thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--The Psychology Behind Video Calls – And Why They Mess With Our Minds

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You’re in a Zoom call, Google hangout, WeChat, or Skype. Your colleagues are neatly displayed on your screen in a sea of squares in front of you, their backdrops showcasing the most acceptable corners of their homes. It’s a familiar sight for many of us right now.
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Video calls have become the norm for people working from home – and it’s likely they’ll be a part of our working day for some time yet. But why can they feel like such hard work sometimes?
There’s a lot going on, psychologically, from the moment we click the button to enter an online hangout. Here, we break down why it can be such a mental minefield – as well as some tips to make it easier.
We expect them to be the same as real-life meetings
One of the problems with virtual meetings is we expect them to be no different to our usual face-to-face meetings. But they simply can’t be.
“People have moved to Zoom and what they think they’re doing is moving a real life meeting onto a Zoom meeting,” says Dr Aaron Balick, a psychotherapist and director of Stillpoint Spaces. But a Zoom meeting is not the “functional equivalent” of a face-to-face meeting – nowhere near in fact. “You can’t just translate one thing to the other,” he says, “you do it differently.”
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One key change to make online meetings run a little more smoothly is to have a designated chair – someone who organises the meeting, lists out an agenda, determines the order people speak and for how long. This should reduce the chances of participants shouting over one another at the same time (sound familiar?).
We’re missing body language and social cues
As soon as we hop on a video call, we concentrate hard on the footage in front of us to compensate for the lack of non-verbal cues in the meeting. Meetings with more than one person have additional challenges because the more faces there are, the more complicated it can be to process.
Usually, we pick up on all kinds of implicit non-verbal communications in face-to-face meetings, says Dr Balick. They can be subtle signs – for example, if someone is leaning towards you, they tend to be more interested. If they lean back or their eyes look away, they’re losing interest – so you moderate what you’re saying.
When we’re on a video call, however, we’re only seeing a person’s face and their shoulders. “We lose a good 90% of the cues that we usually use,” says Dr Balick. So people are making up for that loss. They’re using other parts of their brains to look more closely at faces and fill in the gaps of communication they’re not getting. This is why we get ‘Zoom fatigue’ – because, usually we receive this information relatively passively.
RLT_Images via Getty Images
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A lack of social cues means more room for misinterpretation – so you might come out of a call feeling deflated by a comment someone made.
“Somebody might experience a criticism as much more critical than it was intended,” he says. “They might end that meeting feeling much worse because they didn’t get the warmth of somebody’s body language, the eye contact, or the touch on the shoulder that says: ‘It’s alright, I’m with you’.”
Conversations also seem to flow less freely on video calls, with people often talking over one another. Research shows in real-life group meetings, non-verbal cues enable people to know when they can jump in a conversation, explains Balick, “but because Zoom or Skype really only allows one voice at a time, you get these irritating moments where two people speak at once.”
On the opposite end of the scale, you can endure plenty of awkward silences – and these can be more difficult to bear online. It’s weird to sit silently in a virtual meeting, so people tend to compensate by talking more, but Balick suggests embracing the silence. It’s okay to take a moment to collect your thoughts.
Balick says team leaders and HR managers could check in with individuals after meetings, making sure any emotional content is properly addressed, rather than glazed over.
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We can’t give the meeting our undivided attention
Anyone who’s been in a video conference call will know how hard it can be to focus – this is called continued partial attention, says Dr Balick. The issue is you’re already at your computer before the virtual meeting starts – answering emails, fiddling with a Word doc, or making a Powerpoint presentation.
Then, when the meeting begins, you don’t close those windows or tabs. You engage for a short period of time, but when you get a notification that you’ve got an email or a message, you take a quick glimpse. You switch to another tab, refresh Twitter while you’re at it, and your attention in the meeting has gone.
“You’re unknowingly multitasking all the time,” says Balick, “so even if you don’t open that email, part of your brain starts thinking about it.”
One way to get around this is to close your tabs and take notes by hand. It’s been shown to increase retention in schools and can help you concentrate more, and also remember what’s being shared.
We’re oversharing more
Some say remote working has humanised our workplaces, helping us feel closer to colleagues. Where once we’d be called into a boss’s office for an appraisal, instantly affected by the power dynamic, now we’re seeing leaders in messy living rooms, bedrooms, and with kids running around in the background.
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This could be why we’re opening up more to our peers on video calls – even in formal team meetings. All of a sudden, people are sharing how they’re feeling, whether that’s “I’m finding this really hard”, “I’m feeling anxious” or “my kids are driving me up the wall”. It’s known as the online disinhibition effect – where we loosen the social restrictions and inhibitions normally present in face-to-face interactions when we’re talking on the internet.
“In some cases, people are liable to say more about their emotional feelings,” says Dr Balick. “You don’t have all those people around you [in real life] who might make you feel ashamed to speak your mind.”
We’re missing social, informal interactions
The very nature of remote working means informality is missing – what Balick calls “the water cooler” moments. “It might be that after a stressful team meeting, as people would decant, they would go and have lunch together or simply walk down the corridor together and debrief a little bit,” he says.
“All of these informal moments where coworkers are catching up with each other, talking about last night’s television, all the stuff that happens in work, it’s not happening organically.”
Having interactions between colleagues that are purely social benefits everyone, he says. He suggests being purposeful about social interactions – “you have to think of working from home as not just a task-orientated affair”. As part of this, companies might want to incorporate non-work-based online socials such as after work drinks or a weekly quiz.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--What It's Like To Be In Recovery From Agoraphobia During Lockdown

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After spending years of her life indoors due to mental illness, Anna Gekoski had finally reached a point where she felt well enough to go outside, visiting shops and restaurants without panicking. And then lockdown happened.
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On March 23, she found herself powerless once more. But this time, the barrier to freedom wasn’t her mind, it was the government-enforced restrictions due to a global pandemic.
The criminal psychologist from Brighton, who’s in her 40s, felt mixed emotions after the lockdown announcement – while she knew it was necessary to keep people safe, she also felt scared: what would it do to her mental health?
“I’d already spent so many years imprisoned in my house in self-isolation,” she says. “I had no external barriers to going out, but my mind wouldn’t let me. Then, having got better – and loving going out every day – I suddenly had the government telling me that I wasn’t allowed to. It’s ironic really.”
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Anna Gekoski Anna Gekoski with her two dogs, Mavis (right) and his daughter Bernie (left).
Gekoski has had agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder, since her early 20s.
Agoraphobia usually arises by associating panic attacks with the places or situations where they occurred – and then avoiding them. In some people, it can happen randomly, with no trigger. In others, it’s related to issues like a fear of crime, illness or being in an accident.
“It began when I was about 18 and at university,” says Geksoski. “Out of the blue I started to have the odd panic attack. I used to shake a lot, feel sick, and then I’d either feel very hot or very cold. Accompanying this was a feeling of utter dread, and the complete certainty I was about to drop dead.”
The panic attacks occurred more frequently and Gekoski became trapped in a vicious cycle of fear – she would panic about having panic attacks, and it would kickstart an actual panic attack.
She’d have them in lectures and seminars at university, in cinemas, theatres, on holiday, and in shops and supermarkets. Over time, she stopped going to these places. “Gradually your world just shrinks and there are fewer things you can do,” she says. “Eventually my home became the only place I felt safe.”
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Anna Gekoski Anna Gekoski with her dogs Mavis and Bernie near her home in Brighton
Gekoski, who lives with her husband and two dogs, has been agoraphobic intermittently throughout her adult life, but the height of it came in her mid to late thirties when she couldn’t leave the house – for days, weeks and even months. If she did manage to leave, she couldn’t go anywhere alone.
Four years ago, she had a breakdown. She wouldn’t go in her own garden, refused to see friends and family, and spent all day in bed. She was admitted to a private mental health hospital for a few weeks – soon after, she began to rebuild her life very slowly.
The last few years have been “incredibly happy ones”, she says. Getting her dogs, Mavis and Bernie, has been a huge help. “They made me get out, even when I didn’t want to, as they needed to be walked. Looking after them distracted me and made me think of something other than myself.”
She’s also visited new places like pubs, restaurants, shops, the beach, parks and hotels. “If I stop doing these things for any significant amount of time then I know I start to get anxious and slip into old habits,” she says.
At the start of lockdown, Gekoski sat down and figured out how she was going to cope with being indoors for the foreseeable future – again. She looked at what strategies she could put in place to make sure she didn’t regress in her recovery.
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While it’s been tough – some days she hasn’t wanted to get out of bed – she has been determined not to go back to how things were. She’s been working a lot remotely, which she’s grateful for as it’s provided a welcome distraction from her anxiety.
Gekoski has also used her government-allowed exercise outings to go on long evening walks with her dogs. Instead of taking them to the parks where they used to go, she’s been exploring the woods and local countryside instead.
“I’ve always hated the idea of rambling or hiking – and the thought of being out in the middle of nowhere made me anxious – but now, I’m actually loving it,” she says. “I’m discovering new places, enjoying being amongst nature in wide open green spaces, and chatting to my dogs as I go.”
Anna’s coping strategies in lockdown Getting out of the house daily, while sticking to the rules. Sticking to a set routine – and not working from bed! Keeping busy. Being aware of triggers. Avoiding introspection. Keeping socially connected.
Since the easing of lockdown restrictions, Gekoski has met a friend for a socially distanced walk, too.
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However, she’s eager for lockdown to end so she can move forwards with her recovery once more – rather than feeling like it’s paused. “It can’t come soon enough,” she says. “I know it has to come in stages so we keep the infection rate down, but I need to get out and start living my life again.
“As soon as restrictions ease, I’ll be out doing what I can, as soon as I can – and working on getting right back to the point that I was at before lockdown.”
Anna is a Time to Change champion. Find out more here.
Useful websites and helplines:


