thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--What We Know So Far About How The New Covid Variant Impacts Kids

Morsa Images via Getty Images
The new coronavirus variant sweeping the UK could more easily infect children, scientists have suggested.
Experts say the data indicates it may be able to better spread among kids than other strains, but that analysis is still ongoing.
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Previous studies have shown 1-5% of diagnosed Covid-19 cases occur in children. However, cases among kids are thought to be largely asymptomatic, meaning they don’t show symptoms.
The new variant, dubbed VUI – 202012/01, which stands for the first Variant Under Investigation in December 2020, could mean more children are becoming infected than normal. But this is yet to be proven.
Professor Neil Ferguson, a scientist on the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), said during the second lockdown in England, there was an age shift in the distribution of the virus.
Speaking at a Science Media Centre press briefing, Prof Ferguson, of Imperial College London, said: “There is a hint that it has a higher propensity to infect children that may perhaps explain some of the differences, but we haven’t established any sort of causality on that but we can see that in the data.”
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He added: “What we’ve seen is, during the lockdown in England we saw a general distribution of the virus towards children, and that was true in the variant and the non-variant, and it is what we would expect, given that we had locked down which reduced adult contact but schools were still open.
“But what we’ve seen over the course of a five or six-week period is consistently the proportion of pillar two cases for the variant in under-15s was statistically significantly higher than the non-variant virus.
“We are still investigating the significance of that.”
Prof Ferguson continued: “This is a hypothesis at the moment – it’s not been proven. But if it were true, then this might explain a significant proportion, maybe even the majority, of the transmission increase seen.
“But a lot more work needs to be done to actually explore this in more detail.”
NERVTAG member Professor Wendy Barclay, head of the department of infectious disease at Imperial College London, urged caution about what is said regarding spread among children. “We are not saying that this is a virus which specifically attacks children,” she said.
“We know that SARS-CoV-2, as it emerged as a virus, was not as efficient in infecting children as it was adults, and there are many hypotheses about that.
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“And again, if the virus is having an easier time of finding an entrance cell then that would put children on a more level playing field.”
She added: “Therefore children are equally susceptible perhaps to this virus as adults, and therefore given their mixing patterns, you would expect to see more children being infected.
“It’s not just the viruses specifically targeting them, but it’s just that it’s now less inhibited, if you like, to get into the children.”
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has said the new variant is unlikely to cause more serious disease than other variants.
Prof Ferguson said the latest estimates were that the new variant could be between 50% to 70% more transmissible and that NERVTAG now had “high confidence” there is a substantial increase in transmission. However, uncertainty around the figures meant it had not pinned a final number on it.
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He also said the virus has spread to other parts of the country, with Susan Hopkins, of Public Health England (PHE) saying a hotspot in Cumbria was being investigated.
Asked whether the new variant may become the dominant one in the UK, Prof Ferguson said: “I think it’s highly likely to, from the trends we’ve seen so far, and how it’s spread in the areas which got infected first. Of course making predictions is a dangerous thing.”
Prof Ferguson said his best assessment is that the virus will decline over the next two weeks for both the variant and non-variant. “Contact rates tend to be lower over Christmas with the tightening of Christmas measures and tier 4 in place in the highest areas,” he said. “I would hope certainly to be seeing [the] virus decrease.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--CNN's John Berman Slams Donald Trump's Dictator-Like Talk: 'This Is Not A Drill'

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CNN’s John Berman sounded the alarm on President Donald Trump’s dictator-like talk.
“Let’s not mince words here,” Berman said on Monday. “This is not a drill. The president of the United States is weighing the kind of action you see in dictatorships.”
Berman noted Trump’s reported discussion of implementing martial law and having the military re-rerun the election in swing states.
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The CNN anchor admitted it would be “tempting to dismiss” the cast of characters assisting the president in his futile bid to steal the election — including Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, his “fired national security adviser and pardoned admitted felon” Michael Flynn and conspiracy theorist lawyer Sidney Powell — as “some kind of pathetic clown show.”
But Berman warned it is actually “scary” that Trump is so “obsessed” with overturning the result and even considering naming Powell as “some kind of election special counsel” to investigate election fraud.
“Remember, we’re talking about the same Sidney Powell that the president and his election legal team wanted nothing to do with just a few weeks ago because she was seen as too extreme,” said Berman. “Now, in the president’s eyes, she’s special counsel material.”
Check out Berman’s monologue here:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Michael Cohen: Here's What's Really Behind Trump's Election Lies

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Donald Trump’s motives for fighting the results of the election come down to ego and money, according to Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer.
“He knows he lost the election. He knows it. But the problem is he has an incredibly fragile ego and his fragile ego will not allow him to acknowledge that he is a loser, that he lost the election to Joe Biden,” Cohen said in a Vanity Fair interview published Monday.
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“This is a cash grab. When you finish a job, you’re always thinking about how to reinvent yourself. That’s what Donald Trump is doing right now,” he said.
With less than a month before Biden’s inauguration, Trump still publicly maintains that he actually won the election and was the victim of a widespread conspiracy to rig it against him. Anyone who disputes those baseless allegations ― including Republican election officials, the Supreme Court and even some conservative Fox News personalities ― has become the target of his ire.
“He knows that his next saga of his story is really going to be predicated around a Trump news network. It’s why he’s fighting with Fox every day,” Cohen said.
“He’s looking to steal their base. Because with his social media platform of 90 million followers, he knows that of that 90 million, 20 million are die-hard Trump fans.”
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Cohen noted that many of Trump’s most devout supporters have indicated they would support him no matter what.
“From them, he just wants $4.99 a month. And for that $4.99 a month, you get to listen to all the bullshit and all the far-right-wing conspiracies that Donald Trump can dream up,” Cohen said. “That’s what he’s going to sell you. That’s $100 million a month, $1.2 billion a year. That’s going to pay for the gas in his 757.”
Asked about his own 2019 prophecy that Trump would not transition peacefully at the end of his presidential term, Cohen said that knowing Trump as well as he did, he was certain of his forecast.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to criminal charges that included lying to Congress and campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign to silence two women ― Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal ― who alleged they had extramarital affairs with Trump.
Now serving the remainder of his three-year prison sentence in home confinement, Cohen has written a deeply critical book about Trump.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Hugh Jackman Delivers Devastating Line To Ryan Reynolds In The Name Of Charity

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The actors recently competed against each other in a charity event, in which they partnered with Sam’s Club to sell products from their personal brands: Aviation Gin for Ryan, and Laughing Man Coffee for Hugh.
Whoever sold the most of their products in a little over a month “won,” though donations of equal value would be made to both the SickKids Foundation ― which Ryan supports ― and Hugh’s own Laughing Man Foundation. Fans could also separately vote for the two online, without purchasing anything.
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The Wolverine actor ended up winning, which meant Ryan had to post a hilarious video on Twitter, and Hugh got to absolutely roast him.
“Quite literally, I have a legal obligation to post this,” Ryan quipped in a tweet on Monday, which showed the nearly minute-and-a-half-long clip.
Quite literally, I have a legal obligation to post this. pic.twitter.com/xq8q7ZXvb4 — Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 21, 2020
The video started with some words from Sam’s Club CEO Kathryn McLay. After McLay told Hugh he’d won, the actor called his friend and mortal enemy “Bryan” (a deliberate misspelling of Ryan) to tell him he’d lost the competition.
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A confused Ryan answered the video call with a “Hey Hugh!” and a slight smile, before the straight-faced Greatest Showman star delivered the news.
“You lost the Sam’s Club thing. I won,” Hugh said, before delivering a final, devastating line.
“Everyone hates you,” he added, before quickly signing off the video call with a “Bye!” and a smile.
A befuddled Ryan was left speechless on the call while he jokingly attempted to take in the news.
The video then cut to a white screen that flashed “CONGRATS TO HUGH” in all caps, with a slightly smaller “Sorry, Ryan”.
Reynolds has mastered the look of defeat. Getty
Ryan followed up the funny video by telling his followers that the “REAL winner of the feud is the SickKids Foundation and Laughing Man Foundation”.
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Hugh couldn’t resist adding in one last dig, tweeting in response: “You are gracious in defeat. It’s a start.”
You are gracious in defeat. It’s a start. — Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) December 21, 2020
Commenters clearly loved the exchange between the two:
You’re a winner in my book! (My book is against regulation though so it doesnt mean much) — Jacksepticeye (@Jack_Septic_Eye) December 21, 2020
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I demand a recount! The whole set up was rigged — Ryan (@combat_wombat81) December 21, 2020
Now you have to wear it this Christmas.. pic.twitter.com/cT2WHzENo8 — Vikrant Aarav (@aarav_vikrant) December 21, 2020
Please don’t ever smile like that again (like at the beginning). Holy moly. I almost reached for some holy water & I'm not religious. 😂😂😂 — Marryann (@MarryannCormier) December 21, 2020
The two friends briefly called a “temporary cease-fire” in their feud in April of this year when they partnered up for the All In Challenge, a charity effort to raise money to feed people.
Though it’s hard to remember why they started (fake) fighting in the first place, Jackman says it all has to do with Reynold’s ex-wife, Scarlett Johansson. The two were married from 2008 to 2011.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Susan Boyle Missed Britain's Got Talent Christmas Special Due To Coronavirus Restrictions

