thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--When Will You Get The Covid-19 Vaccine? The Full Priority List

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Health and care workers and the over-80s are among the first in line for the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the UK’s immunisation watchdog has revealed.
The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) announced the long-awaited priority list ahead of the rollout, which began in early December.
Advertisement
Age and occupation are the key factors aimed at the fastest delivery and better uptake among those at most risk of the virus.
The UK has already ordered 40m doses of the free jab – enough to vaccinate 20m people, or a third of the population.
The JCVI says its ranking of priorities is a “combination of clinical risk stratification and an age-based approach, which should optimise both targeting and deliverability”.
Here is its new priority list:
Older adults resident in a care home and care home workers All those 80 years of age and over. Front line health and social care workers All those 75 years of age and over All those 70 years of age and over All those 65 years of age and over All Individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions. All those 60 years of age and over All those 55 years of age and over All those 50 years of age and over The rest of the population (priority to be determined)
One key change to a previous provisional priority list is that 16- to 18-year-olds with underlying conditions have been added to adults at number 6 on the list.
The amendment may reflect evidence of the prevalence of the virus among older teenagers.
A previous priority covering those under 65 at “moderate risk” of the virus has also been ditched.
Priority list HuffPost UK
Younger people under 50 without underlying conditions are unlikely to get the vaccine until after the spring of 2021.
The “second phase” of the programme could also include specific occupations at most risk, the watchdog said. Among those under 50, teachers, bus drivers, taxi drivers, the military, civil servants and emergency services could then get the jab as a priority.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of the JCVI, said he hoped that the first phase of the programme would cover the “90 to 99% of people who are at risk of dying from Covid-19”.
Advertisement
“Residents in care homes for older adults and care home workers are the highest priority, following that are those 80 years of age and above alongside frontline health and social care workers,” he said.
He also stressed that the rollout would not match the government’s tiered regions for Covid restrictions. It will be delivered not according to area, but according to national clinical priorities.
People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are not mentioned in the priority list – despite the health secretary saying they could be among “the first” way back in June.
The JCVI said only that in the first stage of the programme its rollout would be guided by the need to “mitigate health inequalities, as might occur in relation to access to healthcare, deprivation, ethnicity” and to “promote good vaccine uptake”.
Prof Lim said that the “phase two” of the rollout was still undecided.
“I’d like to stress that we are so far advising how the vaccine might be used in the first phase of the programme,” he said.
Advertisement
“We haven’t yet decided how the vaccine might be used in subsequent phases...and we will be monitoring all the new emerging data including data coming up from phase one of the programme in order to make our further decisions.”
In its latest document, the JCVI hinted specific job areas could get priority in the second phase.
“Occupational prioritisation could form part of a second phase of the programme, which would include healthy individuals from 16 years of
age up to 50 years of age, subject to consideration of the latest data on
vaccine safety and effectiveness,” it said.
“This could include first responders, the military, those involved in the justice
system, teachers, transport workers, and public servants essential to the
pandemic response. Priority occupations for vaccination are considered
an issue of policy, rather than for JCVI to advise on.”
Dr June Raine, head of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), said “no corners have been cut” in the fast-tracked approval of the vaccine.
She told a Downing Street briefing: “The safety of the public will always come first.
“This recommendation has only been given by the MHRA following the most rigorous scientific assessment of every piece of data so that it meets the required strict standards of safety, of effectiveness and of quality.”
Advertisement
Given the need to have two weeks between each of its two doses, and its four weeks to take full effect, it will be early January before anyone in the UK can claim to benefit from a working vaccine.
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chair of the Commission on Human Medicine Expert Working Group, said he had concluded that the Pfizer vaccine would provide “overwhelming benefit”.
“The data showed that this vaccine is 95% effective. It is effective within all the groups who were given the vaccine in the trial irrespective of age, sex, race or country they lived in.”
The NHS has a programme to roll it out successively to different groups stretching through the spring and into summer 2021.
The specific nature of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine means that it will have to be deployed first in hospitals that can keep it at the required minus 70C temperature.
Advertisement
The vaccine also becomes unstable when moved around and NHS officials are working on just how it can be delivered to GPs’ surgeries and other destinations for further rollout.
Prof Lim said: “Whether or not the vaccine itself can be delivered to care homes is obviously an important point, and there will be some flexibility in terms of operational constraints.
“The JCVI’s advice is that every effort should be made to supply vaccines and offer vaccinations to care home residents, whether or not that is actually doable is dependent on deployment and implementation.”
Prof Pirmohamed added: “We did obviously look at the stability of the vaccine, as you said it is stored at -70 degrees.
“But we were able to look at stability data and there’s stability data showing that it is stable for a short period of time at two to eight degrees, which allows it to be transported to the relevant vaccination sites.”
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Matt Hancock Agrees To Have Covid-19 Vaccine With Piers Morgan Live On Good Morning Britain

HuffPost is part of Verizon Media .
We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through @ @ @ @ @ similar technologies , to display personalised ads and content , for ad and content measurement @ @ @ @ @ development .
Your personal data that may be used • Information about your device and @ @ @ @ @ IP address • Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps Find @ @ @ @ @ use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy .
To enable Verizon Media @ @ @ @ @ your personal data select ' I agree ' , or select 'Manage settings ' for @ @ @ @ @ your choices .
You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy @ @

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The health secretary made the promise during an appearance on the ITV morning show on Wednesday, the same day the UK became the first Western country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine.
Advertisement
Studies have shown the jab to be 95% effective and works in all age groups. No safety concerns arose from clinical trials.
Good Morning Britain ITV/Shutterstock
Addressing concerns that some people have around the safety of the vaccine, Piers told the MP: “I would take it live on air. I don’t care, I just feel like it’s really important if we are going to get through this that enough people take it.”
The health secretary replied: “I’ll take it with you Piers. I think you have to show leadership in these things.”
Advertisement
Piers added: “I’m serious, I’ll come to where you are, any time next week, if we can do this and let’s do it together live on air. It would be powerful. It would send the right message, If you take it, I take it, Susanna [Reid] takes it, Dr Hilary takes it. I think it will have an impact.”
(L-R) Piers Morgan and Matt Hancock Rex
The MP then reminded Piers that there would be a delay in them getting the vaccine as other priority groups would be vaccinated first.
“We would have to get that approved, because of course there is a prioritisation according to clinical need and thankfully as a healthy middle-aged man you are not at the top of the prioritisation but if we can get it approved… I’m up for doing that,” he said.
“Once the MRHA have approved a vaccine, they only do it when it’s safe. If that can help anybody else, persuade anybody else to take the vaccine, then I think it’s worth it.”
Advertisement
Some 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine have been secured for the UK in total, with 10 millio due in the country by the end of the year.
People will need two doses, meaning enough has been bought for 20m Brits.
They will have to come to Britain from the company’s distribution centre in Belgium, and need to be stored at minus 70C.
Help is on its way.
The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.
The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.
The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply. — Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 2, 2020
On Wednesday, Hancock tweeted: “Help is on its way. The [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)] has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.
“The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week. The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Why Every Couple Should Try Therapy

Why Every Couple Should Try Therapy

Why Every Couple Should Try Therapy
Therapy is widely seen as where couples go when things aren’t going well. But here’s why it could be useful even earlier on in a relationship, even when things are going well.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--5 Easy Ways To Help Improve Your Credit Score