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--I Won't Let Coronavirus Stop Me Giving Back This Ramadan

Courtesy of the author HuffPost UK
When lockdown started, the question on every Muslim’s lips was ‘what does this mean for Ramadan?’ Not just about fasting from dawn until dusk, Ramadan’s about visiting family and friends for iftar – the evening meal that breaks the fast – and it’s about connecting with our community, whether at the local mosque or through volunteering to support those less fortunate than ourselves.
In what now feels like another life, I would spend a lot of time during the holy month volunteering for Islamic Relief UK, through mosque collections at congregational prayers or in their call centre processing donations from zakat (one of the five pillars of Islam that requires Muslims to donate to charity) or sadaqa (voluntary donations on top of the religious obligation). I always looked forward to the camaraderie in the call centre.
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On Sundays during Ramadan, I always used to deliver cakes to people to savour when the sun went down, as part of the charity’s ’Cake Campaign’, with half of the £10 recipients spent on cakes going to Islamic Relief’s work in Syria. Not only was it special to know that you’re relieving someone far away of their burdens, but it would bring me joy to interact with the other volunteers and the people we were meeting. In my large, built-up area in east London, there are people I might recognise but not necessarily interact with – parents from my kids’ school, for example. And to see them, Muslims or non-Muslims who also want to support the cause, on the doorstep is a conversation starter. It allowed us to connect.
So it would be wrong for me to say that I didn’t worry about what Ramadan would be like during this pandemic. No more trips to the mosque; no more call centre banter; no more cake deliveries. I felt uncertain, but trusted that things would work out.
“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have had the time to make this commitment.”
Like everybody, I’ve had to adapt to the change in living situation. The only people I have seen in person for almost two months now are my wife, our three daughters and my widowed mother. The kids aren’t going to school, so my wife and I are having to make sure they’re on top of their work online, and for our youngest, who’s just seven, this means that we’re essentially teaching her basic numeracy and literacy. I don’t feel unqualified to cover the standard level of work for my youngest – but I worry for my 16-year-old, who is anxious about missing her GCSEs. Life will go on, but there is some sense of loss for her, and I’m aware of that. We are teaching her that there is more to learning, more to life, than exams – but these are the cards life has dealt us.
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But where there is a will, there is a way, and it’s incredible how so many of us have adapted to this situation. Weekdays start with home schooling and I then take calls for Islamic Relief UK’s live appeals from home. It feels great to keep participating, and even though we’re not together, the camaraderie works almost as well on a WhatsApp group as it would in real life.
The Cake Campaign has become the ‘Cakeless Campaign’: supporters can still pay the £10 they usually would on a cake, but can watch their donation be delivered, live on YouTube – in a socially distanced way – to Syrian refugees, in the form of a food pack.
With extra time from not delivering cakes on a Sunday, I have enrolled myself in a Qu’ran study course. I’ve never had this concentrated period of time to study the Qu’ran before, and it has helped further my connection with my faith during this difficult period. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t have had the time to make this commitment. It’s not like I’ve ever had any doubts about my religion, but having the opportunity to understand it a bit more than previously, I feel a bit more surefooted in my beliefs.
“It’s important not to forget that although we have our own issues, we still have a responsibility to those who have it much worse than us.”
Fasting has turned out to be slightly easier, too. Not being out and about means I am conserving more energy, which makes up for the lack of food, water and sleep. I am praying with my family – we have replaced one congregation with another. Usually, only the last prayer of the day is in congregation, but being at home means that all of my prayers are congregational – I can only count on one hand the number of times I’ve prayed on my own this Ramadan.
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Above all, it’s keeping me going to remember how lucky we are. Although we are facing difficulty right now, it’s nothing compared to people in refugee camps: people caught up in drought, or conflict, or people who aren’t blessed with an NHS. People for whom social distancing or clean water is a fantasy.
It’s important not to forget that although we have our own issues, we still have a responsibility to those who have it much worse than us. Every year, Ramadan allows me to connect with this reality. And this year, while our circumstances have changed, this is clearer than ever.
Ishtiyaq Siddiqui is a volunteer with Islamic Relief UK. You can donate to the charity’s emergency coronavirus appeal supporting vulnerable communities in the UK and overseas here.
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--We're Still Shielding From Coronavirus And Haven't Left Home For Months

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The last time Sophia Marcou left her home was on 19 March – and that was for a socially distanced funeral. Like thousands of people across the UK, the 31-year-old, from Surrey, is shielding during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Marcou lives with her parents and her 89-year-old grandmother, Christina, who she is a full-time carer for. Her father, Pedro, has a weakened immune system and has had sepsis three times, so the entire family is staying indoors. They have a garden which offers some respite, but Marcou says it’s getting tough.
“There’s only so much TV you can watch, books you can read, and cupboards you can clean,” she tells HuffPost UK. “We’re doing our best to entertain each other, playing cards and doing puzzles. But when no one is going out, conversation dries up fast.”
Every aspect of Marcou’s life has been impacted by the virus. “When the shopping arrives it’s a huge ordeal, wiping everything down, disinfecting everything within an inch of its life,” she says. “Letters are staying on the floor for four days minimum.”
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Justin Paget via Getty Images
When Boris Johnson addressed the nation on Sunday 10 May outlining relaxed lockdown restrictions, he didn’t mention those who are shielding.
The government first announced shielding measures on 16 March, telling those in vulnerable groups they’d need to stay at home for 12 weeks. That brings us to 8 June if you count from the announcement, or 15 June if you count from the start of lockdown. However, the government’s website has since been updated, advising people to now shield until the end of June instead. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson also confirmed to HuffPost UK that the advice still stands: people who are shielding should stay at home to stay safe.
“It would be nice for the government to acknowledge us,” says Marcou, discussing Johnson’s Sunday evening address. “It’s not just a case of old or sick people staying home and getting on with life, it is so much more than that.
“For us, this is very worrying. Will we ever be able to leave the house again?”
Sophia Marcou Sophia Marcou and her grandmother, Christina
Emily Leary, 37, is shielding in Nottingham with her husband Mark, 42, and their two children, who are eight and 12 years old. The couple’s eight-year-old has an unnamed respiratory condition that developed when she was a toddler.
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“If she gets any sort of cough or cold it usually brings on serious difficulty breathing,” explains Leary. “It’s seen us in A&E dozens of times over the years, where she’s typically given oxygen and steroids. No one knows how she would react to coronavirus but needless to say, we’re taking no risks. Her consultant called once lockdown began to confirm we should be shielding.”
The family haven’t left home since lockdown began on 23 March and decided to take their daughter out of school a week prior to that. Like Marcou, Leary was disappointed families like hers weren’t mentioned in the PM’s recent address. “It felt like we weren’t on the roadmap and that made me a bit sad,” she says.
“I’m worried how far the relaxed rules are being stretched and how, ultimately, that could mean more deaths and more families like ours shielding for longer.”
Tom Regester Emily Leary
Shielding with two children is full of highs and lows, says Leary. They’ve enjoyed spending more time together than usual, cooking, doing art and gardening – “memories we’ll treasure” – but, she admits, it’s become harder as time has gone on.
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“The kids want personal space and so do we,” she says. “Sometimes we’re irritable towards each other and need to take a step back and acknowledge we’re all just a bit stir crazy.
“We’re experiencing a sort of lethargy, despite not moving as much. We exercise every day, but it’s nothing compared to the school runs and weekend adventures we used to have.”
“We’ll shield for as long as it takes.” - Emily Leary
Leary’s children don’t fall into the year groups invited to return to school on 1 June and due to her daughter’s health, she doesn’t think they’ll be able to return this academic year anyway.
“They miss their friends, they miss freedom, they miss their old routines,” she says. “We want to fix it for them and get their lives back to normal, but we also want to keep them safe, so we’ll shield for as long as it takes.”
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While Leary and her family are craving space, Rachael Paget, 35, from Warrington, is missing human interaction as she’s shielding alone. She has severe asthma, which requires multiple daily medications and has caused her to need intensive care treatment in the past.
“It’s definitely getting tougher and some days are better than others,” she says. “The loneliness is difficult but technology does help with that, although it doesn’t replace human contact with those you love.”
Rachael Paget
Like Leary and Marcou, Paget has relied on her family and the kindness of people in her local community to access shopping and her medication. The main difficulty at the moment, she says, is seeing people talking about life getting “back to normal” – and knowing that for her, that’s not the case.
All three women we spoke to say there are practical challenges with shielding for such an extended period. Leary, who is a food writer and presenter, has been trying to work from home while homeschooling her children – but says balancing the two is “pretty much impossible”.
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Meanwhile Paget, who is a secondary school English teacher, had to deal with a broken boiler. Thankfully, her cousin’s husband – who she knew had been sticking to social distancing measures – is a heating engineer and was able to fix it while she stayed upstairs. But she’s now worried something else will go wrong in the house that her family can’t fix.
“We've had no support from any outside body.” - Sophia Marcou
Marcou’s mum, who was previously the main breadwinner in the family, was made redundant shortly before the pandemic hit the UK. Finances have been tight as a result. “We have no money coming in, so we are relying on savings; thank God for being thrifty,” says Marcou.
She adds that her family have had “no support” from any outside body. “I’ve heard of some councils calling vulnerable residents to check on them, we’ve not seen or heard from anyone,” she says.
Paget is preparing for the shielding date to be extended further, especially if there’s a second wave of infection – like other countries have had. “I think the 12 weeks was pretty arbitrary in the first place,” she says, “just a long stretch to manage expectations that we were not going to be getting out any time soon.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--How To Avoid Skin Irritation From Face Masks