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Susan Boyle was forced to miss out on taking part in the new Britain’s Got Talent Christmas special due to coronavirus restrictions.
The chart-topping singer shot to global fame when her BGT audition went viral in 2009, and has since gone on to become one of the show’s biggest ever global success stories.
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On Christmas Day, the first ever festive special of the ITV talent show will air on ITV, with many big-name contestants from BGT history returning to perform in the episode.
But while many fans were surprised to see that the I Dreamed A Dream star was absent from the line-up of the pre-recorded show, Susan’s representative has now insisted she would have taken part if it hadn’t gone against Covid-19 restrictions.
Susan Boyle performing live last year Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
A spokesperson told Metro: “Susan, unfortunately, couldn’t appear on Britain’s Got Talent as her area in Scotland was in a tier 4 category, (the highest tier of Covid-19 restrictions) at the time of filming and she felt it prudent to stay at home and not breach the order by travelling to London.”
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Susan isn’t the only absentee, though, with Simon Cowell once again replaced by Diversity leader Ashley Banjo, as the TV mogul was still recovering from back surgery when BGT was being filmed.
The judges will all be teaming up with former contestants to perform during the episode, with Amanda singing alongside Collabro and Alesha performing a festive classic accompanied by musician Tokio Myers.
The Britain's Got Talent panel ITV
Ashley and his fellow Diversity dancers will be teaming up with DVJ and George Sampson for an epic Christmas routine, while David will join a supergroup of BGT comics for a new comedy sketch.
Since her audition went viral 11 years ago, Susan has released eight studio albums, and completed her second UK tour earlier this year.
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She has also collaborated with stars including Elaine Paige, Donny Osmond and Michael Crawford, performed for both the Queen and the Pope and received two Grammy nominations.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Border Talks With France Need To Resolve Today To Avoid Christmas Disruption, Industry Chief Warns

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Ongoing talks with France to reopen full trade and transport across the Channel need to be resolved today in order to avoid severe disruption, an industry expert has warned.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said the “borders really need to be running pretty much freely from tomorrow” or supplies of fresh produce like “salad, vegetables, fresh fruit” won’t reach shelves in time.
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“The problem actually is empty lorries, so the empty lorries which are now stuck in Kent, they need to get back to places like Spain to pick up the net (next) consignment of raspberries and strawberries and they need to get back within the next day or so otherwise we will see disruption,” he told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“As long as it can be cleared today there’ll be minimal impact for consumers – remember the shops are shut on Christmas Day which takes one day of buying out of the equation, but those lorries that are stuck in Kent, they do need to get back within the next day.”
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s warned that disruption in Kent could hit supplies of lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit, all of which are imported from mainland Europe in the winter.
There are currently 650 lorries on the M20 as of 6am and 873 have been moved to a temporary holding area at Manston airfield.
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A man stands next to a lorry parked on the M20 motorway on December 22. Simon Dawson / Reuters
Royal Mail has suspended almost all of its mail services to Europe due to “coronavirus transport impacts” and DHL warned that a number of its parcel services would also be suspended in the UK.
Last night Boris Johnson said at a Downing Street press briefing the number of lorries waiting on the M20 had been reduced from 500 to 170, but Highways England later said Kent Police had told them there were 900 lorries parked on the motorway as of 6pm on Monday.
Home secretary Priti Patel said the government was “working to get a resolution” as talks continued with France on reopening full trade and transport across the Channel.
She told Sky News: “We speak to our colleagues in France constantly on a range of issues and that work has been under way over the last 24 hours and will continue today.”
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The BBC reported plans to reopen the border will come into effect from Wednesday, citing French Europe Minister Clement Beaune.
The scramble to reopen the UK’s links with Europe comes after countries around the world closed off air and transport corridors over fears of a mutant strain of coronavirus sweeping across London and the south east of England.
The new variant of the virus led the to government effectively cancel Christmas for millions of people with strict new tier 4 restrictions across these areas.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday, chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance said more tier 4 lockdowns are “likely” as the new and more infectious strain of Covid-19 means the virus “will spread more”.
Scientists estimate the new variant, which first emerged in Kent, is up to 70% more infectious.
“Evidence of this virus is it spreads easily, it’s more transmissible,” Vallance said.
“We absolutely need to make sure we have the right level of restrictions in place.
“I think it is likely that this will grow in numbers of the variant across the country and I think it’s likely therefore that measures need to be increased in some places in due course, not reduced.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Lizzo Gave Her Mum A New Car For Christmas And The Video Is Good As Hell

Lizzo gifted her mother a brand new Audi for Christmas in an emotional video that’ll warm your heart.
The Juice singer shared the moment on her Instagram on Sunday, showing fans the exact moment when she surprised her mum, Shari Johnson-Jefferson, with the extravagant gift.
“Got my mommy a brand new Audi for Xmas,” wrote Lizzo in the caption.
“I remember crying in my car when my daddy passed, no job no money nowhere to live, wishing I could one day provide for my family. I couldnt do it for my dad so ima make sure I spoil Mama. Happy holidays y’all.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Grace Millane’s Murderer Named After Being Convicted Of Raping And Attacking Other Women

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The man who murdered British backpacker Grace Millane and then claimed she died accidentally after the pair engaged in rough sex that went too far, has also been convicted of two other violent offences against women.
Jesse Shane Kempson was convicted of murdering Millane by strangling her in a hotel in Auckland after meeting her via Tinder on December 1, 2018 – the day before her 22nd birthday.
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New Zealand’s Supreme Court has ruled he 28-year-old can now be named and has since been convicted of further violent offences in two recent trials, including raping another woman he met on Tinder.
He was allowed to keep his name secret through the court proceedings as his defence counsel argued naming him would prevent him getting a fair trial.
Kempson, who opted for the trials in October and November to be heard before a judge, was convicted of rape last month.
Jesse Shane Kempson appears in the dock on February 21, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Greg Bowker via Getty Images
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He was also convicted of threatening to kill, two charges of assault with a weapon, three assaults and two counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection at a trial in October, court documents state.
The Supreme Court has now allowed his name to be made public stating “the orders suppressing the name of the applicant in relation to his conviction for the murder of Millane and his October and November convictions now lapse.”
It comes after Kempson had appealed to the New Zealand Court of Appeal in August but it found against him on Friday, according to court documents seen by the PA news agency.
Justices Stephen Kos, Mark Cooper and Patricia Courtney said the Auckland murder was “committed with a high degree of callousness” due to the man failing “to call for assistance, searching on the internet for methods of body disposal … taking steps preparatory to disposing of the body and going on another date while Millane’s body remained in his room”.
The judges also found his sentence was not “manifestly unjust”.
Millane’s body was found in a suitcase buried in a forested area.
Grace Millane PA
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Kempson was convicted by a jury in November 2019 and jailed in February for at least 17 years for the murder.
He claimed Millane, of Wickford, Essex, died accidentally after the pair engaged in rough sex that went too far.
In sentencing, Justice Simon Moore told Kempson his actions amounted to “conduct that underscores a lack of empathy and sense of self-entitlement and objectification”.
On Friday, the judges upheld that saying: “Millane was particularly vulnerable, being intoxicated, in a strange apartment, naked, in the arms of a comparative stranger with whom she thought she could trust, and with his hands around her throat”.
Millane’s father David Millane, 62, died last month after a battle with cancer, New Zealand Police said.
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On Friday the force issued a statement from the Millane family, who said they were “pleased at the outcome that has been reached” in the loss of the appeal.
The family thanked the police, judges, prosecutors and the people of New Zealand and said “Grace, you are, and will always be, our sunshine.”
They added: “Grace was a kind, fun-loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, aunty, cousin and friend with her whole life ahead of her.
“She was enjoying the first of what would have been a lifetime of adventures before her life was so cruelly and brutally cut short by her murderer.
“Her sense of fun, her sense of adventure, her love of travel and exploring, along with her ability to light up any room she walked into it with her generosity of spirit, are memories we as a family cherish and how we will forever remember her.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--The Funniest Tweets From Parents This Week (Dec. 12-18)

My animal-obsessed son has decided that he's nocturnal. He still sleeps at night but insists that he can see in the dark & won't let us turn on the lights for him. The highlight of my evening is him tripping over toys and bumping into walls while acting like he meant to do it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--How To Get Through Christmas If You're Spending It Alone This Year

