute all those holiday lists.
Manners apply everywhere
People who behave courteously generally do so everywhere, while those who are rude in stores often have similar issues in their personal lives, etiquette consultants say.
“We do not pay retail workers to be a therapist, a social worker or a punching bag. It’s not appropriate, and it’s not fair,” said Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting in Massachusetts.
Long before she advised companies on etiquette, Smith worked several holiday seasons at a Hallmark store.
Plan your shopping trip and leave time
Smith advises shoppers to plan ahead — knowing who is on their list, which stores they need to visit and when they will go. “Set yourself up for success,” she said. “Bring water or a snack. Do not go hungry.”
Timing matters as well. “Ask yourself, ‘When is the best time to go?’” she said. “Weekends are busier, lines are longer and parking is tighter. If possible, go on a Wednesday morning when the store opens.”
Establish a little rapport
Smith suggests making friendly eye contact with workers, offering a greeting and using humor to diffuse tense moments. If someone in line becomes irritable, she said, a gentle joke about needing a nap can reset the mood.
“We don’t have control over others’ behavior, but we certainly do over ours,” she said.
Shoppers can help reduce frustration by asking questions — and recognizing that workers may not have all the answers, said Elizabeth Medeiros, 59, who spent more than 35 years in retail in New York and the Boston area.
Manage expectations
Customers often assume employees can control everything from inventory and discounts to restocking speed and even the behavior of other shoppers, she said.
They can’t.
“Customers are focused, especially during the holidays,” said Medeiros, a former district sales manager and longtime store manager. “They’re checking off lists and looking for deals, and anything that interferes with that throws them off.”
Holiday work is already tough for staff under the best of circumstances, she noted. “Everyone is often stretched thin. Breaks get skipped, shifts get extended unexpectedly and six-day workweeks become common.”
As Smith puts it: “Clerks are not the CEO. Don’t expect someone making hourly wages in December to change a store policy you don’t like.”
Training workers to defuse tension
Adam Lukoskie, executive director of the National Retail Federation Foundation, emphasized that most customer interactions remain positive.
“In the news you might see a couple of incidents, but most experiences are OK,” he said. “We work hard to provide a high-quality environment.”
The industry has invested in new training programs to prepare workers for tense encounters, Lukoskie said.
The foundation’s RISE Up skills-training courses now reach more than 80,000 people annually. “It gives associates the tools to provide customer service and to understand that an angry customer is usually mad at the problem, not at them,” he said.
Above all, he said, shoppers should reframe how they view the person behind the counter.
“Act as if the person helping you is your daughter or son, or your mother or father. Not just someone there to do a task for you.”
LIFESTYLE
Losing smell: The silent symptom of Parkinson’s or Alzheimers that appears years before other signs
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In a magical scene towards the end of the 2007 film Ratatouille, notoriously harsh food critic Anton Ego is instantly transported back in time, his childhood memories revived by a spoonful of the film’s eponymous dish. No pictures were needed – just the taste and scent of the food.
Smell is the quietest of our senses, but also one of the most powerful. Indeed, it can even open the floodgates to memories we thought long forgotten.
It is also the most personal and subjective sense, which is what makes it so hard for people to agree on what smells good. However, there does seem to be a consensus on the worst smell in the world.
In 1889, in a German laboratory, a chemical reaction involving a compound called thioacetone produced a stink so terrible that it caused people to vomit and faint half a kilometre away, forcing the partial evacuation of the city of Freiburg.
We still don’t know what exact reaction caused this stench, but it seems nobody is in a hurry to find out.
But what happens when our smell starts to fail? And what if losing smell were more than just a passing symptom?
A senior man and woman eat breakfast together. (Getty/iStock)
A shortcut to our emotions
Smell is an evolutionary advantage: it warns us of invisible dangers and puts us on alert. Scent can also influence our decisions, and big brands are well aware of this, perfuming their shops with fragrances that tap into our emotions and invite us to stay.