Jennifer Barton, Commercial Editor, HuffPost UK

If the mention of a “credit score” makes your eyes glaze over - or sends a tingle of fear down your spine, you’re not alone. Many of us are unaware of our credit scores, or what factors contribute to them.
Anyone – landlords, lenders, mobile phone providers - is entitled to run a credit check on you. Your credit score can serve as a good indicator of your likelihood to be able to pay credit back. A bad credit score could unfortunately impact your ability to get a loan, which you could need to start up that business you’ve been dreaming of, or to upskill by enrolling on a course.
Credit score ranges vary, but a “good” score is typically considered upwards of 600. There’s an incentive to getting an even better credit score - think closer to 700 - which could qualify you for lower interest rates, credit cards with better perks and more favourable borrowing terms.
Often, a credit score is something we really don’t consider until we have to - at which point it gets tricky. To build up a good credit score, you need to have spent time amassing credit, and making payments on time. Late payments can heavily impact your credit rating, as well as remaining on your account for years.
Suddenly thinking about your credit score and how to improve it? Read on for five expert-approved tips below.
Register onto the Electoral Roll
Claudio Divizia / EyeEm via Getty Images
Advertisement
Here’s an easy way you could give your credit a boost: get yourself registered on the electoral roll, which could not only just improve your credit score, but also give you the chance to exercise your civic responsibilities by voting in elections.
“Being on the electoral roll allows lenders to verify who you are and where you are currently living. I would advise doing this sooner rather than later as lenders look for stability, they want to know you are a reliable person that will make repayments,” says Diane Watson, a financial planner, principal partner at Sovereign Wealth and founder of She Can Prosper, which aims to help women become more financially independent.
Being registered in the same location for an extended period of time gives lenders confidence that you aren’t the type of person to “up and leave,” notes Watson.
“The longer your electoral roll listing has been active, the more stable you will appear, strengthening your application… credit reference agencies can mark down your score if you have moved multiple times within a short period of time,” she explains.
Build up some credit
Geber86 via Getty Images
“Lenders want to know that you are reliable when it comes to repayments – so weirdly, having some sort of debt and being able to evidence regular repayments is better than having no debt at all,” explains Holly Mackay, founder and CEO of financial website, Boring Money. “Research available credit cards but if you go down this path, you should set up a direct debit to pay them off every month or you could get black marks.”
A credit card could be a helpful tool to start building your credit rating, which could help you get approved for a mortgage or loan. Using your credit card to make small, frequent purchases and paying off your balance in full each month could help to boost your score and can show lenders that you’re a reliable person to lend money to.
Credit cards are also useful for any larger purchases you might be making – furniture, a car, a trip – anything between £100 and £30,000 will be covered Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, so if the item is faulty or the holiday is cancelled, you could turn to your credit card provider for support in getting a refund or replacement.
However, a credit card is a big commitment, and you should only think about getting one if you know that you can be disciplined with your spending.
Watson also advises getting your name on utility bills - be the responsible one in your flatshare who volunteers to take charge of bill paying. HouseMate* from NatWest, a new app launching in 2021 and currently in pilot, uses Open Banking to connect your bank account to the app, which could make it easier to split bills between you and your flatmates, build credit score and build tenancy trust. Private renters do not ordinarily have their rent payments communicated to credit bureaus. This means renters miss out on the opportunity to build their credit files, which can reduce access to financial products and the best rates. By using Housemate, the bank can verify transactions for rent payments then send that information to Experian who add it to an individual’s credit file.
Advertisement
Make sure any breakups are financial splits, too
Fertnig via Getty Images
The last thing you’ll be thinking about after a split is how it’s going to impact your credit rating, but hear us out: if your ex has financial troubles down the line and you’re still linked, it could have a knock-on effect on your life and financial affairs.
“If you have recently separated from someone, don’t just delete the playlists and throw out their socks. Separate all and any joint accounts you may have had - close them. This way you are less likely to be financially penalised for their behaviour in the future,” says Mackay.
An interest-free student account could help you save
damircudic via Getty Images
Mackay recommends that students look into opening up a student account with a 0% interest overdraft.
“This evidences that you can manage debt and repayments – but you don’t get hit by hefty interest to pay,” she notes.
If you open a student bank account with NatWest, you could get added benefits. Choose 1 from 3 great offers; Amazon Prime Student membership, National Express Coachcard or a tastecard like a year of Amazon Prime Student membership, as well as an interest-free overdraft up to £2000.***
Download the NatWest app** so you can check your credit score anytime, anywhere.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Bad With Money? How To Transform Your Money Mindset

Seeing ourselves as being bad with money can have a huge impact on the way we spend our hard-earned cash and many of us often think our financial prowess – or lack of – is something we can’t change.
However, an overhaul is possible – and it isn’t the terrifying and humongous task you might imagine it to be. Through implementing a series of small changes to your mindset and habits, you can set yourself up to make financial decisions which will improve your mood as well as your bank balance.
Here, experts explain how to renew your attitude to money matters and why it isn’t as scary as you might think…
Consider why you think you’re bad with money
The first step in creating a positive attitude is exploring why you lack confidence in the first place. Simonne Gnessen, financial coach and founder of Wise Monkey, says there’s often a backstory which influences how we deal with our personal finances.
“It might be that you’ve had big expectations put on you by parents or ‘I was rubbish at maths at school and freeze when anyone talks about numbers’,” she explains. “That can then translate into the way you behave with money.
“See it as a story and potentially a fictitious one and try to reframe that and understand it better.”
Avoid ostrich syndrome
Ziga Plahutar via Getty Images Young woman with braided hair sitting by the table, looking on her smart phone. Paying bills on the phone, checking her finance on the phone app. Millenial generation uses new and improved ways of dealnig with money. Everything can be done over the phone, the need of going to a bank is no longer here. Young generations are paying bills, transferring money, checking their balance and other things, all over the phone financial and bank apps.
Advertisement
It’s a behaviour plenty of us are guilty of but burying your head in the sand will make facing up to your bank balance even more difficult in the long run. “You’re denying it although you know it’s there,” says Gnessen. “And that carries a huge amount of stress. Often the truth is the best because then there’s something you can do about it.”
Gnessen recommends getting into the habit of checking in on your balance by adding it onto another activity you regularly complete – like doing so just after checking your emails or before turning your laptop off. Plenty of banks offer text alerts too, which can notify you when your funds dip below a certain point.
Create positive goals
Having an aim to work towards will be key in creating good habits but rather than setting a solely monetary goal, experts recommend choosing one that also focuses on your mental attitude. “We’re emotionally driven, not logical,” says Kim Stephenson, a financial psychologist. “Working on wellbeing makes your decision making better because you are less stressed and less emotionally connected to all the fears and guilt that surrounds money for you.
“Then you are able to plan ahead and use your money to move you forward. Think, ‘What do I want my money to do for me? What do I want to achieve?’”
Consider what message you’d love to “reinforce” to yourself, adds Gnessen. “Pick something juicy that has emotional content. Then what would you do differently, if you had that belief? What could you do differently?”
And try not to dwell on past mistakes or regrets either and instead, keep your eyes firmly planted on where you want to be in the future. “Focus on what you want, rather than what you don’t want,” she recommends. “Where do you want to be? What’s the outcome you might like to have?”
Stop the splurges
Eva-Katalin via Getty Images Young man working at home office
Advertisement
With your new positive attitude in place, you can begin making small practical changes which will have a big impact on your purchases. Being aware of your spending is key and these small actions create added time for you to be mindful of where your money is going.
If online shopping is something you often turn to, Gnessen suggests removing your saved card data from your phone and laptop, and unfollowing brands on social media. If you feel you spend too much money on food deliveries, delete the apps.
“Then you’re not seeing the sales that are on,” she explains. “If you’re not seeing them, you’re less likely to want to spend. Or it might be helpful to take your credit card out of your purse or wallet and put it in a drawer. Start with baby steps and then your actions will reinforce a different mindset.”
“Put a little red sticker on a picture of something you want,” Stephenson adds. “Then stick on your watch or phone, and on your computer or make-up mirror.” Then, he adds, you’ll be reminded of your aim and think more before spending your hard-earned cash.
Quit the FOMO
Maskot via Getty Images Woman giving credit card to smiling waiter at restaurant


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Kick Off 2021 With A Financial Detox. Here's How