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Christmas 2020 is going to be very different for a lot of people this year – especially those in tier 4 areas where socialising is basically forbidden.
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But that doesn’t mean the day has to be a total write-off.
In a now-viral thread, Twitter user @MittenDAmour shared how to actually enjoy spending Christmas alone with advice such as eating whatever you want (“nothing but pigs in blankets? Just cake? Pot Noodle? Get that!”), and giving your day structure (“doesn’t have to be a rigorous agenda, but ‘wake up whenever, hot buttery toast and tea for breakfast, bubble bath, watch films, go for walk’ will give you a structure to enjoy”).
The heartwarming responses to her thread prove having a solo Christmas doesn’t have to be as bad as you might expect.
I had a blissful Christmas alone a few years back. Had enough curry delivered on Christmas Eve for three days, wore new festive pyjamas, watched all my favourite DVDs, and drank nothing but posh cordial and Baileys.
😊 — ThereAndBackAgain but Christmassy ❄ (@ThereAndBackAg6) December 20, 2020
Here’s how to make the best of the situation if you’ll be alone this Christmas.
Make your own traditions
When we spend Christmas with others, we often end up going along with what they’d like to do during the day. So, have a think about how you’d like the day to pan out – and make a plan so you don’t drift through it without a purpose.
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If there are certain traditions you love, keep them and adapt them to suit your day. Likewise, if there are traditions you’d like to drop, don’t feel guilty about it. If you hate waiting until 3pm to open presents, open them first thing. If you don’t actually like turkey, opt for a nice steak instead. If you want to stay in your epic festive PJs, do it!
It’s your day to enjoy – so do what you want and create your own traditions.
The best Christmas I ever had was on my own. I read a book, I watched movies, I took two naps and I ate nothing but Cheetos and leftover pizza from the night before. It was glorious. — Jessi Gile Eaton, MSEd (@jessieaton) December 20, 2020
Lift your mood with decorations
Christmas decs can make us happier. Fact. Psychoanalyst Steve McKeown previously told UniLad: “In a world full of stress and anxiety, people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of the childhood. Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement.”
If you avoided getting a tree because you were planning to be somewhere else, now’s your time to get one. It doesn’t have to be fancy – you can get small letterbox Christmas trees delivered to your front door via services like Bloom & Wild, or head to your local garden centre and see what they have left.
You might think getting a tree is a faff. Instead, you could hang fairy lights around your living room or make your own wreath using branches (holly, fir, etc) foraged from your local park.
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Stay connected with others
Don’t switch off from the outside world because you’re alone. Some might find it helpful to schedule in a few video or phone calls throughout the day with friends or family members – you could watch each other open presents, or eat Christmas dinner together while video calling. It’s not the same, of course, but it’s the best of a bad situation.
If there isn’t anyone you’d like to call on Christmas Day, there are other ways to stay connected. Comedian Sarah Millican runs #JoinIn on Twitter each year where strangers join an online chat and check in on each other – many of those who take part are also spending Christmas alone.
For anyone starting to worry about being alone/lonely on Christmas Day, we’ll be doing #JoinIn again on here. If you don't know what it is, it's a hashtag we use to connect all of those who could do with some company. Join us for #JoinIn. Our 10th year. — Sarah Millican (@SarahMillican75) November 23, 2020
Useful helplines for connecting this Christmas:
Switchboard, a charity which operates a confidential helpline for LGBTQ+ communities across the UK, will be open over Christmas. Call 0300 330 0630 between 10am–10pm.
If you need help accessing food, medicines or social connection over Christmas, contact NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 196 3646. (England only.)
The Samaritans helpline runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123 for free.
If you prefer contacting someone via text, text SHOUT on 85258, which is a confidential 24/7 text service offering support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
Eating disorder charity Beat’s helplines will be open 4pm–9pm from 24 December to 1 January. Call 0808 801 0677 for the adult helpline; 0808 801 0711 for the youthline; and 0808 801 0811 for the studentline.
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) runs a mental health helpline 365 days a year (5pm-midnight). Call 0800 58 58 58.
Cruse Bereavement Care’s helpline, for those who are bereaved, will be open from 10am-2pm on Christmas Day. Call 0808 808 1677 for support.
The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 2000 247.
The Silver Line provides support and friendship for those aged 55 and over. It’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 470 8090.
Love this thread. I have done Christmas alone before, and will again this year. I am getting my favourite pizza for dinner. Some vodka sodas. I'm going to spend the day reading, playing Xbox, maybe a walk (weather!) and I have some video chats planned. And really, it's just a day https://t.co/sCA3mRqMQU — Fiona Black 😷 (@Princess__Fiona) December 20, 2020
Eat like the king or queen you are
It might be tempting to snack your way through the day with whatever’s in the cupboard – but it’s been a shitty year and you truly deserve a treat. If you enjoy cooking, why not buy a small chicken you can roast? Choose some of your favourite veggies and get roasties (or mash) and gravy on the go, and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal – plus any leftover chicken can be used in curries or sandwiches the next day.
Hate cooking? Treat yourself to a takeaway. Almost half of Brits plan to order a takeaway on Christmas Day, according to Foodhub. Four in 10 are doing it to save prep time (we feel you) and 35% say it will save time on the washing up.
martinrlee via Getty Images
Binge-watch your favourite Christmas telly
One of the best things about Christmas is all the shows and films on TV – add streaming sites like Netflix and Disney+ into the mix and you can’t go wrong. Need inspiration? Check out these 18 Netflix picks from the HuffPost UK Entertainment team that’ll get you well and truly in the festive spirit, or the best Christmas films and TV specials streaming on Disney+ right now.
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For Strictly fans, there’s a show on BBC One at 4:45pm on Christmas Day which will reveal the 25 most memorable dances of all time, as voted by viewers. There will also be a Call the Midwife Christmas Special which airs at 7.40pm on BBC One and a Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas Special (BBC One) airing at 10pm on Christmas Day.
Let your body rest if it needs it
The best thing about Christmas is you can eat to your heart’s content, watch loads of films, nap at various points throughout the day – and nobody will judge you for it. If you want to pass a bit more time with a kip: do it.
Sleep expert James Wilson, also known as The Sleep Geek, has some tips for getting the most out of your nap. Firstly, research shows 10-20 minutes is the right amount of time to get the benefits of a nap – any more than that and you may wake up feeling groggy.
Secondly, the time of your nap is important. “Earlier in the day you are more likely to have light sleep or REM sleep, whilst later in the day you may fall into deep or slow wave sleep which makes it more likely the nap will impact our sleep at night,” he says. “Try not to nap after 2pm.”
fStop Images - Winnie Au via Getty Images
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Clear your head by getting outside
Going outdoors is a good way to break up the day – plus, you’ll get some vitamin D and you might even connect with others. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll meet other people on their festive walk who you can smile at, or say hello to from afar. You could also consider meeting a friend or family member who lives nearby, and is spending Christmas alone, for a socially distanced walk.
Some people also swear by a Christmas Day run for their mental health. Around 53,000 people in the UK logged a run on the app Strava on Dec 25 in 2017, with the most popular time to go being 9am. “There’s a special feeling about it,” Ben Sheppard, from South Wales, previously told HuffPost UK. “It doesn’t feel like a normal run. I’ll always go in the morning, clear my head and reflect on the year.”
Is there somewhere in your neighbourhood that you haven’t yet explored on foot? Or perhaps there’s a nearby beach you could drive to? Don’t do your normal pandemic/lockdown walk, shake things up.
Appreciate the small things like the robin in the hedgerow, the vibrant red berries cropping up among holly, or even the Christmas light displays in your area. Paying attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and the world around you – can help improve your mental wellbeing. You can also keep an eye out for dogs donning festive jumpers (very important).
Christmas Day dog spotting is great. Many of them are in festive jumpers and they’re all buzzing off excessive meat scraps. https://t.co/ZccNnnqnYm — Christmas Pudding Ballgag (@FearoDepth) December 20, 2020
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Focus on you
What is it that you love? It could be having a relaxing bath, reading a book, or enjoying a hobby – like knitting, drawing, bread-making or even golf.
Or if you can’t think of any hobbies off the top of your head, why not think back to Christmases you enjoyed as a child and the things you did – was there singing? Colouring? Gaming? Give them a go once more!
Whatever is it, think about how you can bring the things you love into your Christmas Day celebrations.
Help others
Have you considered volunteering? Covid has thrown a bit of a spanner into the works for physical volunteering, but there are still things you can do to help others. And helping others will, in turn, give you a mental boost, while also giving you purpose and helping you feel part of your community.
From making phone calls to people who are isolated this Christmas to volunteering as a driver to ferry food around, there are lots of ways you can still give back, even during the pandemic. If you can’t volunteer for whatever reason, why not call or write a letter to a special someone to tell them why they are wonderful, or leave your favourite restaurant or shop a lovely review online?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--Your Bumper Guide To Winging Your First Christmas Dinner

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Christmas 2020 is looking very different now that this new, more infectious variant of Covid-19 has forced Boris Johnson to rethink his original rules – putting a major spanner in the works and a pin in our Christmas bubbles.
But despite the last minute chopping and changing, many of us will still be attempting to cook up a festive feast at home, even if alone or just in a pair.
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Supermarket Aldi’s research showed one in four Brits plan to cook Christmas dinner for the first time ever with over half the nation looking for expert advice to help them in the kitchen this year. So we reached out to some of the country’s top chefs for their Christmas cooking tips and tricks, plus some wine pairing suggestions, to ensure the big day goes without any more hitches.
Downsize your dinner
If you were planning on hosting or going all out this year with friends and family, you don’t now have to match such extremes. Instead, think laterally. Scaling down needn’t necessarily mean cutting back. If you’ve been left with too much food and too few guests, try donating, freezing for another day, or some recipes that will use it up. Our guide will help nothing go to waste.
It’s still possible to make Christmas food feel special even with scaled-down dishes. Don’t opt for a monster size piece of meat when there’s only two of you. Go for something slightly more slender. And, if you’re yet to do your shop, why not try local butchers, corner shops, delis and greengrocers, who may still have stock even when your local supermarket shelves seem empty.
Or you could, of course, abandon tradition entirely. With no family or friends to answer to this year, you have a free pass, foodwise. Order a takeaway, cook whatever cuisine your heart desires, or simply eat your way through that entire panettone you were going to gift – no judgment her. The world’s your oyster, and you can even eat them, if you fancy it.
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Hands, fridge, space
Part of the problem with Christmas lunch is the space issue. Playing fridge Tetris can affect the freshness of your main meaty showstopper and all the trimmings. Make space by having a fridge and freezer clear out before you go food shopping to free up as much space as possible for those festive staples. Planning what should go in the oven and on the hob is important too. Even with a downsized menu, it’s still difficult to juggle everything and get it all out and ready at the same time.
“To battle this, you can roast your carrots and parsnips in frying pans on the stove instead of in the oven,” explains Michelin-starred Tom Aikens, chef patron at west London restaurant Muse. “Add little extras to your vegetables to give them a zing: chestnuts and bacon lardons to Brussels sprouts; lemon, thyme and tarragon to roast carrots; honey and thyme sprigs to roast parsnips.”
monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images
Still limited on oven space? Try roasting your veg with your turkey in the same tray. “It’s such a winning shortcut,” Paul Leonard, head chef at Lake District restaurant, The Forest Side, tells HuffPost UK.
“I always put all my veg underneath the turkey so that all the delicious juices roast the veg while the bird is cooking. Be sure to add classic aromatics like garlic, and some thyme, bay, and rosemary.”
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Timing is everything
One of the most stressful things about Christmas cooking with so many different components is time management. Five alarms go off within an hour can send anyone into a meltdown, so do as much as possible in advance. Plenty of things can be precooked in the run-up. This includes stuffing, pudding and even gravy (see below), which you can make before Dec 25, then freeze or refrigerate.
“What I like to do is to put my turkey in the oven overnight on Christmas Eve so it can start cooking gently,” says James Toth, head chef at Cornerstone in east London. “I put a turkey for about five people on at 80-100°C degrees, check it in the morning and to finish off the cooking and give it that roasted brown colour I whack the temperature up to 220°C degrees for about 30-40 degrees.”
Counterintuitive as it sounds, don’t stuff your turkey because it’s a recipe for disaster. “Stuffing the turkey actually slows down then cooking time as it restricts the airflow meaning there’s more room for error,” advises chef Neil Rankin, founder of barbecue and steakhouse restaurant Temper. “Cook your stuffing on a separate tray under the bird and use it to catch the dripping. It tastes better this way too as it gets nice and crispy.”
How to carve your turkey
Because we know this flummoxes the best of us, we’ve actually designed a 3D model you can place in your own space – next to or on top of your turkey – to see exactly where to make the cuts. Click the 3D model below to check it out – we hope we’ve helped to make your holidays just a bit less stressful.
If you’re on a mobile device, you can view the turkey in your own space by clicking the “See it in your own space” button on the top right of your screen. Use two fingers to resize and rotate the 3D model so it matches your turkey (or turn your real turkey to match the model) and click through the five steps in the carousel at the bottom to see exactly where to slice. If you’re viewing on a laptop or desktop computer use your mouse or touchpad to zoom and rotate the turkey. Make sure to hit the “Sound On” icon at the top right of your screen to hear a walkthrough of the steps.
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All wrapped up, piggy style
For many of us, it’s not Christmas without some Pigs In Blankets. We tested some of the weirder supermarket twists on the tradition so you don’t have to.
Golden rules for roast potatoes
Speaking of crispy, we all want the secret to crunchy-on-the-outside, and fluffy-on-the-inside roast potatoes? Done right, a golden tray of roasties deserve the god-tier top spot. And the trick to turning raw tubers into crunchy, fluffy goodness is the seven-minute shuffle, apparently.
“The first important factor is choosing the potato. You need a dirty potato like a Maris Piper or a King Edward. Dirty potatoes have a lower sugar content so they crisp up better without burning,” explains Crockers Henley’s head chef, Tom Westerland. “We peel them and cut them into what I call ‘roast potato shape’ – basically as many edges as possible. It’s the trick to maximising crispy edges.”
Seasoning can make or break a dish. When you’re cooking potatoes cover them with cold water and a good handful of salt. “Bring them to the boil and then rapidly boil them for seven minutes. Drain them off, ruffle them in the colander with some rock salt and this is called the 7-minute shuffle,” Westerland adds. “We then preheat an oven tray with beef fat at 200°C and plunge the potatoes into it. Roast them at a high heat until golden and crispy.”
It’s all gravy, baby
There’s nothing wrong with Bisto, but a little cheat here and there can take your gravy train to new heights. Good quality fresh stock (either from a deli or butchers) can make all the difference and make your gravy the day before.
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“Cook down some onions, garlic and thyme with a good glug of red wine. Allow this to reduce by around half and then add the stock, usually sold by the pouch,” Jack Stein, chef director of The Rick Stein Group tells HuffPost UK. “Let it simmer down for half an hour, then add a tablespoon of marmite and soy sauce for an umami hit and a splash vinegar to taste. On the day, add all the pan juices from roasting your meat at the end and serve.”
SolStock via Getty Images
Cheesy does it