Smells have the ability to awaken memories and intense emotions, and the olfactory bulb is responsible for this. This small area of the forebrain, located very close to the nose, receives olfactory signals and sends them directly to the areas of the brain that manage our memory and emotions.
Despite its importance, smell remains the least well-understood of the senses, and is often underestimated. When it fades, it usually goes unnoticed, but we may not realise how important it is until we lose it.
This is what happened to Michele Crippa, a renowned Italian “super taster” who lost his sense of smell during the pandemic. Although he regained it weeks later, his personal nightmare had only just begun, as when his sense of smell came back, it was distorted. Oranges smelled like burnt plastic, peaches smelled like basil, and vanilla made him feel sick. This was likely because the neurons in his olfactory bulb had been damaged.
While any loss of smell is unpleasant, it could have a greater significance: a warning signal from deep with our brains.
A common cold, or Parkinson’s?
Most of us have lost our sense of smell at some point, usually thanks to a simple bout of cold or flu. However, this symptom can also be an early symptom of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. This has been known for some time, but the surprising thing is that the loss of smell occurs years before the symptoms of these diseases appear.
So, could loss of smell be used to predict Parkinson’s disease? The answer, unhelpful though it may be, is: it depends.
An early warning
One of the major problems with neurodegenerative diseases is that the damage is already very advanced by the time they can be diagnosed. In the case of Parkinson’s disease, when the first symptoms (stiffness, tremors, and so on) appear, more than half of the neurons that produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls movement, have already been lost.
Identifying early symptoms like loss of smell – which affects up to 90% of patients – could serve as a biomarker, alerting us to the presence of the disease. This would allow us to diagnose it much earlier and provide access to more effective treatments.
The problem is that this symptom is not exclusive to Parkinson’s: it can also appear with ageing, stress, or other conditions. This means we tend to downplay its importance.
About the author
Jannette Rodríguez Pallares is a Professor of Human Anatomy and Embryology at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
We still do not know for certain why neurodegenerative diseases cause loss of smell, although we have some clues. In some Parkinson’s patients, the disease may begin in the olfactory bulb long before spreading to the areas that control movement. This is because certain viruses, pesticides or toxins that we inhale could damage it and cause alterations to the area.
In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, damage could begin in a tiny bluish region of the brain stem called the locus coeruleus, as a recent study has revealed. This “alert button” keeps us awake and focused, and its connection to the olfactory bulb is what links smells to emotions. When that connection is broken, problems occur with smell long before the first signs of dementia emerge.
In short, the loss of the ability to smell would not be a symptom of the disease itself, but rather a warning sign that the degenerative process has begun.
Diagnosing through smell
When a patient comes into the clinic, it is not always easy to distinguish between Parkinson’s disease and other similar movement disorders. A loss of smell, combined with other tests and indicators, could help confirm the diagnosis. It could also help us predict the disease’s progression, as it is related to more severe forms of the disease.
Furthermore, the loss of smell in Parkinson’s disease is selective. Patients perceive pleasant smells such as chocolate without issue, but have difficulty detecting neutral or unpleasant odours like soap, smoke or rubber.
Other patients, especially women, experience something even stranger: olfactory hallucinations. This means they perceive “phantom” odours, such as tobacco or burning wood, which are not really there.
Incredible though it may seem, Parkinson’s disease even has its own scent, which has been described as woody and musky. We know this thanks to Joy Milne, a Scottish woman with a heightened sense of smell – she was able to recognise this particular odour on her husband 12 years before he was diagnosed with the disease.
The loss of smell may seem like like something confined to the nose, but it is actually a window into the brain. It allows researchers to peek inside the brain to decipher its secrets, and to gather valuable information that will help us care for and improve the quality of life of those who suffer from neurodegenerative diseases.
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Dame Judi Dench has expressed concern that the proliferation of social media is contributing to a “marked lack of interest in the arts” among younger generations.
The 91-year-old actress voiced her fears ahead of the release of Sky Arts’ Tea With Judi Dench, a one-off special featuring her friend Sir Kenneth Branagh.