Deciding on a New Year’s Resolution can be tough and while it’s tempting to overhaul your diet or vow to exercise daily, there’s an alternative option that doesn’t involve skipping dessert or running in the freezing cold – a financial detox.
This may sound like a daunting process but future-proofing your finances can be broken down into manageable steps and will also have a positive impact on your overall mindset.
“The pressures, worries and anxiety that are caused by falling behind in management of finances often results in a negative effect on mental health,” explains Natalie Montgomery, founder of Almara Consulting Group. “Financial detoxing will allow you to have a fresh perspective of your current circumstances.”
If you’re not sure where to start then don’t worry. From reviewing where you stand to planning for the future, here’s how to kickstart 2021 with a money detox.
Take stock of your finances
While it can feel scary, knowing exactly where you stand is key to creating a manageable plan. Thankfully, there are plenty of online tools to help and Montgomery suggests kicking things off by finding a simple cash flow spreadsheet online, explaining: “We set ourselves up to succeed financially by ensuring we know where our money is going before it gets there.”
“Pay attention to monthly expenses such as gym memberships and subscriptions”, advises Rosie Hooper, financial planner, “as these seemingly small figures soon add up”. She adds, “now is the time to reassess and make sure you’re getting your money’s worth with all the services you’re paying for.“
You can also begin to evaluate your irregular outgoings, such as clothes shopping or meals out with friends. And while 2020 has had a lot of downsides, Hooper points out that it has given many of us the chance to see where we previously spent money unnecessarily – or as she puts it, “leaked” cash.
“This is the best year that we’ve ever had for people to realise where they, quite frankly, waste their money,” she explains. “It’s like, ‘why was buying that cup of coffee and then quickly buying that lunch?’ because we haven’t been going into town, we’ve not been buying lunches out.
“This is money you are literally just leaking and you’re not getting any value from it.”
Advertisement
Understanding your credit rating
Alexander Spatari via Getty Images Overhead view of a man working on a laptop from his bed at home
The second step in taking stock of your finances is checking your credit rating, which you can do online in minutes, for free.
There are three approved agencies you can use to check your score: Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Each of these will perform what is known as a “soft check” on your file, which essentially means they’ll assess your rating without letting any lenders know you’ve looked (as sometimes checking your score regularly can work against you). When your report is generated, you’ll receive a numerical score and brief overview of how it was calculated.
In order to build your score, making sure your bank is aware of any house moves and getting yourself on the electoral register. You can also prove that you’re financially responsible by making regular payments reliably and keeping on top of any debt by making the minimum repayments.
Understanding your credit rating might not feel important right now but your current spending could have a long-term impact and affect your ability to borrow money or secure a mortgage in the future.
Advertisement
Set a financial goal
Perhaps you’d like to clear a chunk of debt or save up for a weekend away with mates – what you do with your hard-earned cash is entirely up to you. Don’t worry too much about how ambitious you’re being either, it’s more important to be realistic and set an achievable goal to work towards.
“This will enable you to have a clear vision on how much you should be aiming to save each month throughout 2021 and what you intend on doing with your savings,” Montgomery says.
The all-important budget
Tim Robberts via Getty Images Woman using contactless payment, close up
Once you’ve assessed your outgoings and decided on what to aim for, it’s time to build a budget that will help you meet your money goals. Crack out the cashflow spreadsheet again and make a plan for how much you’d like to spend and save each month.
Rather than seeing this a slightly tedious exercise in setting limits, Hooper suggests rethinking the activity. “I know some people think having a budget is restrictive but it’s not about restricting what you spend, it’s about having visibility,” she says. “There’s a key difference between restricting and visibility. If I know, I’m spending £250 on a Gucci belt and I love it, and I’m getting the value, I’m fine with that. But you need to be consciously aware of where you waste your money.”
Putting aside savings each month – no matter how small – is also key. “Saving is a routine,” she says. “It’s a habit [and] you’ve got to make yourself do it.”
Give yourself room for changes
While your budget should be realistic, it’s not uncommon to find your spending plans are a little too tough to stick to and real-life also often throws curveballs you couldn’t have predicted.
If you find yourself struggling, don’t panic. Montgomery recommends regularly setting aside a little time for an honest reassessment of your outgoings.
“Even though their intentions are in the right place, many people do not meet their budgeting goals because after they create their plan, they do not take adequate time periodically throughout the year to review [it],” she says. “Review your budget plan once a month – set yourself a recurring reminder in your calendar!”
Advertisement
Where to stash your savings
baona via Getty Images Woman putting coin in the jar with plant.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--How Big Is Your Carbon Footprint? Here’s How To Check

Carbon emissions and footprints are frequently mentioned in conversations about living more sustainably but getting to the bottom of what they are – and finding out yours – can feel confusing.
Checking your carbon footprint is actually an easy way to assess the impact your actions are having on the planet and understanding it can help you make small changes which will have a positive effect on the world around us.
If you’ve no idea where to start, here’s everything you need to know.
Why are carbon emissions important?
wellsie82 via Getty Images Fiddlers Ferry power station behind a field of wheat in Cheshire, England seen in August 2020.
Most of the carbon emissions we put out into the atmosphere come in the form of carbon dioxide, produced by the burning of fossil fuels. As these gases collect, they begin to heat up and cause global warming. Put simply, your carbon footprint is the total amount of emissions caused by your actions. This includes everything from the environmental impact of what you have for breakfast to your holiday plans.
As a global community, we need to work to reach net zero, which means reaching a balance between the emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere. The UK government has set the aim of doing so by 2050, though numerous experts think we need to act quicker.
Advertisement
How do I check my carbon footprint?
There are many online calculators which can help you work out your carbon output. The World Wildlife Foundation has created a straightforward questionnaire, while Resurgence offers a more detailed take if you input information including your household’s energy usage. These will generate a rough estimation of your carbon footprint.
There are also apps including Giki Zero, which goes one step further and allows you to monitor your score and improve it by recording small changes in behaviour and habits. Its founder, Jo Hand, points out that doing this will also often have positive impacts on other areas of your life too.
“There’s often this feeling that if you’re going to live more sustainably, or be more eco-friendly, it has to cost more,” she says. “Actually, cutting your footprint can often help save money as well, and it can be better for your health and better for nature more generally.”
How to improve your carbon footprint…
10'000 Hours via Getty Images Flatmates sitting in the kitchen early-morning laughing at something on a laptop
Recent research from the Energy Saving Trust revealed 22% of our carbon emissions come from our homes, making it the perfect place to start making improvements. It advises starting with simple things like wrapping up warm while trying to feel cosy in the winter months, and keeping the curtains closed in the evenings to stop heat escaping through the windows.
The Big Energy Saving Winter campaign highlights that when you do need to pop the heating on, turning down the thermostat by just one degree can have a huge impact and if every household in the UK did so, we could save 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year – and your energy bill could go down by up to 10%.
Other changes you can make without even leaving the house are making sure your appliances aren’t on standby and avoiding having your laptop and phone on charge unnecessarily. Make sure lights are turned off when you’re not using them too, and to go one step further, replace your bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. If everyone in Britain did the same, we’d cut up to 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and it could save you up to £40 a year on bills.
Striving to live in a planet-friendly abode could also result in another saving, with Green Mortgages on offer for UK residents buying homes with a high Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.
Advertisement
By changing your shopping habits
“In the UK, we buy on average over 30 pieces of new clothing or shoes every year,” says Hand. “So that has a carbon footprint because of the carbon emitted in the production of the clothing. Each time we buy a new piece of clothing, it has that environmental impact.”
Buying fewer brand-new items will immediately lower your carbon footprint. “[We can] repurpose the clothes we have or swap them with a friend,” suggests Hand. “Buy second-hand, there’s Depop and loads of great vintage options which have grown quite significantly in the last 10 years.
“It’s just about reframing the way you think about things approaching it in a different way.”
Alter your food choices
SolStock via Getty Images Two young men shops in a British supermarket in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
A quarter of the world’s carbon emissions come from the food industry and of those, a whopping 58% come from the production of animal products. Sadly, there’s no avoiding the fact meat consumption is a huge contributor to our carbon footprint.
Going vegan isn’t for everyone though, admits Hand, and if you don’t fancy going fully plant-based, you can still make other changes. “Swap some red meat for putting more vegetables in or pulses,” she says. “Or make it a bit of a treat instead of having meat every day. That definitely helps save money too.”
Reducing food waste is another big factor. “The decomposition of the food also emits carbon so it’s a kind of double whammy there,” she says. “You’ve wasted the carbon to make the food and then you’ve created more carbon by having it decompose.
“When you unload your latest shop, check you aren’t hiding loads of stuff at the back of the fridge. It’s all about the planning. Not necessarily every meal, but have a rough idea of what’s going to last until when, so you don’t end up wasting your food and money.”
Travel


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Selling Sunset Star Heather Rae Young Leaving LA Brokerage To Set Up New Oppenheim Group Office

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Selling Sunset star Heather Rae Young is set to leave the show’s Los Angeles office to open up a new branch of the brokerage featured on the Netflix show.
Oppenheim Group co-owner Jason Oppenheim has revealed he has charged the real estate agent with working in a new office in Newport Beach, California, as the group expands.
Advertisement
Speaking to Fox News, he said: “Heather is going to be working out of that office and my best friend is going to be managing the office.
“The office that we’re looking at is insane. I mean, it’s insane. So hopefully I’ll be signing the lease soon.”
Heather Rae Young Rochelle Brodin via Getty Images
However, those worried that this could mean Heather is set to leave Selling Sunset can breathe a sigh of relief, as a rep for the Oppenheim Group maintained that Heather “will be based out of the LA office as always” as she balances her new commitment to the Orange County office.
Advertisement
They added that she “won’t be going anywhere”.
Heather’s news is the latest in a number of shake-ups for the brokerage featured on the hit Netflix reality show.
Davina Potratz announced back in October that she is leaving the property firm to join a rival brokerage in Beverly Hills after they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“It’s not that I wanted to leave, but I had a great opportunity. It was a purely business decision,” she told People magazine at the time.
Davina Potratz has left the Oppenheim Group altogether Rochelle Brodin via Getty Images
However, Davina said she was still hoping to feature in the next season of Selling Sunset, adding: “I certainly hope that I’m still part of the cast.
Advertisement
“Brett is not at the Oppenheim Group anymore either, so I don’t think that that’s going to be an issue at all.”
There has been much speculation as to whether Brett has left the brokerage he ran with his brother Jason to launch his own.
While Davina and co-stars Christine Quinn and Chrishell Stause have all suggested this is the case in various interviews, Jason has previously denied it.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Trump’s ‘Save America’ Fundraiser Could Pay For Big Macs, Hush Money … Pretty Much Anything