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-22--I've Spent The Last Ten Christmases Alone. Here's My Advice On Getting By

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For most of my life, Christmas has been a strange time.
As one of four kids to a disabled single mum, the disconnect with ‘other’ families was most stark at this time of year. Although we’d get Christmas hampers and gifts from various local organisations, which definitely helped, that feeling of ‘otherness’ was always there. When returning to school after winter break, I remember my classmates telling stories about their trips away and the dreaded question ‘what did you get?’. Though we had our own looser traditions, the feeling that this time was very different for us was always evident.
When I was a teenager, I was put into care. At 19, I moved halfway across the globe from the country in which I was raised. Despite managing to build a decent career, lovely friends and some great partners, Christmas time still takes me back to my unconventional upbringing – every time a well-meaning acquaintances asks about my family, I’m once more running through the mental rolodex of appropriate ways to signal that it’s a bit of an awkward subject.
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Aside from the odd year that I’ve spent with friends or been in a relationship, the reality is that I often spend Christmas alone. I won’t pretend I’m always completely fine with that, but I can confidently say that I have grown to see Christmas in a new light. Sometimes, I even look forward to it.
Though a solo Christmas is something I now choose over spending it with a friend’s family or a generous acquaintance, I realise that this year it may not be a choice for many. It’s undoubtedly been a very difficult year for much of the world, and though you may have seen Christmas with loved ones as a sort of consolation prize, I’m here to explain that it may not need to be as blue as you think it will be.
“I’m not saying that any of my tips below will totally make up for not being able to be around your loved ones, but hopefully they soften the blow.”
I’m not saying that any of my tips below will totally make up for not being able to be around your loved ones, but hopefully they soften the blow. So to those who may be getting festive with a bubble bath and forming a solid throuple relationship with my old friends, Ben & Jerry, gather round and take notes.
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Films, films and more films
Let’s think about all the great stuff about Christmas. I would go as far to say that a good chunk of it comes down to chocolate and cheesy films. Fortunately, these can both very much still be enjoyed solo. And perhaps even more so when you’re the sole ruler over the remote control – plus you don’t have to struggle into appropriate dinner attire after 14 Terry’s chocolate oranges and being horizontal for days on end.
Do some good!
Many of us know of the call to help out at soup kitchens and homeless shelters around this time. But in 2020, that may not be as easy. Have a think about the smaller ways to support those vulnerable at this time. OnHand is a brilliant app that allows you to connect with local people who require help with small tasks such as picking up groceries or collecting their prescription. Simply open the app and see local requests, contact the person in need and agree to how you can help them. If you’d rather volunteer digitally, there are tons of ways to do that too. For example, VocaliD hosts online voice drives where anyone can register to donate their voice to help build its database of voices that are gifted to non-verbal individuals, ensuring they have plenty of voices to choose from rather than being limited to the default robot-esque option.
Video calls (in moderation)
By this point, it’s almost certain that your older relatives will have gotten to grips with FaceTime or Zoom, meaning a virtual dinner or cringe family quiz will be slightly less traumatic than attempting one in previous years. Plus, you can secretly WhatsApp your cool cousin about how Auntie Barb is rumoured to be having an affair with her colleague, an
d no one will know! Another unexpected plus: you can claim wifi issues when you need to go off the call to scream into a pillow in the middle of your dad’s Brexit speech.
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Do. Your. Taxes.
I’m pretty convinced that the true meaning of Christmas is to give freelancers an allocated time to complete their tax returns. Why not take over the sitting room floor, pop on a shitty Christmas film, grab your calculator and get to it. It’s what baby Jesus would have wanted.
Bring on the LOLs
I can honestly say that Zoom comedy gigs have basically single-handed carried me through some of the darkest times of the year. Comedian Catherine Bohart (the Irish princess of my dreams) has been hosting Gigless, a comedy night every Thursday evening, since the first lockdown. Alongside her co-host Helen Bauer, Bohart spotlights a range of both well-established and up-and-coming performers with past line-ups including Bethany Black, Felicity Ward, Nish Kumar and Kemah Bob. Bohart also ensures that the gig features plenty of queer performers and absolutely smashes it when it comes to creating a welcoming space to all LGBTQI+ folks with a good wifi connection.
‘Self-love’
Right. It’s been a super stressful year. What better way to let the worries melt away than with a bit of good old-fashioned self-pleasure. 2020 has been a year of exciting innovations on the self-pleasure front, including the rise in audio porn, for example. The best part? No awkward eye contact with your childhood teddy bear while letting off some steam.
Reflection with a capital R
I challenge anyone to claim that they haven’t learned anything from 2020. So, now is the time to reflect on those things. I have my own tradition of writing down some of the memorable events of the year, what things I was slightly obsessed with and more general lessons, etc.
Allow yourself to take the time to look back and reflect on what you’d like to hang onto from 2020 (sourdough skills) and what you’d prefer to leave behind. And what about ‘the old world’? What things do you fancy getting back into when guidelines allow and what will you make a thing of the past? Good luck trying to convince me that being in an office from 9-6 is completely essential to my job, for example.
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Grace Johns is a freelance journalist and copywriter


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Matt Hancock Calls Press Conference With More Areas Facing Tier 4 Restrictions

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Matt Hancock will hold a press conference on Wednesday with more areas expected to be put into the toughest tier 4 coronavirus lockdowns.
The health secretary attended a meeting of the cabinet’s Covid operations committee on Wednesday to consider the latest data on the spread of the virus.
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He will now address the public and press at 3pm alongside deputy chief medical officer for England, Dr Jenny Harries, and Dr Susan Hopkins from Public Health
Earlier, communities secretary Robert Jenrick acknowledged that “it may be necessary to take further action” to curb rising case numbers, thought to be due to a new and more infectious strain of the virus.
But he ruled out the changes taking effect before or during the one-day Christmas relaxation of the rules for areas that are not currently in tier 4.
Ahead of Hancock’s press conference, a health official said: “Ministers have met today to assess what further action may be needed to address the rise in cases driven by the new variant.
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“The health secretary will provide an update at a Downing Street press conference at 3pm.”
It came as the UK’s coronavirus reproduction (R) rate rose again to between 1.1 and 1.3.
R measures the number of people, on average, that each sick person will infect.
If R is greater than 1, the epidemic is generally seen to be growing; if R is less than 1 the epidemic is shrinking.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--The UK's Covid R Number Has Risen Again

The UK's Covid R Number Has Risen Again

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The UK’s coronavirus R (reproduction) rate has risen once again to between 1.1 and 1.3.
Last week the value reached 1.1 to 1.2.
R measures the number of people, on average, that each sick person will infect.
If R is greater than 1, the epidemic is generally seen to be growing; if R is less than 1 the epidemic is shrinking.
The figure is highest in the East of England and in London, with an R value of 1.2 to 1.5, which means every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 15 further people.
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The R value in England as a whole is 1.1 to 1.4, and is lowest in the north-east and Yorkshire, and in the north-west (0.9 to 11).
The data also suggested a growth rate of between 1% and 6%, which means the number of new infections is growing by between 1% and 6% every day.
The latest figures, published by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), come amid growing concerns of the spread of a mutant coronavirus strain, largely affecting London and the South East.
As many as 10,000 lorries are currently trapped in Kent after the border between the UK and France was closed for two days. France is now permitting travellers from the UK, but they must first test negative before crossing into mainland Europe – a logistical exercise that even the government admits could take several days to carry out.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Revealed: The Places Covid Infections Are Rising Fastest In England