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Face masks unequivocally slow the spread of the coronavirus. Because face masks foster a micro-environment of increased humidity, friction and heat, they can cause irritation, especially in people with underlying skin conditions.
Still, “the benefit of viral protection and helping to stop the spread far outweighs the temporary risks to your skin,” Blair Murphy-Rose, a board-certified dermatologist, told HuffPost. The good news is that tweaks to your existing skin care regimen can do wonders to prevent and treat mask-induced issues.
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Cloth masks can harbour bacteria and fungi, and should routinely be washed by machine or by hand using hot water and soap, according to the CDC. Board-certified dermatologist Nava Greenfield suggested ironing your mask for extra protection against germs.
In addition to practicing good mask hygiene, avoid wearing makeup beneath a face mask to prevent further occlusion of the pores. Do, however, apply sunscreen, as UVA and UVB rays and blue light all can penetrate a mask.
Below, dermatologists offer solutions for common skin irritations caused by face masks, from minor to severe.
Acne
One of the most common face mask irritations is acne, or “maskne.” Breakouts happen when pressure from the mask “traps oil and skin debris in the pores,” Murphy-Rose said.
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Treatment: Don’t go nuts with a totally new regimen, as you don’t want to overly dry your skin, which can exacerbate acne.
“Less is more,” Brendan Camp, a board-certified dermatologist, said. “Spot treatments with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulphur or acne dots can be worn under a mask to treat new or stubborn blemishes.”
Greenfield recommended washing your face ― anti-acne washes work particularly well ― before putting on your mask and immediately after you take it off.
Camp suggested you follow with an alcohol-free toner that contains salicylic acid for a chemical exfoliation. Skip any type of mechanical exfoliation (like scrubs) as they can damage the skin, especially if you have active acne, and spread infection. Make sure all products you put on your face, like lotion and sunscreen, are noncomedogenic.
Dry Skin
Masks that provide an effective seal are great to combat the spread of the virus, but can do a number on delicate facial skin. “Dry skin can occur if a mask is made of a material that absorbs the skin’s natural oil,” Camp said. “Without it, the skin becomes red, sensitive and rough.”
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Dry skin is especially problematic during a viral outbreak, as it can leave you “more vulnerable to irritation and bleeding lesions,” Deanne Mraz Robinson, a board-certified dermatologist, said.
Treatment: Restore the skin’s balance with a barrier cream like Vanicream, Vaniply Ointment or topical ceramide.
Folliculitis
Added pressure to pores can cause folliculitis, a condition that occurs when hair follicles become inflamed and infected.
“Personal protective equipment may cause a perfect environment for growth of bacteria and fungus on the skin, and can lead to bacterial or fungal folliculitis,” Greenfield said. This presents as small red or pus-filled bumps around the hair follicle.
Treatment: Robinson underscored the importance of washing your face before and after wearing a mask. Greenfield also suggested that men leave a small amount of stubble to prevent ingrown hairs, “as long as that does not compromise the functionality of the mask.” The CDC provides a chart on recommended facial hairstyles compatible with PPE.
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Try to avoid the temptation to squeeze folliculitis bumps, as you might push the infection deeper into your pore. Instead, treat with a warm washcloth.
Dermatitis
Several types of skin rashes can develop from face masks.
“Allergic contact dermatitis presents with an itchy, red, flaky rash, often limited to the area of contact,” Camp said.
One culprit of allergic contact dermatitis could be a metal nose piece on your face mask that contours to fit your face. “Nickel is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis and may cause allergic contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals,” Camp said.
Another type is irritant dermatitis, in which skin is aggravated by friction and “causes red patches that look raw or glazed in appearance,” Camp said. “They can be painful, swollen or itchy.”
Perioral dermatitis, or inflammation around the mouth, is another concern. This rash might look like acne, presenting as pus-filled bumps.
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Treatment: The more sensitive your skin, the more likely you’re going to see an outbreak of dermatitis.
“For this and other skin conditions triggered by wearing a face covering, take breaks from wearing your mask as much as possible, but only when it is safe to do so,” Murphy-Rose said. ”Using a gentle liquid soap or unfragranced laundry detergent may help to avoid irritation.” Depending on severity, consult with a dermatologist for a prescription ointment.
Bruising
Those on the front lines who are wearing masks without a break for hours on end might experience facial bruising, which is “caused when tiny blood vessel walls are damaged,” explained Murphy-Rose.
Treatment: Robinson recommended arnica gel or Alastin’s new INhance Post-Injection Serum to counter bruising. “New bruises can be treated with cold compresses to limit their extent,” Camp added. “Once it’s no longer growing, warm compresses can facilitate the bruise’s disappearance. Eating pineapples, which are rich in an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain, may also reduce swelling.”
Impetigo
A bacterial infection of the skin that presents with “honey-coloured crusts,” impetigo, is caused most often by staph and strep.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--It Took A Pandemic For Me To Face My Mental Demons

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Before we were ordered to stay inside for the foreseeable future, and before toilet roll became as valuable as buried treasure, I thought that I was doing okay.
I’d just about stopped crying in public whenever I saw something that reminded me of my late Nan – a person who, in literal terms, was a far bigger part of my life than I felt was done justice by the name ‘Nanny’. She was a codebreaker at Bletchley Park, where she met my grandfather, Poppa, who was an engineer.
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I totally and utterly adored them both. I trudged back to work the day after she’d died, as if nothing had happened, only to break down in tears to my new (and very kind and supportive) boss, I realised I was physically moving, but going backward mentally.
That feeling was only heightened by isolation, and what comes from living in a pandemic weeks after. Sitting in my flat, retreating to childhood memories that now brought pain instead of glee, I would burst into tears when I saw their name in my phonebook. 2020 had already started testing me but I’d just started to get to know my new colleagues, booking endless social plans with friends as being with people helped me cope with what I was going through mentally. For the first time in my life, I found myself replying to WhatsApp messages on one device, and reaching out to Samaritans on another.
When I’m having a bad day – the sort where something as innocent as being left on double blue ticks sends my already low self-esteem spiralling into believing I’ve upset my friends and no longer deserve kindness – my go-to method of coping is just to keep moving. My coping knee jerk reaction to all the things I’ve buried deep down is to lap life up – pubs, dinners, drunken hugs, sleepovers, the galleries, going abroad, writing endless poetry. All of it.
“Mentally, I’m usually on Thursday when the calendar says it’s Monday, ebbing and flowing between doing far too much and fearing I’m not doing enough”
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I always knew deep down this wasn’t the most sustainable method, but it took a pandemic for me to realise why.
Mentally, I’m usually on Thursday when the calendar says it’s Monday, ebbing and flowing between doing far too much and fearing I’m not doing enough. But lockdown has made me mentally retreat in a lot of ways. I feel like I’ve finally got permission to feel up and down – low some days, coping others. Almost as though we’ve all been told “this is going to be rubbish, and you’re allowed to feel so”.
The truth is, I felt like this before the crisis – I just never felt like I had permission to before.
Some people cope by baking banana bread or running, but my email exchange with Samaritans encouraged me to take the plunge into something I always waxed lyrical about to others: counselling. Key workers are out risking their lives to save others, so when the silence outside was drowned out by the demons in my head, I finally made the decision to stop running myself into the ground and save my own.
“Life right now cannot be about being as productive as possible. It’s about finding healthier ways to cope.”
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And now I’m trying to stop racing through the hours, days, and weeks. I still frantically write lists to feel in control, still wake up in an anxious panic at 4:30 most mornings, but coronavirus has shown me we can never know what each day is going to look like. Last weekend I sat in the sun, closed my eyes, and saw the lines in my lids that resembled giraffe spots – a bit like the water marks when the sun hits a swimming pool. And for once, I was okay with being in the present. Not thinking of Thursday when it’s only Monday. Because that’s all we have to bet on right now.
We won’t live like this forever. And when it isn’t, I know I won’t spend each day being excited about my CBT programme, making sure I’m drinking enough water and getting enough sleep, or going for a run – but for now it’s enough. Life right now cannot be about being as productive as possible. It’s about finding healthier ways to cope.
We are all yearning for some aspect of our former lives, but the question is, which parts are we looking to return to over others? Former priorities have flipped, and we might just find there are things we do differently now - for the better.
I just hope that when we do go back to a place where we can live more freely, I maintain a better sense of balance, and choose wisely. And that I’ll stop for a minute, apply what I’ve learned, and let the giraffe patterns stay in my eyes just that little bit longer than I did before.
Clare Dyckhoff is a writer and poet. Follow her on Twitter at @cdyckhoff
Have a compelling personal story you want to tell? Find out what we’re looking for here, and pitch us on ukpersonal@huffpost.com


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-18--6 Fun Science Experiments To Do At Home With Your Kids