LOADING ERROR LOADING
While President Donald Trump has raised many tens of millions of dollars with the promise of overturning his election loss last month, his supporters are mainly donating into a fund he could use for Big Macs, golf equipment and, if he wants, even more hush-money payments.
Unlike political campaign and party committees, whose money cannot be converted to personal use by a candidate, Trump’s “Save America” is a so-called “leadership” PAC, with far less stringent rules regulating its spending.
Advertisement
“It’ll be a slush fund,” said Paul S Ryan, a campaign finance lawyer with the group Common Cause. “Trump could decide to pay himself $1 million a year out of this fund. That’s legal. He could pay [his children] Don Jr and Ivanka, if he wanted to. It’s pretty clear that this is a classic bait-and-switch scheme.”
Neither the Trump campaign nor the Republican National Committee responded to HuffPost queries about Trump’s post-election fundraising. Save America’s first report for money raised and spent between Election Day and November 23 is not due with the Federal Election Commission until later this week.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that Trump raised $150 million since November 3, while The New York Times reported a $170 million total. Neither outlet broke down how much of that went to Save America versus Trump’s campaign and the RNC.
One top Republican fundraiser close to Trump laughed upon learning of the soon-to-be former president’s ability to use donor money for personal expenses. “Good for him,” he said on condition of anonymity. “I hope he does it to just to piss everybody off.”
Advertisement
Despite the prohibition against personally benefiting from money donated to his campaign, Trump as a candidate in 2016 and then as the sitting president for four years managed to circumvent that restriction by directing money ― both from his campaign as well as the RNC ― to his own businesses. These included his mixed-use Trump Tower building in New York City, his golf resorts, and his hotels, particularly the one just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. Those entities collected nearly $8 million between the time he took office and just before the election, according to a HuffPost analysis of FEC filings.
But much of that money went to pay operating costs of those businesses, with some smaller fraction winding up in Trump’s pocket. His Save America committee, in contrast, can pick up his personal expenses directly ― everything from travel and entertainment costs to mortgage payments to legal fees. It could even pay him a salary of however much he chooses to take.
Leadership PACs’ ostensible purpose is for elected officials to be able to raise and spend money to help colleagues win elections, thereby earning loyalty that those officials can use to further their own ambitions. They are typically created by members of Congress hoping to rise in their parties’ leadership ranks.
But while congressional ethics rules restrict members of the House and Senate from accepting income or other personal benefit from those PACs, no such restriction applies to Trump.
“The Trump campaign is running a fraudulent scam with the full assistance of the Republican Party.” - Stuart Stevens, Republican campaign consultant
Advertisement
“Trump was a grifter before he was in the White House. He was a grifter while he was in the White House. There’s surely no reason to expect him to stop grifting as he leaves and once he’s gone,” said Robert Weissman, president of the watchdog group Public Citizen. “The special problem this time is, in conning his supporters, he’s also sowing deep distrust of the most basic institutions of our democracy, in ways that may have dire, long-term consequences.”
Most of the Trump campaign’s hundreds of texts and emails since Election Day to its list of small-dollar donors, in fact, have falsely suggested that Trump lost the November 3 election because of fraud.
“Please contribute $5 IMMEDIATELY to DEFEND the Election from the Radical Left and you can increase your impact by 1000%,” read a November 22 email.
“Our End-of-Month goal is crucial to ensuring we have the resources to DEFEND the Election, and we don’t want the President to see a list without YOUR NAME on it,” said another one five days later.
“We’re pacing behind our Deadline Goal! Pres Trump is doing something he’s never done before. ALL GIFTS 1000%-IMPACT FOR 1 HR. Donate NOW,” urged a text sent Monday. “We can’t let Biden & Kamala try to STEAL the Election.”
Advertisement
And an email on Tuesday read: “Making sure we have enough resources to protect the integrity of this Election is critical; especially when the Left and Fake News media are working overtime to try to STEAL IT.”
Those who click through the donation links wind up on a page for the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, which for four years has been a joint venture between the Trump campaign and the RNC, but which on November 18 amended its mission to include Save America, the committee Trump registered six days after losing the election.
And while an animated colour graphic urges donors to “Join the Election Defense Team,” the fine print beneath makes clear that the vast majority of donations will not send a single dime to any “election defence” effort.
According to that explanation, 75% of every donation goes to Trump’s Save America committee and 25% goes to the RNC’s general fund. Only after Save America has received $5,000 from any given donor does the Trump portion of the donation shift to a “recount” fund established within the Trump campaign. And only after the RNC portion of a donor’s total reaches $35,500 does that fraction start passing to the dedicated “legal proceedings” or “headquarters” funds that the RNC maintains.
Meaning that a single person’s donations must hit $6,666.67 before a single penny starts flowing to a dedicated recount fund. Because the emails and texts are sent to donors who typically give in the $20 or $50 range, the chance that any of the money winds up in either of the dedicated election funds is slim.
Advertisement
Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2020 GOP presidential nomination, said Trump’s hardcore fans do not care. “I’ve brought it up to his supporters. They don’t believe it,” Walsh said.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Great British Bake Off Winner Nadiya Hussain Reveals Why She'd Never Do All Stars Series

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Nadiya Hussain may be one of The Great British Bake Off’s most-loved contestants ever, but don’t expect to see her back in the tent again any time soon.
The series six winner has revealed she would be reluctant to take part in any sort of All Stars series, admitting she wouldn’t want to put herself through the stress again.
Advertisement
Explaining she was “just quite happy with her trophy” after being crowned the 2015 champion, Nadiya said (via Digital Spy): “I don’t know that I would ever do something like [an All Stars series].
“Whoever puts themselves through something like that twice? Once was enough, thank you very much. It was so stressful.”
Nadiya Hussain won the sixth series of Bake Off in 2015
She continued: “Only people who have been in the tent will tell you how stressful it is to be in the actual tent. The perspiration is serious. Always wear dark colours because there’s a lot of sweating, and it’s really stressful. It is really, really stressful.
Advertisement
“But I think I’m just quite happy with my trophy, thank you very much. I don’t need another one. Never say never. Never say never. But my goodness, I would never deliberately put myself through that twice,” she added.
Since winning Bake Off, Nadiya has been a regular fixture on TV, fronting her own documentary The Chronicles Of Nadiya, as well as hosting Nadiya’s British Food Adventure, The Big Family Cooking Showdown, Nadiya Bakes and Nadiya’s Family Favourites.
She has also written five cookbooks, four children’s story and recipe books, a series of novels and an autobiography.
In 2019, she was honoured with an MBE for services to broadcasting and to the culinary arts.
Nadiya has had huge success since winning the show John Keeble via Getty Images
And while it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing Nadiya back in the tent, there’s some familiar faces returning for this year’s Christmas and New Year specials of Bake Off.
Advertisement
Former contestants James Hillery from the 2017 series, Ruby Bhogal, from the 2018 series, and Rosie Brandreth-Poynter and Jamie Finn from the 2019 series return as they go head to head for the title of Christmas Star Baker.
For the New Year special, Bake Off winners Nancy Birtwhistle and Rahul Mandal return to the tent alongside 2019 contestants Helena Garcia and Henry Bird.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--US Justice Department Probed 'Bribery-For-Pardon Scheme' As Trump Campaigned, Court Reveals