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Matt Hancock has announced more areas of England will be placed under tier 4 restrictions in an effort to slow the rapid spread of a new mutant strain of coronavirus.
The health secretary said Covid-19 is spreading at a “dangerous rate” across large parts of the country and also revealed a new “concerning” and “more transmissible” variant from South Africa has been detected in the UK.
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Publicly available data paints a grim picture of the current situation in England with cases rising in most areas at alarming rates.
And on Wednesday afternoon it was announced the UK’s coronavirus R (reproduction) rate has risen once again to between 1.1 and 1.3.
Last week the value stood at 1.1 to 1.2.
The data below is taken from NHS Digital and relates to the seven-day period up to December 20.
1) Cases have more than doubled in some of the worst hit areas
For context, the government’s own threshold for quarantining overseas travellers is 20 cases per 100,000 people over a seven-day average.
Brits visiting countries with higher case rates are required to quarantine for 10 days upon their return.
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Currently in England the region with the highest case rate is Thurrock with a staggering 1,198.8 cases per 100,000 people.
Not a single area of the UK is below the threshold of 20. The lowest is Torbay at 71.2.
20 worst hit areas
Thurrock 1,198.8 Havering 1,111.1 Redbridge 991.4 Medway 970.0 Barking and Dagenham 899.0 Southend-on-Sea 893.9 Bexley 852.6 Waltham Forest 809.8 Newham 746.5 Tower Hamlets 735.3 Enfield 734.0 Essex 706.0 Kent 663.3 Bromley 642.1 City of London 641.9 Milton Keynes 626.8 Haringey 626.5 Greenwich 572.3 Croydon 559.9 Wandsworth 557.2
2) The handful of areas in tier 1 have seen a massive increases in cases
Only three areas of England were under the lowest tier 1 restrictions and these now account for the regions with the highest increase in cases – the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and Herefordshire.
The Isle of Wight along with Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly had fared relatively well in terms of infection rates.
SIPA USA/PA Images
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People drink in the Prince of Wales pub in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, after the second national lockdown ended earlier this month. PA
Just last week the latest data showed both areas had case rates just above the travel corridor threshold of 20 per 100,000 people – 21.2 and 29.7 respectively.
These have since surged. In the Isle of Wight cases have risen 323% to 89.6 and in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 117% to 74.3.
Hereford, the only other area in tier 1, case rates have risen 114% from 51.3 to 126.6.
Largest increase in cases
Isle of Wight 323% (89.6 cases per 100,000) Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 117% (74.3) Herefordshire 114% (126.6) Islington 106% (534.5) Southhampton 104% (209.9) Southend-on-Sea 104% (893.9) York 103% (140.5) Hammersmith 94% (465) Torbay 94% (71.2) Westminster 94% (367.4)
3) Cases are rising in all but two tier 2 areas
Of 27 areas currently under tier 2 restrictions, only two have seen a decrease in cases – Rutland and Shropshire -33% and -11% respectively.
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Some tier 2 areas have seen huge surges with cases more than doubling in Southampton and York.
Worst hit tier 2 areas
Southampton 104% (209.9) York 103% (140.5) Brighton and Hove 84% (218.3) East Sussex 76% (478.1) Dorset 68% (83.7) Hampshire 67% (202.6) West Sussex 66% (202.7 Liverpool 66% (165.6) Bournemouth 64% (151.0) Oxfordshire 61% (246.1) Cumbria 53% (164.4) Cheshire 46% (207.2) Warrington 46% (246.7) Norfolk 46% (189.6) Suffolk 39% (171.9) Cambridgeshire 38% (162.7) Somerset 35% (169.9) Northamptonshire 31% (228.9) Devon 31% (128.2) Swindon 25% (173.3)
Police officers blocking the entrance to the Port of Dover in Kent, after French authorities announced that the coronavirus ban has been lifted PA
4) Of 151 regions in England, cases are only going down in 23
There are 151 areas listed on the NHS dashboard and only 23 have seen a decrease in cases over the last seven days, most of them in the North and Yorkshire.
Of these, only two – Rutland and Shropshire – have seen the case infection rate drop below 100 per 100,000 people.
The biggest decreases in cases
Rutland -33% (92.7) Wigan -18% (144.5) Redcar and Cleveland -16% (119.6) Lincolnshire -14% (225.7) Rochdale -13% (189.7) South Tyneside -13% (281.5) Sheffield -13% (133.9) Bradford -12% (157.1) Blackpool -11% (146.3) Shropshire -11% (87) North East Lincolnshire -11% (106.5) Newcastle upon Tyne -10% (138) Doncaster -10% (179.9) Kirklees -9% (149.4) Rotherham -9% (218.5) Bury -9% (195.8) East Riding of Yorkshire -8% (130.1) Calderdale -6% (150.4) Stockton-on-Tees -6% (189.5) Bolton -3% (144) Wakefield -2% (151.3) Oldham -2% (183) Stoke-on-Trent -2% (312.4)
5) Hospitalisations are not rising as fast as infections – yet
Government data show a steady uptick in hospitalisations over the last few days with 1,327 people being admitted to hospital on the 21 December.
This compares with a peak of around 2,800 daily admissions at the height of the first wave in April.
UK Gov
What’s concerning is the lag between cases being detected and symptoms becoming severe enough to require hospital treatment – typically there is a lag of a few weeks between people testing positive for the virus, then a rise in hospitalisations, and then a rise in deaths.
On Tuesday 405 Covid deaths in English hospitals were recorded, the deadliest day of the entire second wave. In total, there were 691 deaths recorded in the UK.
According to the most recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of excess deaths that have occurred in the UK since the start of the coronavirus pandemic has now passed 80,000.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--6 Foods To Eat If You Have The Winter Blues

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You probably feel a little bit down once the sun starts setting at 4pm, especially if you live somewhere prone to wintery weather. You’re not alone! Everyone gets the winter blues, and according to the National Institute of Mental Health, millions of people have seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with symptoms that include depression, sluggishness and changes in appetite.
While there’s no cure for the winter blues or SAD, there are things you can do to help mitigate them (and you should definitely see a doctor if you’re concerned about your symptoms). Begin by getting some sunshine and exercise, even if it’s just a little bit each day.
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“Sunlight, of course, is important and any type of movement, whether that’s walking or stretching or yoga poses,” said Laura Lagano, a clinical integrative nutritionist.
What you eat – and don’t eat – also helps combat the winter blues. Here are some foods to eat and others to avoid in the cold days ahead.
Salmon and yellowfin tuna
During the darkness of winter, your body has trouble producing vitamin D. These fish are very rich in vitamin D, said registered dietician Kelly Jones.
“They are great to include in your diet a couple of times a week in three- to four-ounce portions to get adequate amounts so that we’re meeting our needs, especially when we don’t have that added sun exposure,” she told HuffPost.
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Lagano suggested taking vitamin D supplements as another option.
Fish like salmon and yellowfin tuna also provide omega-3 fatty acids, which help to fight inflammation. “We’re finding that inflammation is not just something that affects the heart, but also the brain. So any brain inflammation is going to interfere with production of hormones that help you feel better. And especially, again, in the winter months, when people are more prone to feeling a little bit down, prioritizing the omega-3 can be extra helpful,” Jones said.
Colourful fruits and veggies
It can be an effort to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables in the winter, but it’s important in order to get a range of antioxidants and vitamin C.
“If you’re only eating apples and bananas for your fruit every day, and you’re eating leafy greens and focusing on all your green veggies but you’re missing out on red or orange or purple, then you’re only getting certain antioxidants,” Jones explained. “So the more different colours you get, the more antioxidants you have that can work together to lower inflammation.”
twomeows via Getty Images Antioxidants, which can lower the levels of inflammation in the body, are found in colourful fruits and vegetables.
Don’t worry about buying out-of-season fresh fruits and vegetables. Frozen and canned produce is perfectly acceptable, Jones said.
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“I recommend getting frozen berry blends, different frozen vegetable blends. Obviously, the greens are great, but maybe you’re getting peas and carrots too, to have a little bit more variety there,” she said. If you get canned fruit, make sure it doesn’t have added sugar.
Legumes, nuts and seeds
By now we’ve all likely heard of probiotics, microorganisms that can support gut health. But we also need prebiotics, which “feed” the bacteria in our lower digestive tracts, Jones said.
You can find prebiotics in most whole plant foods, but legumes, nuts and seeds are especially good sources and they also serve as a protein option.
“If our gut is not happy, then it’s very likely that people are going to deal with more stress and anxiety mentally. So it’s important to regularly eat those whole plant foods that support the bacteria so that your brain can feel better too,” Jones advised.
Shellfish
According to Lagano, increasing zinc intake is a must in the winter. It’s believed to help maintain the immune system while metabolising nutrients and keeping up energy levels.
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One of the best sources of zinc is shellfish ― think shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels and oysters. They’re also relatively low in calories and high in protein. If shellfish isn’t your thing, ramp up the chickpeas and lentils.
nicolesy via Getty Images Shrimp contain zinc that can boost your immune system and keep you from feeling rundown.
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is another great source of zinc, Lagano said. “I’m not talking milk chocolate. I’m talking 85% cacao,” she added.
Bitter greens
Iceberg lettuce is tasty – who doesn’t love a wedge salad? – but it might not give you the immune-boosting benefits you need. When it comes to greens, try to go for the dark, bitter ones.
“The more bitter the green, the better it’s going to be. Arugula, radicchio and dandelion ― those are going to be some of the top ones,” Lagano said.
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What to scale back on
Jones doesn’t like to tell people to cut out certain foods completely because it can lead to bingeing later, but something to scale back on is greasy, fatty food. As much as those cold, blustery winds push us toward the drive-thru window, the fats found in French fries can increase inflammation and make us feel worse, physically and mentally. Similarly, it’s best to reduce refined sugars.
It’s also a good idea to cut back on alcohol, if not avoid it altogether, since it’s a central nervous system depressant.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--A Minute Of Kindness: The Sikh Community Group Feeding Stranded Lorry Drivers