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Eight weeks into lockdown and it can feel like we’ve done it all with our kids – from PE with Joe Wicks, to online music lessons, to drawing imaginary people in a furniture catalogue.
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It’s time to pull out the big guns, now – with science.
Here’s how to get very, very messy (and have a lot of fun) using ingredients you can find at home or in the supermarket.
Jamie Grill via Getty Images
1. Watch a volcano erupt
What you need: Bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, washing up liquid, a plastic bottle and Play-Doh.
How to do it: Shape Play-Doh around the bottle to create the outside of a volcano. Put some bicarb of soda into the bottle, pour in the vinegar and a squirt of washing up liquid, stand back and watch it erupt.
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2. Get really slimy
What you need: PVA glue, bicarbonate of soda, contact lens solution, and food colouring. Baby oil is optional.
How to do it: Put glue, bicarb of soda and any colouring into a bowl. Slowly add the contact lens solution in small doses until it comes together to the right consistency. A splash of baby oil will stop it sticking to your hands!
There are plenty of slime tutorials on YouTube if you’re looking for more detailed instructions.
WhatsUpMoms/YouTube WhatsUpMoms/YouTube
3. Make magic mud
What you need: Potatoes and tonic water.
How to do it: Chop potatoes into tiny bits, pour hot water over them to cover them completely and stir. Strain the potato water into a bowl and leave for 10 minutes until a residue remains at the bottom. Pour the residue into a container and add fresh water. Shake and leave for 10 minutes until it separates.
Pour away the water, but not the residue. Leave for a day until it becomes powder. Add small amounts of tonic water to the powder until it can be handled like oozy mud. Under black light, it’s fluorescent! Top tip: if you don’t want to use potatoes, you can use cornstarch.
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Watch a short, three-minute video on how to make it on YouTube.
The King of Random The King of Random
4. Create an instant slushie
What you need: A bottle of 500ml room-temperature soda (e.g. Coca Cola).
How to do it: Shake your bottle of soda strongly. Then put in the freezer for 3 hours 15 minutes – some freezers may be slightly different, so it could be trial and error (but hey, it’s all part of the fun, right?).
Release the pressure slowly, tighten the cap and turn it upside down. In 3 seconds the whole bottle will be transformed to an icy soda slush. Pour slowly into a frosty bowl. Or, pour it into a clean bowl and add one flake of ice until it changes to slush.
Find out how it all works in the video below.
5. Make a cloud
What you need: An empty plastic water bottle, cap on.
How to do it: Twist the plastic water bottle so it compresses the air and pushes the molecules together. Keep it twisted, and then open the cap – it releases the pressure and creates an instant cloud. Watch how it’s done on YouTube.
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Rise of Kingdoms/YouTube Rise of Kingdoms/YouTube
6. Build a breakfast machine
What you need: A box of cereal, a ruler, some pegs, a couple of books, a potato masher, string, tape, a padlock or bolt, a spatula, a small ball, some dominoes, an empty tin, a fork, a spoon, and a bottle cap. Perhaps it’ll be a bit of a scavenger hunt with our kids to find everything!
How to do it: Clip pegs to a ruler to make a ramp. Tape the potato masher to the table and tie string to the handle. Add a weight to the end of the string and prop it up with a spatula. And set a ball rolling down your ramp to practise pulling it over. If we’re honest, these steps are probably much easier to follow visually, so watch this YouTube tutorial.
My daughter made her own machine last year for Mother’s Day – you can watch the finished product on YouTube.
We’d love to see your experiments! Send in photos or other ways you’re home-schooling your kids to ukparents@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--UK Weather: Hottest Day Of The Year Expected With Highs Of 27C

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The UK is set to bask in the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures predicted to climb as high as 27C (80.6F) this week.
Over the next few days, most parts of the UK will see warm sunshine and clear skies as the mercury climbs into the mid-20s.
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But by Wednesday, the temperature in London and the South East of England could surpass the 26C (78.8F) recorded in Treknow, Cornwall, on Good Friday.
Parts of the UK will be warmer than some of Europe’s top holiday destinations, including Marbella and Ibiza.
Warm air means temperatures are going to rise this week 🌡 pic.twitter.com/u9UAAY9bJs — Met Office (@metoffice) May 17, 2020
The mini heatwave will continue into Friday for some, testing the nation’s resolve as people are asked to avoid crowded outdoor spaces so two metre social distancing can be observed.
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There will be a “north-south divide” on Monday and Tuesday, according to Met Office meteorologist Matthew Box, with spells of rain in north-western parts of the UK while southern areas will reach highs of 24C (75.2F).
But it will begin to clear going into the middle of the week, as warm southerly winds from the Mediterranean start to move north, Box said.
By Wednesday, parts of Scotland and northern Ireland will reach highs of 22C (71.6F) while Wales could see 23C (73.4F) by the afternoon. The North of England will hit a maximum temperature of 26C (78.8F).
Box told the PA news agency: “It’s going to be very hot for large parts of England for most of the week, reaching highs of 27C (80.6F) on Wednesday, which would make it the hottest day of the year so far.
“This will occur due to large areas of high pressure, combined with southerly winds from the continent, bringing with it, pleasant sunshine, dry skies and warmer air.”
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There is a possibility of thunder and bands of rain across the south and east of England and Wales on Thursday while Friday could be windy, mainly for western areas, with heavy downpours.
Last week, prime minister Boris Johnson announced “careful” changes to the coronavirus lockdown in England.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--Covid-19 Is Deepening Inequalities, Says LGBT Charity

LGBTQ friendly healthcare system worker holding handmade placard with heart-shaped rainbow flag. LGBTQ doctor fighting on frontline against coronavirus golibtolibov via Getty Images
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LGBT charity Stonewall has said the coronavirus lockdown risks “deepening inequalities”, while the United Nations said LGBT people are at an elevated risk of domestic and family violence.
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Both institutions made the statements as they encouraged support on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
The annual event, held on May 17, sees nations across the world seeking to increase awareness of LGBT rights, by sharing messages on social media, flying rainbow flags and, usually, taking part in organised marches.
In the UK and for most across the world, parades have been thwarted by the Covid-19 lockdown – with LGBT Pride month set to start in June.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
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The United Nations Development Programme has said staying at home during the pandemic is having a “disproportionate impact” on LGBT people, with an elevated risk of domestic and family violence and “increased social isolation and anxiety”.
It also said some have been left with difficulties in accessing HIV treatment and “gender-reaffirming health services”.
Laura Russell, Stonewall’s director of campaigns, policy and research, told the PA news agency: “While the global pandemic risks deepening these inequalities and increasing violence, International Day of Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia offers us a chance to raise our voices and break the silence surrounding the challenges facing LGBT communities to be themselves.
“The more people that ‘come out’ for LGBT equality, the sooner we end the hate that makes days like today necessary.”
The theme of this year’s day of awareness is “breaking the silence” and in a statement, Michelle Bachelet, UN high commissioner for human rights, said: “We know that stigma and discrimination remain a stark reality for many gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals around the world.
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“And sadly, as we celebrate this year’s IDAHOBIT Day, it is becoming clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has, in many places, made this situation worse.
I urge everyone to stand up against hate, and to #BreakTheSilence. Join us in making a real effort to stand up for the human rights of everyone, including LGBTI people, everywhere – @mbachelet on #IDAHOBIT
Read: https://t.co/JwWEQbSgwX#Standup4HumanRights @free_equal pic.twitter.com/PGqUiOEg4K — UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) May 17, 2020
“LGBTI people are often exposed to additional stigma, discrimination and violence, including when seeking medical services – and perhaps saddest of all, within their own families during lockdowns.
“They are also in some places being treated as scapegoats for the spread of the virus.
“I urge everyone to stand up against hate, and to break the silence surrounding the discrimination and violence suffered by LGBTI people.”
In the UK, flags were flown outside emergency service stations and many government buildings to mark the day, while thousands on Twitter shared messages and images of support.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--Exclusive: Aspiring Contact Tracers Told Job Applications 'On Hold' Due To NHS App 'Delay'

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A number of applicants for coronavirus contact tracing jobs have been told their recruitment is “on hold” because of an alleged delay in the roll out of the NHS track and trace app.
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In an automated email, seen by HuffPost UK, hopeful applicants were told by a recruitment company helping to manage applications for jobs listed on the government’s website that the delay was due to an “alternative” app being considered.
The firm, HR GO Recruitment, told HuffPost UK the information was a “miscommunication and false”, blaming the email on “one individual in the business”, while the government said the email was “inaccurate” and “wrong”.
But one job applicant told HuffPost UK: “I was just a bit surprised, because I thought they were still looking for a lot more people.
“The advert is still live as well so it’s a bit confusing.
“It had gone quite quiet in terms of what was happening with the app anyway and then to hear it might not be happening, I thought ‘well what is then? What’s next really?’”
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Michael Gove said on Sunday that more than 17,000 contact tracers had already been recruited and promised a test, trace and isolate programme, which is likely to involve the use of an app, would be in place by the end of the month.
But the email, sent to people who have applied for contact tracing jobs through the Department for Work and Pensions’ “find a job” portal, raises questions about the progress of the NHSX app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight, which alerts people if they have come into contact with someone with Covid-19 symptoms by using Bluetooth technology.
The original email from HR GO Recruitment said on Friday: “Thank you for your online application for this role.
“Unfortunately earlier today the roles were put on hold.
“This is due to a delay in the launch of the ‘Track and Trace’ App itself while the government considers an alternative App.
“As and when the App (or an alternative) goes live, we will re-consider those applications already received, however please be aware that we have received an unprecedented number of applications for this role and therefore not all suitable candidates will be able to be put forward for the limited number of roles.
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“We would like to thank you for your time in applying and wish you all the very best.”
The company said it was not aware of the email until Sunday.
A person on the NHS coronavirus contact tracing app being trialled on the Isle of Wight PA
John Parkinson, HR GO’s group chief information officer, said: “What has been said is a miscommunication and false.
“We are not aware of any reason why track and trace would not be continuing as it should.
“We will be communicating with the applicants directly to correct that once we have completed our internal investigations.”
He added: “This incident is isolated to one individual in the business and it was sent to multiple applicants as it is an automated reply.”
There have been more than 50,000 downloads of the NHSX app, according to Bob Seely, the MP for the Isle of Wight, where around 80,000 adults have phones compatible with the technology.
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The government has however faced criticism for adopting a “centralised” app model which has sparked concerns about privacy.
There has been speculation that it may be forced to ditch the approach in favour of the “decentralised” model supported by Apple and Google, which stores data about people’s movements on their phone rather than centrally with the government.
Last Sunday, communities secretary Robert Jenrick said the government was “learning lessons from other apps”, adding: “If we need to change our app we will do”.
But he denied that the government was developing a second app, insisting it was simply “paying attention to the other apps that exist elsewhere in the world”.
“If we need to adapt our app or move to a different model, obviously we will do,” he told BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show.
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A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This email is inaccurate and we are trying to ascertain its origin because it is both wrong and could cause confusion.
“Our recruitment of contact tracers for our online and phone-based contact tracing service continues at pace. For those already recruited, their training programmes continue.
“The NHS contact tracing app is not on hold – and it would be completely wrong to suggest otherwise.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--UK To Get 30m Coronavirus Vaccine Doses By September If Oxford Trials Succeed

