thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--I’m A Film Director, And I’m Legally Blind. This Is How I Do My Job

Adam, on the Lucid set HuffPost UK
I was writing my first screenplay while shadowing my cousin on set when I first saw a barely noticeable dot, a smudge, in the centre of my sight. I remember thinking it was weird but deciding to just carry on, squinting at my screen as I typed.
Over the weeks that followed, that dot got bigger, and I realised it was not so much one dot as thousands of them, flashing. I flew home, and naively thought I could just go to Specsavers and get it fixed with glasses, but after months of hospital trips and tests, it became clear that wasn’t possible. At 19, I was diagnosed with hereditary optic neuropathy, a genetic condition that was causing me to lose my sight.
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It was a confusing time. There was still quite a lot of uncertainty around exactly how much sight I would ultimately lose – the deterioration could result in me losing all my eyesight, or there was a chance my sight would stabilise, leaving me with partial sight.
After nine months, my sight stabilised. It was only at that point I started asking myself questions about what I could do, what I was capable of, what I could do with my career. I began second guessing not only if I would ever be able to even just make films or act, but how I was going to survive. It took a serious toll on my mental health, having a debilitating disease that limits my mobility and prevents me from being able to do things that others might take for granted.
That time really made me not just look inside myself, but look at the bigger picture too. Once I accepted my fate and believed that this had happened to me for a reason, I began to push myself to think ‘okay, let’s make the most of being here in this world.’ It didn’t happen overnight, but over a period of time I began to reprogram myself and reinvent myself, to realise I don’t have to be defined by this.
Adam on the set of Lucid simonwebbphotography.com
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There aren’t a lot of advantages to having a mitochondrial disease. But I was starting to notice certain mental enhancements. My other senses were heightened – my sense of taste and touch became more sensitive, and my hearing became sharper, too. I have a vivid memory of walking down the street and starting to sing along to something on a car radio seconds before my friends were able to hear it at all. I think they thought I was Daredevil or something.
I became much more present with people than I ever was before I lost my sight. I’m no longer distracted by the visual nuances of what’s around me, I’m not checking facial reactions to what I’m saying, I’m not looking into people’s eyes to try and read them. Instead, I’m purely going off of what people are saying to me, how that’s making me feel, and what their spirit’s communicating to me. When I was talking to someone about how I was determined to make films, they didn’t say anything but I was talking and I felt them, and told them not to roll their eyes at me. “I thought you were blind?!” I remember them saying. I just felt it.
When I was first pitching my latest film, Lucid, I was getting rejected a lot because of my condition; I could feel producers and investors move away as soon as I brought up the fact that I was actually registered blind. In a way I don’t blame them, but, to me, having more diversity in the arts will only ever widen the landscape of our culture. People like myself, who have a sensory impairment, have a particular perspective on the world and more unique styles of storytelling.
Now I’m making films, I have enough partial peripheral sight to navigate a space and move. Sure I find myself sometimes tripping or bumping into something, but it’s not like I’m running around the set. The big heavy expensive equipment, I can see – it’s more that I might not be able to see a paperclip on the floor, or be able to read a script.
As for how I do my job? The truth is, in layman’s terms, the job of a film director is to translate the vision in his mind’s eye onto a screen for audiences. Now, my mind’s eye is not impaired, in any way. If anything, my imagination is more vivid than ever. My challenge is to translate what I’m seeing in my head, which is no different to any other director with full sight. And it’s to communicate what I’m seeing in my mind to the team around me, and that’s no different to any other director. Full sighted, partially sighted or legally blind like me, it’s all the same job.
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Adam on the set of Lucid simonwebbphotography.com
The simplest way to put it is that, at the end of the day, movies aren’t made on set – films are made in prep. Talk to any Hollywood director, and they’ll agree. On the day, all you’re doing is executing the plan that’s already put in place and meticulously thought through with everyone on that team.
Fortunately, I find it very easy to delegate. Say a mic is dipping into frame, that’s not my job to spot. Say one of the actors’ hair is doing a funny thing, that’s hair and makeup. A lot of directors who might have full sight may be looking at every nuance, because most directors are control freaks by nature. But me, I can focus all my attention on the actors, and the atmosphere. I can’t be distracted by anything else – in fact it’s physically impossible for me to be distracted by anything else. So that does feel like it gives me an edge, and sometimes an advantage that other directors may not have because they can’t help but see things that are there. I have to give credit to my producing partner, Julia Varvara, who has always been an incredible supporter and always fought my corner
My dream is that one day my condition won’t be part of the conversation. I want to just be seen as an artist, and not as a differently-abled artist. But right now, I see my condition and my career as an opportunity to show people that having a sensory impairment isn’t a life sentence. You can do so much more than people give you credit for – if you reprogram your mind to think in a positive way.
And I want to change the mindset of not just the industry but how everyone in the world looks at disability. I just have to keep continuing to exceed expectations, and surprising people with what I’m capable of. Because only then can I become a reference point for other differently-abled artists, and help open more opportunities for them
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To me, the only way that I can change that stigma is by leading by example and keep making more movies and keep breaking boundaries, and proving wrong the people in the industry that never gave me a chance.
As told to Charlie Lindlar