A Minute Of Kindness: The Sikh Community Group Feeding Stranded Lorry Drivers
As news channels showed freight drivers caught at the port of Dover following France’s decision to close its borders to try and contain a new mutant strain of coronavirus, Britain’s Khalsa Aid, a Sikh community group, swept into action to provide the drivers with food.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Nigella Lawson's Hack For Proving Dough Could Not Be More Nigella Lawson

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The internet has only just recovered from Nigella Lawson’s microwave saga, but the TV chef has already got people talking again with her latest cookery antics.
Nigella debuted a hack for proving dough on the Christmas special of her cookery series Cook Eat Repeat on Tuesday night, and let’s just say, it could not be more Nigella.
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Rather than stick it in a proving drawer or use a bit of cling film, Nigella raided her bathroom and used a shower cap – and a leopard print one at that.
Iconic.
The moment soon caught the attention of popular meme account Love Of Huns on Instagram, who joked that Nigella’s hack “shows that you really can incorporate leopard print into EVERY aspect of your life”.
While Nigella has been cooking up a load of traditional treats for her TV show, she’ll be making a big change to her Christmas dinner this year in light of the new coronavirus restrictions.
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She told the BBC’s Newscast podcast that she felt following her usual festive traditions while not having “a family Christmas” due to Covid-19 would make her “feel what’s missing”.
“I actually – and I only made the decision a couple of days ago – for the first time ever, I am not going to do a turkey – and I always do. I’m doing pork,” she said.
“It’s not going to be a normal family Christmas, therefore I think I will feel less sad doing something that is just a lovely lunch, that takes in a few Christmas traditions from elsewhere that interest me, but does not… make me feel what’s missing.”
Nigella Lawson BBC
She added: “I would have thought, for many people, the strange conditions under which we live will make them want to cleave to the traditions, and not add new and different things.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--25 Striking Wedding Photos That Beautifully Captured Love This Year

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The year 2020 was no doubt defined by the Covid-19 pandemic. But for some couples, it also happened to be the year they got married — even if that meant making some adjustments to their original plans.
Junebug Weddings, a wedding planning website, recently announced the winners of its annual “Best of The Best Wedding Photography” contest. Nearly 6,000 images were submitted by photographers around the world.
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Below are some of our favourites. To see the rest, head over to Junebug Weddings.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--The Skipping Sikh Santa Is Back Spreading Joy This Christmas

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He achieved legendary status during the first coronavirus lockdown and now the “Skipping Sikh”, Rajinder Singh, has turned Santa to bring more festive smiles.
The 74-year-old grandfather inspired others to pick up a skipping rope and keep active even when self isolating at home during the pandemic. Now, he has donned a Santa outfit to drop off festive-themed skipping ropes and other presents for children who might have otherwise gone without this Christmas.
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“The difference is, this Santa wears his turban with pride instead of a hat and the white beard I have already got,” Rajinder Singh told HuffPost UK.
“Even though as Sikhs we don’t celebrate Christmas, my daughter said to me: ‘Dad, why don’t you do something different and become the Skipping Sikh Santa and let’s drop off some surprise gifts for those in need.’
“So that’s what we did.”
Min Kaur Rajinder Singh
Daughter Min Kaur, 40, explains: “Christmas is such a happy time of year for those who celebrate it, but it will be completely different for people this year. It has been a bad year and we wanted to do something to give back to the community and give people something to smile about.
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“Our faith says we should show compassion, kindness and love to everyone and my Dad wanted to spread some happiness to children at Christmas.”
Rajinder, who lives in Harlington, Middlesex, became a social media sensation with his skipping videos and was awarded an MBE after raising £14,000 for the NHS.
Now, the family has joined forces with Springwest Academy school to take part in the Hounslow Christmas Project for under-privileged children in the borough to ensure no child goes without a gift this Christmas.
The project, run with Hounslow Education Partnership and MP Seema Malhotra, raised £12,000 through public donations for Christmas presents for children.
Jump Rope UK donated 40 handmade beaded Christmas skipping ropes and the Singh family added to them by buying more ropes, chocolates and toys.
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Min Kaur The Skipping Singh Santa Rajinder Singh
Project lead Emma Siddhu expressed her particular thanks to Singh for his Christmas contribution and “for motivating thousands of youths in isolation by skipping during Covid lockdown”.
Seema Malhotra MP added: “We have been incredibly moved at how the community has come together to help with this project. After a very difficult year for children and their families, every child deserves a gift this Christmas and to know that they have a community that cares.”
Min Kaur The Skipping Sikh Rajinder Singh with his wife and son
Of Singh, she said: “He has a unique ability to reach out and connect with people of all ages – and his gifts of handmade skipping ropes made by Jump Rope UK for young people were an instant hit.
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″He brought a message of generosity and a message of well being – as well as a great deal of humour as a very special Santa.”
Singh said: “Life is too short and I want to do what I can to give back. As a family, we wanted to send a very strong positive message which is stay strong, be positive and keep smiling.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--No, We Didn't Have To Face Covid And No-Deal Brexit At The Same Time

An aerial view shows lines of freight lorries and heavy goods vehicles parked on the tarmac at Manston Airport near Ramsgate WILLIAM EDWARDS via Getty Images
On March 24, 2020, the day after the first Covid lockdown, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association Richard Burnett wrote to Michael Gove to call for an extension to the UK’s transition period for leaving the EU.
His explanation: “The coronavirus outbreak means that we are simply not in a position to give the complexity of future trade arrangements with the EU the necessary focus.”
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He noted, too, that trying to negotiate a trade deal in 11 months and “preparing for our exit on January 1, 2021, was always going to be a challenge for government, operators and stakeholders.”
So, in his view, Covid was already draining government and management capacity.
By June 2020 the calls for an extension grew much louder, including from Stormont and the Welsh and Scottish parliaments. Mike Russell, Constitution Secretary in Holyrood, said it was reckless for the UK government to continue negotiations, pushing forward its plans for a hard Brexit, at the height of the coronavirus crisis.
“The failure to ask for an extension in June has compounded the current crisis.”
An extension would have been possible. Article 132 of the Withdrawal Agreement allowed for this: the Joint (UK/EU) Committee may, before July 1, 2020, adopt “a single decision extending the transition period for up to one or two years”.
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However, the Conservative manifesto, drafted pre-Covid, made clear that Boris Johnson would not ask for an extension, a commitment enshrined in law by the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
The recently repeated mantra – when the facts change, our position changes – did not seem to apply in June 2020 and the government refused to request an extension to the transition. The door shut. UK-EU negotiations continued but with the contentious issues – fish, level playing field and governance – unresolved.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid cases was falling and the UK was opening up. The sun was shining and the government was keen to put the ghastliness of lockdown and the thousands of Covid deaths behind it. Johnson told the Daily Telegraph in July 2020 that Britain can aim for a “significant return” to normality in time for Christmas.
But scientists were considerably less optimistic. In June 2020, the BBC was already reporting concern about a second wave, deadlier than the first. Yet the government was determined that negotiations should continue and, if they failed, that the UK was prepared to leave with no deal and it would prosper mightily.
However, the arrival of the new mutation of the virus, the queues at the borders, travel bans being imposed by many countries, severe restrictions on Christmas movements and the likelihood of a third national lockdown, indicates that the appetite by the UK for a deal has increased, not diminished.
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Yet the crucial deadline of 11pm on December 31, 2020, when the transition period runs out and the EU treaties cease applying, is less than ten days away.
There is no deal at the moment. If there are puffs of white smoke there is no time for either the European Parliament or Westminster to scrutinise and ratify a major document, which will shap UK-EU relations for at least the next decade.
Can anything be done to buy more time, even a few weeks into the new year? Various routes have been suggested. One is to use Article 50, the legal basis for the Withdrawal Agreement. It has been argued that, under international law, extending the transition would constitute an amendment to an existing agreement so Article 50 could still be used as a legal basis. However, some EU lawyers argue that Article 50 was turned off, for the UK, on Brexit day, January 31, 2020, and so cannot be used.
Another possibility is for the EU or heads of state and government and the UK to enter into an international agreement to agree to an extension. However, this is difficult legally because an extension of the transition would extend EU law and so the EU would need a “legal basis” (that is, a provision in the EU treaties) to act. Article 50 would be the easiest legal basis – which takes us back to the problem with the application of Article 50 described above.
Others have suggested that a simple exchange of notes between the EU and the UK would suffice to ensure the continued application of EU law for a few days or weeks. Again, this is legally problematic but ultimately it would be for the ECJ to decide. Quite a lot of legislative change will be required in the UK too to change “IP Completion day”. Not to mention the wrangling over the UK’s financial contributions.
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So far, No.10 has rejected calls to extend the transition. Theresa May said the same, but in March 2019 had to change her mind. Johnson said he would eat his hat in October 2019 if forced to request a transition, which he then did.
Things may look rather different on December 31, 2020. It did not have to be this way. The failure to ask for an extension in June has compounded the current crisis.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Ant And Dec Reveal The Saucy Change They Made To SM:TV Live To Stop It Being Axed