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The UK will be first in line for 30m doses of Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine by September if it passes trials, the business secretary has said.
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Alok Sharma said that a deal struck between the university and AstraZeneca means the pharmaceutical giant will work to make 30m doses available by September for the UK, as part of an agreement to deliver 100m doses in total, if ongoing trials succeed.
“The UK will be first to get access,” Sharma told the Downing Street daily Covid-19 briefing.
Sharma said Oxford was one of the world’s “frontrunners” in the race for a vaccine, with clinical trials “progressing well” and all phase one participants receiving their vaccine dose on schedule earlier this week.
The participants will now be monitored closely by Oxford’s team.
Sharma said Imperial College London was also “making good progress” and would look to move into clinical trials for a vaccine by mid-June, with larger scale trials in October.
He said so far the government had invested £47 million in the Oxford and Imperial vaccine programmes, and announced a further £84 million in new funding “to help accelerate their work”.
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He said: “This new money will help mass-produce the Oxford vaccine so that if current trials are successful we have dosages to start vaccinating the UK population straight away.”
The business secretary, who earlier announced £93m for a new vaccines manufacturing innovation centre to open in summer 2021, said the government has now committed more than a quarter of a billion pounds towards developing a vaccine in the UK.
But he warned that there are no certainties and it is possible trials may not lead to a successful coronavirus vaccine.
“So we also need to look at other drug treatments and therapeutics for those who get the virus,” he said.
He said the government is working with scientists in the collaborative UK programme Accord to find a drug that can be used to treat Covid-19.
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“Today I can report six drugs have entered initial live clinical trials,” he said.
“If positive results are seen they will advance to larger scale trials.”
Sharma also revealed that the UK has held discussions with France about exempting those travelling between the countries from quarantine.
Businesses in the UK have expressed concerns over government plans to force all arrivals into 14-day quarantine to combat the spread of the virus.
Sharma said: “There have been discussions between the prime minister and president Macron, when details become available we will set them out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--Man Interviewed By Police Over Death Of Belly Mujinga

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A man has been interviewed in connection with an incident involving a railway worker who died with coronavirus.
Belly Mujinga, 47, died after being spat at on the concourse of Victoria Station in London.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Following a number of inquiries into an incident at London Victoria station on March 21, officers identified a 57-year-old man from London in connection.
“He was interviewed under caution today at a London police station.
“Detectives will continue to collate evidence and investigate the circumstances behind the incident.
“They are not looking to identify anyone further in relation to the incident.”
HuffPost UK revealed on Wednesday that the assault on Mujinga, a ticket officer, had not been reported to police for seven weeks.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--'I Went Home' – Author Neil Gaiman Responds To Criticism After Travelling From New Zealand To Skye D

'I Went Home' – Author Neil Gaiman Responds To Criticism After Travelling From New Zealand To Skye During Lockdown

He said he was in New Zealand with his wife and son Ash until two weeks ago, when the country went from level four of lockdown – which it had been on for the previous five weeks – to level three.
Gaiman wrote: “I flew, masked and gloved, from empty Auckland Airport to LAX, an empty international terminal with only one check-in counter open – the one for the BA flight from LAX to London.
“Both flights were surreal, especially the flight to London. Empty airports, mostly empty planes. It reminded me of flying a week after 9/11: everything’s changed.
“I landed in London about 10 in the morning, got a masked car service to a friend’s house. He had a spare car (bought many years ago as a birthday present for his daughter, but she had never learned to drive), with some groceries for me in a box in the back, waiting in the drive, with the key in the lock.
“I drove north, on empty motorways and then on empty roads, and got in about midnight, and I’ve been here ever since.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-17--111 More Coronavirus Deaths Recorded In England, Scotland And Wales In 24 Hours

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The number of people who have died across England, Scotland and Wales after contracting coronavirus has risen by 111 in 24 hours.
The increase consists of 90 hospital patients in England, 9 people in Scotland and 12 hospital patients and care home residents in Wales. Northern Ireland has not yet published its daily figures.
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So far, no UK-wide figures from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have been released, so the total is taken from each nation’s individual reporting.
It brings the working total to 34,577.
But the government tally, when it is released later today, will be significantly higher as it includes deaths in care homes (missing from the individual figures in at least England) and the community (missing from at least England and Wales). Here’s a quick primer on what all the different numbers mean and how to understand them.
NHS England reported it’s lowest number of deaths since late March, however released a note alongside its figures stating that the Covid Patient Notification System – used to register deaths – had not operated “for a period of time” on Saturday, which “may therefore be reflected in the number of deaths reported”.
Patients who died in England were aged between 45 and 100 years old, with just one of the 90 patients having no known underlying health condition.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--EasyJet: Hackers Access Details Of 9 Million Customers

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Budget airline easyJet has been the target of a “highly sophisticated” attack in which the personal details of nine million customers have been accessed.
The airline, which has grounded most of its flights due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is locked in a long-running battle with its founder and biggest shareholder, said hackers had also accessed the credit card details of more than 2,000 customers.
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“There is no evidence that any personal information of any nature has been misused, however .. we are communicating with the approximately 9 million customers whose travel details were accessed to advise them of protective steps to minimise any risk of potential phishing,” it said.
The company said it had brought in leading forensic experts to investigate the issue. It has also notified the Information Commissioner’s Office and the National Cyber Security Centre.
Hackers have stepped up their efforts to target major companies and the data they hold on customers. British Airways was hit in 2018 with the theft of credit card details of hundreds of thousands of its customers, while Cathay Pacific was also targeted.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Tiger King: Joe Exotic's Team Launches Bold New Bid To Nab A Pardon From Trump

“Don’t believe everything you see because there was so much more to it than what they’re showing you,” a juror, identified only as Kristin, told Nancy Grace of Fox Nation in April.
Exotic’s former colleagues have also warned of his heinous ― and illegal ― behavior, much of which wasn’t shown on the series.
Rick Kirkham, a TV producer who worked with Exotic, called him “pure evil.”
“I witnessed him shoot and kill two tigers for no reason whatsoever, just because he was pissed off at them,” Kirkham told the Daily Beast.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Game Of Thrones' Carice Van Houten Addresses 'Ungrateful' Fan Backlash To Show's Final Season

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Former Game Of Thrones star Carice van Houten has hit back at the backlash the show’s divisive finale received.
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It was well-documented that the show’s final series, which concluded around this time last year, wasn’t especially pleasing to a lot of fans, with the events of the last episode proving especially controversial.
Some disgruntled fans even set up a petition calling for the last season to be rewritten and reshot, which Carice – who played Melisandre in the hit show – has admitted she was less than impressed by.
Carice van Houten pictured last year Laurent Viteur via Getty Images
In an interview with Insider, she insisted she was a big fan of the finale, explaining: “I loved the ending. I loved the randomness of just picking a king.
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“That’s why I loved the first season, the guy who actually was king [Robert Baratheon], didn’t want to be king, so we already got a lesson in the beginning: ‘Why are you striving for that sort of power when, obviously, it doesn’t make you happy?’”
Addressing the backlash, Carice continued: “The fact that some people were so disappointed is because everything before that was so good.
“So it feels a bit ungrateful. You’ve had such great times and then yeah, you’re going to be disappointed because it’s not going to go exactly how you anticipated. Of course, you’re going to have all sorts of criticisms and I just thought it was a sign of how good the show was.
“People sometimes take it too far and get too personal, but I can’t take that seriously... It just always amazes me how people can go behind their computer and just type ‘die bitch die,’ I’m fascinated by that human psyche.”
Carice in character in Game Of Thrones HBO
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And of the infamous petition, she added: “That’s beyond fandom. That’s extremism. That’s scary. Knowing the writers and knowing how fucking great they are, they don’t deserve that.
“I think they are probably cool enough to deal with that but still, they are human beings, they are trying to make a good product.”
Carice recently spoke about how the Me Too movement led her to question the many nude scenes depicted in the early seasons of Game Of Thrones, including those she appeared in herself.
She said: “In retrospect, I thought, ‘Why did that scene have to be nude? Why was that normal?’.
“I did question things, and it was not so much that I was blaming anyone, but that’s just how we evolved and just how the movement affected me.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--People Are Using Pop Culture References To Lament Their Pre-Pandemic Plans And The Memes Are Inspire