Dame Judi reflected on the evolving landscape of performance, stating: “All I can hope is that theatre has evolved. With the onset of social media and, I believe, a marked lack of interest in the arts, I fear that the younger generations won’t have the benefit or interest in the theatre like we all had.”
Offering guidance to those embarking on an acting career today, the former James Bond star advised: “Firstly, there is no point being an actor unless you’ve got enormous energy.”
In Tea With Judi Dench , the veteran actress chats about her life and career with fellow actor Sir Kenneth. (Getty Images for BFI)
“The audience have paid to see a particular production, and it is our duty to tell the story to the best of our ability.
“I remember playing Ophelia at the Old Vic when the Asian flu epidemic was rife and coming on and crying all the way through one scene early on in the play.
“I was told off severely after the scene and reminded that the audience had come to see Hamlet without the extra bits added from me.
“If you can’t perform if you are not well, let your understudy go on.”
In Tea With Judi Dench, the veteran actress chats about her life and career with fellow actor Sir Kenneth.
Asked if there was anything she wished she could revisit in her career, Dame Judi said: “I would revisit any role of Shakespeare that I have played, as I feel I never explored it entirely by the end of the run.
“As my passion is Shakespeare and his plays, I would welcome the challenge to play any part in any play – anything opposite Ken Branagh.”
In 2022, Dame Judi and Sir Kenneth jointly received the Freedom of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, for their contributions to promoting his work on stage and screen.
Tea With Judi Dench airs on December 22 on Sky Arts, Freeview and streaming service Now.
King Charles sent a post box to scientists working at a remote Antarctic research station.
The box was delivered to the researchers after Kirsten Shaw, a station support assistant who also runs the British Antarctic Territory Post Office at Rothera Research Station, wrote to the monarch asking for an upgrade to their handmade box.
The Royal Household, who were “touched by the story”, teamed up with Royal Mail to deliver the red lamppost box which features the King’s cypher.
“Being in Antarctica is incredible, but it’s full of extremes, so I think it’s a special thing to send post back home, to communicate your experiences. It’s a moment of your life that you put down on paper and give to someone else,” Shaw said.
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The comforting aromas of gingerbread, fresh pine, and mulled wine are quintessential to the holiday season, often conjured within homes through scented candles, incense and the warmth of a fireplace. Yet, while these elements create a cherished festive ambience, experts are now advising a closer look at their impact on indoor air quality.
Burning scented products and even open fires release various chemicals into the atmosphere. These airborne particles can potentially trigger allergy-like symptoms or, if inhaled in sufficient quantities over time, contribute to more serious long-term respiratory problems. This concern prompts a re-evaluation of how we infuse our homes with seasonal cheer.
However, there’s no need to completely forgo these traditions, according to Dr. Meredith McCormack, director of the pulmonary and critical care medicine division at John Hopkins University’s medical school. Instead, she advocates for proactive measures to control the pollutants circulating indoors.
McCormack, who has studied air quality and lung health for over 20 years, emphasized: “Clean air is fragrance -fee.” She added a pragmatic suggestion for those who cherish these sensory experiences: “If having seasonal scents is part of your tradition or evokes feelings of nostalgia, maybe think about it in moderation.”
The risk fragrances and other air pollutants may pose to respiratory health depends on the source, the length and intensity of a person’s exposure, and individual health, McCormack said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
What to know about indoor air quality
People in the Northern Hemisphere tend to spend more time indoors during the end-of-year holidays, when temperatures are colder. Indoor air can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air because pollutants get trapped inside and concentrated without proper ventilation or filtration, according to the American Lung Association.
For example, active fireplaces and gas appliances release tiny airborne particles that can get into the lungs and chemicals like nitrogen dioxide, a major component of smog, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cleaning products, air fresheners and candles also emit air pollutants at varying concentrations.
The risk fragrances and other air pollutants may pose to respiratory health depends on the source, the length and intensity of a person’s exposure, and individual health, McCormack said.