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Ant and Dec have revealed they had to spice up SM:TV Live with more adult humour in a bid to stop the show being axed.
The iconic Saturday morning kids show was renowned for its innuendo and saucy jokes, which helped it appeal way beyond its intended audience of children.
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However, when SM:TV first started in 1998, it fell flat, with Ant and Dec forced to take action to stop it being pulled off air.
Ant & Dec and Cat Deeley will reflect on the success of SM:TV Live in a new documentary ITV
Speaking on the upcoming documentary The Story Of SM:TV Live, which airs on Boxing Day and sees the pair reunite with co-host Cat Deeley, Ant said: “We are the presenters we are today because of that show.
“We learned how to do it there – and there’s no better breeding ground than Saturday morning television. But it wasn’t great for the first couple of months. There was no atmosphere. We got it wrong initially.
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“People were putting pressure on ITV. Other production companies were saying, ‘Look, they’re not doing it ratings-wise, it’s not great. You should replace it with one of our shows’.”
Dec admitted the pair recognised they needed to change the show in order to save it, having ploughed their own money into setting up a production company to make it.
Ant and Dec with Cat Deeley in 1998, the year SM:TV Live debuted Ken McKay/Shutterstock
He recalled: “It had been going fairly badly for a long enough time that people were starting to ask questions. ‘Should this show be on air?’
“I thought, ‘If they pull this I’m gonna lose my house. I’ll have to go back to Newcastle and live with my parents again’. We were like, ‘Oh boy, this is bad!’”
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Reflecting on the shake-up, Dec said: “That was always in the back of our mind when we were coming up with ideas – there was a bit for everybody.
“And it got to a point where it was not difficult to book the show because everybody wanted to come down.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Bake Off's Laura Adlington Reveals How Fellow Contestant Cheered Her Up During Covid Recovery

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The amateur baker revealed that her fellow contestant Lottie Bedlow had surprised her with a thoughtful gift while she recovers.
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Laura described testing positive for coronavirus just before the festive period as “a ball ache”, but admitted Lottie’s chocolates had made her feel “infinitely better”.
Laura Adlington on The Great British Bake Off Channel 4
Posting on her Instagram Story, she wrote: “Getting Covid right before Christmas is a ball ache, but having friends like @lottiegotcake makes it infinitely better. Thank you lover.”
Laura made it to the final of this year’s Bake Off alongside David Friday and eventual winner Peter Sawkins.
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The series was able to film during the pandemic as all of the cast and crew had to live in a self-contained biosphere for six weeks at Down Hall in Essex so they could film without having to socially distance on camera.
The hosts, judges and bakers lived alongside 80 members of the production team, 20 hotel staff, and around 20 “children, chaperones and dog walkers” during the six-week shoot.
Prior to moving in to the hotel, everyone had to self-isolate for nine days and take three Covid tests to ensure they did not have the virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Hugh Grant Admits Being Unimpressed By Renée Zellweger's British Accent During Early Bridget Jones

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Hugh Grant has admitted that Renée Zellweger’s British accent needed quite a bit of work when she first signed up for the role of Bridget Jones.
The pair appeared alongside one another in the first two Bridget Jones films, although Renée’s casting raised some eyebrows at the time, with some questioning whether such an iconic British character should have been played by a star from the UK.
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Ultimately, Renée won over most critics, and even wound up with an Oscar nomination for her performance, but her co-star has revealed that things got off to a bit of a shaky start.
Renée Zellweger and Hugh Grant in Briget Jones's Diary Moviestore/Shutterstock
In the BBC documentary Becoming Bridget Jones, Hugh said: “I didn’t know Renée Zellweger, and a Texan playing a British character, it did seem like a stretch.
“She came in, doing quite a good British accent, but it was Princess Margaret. That was a little startling.”
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After being told to “loosen it up”, Hugh claimed that Renée returned with an accent he has compared to “Princess Margaret having had a stroke”.
“But a week later, it was bang on,” the Undoing star quickly added.
Hugh and Renée at the premiere of Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason with Colin Firth Carsten Koall via Getty Images
Hugh and Renée have remained close since their Bridget Jones days (which he confessed recently is something of a rarity for him), and when when Renée was awarded Best Actress at the Baftas for her appearance in Judy, she was immediately followed on stage by Hugh, who couldn’t resist a nod to their Bridget Jones’s Diary characters.
“First of all, well done Jones. That was a very, very silly little dress, I thought,” he joked.
My Daniel Cleaver and Bridget Jones heart #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/Lro7wzGo3r — Kay (@HughsMungo) February 2, 2020
Backstage, Renée also shared her reaction to Hugh’s comment, telling reporters she thought the moment was “really cool”.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Funny Family Christmas Cards That Find The Humour In 2020

Courtesy of Laura Gosselin
"Despite all the madness, we have come to realize how much we excel at being anti-social. It’s like our entire lives have been a dress rehearsal for 2020. Decades of awkward wall-flowering, declining (or not receiving) party invitations, and backing slowly out of rooms have forged us into hardened professional introverts. And this is exactly where we belong. We have arrived. 2020 is our time to shine. We are the kings and queens of absence, coffee-stained pajama pants, Thai food take-out, and toilet paper. Bow down."


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--More Tier 4 Restrictions 'May Be Necessary' As Ministers Meet To Review Covid Data

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More areas of England could be placed under tier 4 restrictions as the cabinet’s Covid operations committee meets on Wednesday to consider the latest data on the spread of the virus.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick acknowledged “it may be necessary to take further action” to curb rising case numbers, thought to be due to a new and more infectious strain of the virus.
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The current tier levels in England are due to be reviewed on December 30 but that could be accelerated due to the latest developments.
Genomic researchers have found that the new variant, which is said to be up to 70% more infectious than previous strains, has already spread around the UK, with cases identified in Wales and Scotland.
Reports suggested local leaders and health officials met on Tuesday night to discuss the possibility of Birmingham being moved into a tier 4 lockdown, while areas in lower tiers could be moved up to tier 3.
Health chiefs in Cumbria have said the new variant is in the county and could be behind sharp increases in new cases, while Lancashire’s director of public health said there is a “high likelihood” that the new variant is there, too.
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Jenrick told Sky News: “We don’t have a timetable for that. The government’s Covid operations committee is meeting later today to review further evidence.
“We keep this under review, we are constantly hearing from our scientific advisers about what we should do.”
The new variant is “very concerning” and is “prevalent probably in most regions of the country”, he acknowledged.
He also said it was “extremely unlikely” that plans allowing for households to meet on Christmas Day will change.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has written to Boris Johnson to say his party will back any government moves to tighten restrictions if that is what scientists recommend.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Tensions Flare Between Lorry Drivers And Police After French Border Reopens

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Scuffles have broken out in Dover between lorry drivers and police as tensions continue to flare over huge delays at the border following the travel ban.
Despite a deal being struck between the UK and France late on Thursday night to restart movement, thousands of drivers face spending Christmas trapped in temporary lorry parks or at the roadside with extremely limited facilities.
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Up to 10,000 drivers have been caught up in the crisis, and now need to test negative for Covid-19 before crossing the Channel.
In the live footage, captured by Sky News, a crowd of dozens of lorry drivers can be seen crowding around a small number of police, loudly booing as some appear to ask officers questions.
Things then become more heated as the crowd grows, with drivers scuffling with police as others record the angry crowd on their phones.
As of 11am, lorry drivers at the entrance to Dover’s Eastern Docks had continued honking their horns and shouting “we want to go home” in small groups as they tried to shelter from heavy rain.
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Police officers have instructed drivers to move away from the roundabout at the entrance to the port so testing facilities can be set up.
Roadside conditions have been described as “disgraceful” by drivers, with one worker telling The Guardian that some had been left with little choice but to dig holes at the side of the road to use as makeshift toilets.
With no immediate access to food, a group of Sikh volunteers and a local football club were among those forced to source hundreds of meals for the trapped drivers.
There were reports of disturbances at Dover and at the lorry holding facility in Manston involving those waiting to cross the Channel on Wednesday morning, Kent Police said, confirming that one man had been arrested.
Speaking early on Wednesday morning cabinet minister Robert Jenrick said around 4,000 lorries could be caught up in the Kent backlog.
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This is less than half the estimate put forward by the Road Hauliers Association (RHA), who say there are between 8,000 and 10,000 lorries trapped in the county.
Jenrick told Sky News it would take “a few days” to test all the drivers before they can travel to France.
“I hope that this morning you will see people and HGVs crossing the Channel,” he said.
The communities secretary said as of 7pm on Tuesday night there were just under 3,000 lorries at the disused airfield site at Manston, Kent.
Between 700 and 800 were part of Operation Stack on the M20, he said but “other HGVs and smaller vehicles are parked elsewhere in Kent”.
“Whatever the number is, whether it is 4,000 or more, it is a significant number to work through,” he acknowledged as he advised hauliers not to travel to Kent.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Jennifer Lopez Insists Dressing Up As Alex Rodriguez's Ex For Halloween 'Wasn't Weird'

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Jennifer Lopez has insisted her 2020 Halloween costume “wasn’t weird,” no matter what anyone else thinks of it.
The On The Floor singer spoke to Andy Cohen on Sirius XM about dressing up as Madonna — a rumoured ex-girlfriend of her fiancé, Alex Rodriguez — for Halloween this year.
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In couple’s snaps posted on Instagram, J-Lo wore an outfit recalling the Queen of Pops’s Like A Virgin era, while A-Rod was also dressed as a music legend.
She said that the pair had been planning to have a big Halloween party in October, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, they wisely postponed it.
“We had like three friends over ― four friends. And yeah, we all got dressed up like way too much,” she said, laughing.
“My kids were hiding in the bedrooms. They were like, ‘What are you doing?’ I dressed as Madonna and Alex, he went as Bruce Springsteen.”
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“Was that not odd given that Alex maybe dated Madonna for two seconds?” the host then asked.
“No. I mean, it was so long ago, so long ago,” she said. “I don’t know. No, it wasn’t weird at all.”
Jennifer fully embraced her costume, quoting Madonna lyrics in the captions of her Instagram posts from that night.
“Didn’t know how lost I was until I found you,” the singer captioned a photo of her posing for the camera, referencing Madge’s classic song Like A Virgin. She quoted the song again with another caption that read: “I made it through the wilderness.”
In another photo, she used the title of Madonna’s Crazy For You song.
A-Rod’s first wife, Cynthia Scurtis, left the baseball player over an alleged affair with Madonna, according to a 2008 People magazine report.
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“The embarrassment over Madonna was the last straw,” an anonymous source said at the time. Scurtis’ lawyer later added that the MLB player had an “affair of the heart” with the Material Girl.
As for Jennifer and Alex’s relationship status, the two are on solid footing — though the Hustlers star told Andy Cohen that they’ve had move their wedding celebration twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Victoria Beckham Shares Incredible Spice Girls Throwback Clip: 'In My Defence I Was Really Hungover'