People Are Using Pop Culture References To Lament Their Pre-Pandemic Plans And The Memes Are Inspired

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The coronavirus pandemic has thrown everyone’s best-laid plans into absolute disarray – and while the situation is pretty bleak, that hasn’t stopped the users of Twitter having a good old laugh at the fact their calendars are empty for the rest of the year.
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People have been using various TV and pop culture references to contrast what they were supposed to be up to in 2020, compared to how things actually turned out.
As a result, “My Plans vs 2020” memes have been sweeping the social media site, and here’s some of our absolute favourites...
Where better to start than with some classic 90s comedy references...
My Plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/Qo1YyaIiBG — Paul Lang (@rudemrlang) May 18, 2020
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This nod to Bake Off’s infamous #BinGate made us howl...
And while it might be a niche reference, we greatly enjoyed revisiting Linda Barker destroying someone’s collection of antique teapots on Changing Rooms
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/C6kd7vniQx — James Mason 🌈 (@DrJamesDoes) May 18, 2020
Likewise, Cilla Black exposing a fake Blind Dater (“She’s a journalist, ladies and gentlemen!”)
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/Sj2jYXk4s8 — Nick Levine (@mrnicklevine) May 18, 2020
People got inspired with some classic reality TV moments...
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/m1wflYNdhE — Rob Copsey (@RobCopsey) May 19, 2020
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My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/xaziT1ah2I — Ash Percival (@ashpercival) May 18, 2020
And various soap storylines from over the years...
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/6tgpRpSyuN — Nicola Maksymuik (@nmaksymuik) May 19, 2020
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/0UGJGbcHss — sharon mitchells locked down weave (@sharon_weave) May 18, 2020
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There were also some for music fans too...
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/xNHiu3wRx5 — Shane Hawkins (@piccadilly_boy) May 19, 2020
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/YnLda4DToZ — Laura Richards (@Lala_Richards) May 19, 2020
There were topical jokes about Eurovision’s cancellation...
And the news of Scream 5...
my plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/ggOeslPhUl — HORROR FLICKS 🔪 (@horrorflickss) May 18, 2020
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And of course, there were some political takes too...
My plans 2020 pic.twitter.com/0KowzKO7N7 — Jasmine Baba 🇨🇾🇹🇿🇮🇳 (@_babsj) May 19, 2020
Here are some of our other favourites...


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--UK Had 'Policy Of Emptying Hospitals And Filling Care Homes', Says Care England Boss

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The government had a “policy of emptying hospitals and filling care homes” when coronavirus began to grip the country, a top care boss has said.
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Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said Boris Johnson should have stopped the spread of Covid-19 to social care settings, where elderly people, many of whom have underlying health conditions, were particularly vulnerable to the disease.
“We had a policy of emptying hospitals and filling care homes, but in some (other) countries when people were symptomatic they were taken out of care homes into isolation facilities,” Green told MPs on the Commons’ health and social care committee on Tuesday.
In the early stages of the outbreak, government policy had been concentrated on the NHS, he said.
“We should have been focusing on care homes from the start of this. What we saw at the start was a focus on the NHS,” Green said.
He also criticised the discharge of patients from hospitals to care homes, saying people who either “didn’t have a Covid-19 status or were symptomatic were discharged into care homes” which were full of people “with underlying health conditions”.
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Green, whose body represents care home providers in England, said homes should have been isolating residents who returned from hospital - as those in some other countries have - but many did not have the right set up.
“It would have been really great to have had some kind of database which identified the care homes that had the capacity to do more isolation and and the ones that didn’t,” he said.
And he said some test results for staff or residents in care homes had been lost.
“I think one of the challenges has been that people have had situations where their test results have been lost,” he said.
“They’ve also waited a long time for those test results, and then of course we’re unclear whether or not those test results are current, so they might have to go back for other testing. So, that is a real challenge.”
Nurse holding hands with elderly patient. Richard Bailey via Getty Images
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New data released by the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday, which factors in care home deaths, suggests that the UK toll has passed 44,000.
The combined UK figures include suspected cases of coronavirus and say that around a quarter of deaths took place in care homes.
The ONS statistics will vary from official government figures due to differences in accounting. On Monday, the government’s UK-wide total stood at 34,796 deaths and 246,406 cases.
Green said there may be a downward trend in care home cases from now on, but added the sector was “probably at the top of the curve” right now.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives in Downing Street BEN STANSALL via Getty Images
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He added that lags in data had led to difficulties in how care homes were able to respond to the crisis.
“And I think part of that challenge has been that we have not had appropriate and real-time data, so it’s been very difficult to keep a handle on some of the things that have been going on in real time,” he said.
Asked about availability of testing, which health secretary Matt Hancock has now expanded to include everyone in care homes, he said: “Well the testing is improving, there’s certainly more testing around.
“There are some logistical issues. So for example, people are often finding that their tests aren’t arriving on time or indeed being taken away on time.
“There have also been some significant time delays before people have got results.
“So we’re looking at sometimes eight to 10 days before people get results.”
He cautioned, however, that tests were not a “one-time occupation” and that staff and care home residents may need numerous checks.
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“It’s got to be done two or three times a week if possible so that we can really get on top of this,” he told the committee, chaired by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Green also stressed “there’s a time delay before delivery” when it came to government announcements on new policy.
He said test, track and trace could be a “game-changer” alongside regular testing.
“I think the short answer is we’ve had the announcement, what we haven’t had is the delivery, and we’re not really clear when that’s going to arrive.”
Green’s statements were strongly refuted by Downing Street, however.
The PM’s official spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday: “No care home should be forced to take back recovering Covid patients if they don’t feel that they can provide the appropriate care.
“We have been clear on that throughout. The NHS are now testing all people leaving hospital in advance of their discharge to care homes.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 5 Will Air On Netflix Every Week For The First Time

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With just two weeks remaining on the current series of RuPaul’s Drag Race, fans are already looking ahead to the upcoming All Stars run.
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Although it was already the worst kept secret in the Drag Race fandom, the line-up for All Stars 5 was confirmed earlier this month, with a host of queens from across the previous 11 seasons returning to compete for a spot in the Hall Of Fame (oh, and that $100,000 cash prize, of course).
Early favourites like Ongina and Mariah Balenciaga will be going head-to-head against newer additions to the Drag Race family like Miz Cracker and Mayhem Miller – not to mention Alexis Mateo and Jujubee, who each took part in the very first All Stars series.
However, while All Stars season can sometimes be a bit of a rough time for Drag Race fans without a Sky subscription (the last two series aired on Comedy Central), Netflix has announced that, for the first time, they will be showing the season week by week.
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“LOOK OVER THERE,” they tweeted on Tuesday, referencing season 12 finalist Jaida Essence Hall’s catchphrase. “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 5 *will* be coming to Netflix UK/IE in June.”
LOOK OVER THERE ⬇⬇⬇
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 5 *will* be coming to Netflix UK/IE in June 🥦 — Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) May 19, 2020
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 5 debuts on Friday 5 June in the US, so we should expect the episode on Netflix the following morning, 6 June, here in the UK.
Netflix is already the current UK home for the first 12 seasons of regular Drag Race, as well as the latest All Stars run and the recent spin-off RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race, which saw stars like Vanessa Williams, Hayley Kiyoko and Loni Love competing in the work room.
However, before we dive into All Stars 5, there’s the rather pressing matter matter of crowning the winner of season 12.
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Crystal Methyd, Jaida Essence Hall and Gigi Goode are the last three queens in the running, with Sherry Pie making top four, but being disqualified due to allegations that surfaced shortly before the season began airing.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--BBC Announces Its Answer To The Netflix Party Tool, Allowing People To Watch Shows Together While Ap

BBC Announces Its Answer To The Netflix Party Tool, Allowing People To Watch Shows Together While Apart

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The BBC has launched its own version of the Netflix Party tool, allowing small groups of family and friends to watch shows together while in separate locations during lockdown.
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BBC Together will allow one host to play, pause and rewind a chosen show for everyone who has chosen to watch at the same time.
Users will be able to paste a link to a show from BBC iPlayer or BBC Sounds –as well as any Bitesize, news or sport content – into the BBC Together tool, which will then generate a link for the host to share with others.
BBC Together is here to brighten up our lockdown BBC
BBC Together is still in the testing stage, but has been made available on Taster, the broadcaster’s website for experimental tools.
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Dr Libby Miller, senior producer at the BBC research and development department explained: “There may be physical distance between us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy great programmes with our friends, family, colleagues and classmates.
“We wanted to see if technology could bring people together to watch and listen to BBC shows remotely as a shared experience, which we’ve done with BBC Together.
“It’s important to say that it’s just a test at this stage – and we’ll be monitoring how well it works and thinking about how we could change it in the future, but we’re looking forward to seeing and hearing about the creative ways that people use it and getting their feedback on Taster.”
A Netflix equivalent tool has proved especially popular with groups of friends during the lockdown period.
The Google Chrome plug-in also allows participants to speak to one another while they are watching a show with an instant chat service.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Britain’s Oldest Identical Twins Leave Piers Morgan In Hysterics After Revealing Their Secret To A L