It is also important to note that some pollutants have no smell, so unscented products still can affect indoor air quality, experts say.
Some people are more vulnerable
Polluted air affects everyone, but not equally. Children, older adults, minority populations and people of low socioeconomic status are more likely to be affected by poor air quality because of either physiological vulnerabilities or higher exposure, according to the environmental agency.
Children are more susceptible to air pollution because of their lung size, which means they get a greater dose of exposure relative to their body size, McCormack said. Pollutants inside the home also post a greater hazard to people with heart or lung conditions, including asthma, she said.
Signs of respiratory irritation include coughing, shortness of breath, headaches, a runny nose and sneezing. Experts advise stopping use of pollutant-releasing products or immediately ventilating rooms if symptoms occur.
“The more risk factors you have, the more harmful air pollution or poor air quality indoors can be,” McCormack said.
Practical precautions to take
Ellen Wilkowe burns candles with scents like vanilla and cinnamon when she does yoga, writes or when she is showering at her home in New Jersey. Her teenage daughter, on the other hand, likes more seasonally scented candles like gingerbread.
“The candle has a calming presence. They are also very symbolic and used in rituals and many religions,” she said.
Wilkowe said she leans toward candles made with soy-based waxes instead of petroleum-based paraffin. Experts note that all lit candles give off air pollutants regardless of what they are made of.
Buying products with fewer ingredients, opening windows if the temperatures allow, and using air purifiers with HEPA filters are ways to reduce exposure to any pollutants from indoor fireplaces, appliances and candle displays, McCormack said. She also recommends switching on kitchen exhaust fans before starting a gas-powered stovetop and using the back burners so the vent can more easily suck up pollutants.
Setting polite boundaries with guests who smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products is also a good idea, she said.
“Small improvements in air quality can have measurable health benefits,” McCormack said. “Similarly to if we exercise and eat a little better, we can be healthier.”
Rachael Lewis-Abbott, a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association, an organization for professionals who identify and address air quality problems, said people don’t usually notice what they are breathing in until problems like gas leaks or mold develop.
“It is out of sight, out of mind,” she said.
LIFESTYLE
Five Years Into Marital Bliss! This Lovely Couple Renewed Their Vows in an Enchanting Ceremony
Love can be likened to fine wine; it gets better with time. In this video, the lovely couple celebrated their union once more after 5 years of marital bliss.
It was a breathtaking outdoor ceremony, with family and friends present to share in their joy. The bride was an absolute vision of timeless elegance and grace in her breathtaking dress. As she walked down the aisle one more time to her handsome groom, she glowed effortlessly. The couple renewed their vows, pledging their hearts one more time to forever and to the beautiful bond they share. Five years down the line, and they are clearly still smitten by each other. With the chemistry they exude, you can tell that, given the chance, they will do this over and over again. 😍
Enjoy the video below:
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
Dick Van Dyke’s wife, Arlene Silver, has opened up about how the legendary actor celebrated his milestone 100th birthday.
The centenarian marked the massive occasion Saturday with his family and friends during a party at their home in Malibu, which featured Silver leading a flash mob dancing to a medley of Van Dyke’s songs.
“It went so perfect — just everything,” Silver, 54, told People about the celebration. “And he was so happy. His face, I love to make him have that face.”
Pictures and videos from the party shared on social media showed the icon posing for pictures with his grandchildren. Memorabilia from Van Dyke’s beloved movies were also brought out for the party at the estate, including a model of the flying car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the original one-man-band marionette of Van Dyke’s Mary Poppins character Bert that was used at Disneyland in the 1960s.
Ahead of his birthday, Silver had said the couple were not planning to have a big birthday party. “He doesn’t want to do anything,” she told People. “He wants to be in his room watching Jeopardy! reruns with me.”
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Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday with his wife, Arlene Silver (Getty Images)
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Van Dyke starred in ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ (AP)
The Hollywood legend has said that he plans on living past 100, previously stating: “100 years is not enough. You want to live more.”