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Victoria Beckham has shared an epic throwback clip from her Spice Girls days, which shows her struggling her way through a press conference on a hangover.
The Instagram account Saint Hoax unearthed the footage in question, which shows the rest of the Spice Girls enthusiastically chatting to journalists while Victoria sits quietly, looking rather stony-faced.
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As Melanie C discusses her own musical influences, Victoria can be seen putting her head in her heads.
Eventually, she abruptly walks away from the discussion, with the rest of the Spice Girls not even flinching as Victoria heads backstage.
Saint Hoax captioned the video “Victoria is me on every Zoom call”, but Posh has now shared the truth about the clip, admitting she’d somewhat overindulged the night before.
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“In my defence I was really hungover!” she told her Instagram followers, after posting the footage on her own story.
A screengrab of Victoria's Instagram story Instagram/Victoria Beckham
Although Victoria might seem like a reluctant Spice Girl these days (she was, after all, the only member of the band to turn down a spot on their reunion tour last year), she has actually leaned into her pop star past in recent years.
Meanwhile, Emma Bunton teased over the summer that all five Spice Girls – yes, including Victoria – had been for a socially-distanced walk, although it turned out to be a less-than-glamorous stroll through the woods in the pouring rain.
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The Spice Girls pictured in the early days of their pop career United Archives via Getty Images
“This time last year we were performing at Wembley all glammed up – well this year we were in wellies, walking in the rain,” she joked. “Yes, there’s something you don’t see every day – five Spice Girls in their wellies.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Nicola Sturgeon Apologises After Being Pictured Without Face Mask At Funeral Wake

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Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “really sorry” for a “stupid mistake” after she was photographed without her face mask at a funeral wake.
Scotland’s first minister was pictured chatting to three women in a bar while standing at a distance but without wearing a face covering last Friday.
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Under Scottish government coronavirus rules, customers in hospitality venues must wear a face covering except when seated and must wear one when moving around.
EXCL: Nicola Sturgeon breaks her own Covid law by standing in a bar and chatting to pensioners - without wearing a face mask.
First Minister tonight: "I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, and I’m sorry.”https://t.co/LzH67yYKPq pic.twitter.com/0lqUtmDfvt — Chris Musson (@ChrisMusson) December 22, 2020
Sturgeon was attending a funeral wake for a Scottish Government civil servant.
She said: “Last Friday, while attending a funeral wake, I had my mask off briefly. This was a stupid mistake and I’m really sorry.
“I talk every day about the importance of masks, so I’m not going to offer any excuses.
“I was in the wrong, I’m kicking myself, and I’m sorry.”
The Scottish Sun reported that she was at the Stable Bar and Restaurant after attending a funeral at the nearby Mortonhall Crematorium.
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A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: “The first minister should know better.
“By forgetting the rules and failing to set a proper example, she’s undermining essential public health messaging.
“It’s a blunder that an ordinary member of the public wouldn’t get away with. There cannot be one rule for Nicola Sturgeon and another for everyone else.”
Under coronavirus regulations introduced on September 14 in Scotland, face coverings for customers and staff are mandatory when entering, exiting and moving around hospitality venues.
The rules state: “There is an exemption for when customers are seated for the service of food and drink and for back of house roles such as kitchen staff or staff who are behind protective screens separating them from customers.”
Those who breach the face covering rules can face a £60 fine.
FM has approached pandemic by being upfront from v beginning. She has apologised for accidental lapse (which I suspect most of us have had one over last 9 months). I've known her for 15yrs & she is her harshest critic. I am sure most ppl will understand, accept apology & move on. — Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) December 22, 2020
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Scotland’s justice secretary Humza Yousaf tweeted: “FM has approached pandemic by being upfront from v beginning.
“She has apologised for accidental lapse (which I suspect most of us have had one over last 9 months).


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Travel Ban: What Happens Now The French Border Has Reopened

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The race is on to test thousands of lorry drivers stranded in Kent for Covid-19 to allow them to cross the Channel after France reopened the border with the UK.
The development is positive but has not reduced fears of empty supermarket shelves over Christmas and a huge logistical operation is now underway to get trade and travel moving again.
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Here’s the latest...
The border
The French foreign affairs ministry said that from 11pm UK time Tuesday (midnight in France) there would be a “limited resumption of the movement of people from the UK to France subject to negative health tests sensitive to the variant”.
The statement said that a negative test result, taken less than 72 hours before the journey, is required and this can be either a “PCR or antigen test” sensitive to the new variant.
Those who can make journeys include French and EU residents, British or third-party nationals who normally live in France or the EU, as well as some other groups.
#COVID19: "Planes, boats and Eurostar trains will resume service as of tomorrow morning. French nationals, people living in France and those with a legitimate reason will have to be carrying a negative test" - French Minister Delegate for Transport: https://t.co/WWdzbczNP7 — French Embassy UK (@FranceintheUK) December 22, 2020
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The backlog
The Road Hauliers Association (RHA) estimates between 8,000 and 10,000 delayed lorries are now in Kent and its surrounding areas, in truck stops and at depots waiting for borders to reopen and to cross the Channel.
Truckers have been told by transport secretary Grant Shapps not to travel to the Kent region where the most heavily used rail and ferry links are.
We have agreed a deal with France to reopen the border to hauliers with a negative #Covid test. At this time, hauliers should continue to avoid travelling to Kent to minimise disruption. More info here: https://t.co/iOxT2kSN07 — Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) December 22, 2020
The food situation
While the immediate crisis over the border has been averted, it will take time for things to get back to normal and Shapps said it “will take two or three days for things to be cleared”.
The week’s events have led to some panic-buying: shoppers stripped shelves in some supermarkets of turkey, toilet rolls, bread and vegetables, Reuters reports.
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While the government said there was enough food for Christmas, Tesco and Sainsbury’s both said food supplies would be affected if the disruption continued.
Tesco said it had imposed temporary buying limits on some essential products.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “There are many serious implications to this latest situation, even lateral flow Covid testing will have a massive impact on the supply chain.”
The testing
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said rapid lateral flow tests – which can give results in about 30 minutes – will be used to test HGV drivers.
NHS Test and Trace staff as well as members of the army have been sent to Kent in order to carry out the tests.
The French authorities will be carrying out similar testing on hauliers entering the UK in a programme that is set to get under way on Wednesday.
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Freight lorries lined up at the front of the queue on the runway at Manston Airport, Kent, after France imposed a 48-hour ban on entry from the UK in the wake of concerns over the spread of a new strain of coronavirus. PA
And the accuracy of rapid lateral flow tests is currently a matter of debate – a programme of testing using this method at the University of Birmingham earlier this year has raised serious questions.
Professor Jon Deeks of the Institute of Applied Health Research at the university, told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday: “We probably found two students and missed 60 with this test because of its poor performance.”
“It’s an imperfect test and when you have an imperfect test you have to use it so carefully to make sure you don’t mislead people and there’s a big risk this test is going to give a lot of false reassurance which inevitably will lead to more Covid disease.”
The drivers
It’s not currently known what will happen to any driver who tests positive for Covid-19 but the the Department for Transport is expected to set out the full details of the testing programme on Wednesday.
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Burnett said: “What happens to them? How is it all going to play out?
“Are they going to be tested on site or are they going to have to go somewhere else to do it? They will be unfit to drive but where will they go?
“They will be unable to quarantine with their families in Europe and what will happen to their vehicles? Who will be responsible for the deep cleaning of their cabs? And for those carrying return loads, what will happen to their cargo? This is going to be an extremely expensive exercise.”
An aerial view shows lines of freight lorries and heavy goods vehicles parked on the tarmac at Manston Airport near Ramsgate, south east England on December 22. WILLIAM EDWARDS via Getty Images
The welfare of drivers was being raised on Tuesday as the number of lorries being diverted to and held at Manston airfield grew rapidly.
Ronald Schroeder, 52, from Hamburg, Germany, who was turned back from Dover on Sunday night, said the “social situation” for drivers is worsening due to a lack of toilet and washing facilities.
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He told the PA news agency: “I am now staying in a hotel, but in front of the hotel there are thousands of people without any rooms waiting to come over the Channel crossing.
“I feel a little bit like Robinson Crusoe on an island.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-23--Barbara Windsor's Husband 'Overwhelmed' As Fundraiser In Her Name Surpasses £100,000 In A Week

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Dame Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell has said he’s “overwhelmed” at the response to a fundraiser set up in her memory.
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Following her death, Dame Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell requested that a JustGiving page be set up in her honour, raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, which managed to reach £100,000 in less than a week.
Scott Mitchell and the late Dame Barbara Windsor Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
“I have been completely overwhelmed by the response from Barbara’s fans, friends and former colleagues,” Scott said of the donations.
“This outpouring of support has filled me with pride and been a huge comfort to me. It just shows how loved, respected and adored my Barbara was. That’s magical.”
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He added: “I’m determined to honour her legacy by doing everything I can to support dementia research and help Alzheimer’s Research UK’s search for a cure. We must find a way to stop future generations going through what so many of us have already.
“Please do consider a donation however small or large. Every penny will take us one step closer to desperately needed breakthroughs.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Barbara Windsor poses with husband Scott Mitchell as she meets the cast of "The Only Fools and Horses the Musical" on April 03, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images) Dave J Hogan via Getty Images
Among the donations was a massive £83,000 from the software company Gamesys, whose adverts Dame Barbara appeared in as the “Queen Of Bingo”.
The company remembered her as “an amazing lady and an amazing life”, writing: “Thank you, Babs, for the humour, warmth and joy you brought to us all, and for all you have done for people with Alzheimer’s and their families. A very worthy cause to support in your memory.”
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