Britain’s Oldest Identical Twins Leave Piers Morgan In Hysterics After Revealing Their Secret To A Long Life

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Britain’s oldest identical twins put in an appearance on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday and brightened up everyone’s morning – especially Piers Morgan’s.
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The presenter was left in hysterics after Lil Cox and Doris Hobday discussed how they were managing during lockdown.
The sisters, who were speaking from the comfort of Lil’s daughter Vivian’s home in Tipton, proved their sense of humour was very much intact after Piers asked them what their secret to a long life was.
'What is the secret of living so long?'
95-year-old identical twins Lil and Doris gave @Piersmorgan the MOST unexpected answer to the secret to long life😬
... @susannareid100's reaction says it all😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/r863Ci2FGM — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 19, 2020
Lil pointed to her sister and said: “Her secret... plenty of sex!”
Cue Piers losing it, but Susanna Reid had a slightly different response...
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And when Piers brought up Lil’s crush on actor Jason Statham, she replied: “One night with him and I’d die happy.”
Incredible.
Lil then turned her attention to Piers, saying: “Mind you, I’m coming on to you now.”
“You’re flirting outrageously, both of you,” Piers replied.
Lil then told Piers and Susanna: “I want bloody thrilling, not killing.”
Needless to say, the sisters went down a storm with viewers...
Who needs Cabinet Ministers when you have 95 year old twins?
Priceless moment on @GMB 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/xTNIDT1o9V — Rachael Swindon (@Rachael_Swindon) May 19, 2020
"I want thrilling, not killing." Twins Lil and Doris are my quarantine spirit animals. Hope that I still have that cheeky humour and a twinkle in my eye when 95. Please set her up on a date with Jason Statham @GMB — Sarah-Louise Robertson (@SarahRobertson5) May 19, 2020
Omg I could of watched them gorgeous twins on @GMB all day absolutely loved them ! 95 and such an inspiration 😍😍 — Lorraine Carroll (@Lorraine_C1102) May 19, 2020
Absolutely howling at lil and Doris Britain’s oldest identical twins on #gmb 😂😂😂pic.twitter.com/6GPcSeccQi — Tom Munns (@TomMunns1) May 19, 2020
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Doris n Lil 94 year old twins on @GMB..funniest interview ever..made my day..😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/SnNfM4HPFe — saucycow (@saucycow) May 19, 2020
Don’t normally watch #GMB or breakfast TV but it’s on today. I’m absolutely howling at Lil and Doris, so funny. Britain’s oldest identical twins. I hope I’m so sharp if I make it to their age. #goodmorningbritain — Helen (@ProppaGander) May 19, 2020
95 year old identical twins on GMB talking about sex being the thing that's kept them going and which celebrities they want to sleep with has made my morning — Some call me, Joel (@bigchow80) May 19, 2020
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Therese Coffey Blames 'Wrong' Scientific Advice For Any Government Coronavirus Mistakes

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Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Therese Coffey has suggested if the government made mistakes in its response to the coronavirus pandemic it was because ministers got the “wrong” advice from its scientists.
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The UK death toll has now passed 44,000 according to official figures compiled from across the country, and the government is under pressure over the spread of the virus in care homes.
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday morning, the work and pensions secretary was asked with “hindsight” if the government had got things wrong.
“You can only make judgements and decisions based on the information and advice that you have at the time,” Coffey said.
“If the science was wrong, advice at the time was wrong, I’m not surprised if people will then think we then made a wrong decision.”
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Coffey added: “We are getting advice from the scientists. It is for ministers to decide on policy.
“We have tried to take, every step of the way, making sure that we listen to the science, understand the science, and make decisions based on that.”
Ministers receive scientific advice from experts on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
Coffey’s comments came after statistician Sir Adrian Smith today warned ministers not to claim they were “simply doing what scientists tell us”.
The incoming the president of the Royal Society, the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence, told The Times: “Politicians ultimately must make the decisions.”
Yesterday the deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, warned the public they might have to live with coronavirus “for several years”.
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According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published today, there were 9,980 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes registered up to May 8 in England and Wales.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, yesterday told MPs the government had erected “a protective ring around social care”.
But Jon Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said ministers had failed to put care homes in to “early lockdown” to stop the illness spreading.
Government advice issued on February 25 said it was “very unlikely” coronavirus would spread in care homes.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Livid Trump Says He’s Done With Fox News: ‘Looking For A New Outlet!’

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Donald Trump says he’s had it with Fox News after host Neil Cavuto criticised him for taking the drug hydroxychloroquine to prevent becoming infected with the coronavirus.
The anti-malaria drug has not been approved for the treatment or prevention of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, but it has become a favourite talking-point in conservative media.
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Trump on Monday claimed he has been taking it after at least two people in the White House were diagnosed with the coronavirus infection.
But Cavuto warned viewers not to emulate the president.
“If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus ... it will kill you,” Cavuto said. “I cannot stress this enough: This will kill you.”
While many Fox News hosts routinely lavish praise on the president ― and host Laura Ingraham has been one of the biggest media proponents of taking hydroxychloroquine ― the comments from Cavuto set Trump off.
He claimed on Twitter that he was ready to change the channel:
.@FoxNews is no longer the same. We miss the great Roger Ailes. You have more anti-Trump people, by far, than ever before. Looking for a new outlet! https://t.co/jXxsF0flUM — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2020
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Trump’s comments also included praise for Roger Ailes, the late Fox News CEO who left the network after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment.
Despite that history, Ailes served as an adviser to Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump’s anger at the network drew a sharp response from his critics:
Democratically elected presidents don't "look for a new outlet," they don't run propaganda machines. The press in this country is supposed to be free & independent & no more a tool of the presidency that the Justice Department is supposed to be. — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) May 19, 2020
If you look on the back of your prescription bottle it should list which cable news hosts are trustworthy. — pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) May 19, 2020
So, every media outlet now, including Fox News, is "anti-#Trump? Maybe they've all just become anti-stupidity, anti-lying, anti-incompetence, anti-failure, anti-danger, anti-sickness, anti-death, anti-sociopath, anti-criminal, anti-traitor? — Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) May 19, 2020
Omg you really must be on hydroxychloroquine and adderall and chicken McNuggets and Clorox. #Cavuto was trying to help you, you #morbidlyobese, genocidal gaslighting ghoul. — Lesley Abravanel🆘 (@lesleyabravanel) May 19, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Grimes' Mum Calls Out Elon Musk For 'Blaring' Men's Rights 'Bulls**t On Twitter'

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The grandmother of Elon Musk and Grimes’ new baby boy has some harsh words in response to a recent tweet by the controversial billionaire.
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It all happened after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO tweeted “Take the red pill” on Sunday morning.
The phrase originally appeared in the first Matrix film ― where it amounted to facing reality ― but it has become popularised by men’s rights activists (MRAs) presumedly unhappy over women making their own choices.
When Grimes’ mother, former Canadian prosecutor and arts advocate Sandy Garossino, saw the tweet, she called out her daughter’s partner in two now-deleted tweets of her own.
“If your partner went through a challenging pregnancy and childbirth in the last two weeks... and you were over 16 years old, would you be blaring MRA bullshit on Twitter right now?” she asked in one post.
Sandy Garossino, mother of Canadian singer Grimes, posted this now-deleted tweet on May 17 2020. Twitter screenshot
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Another now-deleted tweet from Sandy Garossino, mother of singer Grimes. Twitter screenshot
Grimes and Elon Musk welcomed their son on 4 May and gave him the name X Æ A-12 Musk.
The singer mentioned she was recovering from surgery after her partner corrected her explanation of the baby’s unusual name.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--25 Of The Funniest Tweets About Married Life

My husband has his headphones on so I like to start talking about every 10 minutes so that he has to take them off to hear me only to have me say, nevermind it wasn't that important.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Introducing The Trikini, A Bikini That Comes With A Matching Face Mask

It’s not the accessory we asked for, but it’s the accessory we got. All over the world, people are getting creative with their face masks, which have become essential tools in helping to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
Now, as warmer weather hits, a new fashionable take on the mask is making a splash: The trikini.
Italian swimwear brand Elexia Beachwear first developed the product — a bikini that comes with a matching face mask — last month.
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Designer Tiziana Scaramuzzo originally posed the idea as a joke to her family, the New York Post reported. Now, she’s being bombarded with order requests.
Shelter-in-place guidelines began to ease in Italy on Monday. Restaurants, beaches and stores reopened, including Scaramuzzo’s store. In a Facebook post, the brand shared its guidelines for entering the shop.
The bikinis range in price. The ones we saw on Instagram go for around 50-60 euros (or around £45-55), and the masks cost an additional 10 euros each.
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It’s yet another way that creativity has been born out of necessity ― and hey, if we’re going to have weird tan lines anyway, we might as well look cute and be safe while we get them.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Ariana Grande Blasts Rapper 6ix9ine's Claims She Cheated Her Way To Number One Single