Celebrations took place across the world for Van Dyke’s birthday, and he became the subject of a new documentary that honored his milestone. He also opened up about his tips for longevity in a new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life.
He attributed his long life to avoiding anger and hate, saying that a “brighter outlook” is key to aging gracefully. Van Dyke has also credited Silver, whom he married in 2012, with keeping him active and social.
“She gives me energy, she gives me humor and all kinds of support,” he said about his wife.
The couple goes to the gym together three times a week, which Van Dyke previously said is “good advice for anybody.” The actor said beside having a game leg, he had no “aches or pain” ahead of his 100th birthday.
“I still try to dance” the star said Friday on Good Morning America. “You know I played old men a lot. And I always played ’em as angry, and cantankerous. It’s not really that way. I don’t know any other 100-year-old, but I can speak for myself.”
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
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What a year in fashion it’s been. Never before has the red carpet played such a vital role in pop culture: thousands of armchair fashion critics now swarm social media, pulling out their metaphorical scoring paddles to rate the starry entourage out of 10. The stakes are high, and celebrities know it. The red carpet is a battleground for the public’s attention — the more shocking the better.
One trend in particular stood out this year: Method dressing — when an actor pays homage to the film they’re promoting through their fashion. It’s seen Timothée Chalemet donning tangerine orange for his new ping-pong drama, Marty Supreme, and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande channelling Glinda and Elpeba at every awards show possible.
To be daring on the red carpet is to provoke controversy and push boundaries because style, after all, is subjective. While we didn’t get any meat dresses on the red carpet this year (nothing can top Lady Gaga’s 2010 MTV awards look), there were plenty of gasp-worthy outfits to choose from, including one extremely graphic NSFW bodysuit, a suit covered in teddy bears and a controversial, almost-naked ensemble.
Below, we take a look back at the most daring red carpet looks of the year…
Julia Fox at the Grammy Awards
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When you’ve got the washing up to do at 8pm, but the Grammys at 9pm (Getty Images)
The Uncut Gems star was midway through doing the dishes when she realized she had the Grammys to attend, clearly. She paired a sheer dress made out of stockings with a matching thong and a leather jacket. The look was completed with an unexpected accessory: a pair of yellow latex Marigold gloves.
Lyas Medini at the British Fashion Awards
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The Jean Paul Gaultier bodysuit that got everyone talking (AFP/Getty)
The influencer wore a very brave Jean Paul Gaultier bodysuit depicting an unclothed male body — pubic hair, bulge and all. He completed the look with a pair of black gladiator sandals and a fuchsia pink lip, naturally.
Lisa at the Met Gala
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Pantless suits were all the rage at the Met Gala, thanks to Louis Vuitton (Getty)
The K-pop star sparked controversy when she wore a lace Louis Vuitton bodysuit embroidered with a collage of different faces, including one that — according to fashion sleuths on the internet — appeared to look like the civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Days later, the artist behind the embroidery confirmed the portrait was of one of his neighbours, not Parks. Whichever way you slice it, the look got people talking.
Megan Salter at the MTV Music Awards
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A unique take on the Dunkin’ cup (Getty Images)
The comedian and actor, who starred in Lena Dunham’s Too Much, has spent the majority of the year debuting her different performance personas across a range of chat shows and awards carpets. For the MTV Music Awards, she went as an interpretative Dunkin’ Donuts cup. And she’s a big fan of a beverage theme: she dressed as a Diet Coke for the Las Culturistas Culture Awards in August.
Bianca Censori at the Grammys
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Cue the inevitable… Kanye West’s girlfriend Bianca Censori appeared in yet another near-naked look (Getty Images)
To those who have witnessed the couple’s bizarre track record for their public appearances in recent years, it was no surprise when Censori stripped off her black fur coat at the Grammys to reveal a nearly-naked look: wearing nothing but a see-through piece of mesh fabric. You’d expect nothing else from the pair at this point.