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--California Fires Burn Nearly 2,000% More Land Than Last Year

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California’s devastating fires this year continue to set records as 10 major fires burn across the state, destroying more than 3,000 homes and forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
This year so far, blazes have burned a historic 2.3 million acres across the state — representing a nearly 2,000% increase in land burned compared with this time last year, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire.
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“Historic is a term we seemingly often use here in the state of California,” governor Gavin Newsom said Tuesday in a news conference. “But… this is historic, this is the largest fire season we’ve had in terms of total acreage impacted… in recorded, recent modern history.”
In just the past three weeks, the state has seen more than 900 fires, with 25 of them considered major. Eight people have died and 42,000 residents are currently under orders to evacuate their homes.
Two massive fires in Northern California — the SCU Complex fires between San Jose and Stockton, which has burned 396,000 acres, and the LNU Complex fires in Sonoma and Napa counties, which has burned 375,000 acres — are, respectively, the second and third largest in state history. While these were both over 90% contained as of Tuesday, the governor warned of high winds of up to 50 miles an hour later Tuesday, which could threaten firefighters’ progress.
In the Creek fire outside Fresno — which has burned over 143,000 acres and is so far 0% contained — National Guard members had to rescue 214 people with helicopters this weekend.
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“CLIMATE. CHANGE. IS. REAL,” Newsom tweeted on Tuesday.
California fires in 2019:
- 4,927 fires
- 118k acres burned.
California fires in 2020 (so far):
- 7,606 fires
- 2.3 million acres burned.
CLIMATE. CHANGE. IS. REAL. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 8, 2020
There was also a “massive, record-breaking heatwave,” Newsom said, over Labor Day weekend, with Los Angeles County seeing its highest temperature ever recorded, 121 degrees Fahrenheit, and other regions also experiencing triple-digit heat.
In Northern California, electric company PG&E cut power to about 172,000 households starting Monday night in an effort to prevent fires that might be sparked by electrical lines. Some customers might not have electricity restored until late Wednesday, the utility said.
Unhealthful levels of smoke and particulate matter from the fires have spread over almost the entire state in recent weeks, with air pollution levels deemed “very unhealthy” and even “hazardous” by the EPA across broad swaths of California on Tuesday.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Ellen DeGeneres Promises To Address Chat Show Controversy: ‘Yes, We’re Gonna Talk About It’