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A number one song on the US Billboard chart? Gee, thanks, but Ariana Grande didn’t buy it.
Ariana and Justin Bieber’s recent charity single, Stuck With U, made its debut at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart on Tuesday, amid some major drama in the music industry.
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Given that both singers’ fan bases are as strong and dedicated as they come, it’s not exactly surprising that the team-up would propel them to new heights.
Stuck With U ranks as the third number one debut in the US for both Ariana and Justin, putting them in the esteemed company of a four-way tie with Mariah Carey and Drake.
But not everybody is on board the Bieber-Grande train, with rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine accusing the duo of manipulating the charts and keeping him off the top spot.
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The controversial rapper, who is currently under house arrest after being released from prison early due to coronavirus concerns, made his return to the rap scene with Gooba earlier this month.
The song debuted at number three on the chart, behind Stuck With U and Doja Cat’s Nicki Minaj-assisted Say So remix.
Earlier in the day, 6ix9ine slammed Ariana and Justin for what he described as “cheating” in a series of Instagram videos, alleging a conspiracy against him and explaining how the duo unfairly beat him to the top spot.
“YOU’RE A LIE AND CORRUPT,” he wrote to Billboard on Instagram. “YOU GOT CAUGHT CHEATING AND THE WORLD WILL KNOW.”
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The rapper claimed someone “illegally” bought 60,000 units of Ariana and Justin’s duet “at the last second” and half of those were purchased with six credit cards.
“So listen, I want the world to know that Billboard is a lie. You can buy number ones on Billboard,” he said in the video, claiming that millions of his streams weren’t counted. “I want that to register in your head. You can buy number ones on Billboard.”
“You got caught cheating redhanded,” added Tekashi. “It’s not fair to artists who work… I got the biggest record.”
Ariana Grande ANGELA WEISS via Getty Images
Ariana hit back at his claims in an Instagram post on Monday, defending her position on the chart while making it clear that “numbers aren’t the driving force” behind her music.
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“To anybody that is displeased with their placement on the chart this week or who is spending their time racking their brain thinking of as many ways as they can to discredit hardworking women (and only the women for some reason…..), i ask u to take a moment to humble yourself,” she wrote without mentioning the rapper by name.
“be grateful you’re even here. that people want to listen to u at all. it’s a blessed position to be in,” Ariana continued. “i’ve had a lot of ‘almost number ones’ in my career and i never said a goddamn thing because I FEEL GRATEFUL TO EVEN BE HERE. TO WANT TO BE HEARD AT ALL …. and you should feel that way too.”
Justin also weighed in a post of his own on Instagram Stories, adding that the 60,000 units in question “came because we don’t disclose our numbers until the end of the week”.
“This is my song with Ariana Grande and I’m honored to work with her to help raise money for a great case,” he wrote. “If you gonna say her name make sure you say mine because it’s our song.”
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6ix9ine later clarified in his own response that he’s “not coming” for Ariana specifically, but merely expressing his frustration toward Billboard. However, he might as well get used to her claiming the top spot.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Twilight Star Gregory Tyree Boyce And Girlfriend Natalie Adepoju Found Dead

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Twilight actor Gregory Tyree Boyce has been found dead at his home in Las Vegas, at the age of 30.
Gregory and his girlfriend Natalie Adepoju, who was 27, died together on 13 May, as confirmed by the Las Vegas Medical Examiner’s office. No cause of death has been given.
A statement from Gregory’s family has been issued to TMZ, which said: “We as family of Gregory Boyce are very saddened by our loss. He was a dad, son, grandson, brother, uncle, and friend.
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“He was the light of all our lives and we are very saddened by his death.”
Gregory Tyree Boyce in 2012 Michael Bezjian via Getty Images
The actor was best known for his role in the first film in the Twilight series, in which he played Bella Swan’s classmate, Tyler Crowley.
Tyler was the driver of the van that almost hits Bella (Kristen Stewart), only for her to be saved by Edward (Robert Pattinson), who can sense when she’s in danger.
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Following the incident, his character becomes determined to win over Bella and invite her to the prom, which irks both Edward and Lauren Mallory, played by Anna Kendrick.
Gregory’s family also told TMZ: “The Gregory we knew was intimate with the world and a good person.
“He was a very respectful and responsible man. He always put others first. The family would like to ask for our privacy as we mourn our losses and thank you for your well wishes.”
A GoFundMe page has also been set up by Natalie’s family to cover funeral costs, in which they say: “We are writing this letter to let you know that our loving daughter, niece, sister, cousin, and friend Natalie Adepoju suddenly passed away on May 13, 2020 in Las Vegas, NV…
“Natalie had so much life to live, we are saddened that her life was cut short.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--2 Men Rob US Convenience Store Wearing Watermelon Rind Disguises: Police

Two men wearing watermelon rinds robbed a convenience store in Louisa, Virginia. Louisa Police Department
As disguises go, these were pretty seedy.
Police in Louisa, Virginia, took to social media on Saturday in hopes of finding two men accused of robbing a convenience store on May 6 with watermelon rinds on their heads.
Surveillance cameras at a Sheetz story caught the scofflaws in the act, but they managed to elude authorities thanks to their “brilliant” disguises, according to the New York Post.
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That is, until Sunday when authorities arrested 20-year-old Justin Rogers in connection with what the Post deemed the “melon-drama.”
Rogers was booked on three charges, according to TMZ: misdemeanour larceny of alcohol, misdemeanour possession of alcohol by an underage person and felony prohibition of wearing a mask/face-covering in public.
Police are still on the lookout for a second person, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Candice Wendt, a customer at the convenience store where the robbery took place, thought the disguises fell in that thin line between stupid and clever.
“I think it’s ridiculous. Innovative but ridiculous,” Wendt told WRIC-TV. “The amount of work that you have to do to actually hollow out a watermelon to stick it on your head, I think, is kind of crazy.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--Trump Says He Wants Mike Pompeo To Work, Not 'Wash Dishes' If His Wife Isn't Around

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President Donald Trump apparently expects Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s wife to wash the dishes in the Pompeo household, he indicated at his press briefing Monday.
And when his family isn’t around, it’s apparently OK for Pompeo to use taxpayer-funded federal employees — including the Secret Service — to do his domestic chores, Trump said.
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“Now I have you telling me about dog walking, washing dishes. And you know what? I’d rather have him [Pompeo] on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes because maybe his wife isn’t there or his kids aren’t there ... it’s so stupid,” Trump said.
Trump called Pompeo a “high-quality person” and a “brilliant guy,” and said he didn’t see anything wrong with the secretary of state asking a “Secret Service person or somebody” to walk his dog.
“Maybe he’s busy,” Trump said before imagining a conversation Pompeo might have with an officer: “I’m talking to Kim Jong Un ... Please walk my dog.”
President Trump: "I'd rather have [Pompeo] on the phone with some world leader than have him wash dishes because maybe his wife isn't there." pic.twitter.com/J3CW5SOJ5B — The Hill (@thehill) May 18, 2020
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Trump made the remarks about Pompeo while answering questions about firing State Department Inspector General Steve Linick.
Twitter went bonkers over Trump’s comments, and the fact he apparently has no problem with well-paid federal employees doing menial household chores on top of their real jobs. And the president is already under fire for his demeaning treatment of female reporters, so the sexism about who should do the housework didn’t help.
One of Trump's worst responses. Secret service are not hired dog walkers. And real men do housework. — Hutch (@3rddey) May 18, 2020
Thank you Trump for the reminder of your misogyny - no one could make it more clear. "WIFE" not around to "WASH DISHES" is justification for Pompeo to ILLEGALLY have gov't employee do remedial house work for him. That ought to play well with women voters in November. — Brent O (@OnlineDetective) May 18, 2020
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Bear with me here. Instead of having a taxpayer funded aide (who has an actual job he's being paid to do) wash his dishes, Pompeo can use that paycheck he gets to hire someone to wash his dishes and walk his dog. — Paul Wu-Tang Clan (@PaulWuster) May 18, 2020
If this doesn’t send women a message, I don’t know what will. The d still lives in the day of women should be “kept barefoot and pregnant”. This may be why most women don’t vote for him. Those that do must lack self esteem. — Nancy Kokesh 💙 (@nkokesh) May 18, 2020
“Because maybe his wife isn’t there.” Or if you’re not a misogynist, maybe because he didn’t take some of his substantial salary and hire someone to do those domestic duties for him. — Alane (@alaneyo) May 18, 2020


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-05-19--US Priest Goes Viral After Using Squirt Gun Full Of Holy Water To Bless Churchgoers

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Holy soaks.
A Roman Catholic priest from Michigan has blessed the internet with some hilarious memes after photos of him using a squirt gun to spray parishioners with holy water went viral.
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Five weeks ago, Father Tim Pelc of St Ambrose Roman Catholic Church in Detroit was trying to figure out how to maintain social distancing during Holy Week amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“I thought, what could I do that would keep the quarantine restrictions going and give kids the experience of Easter?” he told “Today.”
Pelc eventually landed on the idea of doing a truly whimsical drive-thru for the holiday. Churchgoers could pull up in their cars and he’d bless their Easter baskets with a water gun from the safe distance of a curb.
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Pelc even consulted with an emergency room doctor to make sure it wouldn’t put anyone at risk.
“He said, ‘Not only is this safe, this is fun,’ and he came with his kids,” Pelc told BuzzFeed News. “He provided me with all the personal protection stuff that I needed. The sun was out. We had a nice turnout. It was a way of continuing an ancient custom, and people seemed to enjoy it.”
And although St Ambrose’s Facebook page posted photos of this sweet and silly reprieve from daunting COVID-19 news over a month ago, the photos only went viral late last week due to a popular Twitter thread and a very funny Photoshop battle on Reddit, where users edited Pelc and his squirt gun into a variety of images.
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St Ambrose seemed to embrace the attention and even posted an altar-ed photo of Pelc on its Facebook page calling the image and its ilk “pretty clever.”
Pelc, however, seems a bit uneasy with his newfound fame.