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The US Justice Department has spent months investigating a “bribery-for-pardon scheme,” even as President Donald Trump was running for reelection, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday.
In a 20-page heavily redacted opinion, dated August 28 but posted Tuesday evening, US District Judge Beryl Howell wrote that attorney-client privilege didn’t protect certain communications if they were alleged to be part of a “bribery-for-pardon scheme.” The communications involved in the bribery investigation had been copied to a third party who was not an attorney, the opinion stated.
Advertisement
“In sum, the attorney-client privilege does not protect communications disclosed to third parties and, here [redacted] was such a third party to each of the emails submitted by the government,” the August 28 opinion states. Howell, chief judge of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, presided over special counsel Robert Mueller’s grand jury investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The court documents reveal that dozens of devices were seized after an unidentified office was searched in response to a warrant. The federal agents were investigating a “secret lobbying scheme” in which certain people “acted as lobbyists to senior White House officials, without complying with the registration requirement,” to secure “a pardon or reprieve of sentence.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Trump Reportedly Considering Pardons For 3 Of His Children And Rudy Giuliani

LOADING ERROR LOADING
President Donald Trump has discussed pardoning three of his children and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani before he leaves office and before any of them have been charged with potential crimes, according to several reports on Tuesday evening.
ABC News and The New York Times both reported that Trump has discussed the pre-emptive pardons with advisers, expressing fear that his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, would unjustly target them when he assumes office in January. The pardons could benefit Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump, as well as Ivanka’s husband, Jared Kushner. Ivanka Trump and Kushner have also served as White House advisers in the Trump administration.
Advertisement
Trump has begun to issue pardons and has granted clemency to former aides and longtime supporters. Last month, he pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian official during the transition before Trump took office in 2017.
None of the five has been charged with a crime, and it’s unclear what impropriety a pardon would seek to guard against. Presidential pardons provide protections against federal crimes, but they do not protect against state or local ones. Pardons are traditionally sought by applications to a federal pardon attorney at least five years after a conviction or release from prison.
Trump’s older children have run afoul of federal investigators multiple times during his tenure in the White House. Donald Trump Jr faced scrutiny over his contacts with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, although he was not charged. Kushner also drew attention when he omitted foreign contacts from his application for White House security clearances. Intelligence officials raised concerns about granting Kushner with the access, but Trump intervened to unilaterally grant the top-secret clearance.
Giuliani, one of Trump’s most vocal surrogates and a key figure behind the discredited attempt to undercut the results of the 2020 election, has reportedly asked the White House directly for a pardon in advance of any criminal charges (Giuliani tweeted that the claim, published by the Times, was “#fakenews”).
Advertisement
Some of Trump’s allies have been pushing the president to issue the pardons before he leaves office. Fox News host Sean Hannity said Monday that Trump “needs to pardon his whole family and himself” as he goes “out the door.”
“I assume that the power of the pardon is absolute and that he should be able to pardon anybody that he wants to,” the conservative commentator said on his radio show.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--I'm A Celebrity Says Goodbye To Russell Watson And Jessica Plummer In Double Elimination

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Russell Watson and Jessica Plummer have become the latest stars to leave the I’m A Celebrity castle after a double elimination.
The opera singer and former EastEnders star finished in seventh and sixth place respectively as they were shown the door during Tuesday night’s episode of the ITV reality show.
Advertisement
The pair admitted they had “mixed emotions” to be leaving ahead of the final on Friday.
Russell Watson and Jessica Plummer Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock
Russell, who was a late entrant into the castle, admitted he felt “emotional” watching his highlights from his time on the show.
He said: “It just reminded me of what a good time we had there... I wasn’t sure, it is difficult going in later because everyone else has a relationship.
“I’d like to think [my singing] kept morale up. Like I said on there, I don’t need any encouragement, I’ll sing at every opportunity I can get.”
Advertisement
Jessica also discussed how she hit a turning point after taking part in the Sickening Stalls Bushtucker Trial.
“Going back to camp and being able to announce with Shane that we had got 12 stars, I feel like I’ve checked off such a big tick box on my bucket list,” she said.
Jessica took part in the Sickening Stalls trial with Shane Richie Kieron McCarron/ITV/Shutterstock
“To be able to do that for camp and my own personal self. I was very sick but it was worth it.”
There are now six campmates left in the castle, following the previous eliminations of Hollie Arnold, Ruthie Henshall, Beverley Callard and Victoria Derbyshire.
I’m A Celebrity continues on Wednesday at 9pm on ITV.
Advertisement


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--How The Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine Will Be Rolled Out And Who Will Get It First

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK, with rollout beginning as early as next week.
The UK is the first country in the world to make the historic move – but how will it be distributed and who will get it first?
Advertisement
What’s in the pipeline for the UK?
The government has secured 40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with 10 million due in the UK by the end of the year.
Patients need two doses, meaning not enough shots have been secured for the entire UK population, PA Media reports.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday that 800,000 doses of the vaccine will be available next week, with “several millions” more coming throughout December.
He said: “We’ll then deploy at the speed that it’s manufactured, and the manufacturing is, of course, being done by Pfizer in Belgium, so that will determine the speed at which we can roll it out.”
Advertisement
How will a vaccine be rolled out?
Work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that NHS staff are ready to start delivering jabs to the most vulnerable, as well as health and care workers, as a priority.
Matt Hancock told Sky News there would be “three modes of delivery” of the vaccine.
“The first is hospitals themselves, which of course we’ve got facilities like this,” he said.
“Fifty hospitals across the country are already set up and waiting to receive the vaccine as soon as it’s approved, so that can now happen.
“Also vaccination centres, which will be big centres where people can go to get vaccinated. They are being set up now.
“There will also be a community rollout, including GPs and pharmacists.”
The NHS Nightingale Hospitals have also been earmarked as sites for mass vaccination clinics – among other uses.
In addition, NHS leaders have said there will be “roving teams” deployed to vaccinate care home residents and workers.
Advertisement
Based on the current information, the vaccines being developed require two doses per patient, with a 21 to 28 day gap between doses.
New regulations allowing more healthcare workers to administer flu and potential Covid-19 vaccines have also been introduced by the government.
Who is top of the list to get a coronavirus vaccine?
The health secretary told Sky News that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) set out its priority list on Wednesday.
Vaccine HuffPost UK
Don’t vaccines take a long time to produce?
In the past it has taken years, sometimes decades, to produce a vaccine.
Traditionally, vaccine development includes various processes, including design and development stages followed by clinical trials – which in themselves need approval before they even begin.
Advertisement
But in the trials for a Covid-19 vaccine, things look slightly different. A process which usually takes years has been condensed to months.
While the early design and development stages look similar, the clinical trial phases overlap, instead of taking place sequentially.
And pharmaceutical firms have begun manufacturing before final approval has been granted – taking on the risk that they may be forced to scrap their work.
The new way of working means that regulators around the world can start to look at scientific data earlier than they traditionally would do.
PA Media
Advertisement
Aren’t there other vaccines?
Yes, recent data from the Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Moderna vaccine trials suggests their candidates also have high efficacy.
Oxford data indicates the vaccine has 62% efficacy when one full dose is given followed by another full dose, but when people were given a half dose followed by a full dose at least a month later, its efficacy rose to 90%.
The combined analysis from both dosing regimes resulted in an average efficacy of 70.4%.
Final results from the trials of Moderna’s vaccine suggest it has 94.1% efficacy, and 100% efficacy against severe Covid-19.
Nobody who was vaccinated with the vaccine known as mRNA-1273 developed severe coronavirus.
Which jab is best?
The early contenders all have high efficacy rates, but researchers say it is difficult to make direct comparisons because it is not yet known exactly what everyone is measuring in the trials.
How many doses has the UK secured?
The UK has secured access to 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, which is almost enough for most of the population.
Advertisement
It also belatedly struck a deals for seven million doses of the jab on offer from Moderna in the US.
The deals cover four different classes: adenoviral vaccines, mRNA vaccines, inactivated whole virus vaccines and protein adjuvant vaccines.
The UK has secured access to:
100 million doses of the Oxford vaccine
60 million doses of the Novavax vaccine
Some 30 million doses from Janssen
40 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine – the first agreement the firms signed with any government
60 million doses of a vaccine being developed by Valneva
60 million doses of protein adjuvant vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Sanofi Pasteur
Seven million doses of the jab on offer from Moderna in the US.
What do they cost?
Pfizer/BioNTech is making its vaccine available not-for-profit.
According to reports, the Moderna vaccine could cost about 38 dollars (£28) per dose and the Pfizer candidate could cost around 20 dollars (£15).
Researchers suggest the Oxford vaccine could be relatively cheap to produce, with some reports indicating it could be about £3 per dose.
AstraZeneca said it will not sell it for a profit, so it can be available to all countries.
However, the details of the deals made by the UK government have not been made public.
How do we know the vaccines are safe?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Elliot Page's Wife Says She's 'So Proud' Of Him For Coming Out As Transgender