Hailey Bieber at the Met Gala
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Hailey Bieber dared to be… boring on the Met Gala carpet (Getty Images for The Met Museum)
Award for the most un-daring look goes to Hailey Bieber for stepping out at the Met Gala in a mini blazer dress as if she were going for an understated drinks with the girlies on a Saturday night. So lackluster, it’s daring.
Jaden Smith at the Grammy Awards
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There’s no place like home: Jaden Smith’s face pokes out of a wearable house (Getty Images)
He wore a slick black Louis Vuitton suit, shirt, and tie, and completed the look with… a giant castle balancing on his head?
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner at the ‘Marty Supreme’ premiere
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Couple goals? Timmy and Kylie coordinate on the black carpet (AFP via Getty Images)
Timmy and Kylie took a leaf out of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s book by twinning in their tangerine-orange looks at the Los Angeles premiere of Chalamet’s new sports comedy, Marty Supreme. They could never beat Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s 2001 double denim, though.
Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala
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Kim Kardashian gives Crocodile Dundee a run for his money (Getty Images for The Met Museum)
Kardashian always brings bold looks to the Met Gala carpet. This year’s entry definitely had something to that effect, since her bodycon leather ensemble had a risque cut-out detail on the back. But with a theme titled: “Superfine: Black Tailoring Style,” why is it giving Crocodile Dundee meets Temu Cowboy Carter?
Teddy Swims at the Brit Awards
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Stay cosy: Teddy Swims brought his plushie friends for the Brit Awards (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
The rapper and singer wore a suit adorned with dozens of cuddly toys, including sharks, elephants, monkeys, dogs and teddy bears, plus a giant unicorn with shiny pink hooves. He’s taken the Labubu craze to a whole new level.
Amelia Hamlin Gray at the Met Gala
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Another take on the ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ theme at the 2025 Met Gala (Getty Images)
This look would have been acceptable, had it not been for the pair of nude briefs on full display.
Jacob Collier at the Grammys
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Jacob Collier glitters like a festive bauble (Getty Images for The Recording A)
Channelling his inner Christmas tree, the Grammy-winning artist stepped on the red carpet in a multi-coloured, ultra-garish, sequinned suit.
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King Charles has urged people to attend cancer screenings, as he opened up about his own diagnosis.
The 77-year-old monarch said he had been “deeply troubled” to learn that at least 9 million people in the UK are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them, warning of missed opportunities.
In the personal message released on Friday in support of Stand Up To Cancer, he announced his own treatment would be rolled back in the new year in what he called a “personal blessing” following an “overwhelming” journey.
Leading cancer charity Cancer Research UK said that the King’s candour about his experiences battling the disease “can prompt others to check in on their health and speak to a GP if something is worrying them”.
Charles revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer in February 2024. While Buckingham Palace has not specified what type of cancer he has, officials said it was discovered after treatment for an enlarged prostate revealed “a separate issue of concern”.
In his address, which was recorded at Clarence House two weeks ago, the King urged Britons to overcome “embarrassment” and make use of screening programmes, warning that early detection is “key”.
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The King has recorded a personal message as part of Stand Up To Cancer 2025 (PA Media)
Here is everything you need to know about getting a cancer screening.
Do I need a cancer screening?
In his broadcast, the King unveiled a new national Screening Checker that allows people to check their eligibility online.
The checker, provided by Cancer Research UK, can be accessed on the Stand Up To Cancer website here.
Cancer Research UK warns that the checker does not provide medical advice and should be used for information purposes only.
How can I get a cancer screening
Eligible people are usually automatically invited to cancer screening programmes, which are run by the NHS and Public Health Agency (PHA) in the UK and Northern Ireland.
But the Screening Checker can be used to see if you are eligible to take part in national programmes.
If eligible, Cancer Research UK says you will receive a screening invitation in the post that will explain the test and the pros and cons, which should help you to decide whether to go ahead.