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Ellen DeGeneres has suggested she will address the controversy surrounding her US chat show when it returns later this month.
On Tuesday, Ellen said via a press release that she “couldn’t wait to get back to work and back to our studio,” before adding: “And yes, we’re gonna talk about it.”
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The “it” presumably refers to the claims of workplace misconduct levelled against the Ellen DeGeneres Show by former staffers.
Ellen DeGeneres Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Several workers told BuzzFeed that they endured racism, fear and intimidation and an overall toxic environment, perpetuated by the show’s senior producers, while working on the show, which airs on ITV2 in the UK.
Following the claims, distributor Warner Bros. began conducting its own internal investigation.
It subsequently announced it was making staffing changes as well as taking “appropriate measures to address the issues that have been raised” after an internal review found “deficiencies related to the show’s day-to-day management”.
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Three of the show’s producers, Ed Glavin, Kevin Leman and Jonathan Norman, “parted ways” with the show last month, according to CNN.
Variety reported that the investigation found there was no evidence of “systemic racism” on set.
“As we’ve grown exponentially, I’ve not been able to stay on top of everything and relied on others to do their jobs as they knew I’d want them done. Clearly some didn’t,” Ellen wrote.
“That will now change and I’m committed to ensuring this does not happen again.”
Production on season 18 kicks off on Monday 21 September, but because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic there will be no live studio audience.
Guests pencilled in to appear include Tiffany Haddish, Chrissy Teigen, Alec Baldwin, Kerry Washington, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Adam Sandler and Orlando Bloom, whose fiancée, Katy Perry, was one of the stars to publicly defend Ellen.
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Many of Ellen’s other celebrity friends also spoke out to support her amid the allegations, including Diane Keaton and Kevin Hart.
Past Ellen interviews with guests Sofía Vergara and Mariah Carey have come under scrutiny in recent times.
Modern Family actor Sofia has insisted that she always felt like she was “in on the joke” whenever the presenter would poke fun at her.
“Two comedians having fun with each other to entertain,” Sofía tweeted. “I was never a victim guys, I was always in on the joke.”
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Mariah Carey and Ellen DeGeneres Theo Wargo via Getty Images
Asked about the moment during a new interview with Vulture, Mariah revealed: “I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath.”
Mariah added that she was deliberately trying not to speak about the pregnancy because of a previous miscarriage, stating: “I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--New Coronavirus Rules: Everything You Need To Know About Ban On Social Gatherings Over Six

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The number of people that can attend social gatherings has been slashed to six in England following an increase in coronavirus cases across the UK.
Boris Johnson confirmed the changes will take effect from Monday, 14 September and that gatherings of more than six people will be illegal. Currently, the lawful limit on gatherings is 30 people.
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The chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, and chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, have agreed urgent action is needed after the number of positive cases rose steeply.
In a Zoom meeting with the prime minister last week, police forces said they would like rules on social contact to be simplified.
Where will they apply to?
The rules will apply across England to all ages and to indoor and outdoor gatherings. This will include private homes, parks, pubs, cafes and restaurants.
This means, for example, that you cannot sit at a pub or restaurant table with more than five people at any given time.
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Full guidance on what can and cannot happen is expected to be issued before Monday.
Will there be any exemptions?
There will be a few scenarios where the restrictions do not apply, such as if your household or support bubble is larger than six people, or if you are gathering in a large group for work or education.
Weddings, funerals and organised team sports will also be exempt if they are conducted in a Covid-secure way.
Households or bubbles of more than six people will be able to gather in public and private settings but will not be able to mix with other groups.
What will the penalty be for breaking the rules?
The government hopes the new rules will make it easier for the police to break up large gatherings.
Failure to stick to the new rules could mean a £100 fine, which will double with every subsequent offence up to £3,200.
What has Boris Johnson said?
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The prime minister officially announced the new rules at a press conference on Wednesday and urged people to follow them to avoid a second national lockdown.
He admitted the rules had become too complicated and said it was time to simplify restrictions: “This single measure replaces both the existing ban on gatherings of more than 30 and the current guidance on allowing two households to meet indoors. Now you only need to remember the rule of six.”
Johnson also emphasised the importance of regular hand-washing, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing.
What are the rules in other parts of the UK?
Scotland
Up to eight people from three different households are allowed to meet indoors, while groups of 15 from up to five households are permitted outdoors – but people should maintain a safe distance.
Wales
Outdoors, a maximum of 30 people are allowed to meet. Indoors, up to four households can form what’s called an extended bubble.
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Northern Ireland
The most people who can meet outdoors is 15. Indoors, six people from two households can meet.
How can we be socialising safely?
SOPA Images via Getty Images
A new campaign has been launched to encourage people to help stop the spread of coronavirus as we are more likely to socialise indoors during the autumn and the winter.
The “Hands, Face, Space” campaign urges people to ensure they have washed their hands, used a mask where appropriate and maintain social distancing.
The campaign states that these are the three most effective ways the public can contain the spread of the virus.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Low Covid Death Numbers Have Lulled Brits Into False Sense Of Security, Scientists Warn