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Elliot Page’s wife, Emma Portner, posted a sweet message expressing love and support for the actor after he came out as transgender on Tuesday.
Portner, a professional dancer and choreographer, shared Page’s announcement, adding in the caption that she is “so proud” of him.
Advertisement
“Trans, queer and non-binary people are a gift to this world,” she wrote. “I also ask for patience & privacy but that you join me in the fervent support of trans life every single day. Elliot’s existence is a gift in and of itself. Shine on sweet E. Love you so much.”
Elliot Page and Emma Portner have been married since 2018. Pacific Press via Getty Images
The Juno and X-Men star spoke publicly about his gender identity for the first time on Tuesday, telling fans that he will be using the pronouns “he” and “they.”
“I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey,” he wrote. “I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. I’ve been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community.
Advertisement
“Thank you for your courage, your generosity, and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place.”
Page and Portner have been married since 2018.
He currently stars as Vanya Hargreeves in the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy. The streaming service is in the process of updating Page’s name across all titles, Variety reported.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Pfizer/BioNTech Coronavirus Vaccine Approved For UK Use And Available Next Week

LOADING ERROR LOADING
The Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use in the UK and and will be made available from next week, Matt Hancock has said.
The UK becomes the first country in the world to have a “clinically authorised vaccine” to roll out, the health secretary said (Russia has approved a vaccine but there are concerns about safety and its efficacy).
Advertisement
Studies have shown the jab to be 95% effective and works in all age groups. No safety concerns arose from clinical trials.
Some 40m doses have been secured in total, with 10m due in the country by the end of the year.
People will need two doses, meaning enough has been bought for 20m Brits.
They will have to come to Britain from the company’s distribution centre in Belgium, and need to be stored at minus 70C.
Health secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning that 800,000 doses of the vaccine will be available next week, with “several millions” more coming throughout December.
He added: “We’ll then deploy at the speed that it’s manufactured, and the manufacturing is, of course, being done by Pfizer in Belgium, so that will determine the speed at which we can roll it out.”
Advertisement
Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS in England, said the vaccination programme would be the “largest-scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history”.
Hancock tweeted: “Help is on its way. The [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)] has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.
“The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week. The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply.”
Help is on its way.
The MHRA has formally authorised the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Covid-19.
The NHS stands ready to start vaccinating early next week.
The UK is the first country in the world to have a clinically approved vaccine for supply. — Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) December 2, 2020
On the challenge posed by the need for the vaccine to be stored at an ultra-low temperature, Hancock told Sky News: “This is a challenging rollout and the NHS in all parts of the UK stands ready to make that happen.
Advertisement
“They are used to handling vaccines and medicines like this, with these sorts of conditions.
“It’s not easy but we’ve got those plans in place, so this morning I spoke to my counterparts in the devolved nations to make sure that we are all ready to roll out this vaccine … from early next week.”
In a statement, Stevens said: “This is an important next step in our response to the coronavirus pandemic and hospitals will shortly kick off the first phase of the largest-scale vaccination campaign in our country’s history.
“The NHS has a proven track record of delivering large-scale vaccinations from the winter flu jab to BCG and, once the final hurdles are cleared and the vaccine arrives in England’s hospitals, health service staff will begin offering people this ground-breaking jab in a programme that will expand to cover the whole country in the coming months.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The government has today accepted the recommendation from the independent MHRA to approve Pfizer/BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine for use.
“This follows months of rigorous clinical trials and a thorough analysis of the data by experts at the MHRA who have concluded that the vaccine has met its strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
Advertisement
“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will shortly also publish its latest advice for the priority groups to receive the vaccine, including care home residents, health and care staff, the elderly and the clinically extremely vulnerable.
“The vaccine will be made available across the UK from next week.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Parents, Put The Elf On The Shelf Down

Parents, Put The Elf On The Shelf Down

ASSOCIATED PRESS Elf on the Shelf is a weird tradition in normal times. But 2020 isn't normal times.
I must admit, we’ve never been an “Elf on the Shelf” kind of house for a number of reasons. I’m lazy, forgetful and personally think your kids should try to behave because they know it’s the right thing to do (yes, I’m aware that is much easier said than done). Besides, we’re more of a focus-on-the-tree kind of family.
But I know there are a lot of parents out there who swear by the elf. Sure, it’s cute to look at and funny for the two minutes it takes the kids to find it in the morning, granting you a hot second to get a cup of coffee. But let me be the first person to give you a gift this season: Put. Down. The. Elf. 2020 is not the year to worry about the damn elf. No parent, I repeat, no parent, needs to spend any excess energy this year to ensure holiday magic, or anything else.
Advertisement
Even the Elf on the Shelf website is aware it’s reaching, issuing this statement:
We checked with the Big Man in Red himself for the definitive answer to all your Scout Elf quarantine questions. Great news! Santa says, “All Scout Elves are 100% healthy and remain well at the North Pole. They are excited to return to the human world for a season of excitement and giggles. Since Scout Elves are magical beings from the North Pole, they do not get human sicknesses and do not need to quarantine!”
See, they know the jig is up. And then there’s this:
I probably don’t have to tell you that parents around the world are tired. We’re weary. We’re anxious. We’re at the end of our rope. And that’s OK and understandable! My GOD, this has been a year.
Add in a fake quarantine, when so many real ones are happening, and I call BS. While it’s certainly topical to have the elf “quarantine” upon arrival in your home, it’s just too on the nose for this dreadful year.
Advertisement
This, however, is accurate:
As for your kids, tell them something believable and entirely appropriate for the times: You’re not allowing anyone from outside your family physically in your home, including magic elves. It’s the safe thing to do during this pandemic anyway, so it tracks.
So please, back away slowly. Grant yourself some small slice of serenity. Consider it self-care! Just don’t, I repeat, don’t, add anything else to your plate. And while you’re at it, don’t buy anything to contain the quarantined elf, like below.
New type boxes :) As sold out :) of others and can not get any more of those :( Had to raise the cost to £17 But such a baaaaaargain #elfontheshelf #Isolate #Christmas #Crafts xx pic.twitter.com/gDgXmpt2hq — #SheepQueen!! (@michellethelamb) November 15, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Covid Means I Can't See My Partner In Prison. It’s Been Torture