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Cancer Research UK says that cancer screening saves thousands of lives each year (PA Archive)
It warns that while cancer screening saves thousands of lives each year, the tests are not perfect and there are some risks involved in taking part.
The charity explains that cancer screening is for people without symptoms, with the aim of spotting the disease at an early stage when treatment has a higher chance of success, or even to prevent it from developing in the first place.
What if I have symptoms?
Cancer Research UK advises people with symptoms or health concerns to contact their GP.
The checker and cancer screening are not for people who have symptoms.
If you have noticed something unusual or that concerns you, the charity urges you not to wait for a screening but to talk to your doctor as soon as possible, even if you have recently been screened.
It says: “They’ll want to hear from you and you won’t be wasting their time. In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it at an early stage can make a real difference.”
A white wedding is a heartwarming ceremony. From walking down the aisle to exchanging intimate vows. Surely, a look that’s just as divine as this moment is the perfect way to go.
For that effect, Turquoise Haute Couture designed this stunning dress. From the intricately beaded sheer neckline, sleeves and patterned silhouette to the flared, low skirt, this is one look that would have you radiating timeless elegance on your wedding day. The hair is a styled masterpiece, curled into a side-swept bun perfection by Hair by Angee. To tie the look together, Dher by Brown Beauty delivered this lovely makeup glam that’s soft and alluring If you’re a bride-to-be who desires something truly spectacular, then this look should be at the top of your list.
Enjoy the photos below and be inspired:
Credit
Coordination: @myrtleweddings
Hairstylists: @hairby_angee
Makeup: @dherbybrown_beauty
Designer: @turquoise_hautecouture
Photography: @oliver.dadson
Videography: @unclefii_studios @jb_visualss
Bridal Accessories: @lush_fabrics
Blogger: @wedwithmcb
Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
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Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more
The winter solstice, a phenomenon revered by ancient civilisations, continues to hold profound significance today as it heralds the official start of winter.
This annual event marks the shortest day of the year, characterised by the fewest hours of daylight, and conversely, the longest night. It is also the precise moment when the sun reaches its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
The term “solstice” itself is rooted in Latin, combining “sol,” meaning sun, with “sistere,” which translates to “to come to a stop” or “make stand.”
While the Southern Hemisphere embraces the onset of summer, those residing north of the equator will observe the opposite – the inaugural day of winter. This year, the celestial event is set to occur on Sunday 21 December at 3:03 pm.
Depending on where you are in the UK, the exact length of the day will differ. In London, there will be 7 hours 49 minutes and 42 seconds of daylight. That means it is 8 hours and 49 minutes shorter than the June solstice.
While that means that the day is likely to be dark and dreary, the good news is that it also means that the days will get progressively longer, with more hours of daylight until the climax of the summer solstice.
The variation happens because the Earth orbits the sun at an angle of 23.4 degrees on its axis, according to the Royal Museums of Greenwich.
During the warmer periods, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun in the northern hemisphere, meaning longer daylight hours, while the southern hemisphere experiences the opposite. During winter the situation is reversed as the North Pole tilts away from the sun for the northern hemisphere.
People take part in winter solstice celebrations at Stone Henge in December 2023 (PA)
Arriving on the same day across the globe, a solstice occurs when the sun reaches its lowest or highest point in the sky during the year as a result of the Earth’s axis tilting to or away from the sun.
For the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite case, as 21 December marks the one day of the year with the longest period of sunlight.
Historically, the winter solstice has been of great importance to many cultures, such as Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome, often as a marker for the passing seasons, and a possible time of rebirth.
In northern Europe, from the Faroe Islands to Estonia, Germanic peoples have long celebrated the event, which became known as Yule.
While Yule dates back to the Norse people, who celebrated the sun’s rebirth for 12 days, it was also celebrated by Anglo-Saxon pagans.
According to Pliny the Elder, in Britain, druid priests would mark the important date by gathering mistletoe and sacrificing bulls – which was also likely a practical measure to limit the number of mouths to feed during months of famine.