Restricted area. Close up of a silver colored razor wire security fence against a blue sky Helen Davies via Getty Images
England may be finishing its second national lockdown, but for many families like mine, the first lockdown never really ended. That’s because my partner, Chris, is awaiting trial – on drug importation charges – in Guernsey prison, and we haven’t been allowed to see him since March.
While all UK prisons have operated different regimes during lockdown, I’ve yet to come across another with procedures quite so strict. Guernsey requires visitors to isolate for 14 days on arrival to the island, and unsurprisingly there probably isn’t a single UK inmate whose family can afford to travel to the Channel Islands and quarantine for 14 days so they can see their loved one.
Advertisement
The past seven months have been an extremely stressful and emotional time, made worse by the fact that Chris’ trial has been delayed to March 2021 due to coronavirus. He’s been detained since November 2019, and it’s almost unheard of for someone to be on remand this long. According to Parliament, the average remand time in 2016 was just 39 days.
Unlike most English prisons, Guernsey has also refused to fund video calls between inmates and families. It hasn’t even provided free phone calls either. This means some of Britain’s poorest families have been forced to fork out £10 just to catch a glimpse of their parent, partner or child.
“Lockdown has, for both of us, been lonely without the promise of a monthly visit. But it doesn’t compare to the mental health impact of waiting 18 months to find out whether your partner is spending the next three decades in jail.”
I did once try a video call with Chris, but it cut out every time I moved my face – and unfortunately, this made it impossible to have a conversation. It was really frustrating and sad. I managed to stay positive during the call, but couldn’t hold back the tears afterwards. Eventually, we both decided it would be cheaper and easier to use the phone.
Advertisement
Lockdown has, for both of us, been lonely without the promise of a monthly visit. But it doesn’t compare to the mental health impact of waiting 18 months to find out whether your partner is spending the next three decades in jail. I’ve had a constant feeling of anxiety for over a year now, and it’s hard to acknowledge it won’t fade anytime soon.
This extended wait for trial has been torture. It’s caused arguments, sleepless nights and untold anxieties. Chris is autistic, and his symptoms have become noticeably worse, from his inability to cope with noises to his fear of sudden changes. I’m convinced the emotional impact of these problems would be eased if we could see one another face-to-face.
Sadly, we’re not in a unique situation. One female inmate hasn’t been able to see her three primary school-aged kids since March. There’s a 22-year old lad whose father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and now has to accept he’ll never see his dad again. So I try to count my blessings, while we nervously wait.
The author, alongside her partner, Chris HuffPost UK
I’m a single parent, but I don’t qualify for the government self-employment grant or Universal Credit. This means I’ve had to work harder to pay the bills, but it has perhaps been a blessing in disguise. The lengthy hours mean I have less time to dwell on the lack of face-to-face contact, or focus on just how much I long for a hug, or Chris’ familiar smell.
Advertisement
I’ve always used weightlifting as a coping mechanism when things get stressful – but obviously the gyms have been closed for much of the last seven months. So instead I’ve simply focused my efforts on work and the kids, while trying my best to support Chris emotionally. I try not to compare my personal situation to anyone else’s, as I get irritated when people complain about trivial things like not being able to go to the pub.
But, of course, it’s been much more difficult for Chris to distract himself. There’s little to do in a prison cell. He was moved into isolation, after experiencing an autism-related meltdown when officers unexpectedly tried to move him to a different wing.
Prisons aren’t supposed to punish inmates for displaying protected characteristics of their disability, whether it’s autism, schizophrenia or a broken leg. But the prison service claims that isolation is an administrative measure, and not a punishment.
This was probably our darkest hour. Chris spent most of the weekend on the phone to me, and I could sense he had lost all hope. Our conversations were punctuated by screams from the neighbouring cell, as an inmate begged for medical care and legal representation. It was harrowing to think of him in a six-by-twelve-foot space, with no freedom to wash, exercise or get five minutes’ peace. Worse still, Chris received no mental health support during this time – my hastily googled advice was our only source of expertise.
“During this time of supposed rehabilitation, they’ve received no support.”
Advertisement
I feel angry about the lack of pastoral support in British prisons during the coronavirus lockdowns. Governors need to remember that inmates are humans who’ve been forcibly removed from loved ones, and placed at the margins of society. But during this time of supposed rehabilitation, they’ve received no support.
From a legal perspective, prisons are actually obliged to encourage inmates to maintain meaningful family ties. Some lawyers argue that the visiting ban is a breach of children’s rights. So it’s questionable whether the absence of funded video and phone calls – when visits are almost impossible – is even legal.
I spoke to the States of Guernsey press office, who declined to comment on any of this. But I strongly feel that Guernsey needs to lift its fourteen-day quarantine requirement. After all, it’s been eight months since these austere measures were introduced and, given the strong link between family ties and reoffending, I believe it would be beneficial to introduce a free weekly video or phone call for those unable to receive visits.
Crucially, there needs to be a clear acknowledgement of the trauma experienced by inmates during the pandemic, as well as provision of adequate mental health and pastoral support.
Otherwise, there will be an entire generation of inmates for whom prison will have held no restorative value. They won’t have attended rehabilitative courses, participated in therapy or maintained adequate family ties. And to compound this, they certainly won’t have trust in society.
Advertisement
Dr Rebecca Tidy is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @DrRebeccaTidy


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Strictly Come Dancing Star Clara Amfo Responds To Kevin Clifton's Claims She Was 'Slaughtered' By Th

Strictly Come Dancing Star Clara Amfo Responds To Kevin Clifton's Claims She Was 'Slaughtered' By The Judges

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Clara Amfo has responded to Kevin Clifton’s comments that she was “slaughtered” by the Strictly Come Dancing judges during her time on the show.
Advertisement
She had previously also found herself at the bottom of the leaderboard a week earlier, which led to former pro Kevin commenting that the judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse – had been particularly harsh with her when they gave their scores.
Clara Amfo SIPA USA/PA Images
Responding to Kevin’s comments, Clara exclusively told HuffPost UK: “I mean, I appreciate Kevin’s support, he knows what he’s talking about, do you know what I mean?
“He was a pro on the show for years, he’s got a very particular perspective. All I know is I tried my best and how I was reacted to by the judges, well you guys saw, I just tried to dance, that’s all I tried to do.”
Advertisement
Kevin said at the time: “My thoughts on it... you know when the judges go to some people, ‘Oh, there’s a couple of little bits that went wrong, but I loved it’, or, ‘Something went wrong there, but well done you for carrying on’.
“Yet with Clara, it was like, ‘You made a couple of mistakes’, and it was, ‘Nah, you made some mistakes’, and they slaughtered her.”
Kevin Clifton SIPA USA/PA Images
Clara also opened up about the impact that some of the judges’ less positive comments had on her confidence during her time in the competition.
“There were some weeks, when what the judges said, like, yeah, it did knock my confidence and it gets to you,” she said. “And even though you might smash it in rehearsal, all of a sudden you remember a not-so positive comment and it can throw you.
Advertisement
“And I think, for me, it was just about just trying to zone out, listen to Aljaž and be like ‘look, you know what, it’s not about the cause, it’s about how this song makes you feel, it’s about us having fun, it’s about entertaining people at home so just go out there and just do it’. And I think that’s what kinda kept me in the zone.”
BBC
Speaking about managing her Radio 1 schedule, her podcast and all her other lockdown work commitments alongside the punishing Strictly schedule, she said: “You’re training for up to eight hours, sometimes nine, ten a day, you’re exhausted, bits are aching, whatever.
“And then Saturday night it’s tits and teeth and razzle dazzle and you do it and it’s amazing and it feels fab but, you know, there’s so much that people don’t see: it totally takes over your life.”
Despite saying she feels “gutted” about being eliminated from the competition, Clara told us she managed to pick up her mood when a passer-by offered her some comforting words of support.
Advertisement
“A van driver barked at me yesterday when I was leaving work,” she told us. “He was like ’you were robbed darling’, and I was like, ‘you know what, yeah, that to me is like my leaderboard equivalent, I’ll take it!’.
“That was all the validation that I needed. People have been very lovely and I don’t take it for granted, for sure.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--Friendmas: Why We're Not Spending Christmas With Our Family This Year

Supplied Friend-mas
“I’m a doctor – Boris Johnson’s Christmas plans are deadly,” wrote one expert for HuffPost UK, responding to the announcement that people in the UK are able to mix with up to three households, exclusively, this Christmas.
Many people are finding ways to keep their Christmas bubble as safe as possible – such as self-isolating and socialising in their biggest room – but others have decided to stay away from larger gatherings completely.
Advertisement
In fact, new Google and YouGov research conducted by surveying 2,178 adults finds that 64% of Brits would be willing to celebrate Christmas without other households if it meant ‘normal’ life would return more quickly.
HuffPost UK spoke to the people throwing a ‘friendmas’ this year to find out why they decided to stay put – and what they’ll be doing instead.
‘Christmas happens every year, a funeral for my dad only happens once’
Aaron Bhugobaun, 35, digital cinema and film specialist, London, would usually spend Christmas in either Cambridge, UK, or Japan with family.
Supplied Aaron
Advertisement
“My dad just had a major heart operation and is recovering at home. He’s also a diabetic in his 70s, which puts him in the higher risk category. I shouldn’t be selfish by putting his life at risk for one or two days. I want him to make a full recovery so I can see him once a vaccine has majorly suppressed the virus. Christmas happens every year, a funeral for my dad only happens once.
“I’ve not been on good terms with my dad, so I wanted to use this year to make good with him. Doing that in person would have made it easier, of course. But if I don’t go home, my dad is not at risk of the typical family Christmas arguments, terrible burnt cooking, or catching the virus.”
“I will do what needs to be done to protect my family, friends, and colleagues – and I’ve been doing this since the start of the pandemic. Things are bad now, however, this is only temporary. As long as we get through this with the least amount of pain as possible, things will get back to a kind of ‘normal’. I guess you could say I’m kind of optimistic.”
‘It’s the first family Christmas I’m missing in 28 years’
Dan Cohen, 28, software developer, Bristol, would usually travel to Ely, Cambridgeshire, for Christmas.
Supplied Dan
Advertisement
“By the start of autumn, I had an inkling Christmas wouldn’t be happening, but I decided to see what happened in the lead up to December. When the second lockdown started, I reluctantly rang up my parents to tell them I wouldn’t be coming home for Christmas – the first one I’d be missing in 28 years.
“Despite the initial hesitation and shock disappointment, we agreed that despite how sad it’d be, it’s not worth the risk of potentially bringing it over with me on a visit home even if ‘allowed’ to by the government, especially as Bristol is a hotspot at the moment.
“My parents aren’t exactly young any more, nor is my Grandmother who they care for – an even higher risk. It got me down to be missing it, but what’s the point in saying hello at Christmas to wake up to bad news on New Year’s Day?
“It’s just a day after all – we’ll have a belated event in the spring when we can all be safe. A bunch of my friends have had to disappoint their parents in the same ways so I get the feeling people are trying to do the right thing. I live on my own so I’m going to have a ‘friend-mas’ with my bubble household – it’s not exactly the norm, but what has been normal this year?”
Advertisement
‘I feel good about my decision today – but tomorrow may be a different story’
Maryam Roohipour, 31, publications co-ordinator, Lancashire, would usually travel to Ireland for Christmas.
Advertisement
Supplied Maryam
“This will be my first Christmas in the house I’ve built by myself. I usually leave it every year and travel to spend Christmas with family. I made the decision to stay put because I was anxious about getting back home. The thought of all the regurgitated air on a plane or boat was making me feel so ill, too. I feel good about my decision today – but tomorrow may be a different story.
“Ask me how I’m feeling on Christmas Day after FaceTiming my family because I’ll probably be crying. I won’t be home or have seen a single member of my family for a whole year, apart from on video calls.
“That said, there are some upsides: going all out with the cheesiest, tackiest Christmas decorations I can find. What’s that saying? Go big or go home... that’s my motto this year.”
“On Christmas Day, I’ll open my presents from our family Secret Santa. We’ll be posting our presents to the recipients as we won’t be together. I’ll then be spending it with my bubble, comprised of five people and Aurora the cat, eating and drinking, and maybe having a walk. I’m glad the restrictions have changed slightly over Christmas so I can see a few more people.”
Advertisement
‘I’d prefer doing ‘Christmas’ in summer with my family’
Sophia Ward, 29, student, London, would usually travel to Fleet, Hampshire, for Christmas.
Supplied Sophia
“One of my parents has underlying health conditions, so the impossible logistics of going home for Christmas are obvious. I could self-isolate, but I live in a house share of six people, so I’m not sure how realistic that is. Also, coming out of lockdown, I don’t think I could handle isolating myself voluntarily.
“I feel fine about my decision. It doesn’t make sense to put so much pressure on this one day of year. We have a vaccine on the way, and I’d prefer doing ‘Christmas’ in summer with my family when we can do it safely. The pressure to enjoy spending a day together would be intensified by the hurdles in the way of getting tested, plus with a looming backdrop of there being a global pandemic. I think there would also end up being a lot of tension in the air!
“Christmas is only symbolic anyway for my family – what about everyone who has missed out on seeing their families during other religious festivals?
“I’ll be spending Christmas with friends! I can’t wait to have a completely different kind of experience – a chance to let off some steam and relax after a stressful year. A number of my friends are staying in London for similar reasons. We’re going to do a pot-luck roast dinner and all bring different dishes. It’s sad I won’t be seeing my family and strange not reconnecting with home friends. But, I’m sure we will Skype on Christmas Day!”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-12-02--The Covid Christmas Odd Jobbers – From A Virtual Santa To A Light Trail Creator

LOADING ERROR LOADING
Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year – but 2020 is unlike any others. Many traditions and events are either cancelled, postponed, or taking a different turn this year. What happens, then, if you rely on a Christmas job?
Getting seasonal work can be a great way to boost cash flow without having to commit to a role long-term. But millions may be financially struggling this year, as many rely on a busy Christmas period in order to survive. Seasonal roles are down by a third, according to research from job search engine Adzuna, but there are currently 13,600 temporary Christmas jobs unfilled in the UK.
Advertisement
The pandemic may have changed the type of work on offer around the festive season, but people are working harder than ever to make ends meet. We spoke to the Christmas workers creating new seasonal opportunities for themselves this winter.
Chief Virtual Santa
‘There’ll be props to bring everything to life, such as a roaring fire, a map, and a storybook’
Grottos up and down the country are still able to go ahead, but everyone will have to stick to strict social distancing rules. Instead, many grottos are turning to online personalised virtual experiences. Santa and his elves visit children virtually, where families can book storytelling sessions, complete reindeer training, a virtual sleigh-ride, or an elf-themed treasure hunt.
“It’s a different experience, but at least there’s an experience,” says Aaron Spendelow, 31, chief Santa at Santa’s Grotto Live. “I was working as an elf a couple of years ago and one of the Santas got ill, so I jumped in. I’ve loved it ever since, it’s a magical experience and I love getting into character.”
Spendelow has worked in children’s theatre for most of his career – and it’s been one of the worst-hit industries. He’s lost work from pantomimes and doing hospital bedside shows for Great Ormond Hospital and Children In Need.
Advertisement
“I’ve branched out doing loads different things and using my character and acting skills to keep working,” he says. “This year, I’ll be sat in a real grotto with a Christmas tree, no green screen involved. There’ll be props to bring everything to life such as a roaring fire, a map, and a storybook. However, as a performer, I do miss being around other actors because it’s solely down to you to keep the energy and if anything happens it falls on you to keep the show going.”
Santa's Grotto Live Chief Santa Aaron Spendelow at Santa's Grotto Live
Being a one-man online show can be tiring – Santa gets Zoom fatigue like the rest of us. “It can be a long day,” adds Spendelow. “I could have back-to-back shows where each session lasts for an hour and you do that two or three times a day. You put your all into it: your character, your energy, and your voice – it can be quite exhausting.”
There are some perks. Children can be apprehensive or scared in a different environment, but they feel much more comfortable in their own home. “I love live theatre and acting, a lot of people say there’s nothing like it and I think that has its place, but we need online experiences, too,” he adds. “We need to think more about accessibility and for people who can’t travel out and about.”
Advertisement
Terranium Christmas Tree Designer
‘The festive design challenge is like no other we have done before’
The high street is looking a little quieter than usual this year – but despite the lack of footfall, Christmas trees are still going up. In fact, they’re being put up earlier than usual for some much-needed festive cheer.
Advertisement
For Darren Henderson, 42, founder of Botantical Boys in London, his terrarium Christmas tree design in Coals Drop Yard in King’s Cross is the biggest project to date. “The festive design challenge is like no other we have done before,” he says, “and creating something new and bespoke has been super exciting.”
King’s Cross has a big residential community, so Henderson says they can get into the festive spirit and take joy from the Christmas decorations. “It has allowed us to do something rewarding for people in this extraordinary year – they can connect to nature and enjoy looking at the festive tree whilst they are taking in some fresh air.”
David Parry/PA Wire Botanical Boys founder, Darren Henderson unveils his installation named The Terrarium Tree at Coal Drops Yard in King's Cross
The sustainable 28ft tree is made from 70 enclosed terrariums, each containing a unique, individual miniature garden and surrounded by 168 mirrored baubles in differing sizes. The terrariums will grow throughout the festive season and then be re-homed in the new year.
“It’s an alternative, unexpected interpretation of the traditional festive tree that’s made by hand,” says Henderson. “We chose plants that don’t require too much moisture and the higher placed terrariums contain more colourful mosses in their base so they reflect against the bauble mirror and look very festive.
Advertisement
“The most important driver for this project though is giving people something special to look forward to this year.”
John Sturrock The Terrarium Tree, Coal Drops Yard, Christmas in King's Cross
Christmas Trail Light Creators
‘We’re spacing everything out around the city, the park, or in the woodlands’
Most big Christmas lights switch-on events have been scuppered, but some light displays are still shining on to brighten up the dark winter nights.
For Sevim Sangwell, director of Fineline Lighting, a lighting and rigging events company in Bristol, this year was supposed to be the most profitable and busiest time of year. Usually, they’d be working on Christmas markets and events. The Bath Christmas markets are considered one of the city’s biggest festive attractions, which draws in over 400,000 visitors annually. With no markets on this year, nearby local businesses are taking a battering.
Instead, Sangwell says they’ve managed to create some lighting Christmas walks and trails around Bath.
Advertisement
Fineline Lighting Fineline Lighting Christmas Light Trail
“It’s been hard, we’ve had to let people go and furlough staff, but we’re hanging in there just about,” says Sangwell. “We’re currently working on lighting up historical buildings around Bath.
“We have to ensure we’re putting on a Covid safe and secure environment, even if it’s outdoors. We don’t want people to gather at one point, so we’re spacing everything out around the city, the park, or in the woodlands.”
Sangwell says there’s a lot of meticulous planning and meetings – “people seem to think it’s a simple flick of a switch and the lights come on, but there’s a lot of risk assessment”.
“We are hopeful for the future and it will all come back eventually, but we just need to survive until we can start bouncing back,” she adds.