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Weeks of low death numbers mean the British public has lost sight of how important Covid-19 restrictions are in controlling the virus, epidemiologists have warned.
But deceptively low coronavirus death numbers could be lagging weeks behind the sharp increase in cases in the UK, they fear. Until Tuesday, the daily death count – which once regularly topped 1,000 – had not edged above 20 for weeks.
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The government on Tuesday night announced the most significant toughening of lockdown in months, with gatherings of more than six people banned indoors and outdoors.
It comes amid an uptick in coronavirus infections, with the UK reporting 8,400 new cases of the virus in three days, and recording 32 deaths on Tuesday – the highest in six weeks, but so far an isolated jump.
“People have got a little bit tired of the restrictions,” said Professor Hynek Pikhart, an expert in epidemiology and medical statistics at UCL. “I don’t think they are following them as strictly as they were in April and May.
“I think when you see thousands of deaths, you behave differently to when you see three or four a day.”
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Photos of people on “packed in” streets over the summer – the government encouraged people to begin socialising and returning to pubs and restaurants in July – left him “horrified”.
It is also likely that people travelling to countries with higher levels of coronavirus for holidays brought cases back to the UK, he said.
With Covid-19 cases on the rise once more, it is as vital as ever for people to follow social distancing rules and wear face masks in public, Pikhart said.
On Sunday, 2,988 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the UK – the biggest daily jump in infections since May 22. On Monday, another 2,948 cases were recorded.
Health secretary Matt Hancock has branded the surge in cases "concerning" PA
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An increase in the UK’s coronavirus testing capacity means it’s not possible to draw exact comparisons with figures from three months ago – but health secretary Matt Hancock has branded the rise in cases “concerning” nonetheless.
The number of people dying from Covid-19 in the UK remains low compared to the peak of the pandemic – as does the number of people hospitalised by the virus – but this is likely to change if infections continue to rise, Pikhart warned.
In August, a leaked report from Sage – a group of scientists which advises the government – warned that 85,000 people could die from Covid-19 in the UK this winter in a “reasonable worst case scenario”.
The coronavirus pandemic is a “marathon”, not a sprint, Pikhart added. “This winter will be critical.”
It is a warning echoed by Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths, a senior mathematical modeller from the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.
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“There is a danger that the number of hospitalisations and deaths may be lagging behind [the recent spike in cases] and we just don’t know at the moment,” she said.
“This is the concerning factor – how is this going to develop over the next couple of days, weeks and months?”
It’s important to remember that the virus hasn’t gone away, Panovska-Griffiths warned.
“We have suppressed it with social distancing and with other interventions like face coverings, but it hasn’t gone away.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Keeping Up With The Kardashians To End In 2021: 'End Of An Era'

“After what will be 14 years, 20 seasons, hundreds of episodes and several spin-off shows, we’ve decided as a family to end this very special journey.
“We are beyond grateful to all of you who’ve watched us for all of these years—through the good times, the bad times, the happiness, the tears, and the many relationships and children.
“We’ll forever cherish the wonderful memories and countless people we’ve met along the way,” they wrote, before thanking “the thousands of individuals and businesses that have been a part of this experience,” Ryan Seacrest, E!, and their production team at Bunim/Murray.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Here Are 5 Lies Trump Told About The Environment In One 20-Minute Speech

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Donald Trump continues to greenwash his dismal environmental record ahead of the 2020 presidential election, most recently with a speech Tuesday in Florida touting his “environmental accomplishments.”
Trump seems to have forgotten he’s withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement, has relaxed restrictions on air pollution, has removed climate change from a list of national security threats and has said he doesn’t believe in global warming. In March, the Environmental Protection Agency finalised a rollback of a 2012 auto emissions regulation, and last month it opened up Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas drilling.
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All told, Trump has pledged to reverse 100 environmental rules.
Here are some of his more galling claims from the speech ― and why they’re wrong:
1. Trump said presidential rival Joe Biden’s environmental plan would “give a free pass to the world’s worst foreign polluters, like China, Russia, India, and many others. They don’t have to clean up their lands, but we have to clean up ours.”
Biden’s environmental plan repeatedly calls out China and Russia, accusing China of gaming the system by becoming a “destination economy for polluters” and “outsourcing carbon pollution” by subsidising coal exports.
Under Trump, America has lost much of its climate credibility on the global stage, effectively giving foreign polluters exactly that “free pass” Trump claims to worry about. “China, Russia, India and many others” aren’t looking for guidance from the US climate denier in chief.
It’s worth noting that China is on track to meet its goals in the Paris Agreement ― the one the US is formally withdrawing from at Trump’s direction ― though it does remain the world’s biggest CO₂ emitter.
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2. He claimed “we have the cleanest air we’ve ever had in this county, let’s say over the last 40 years because I assume 200 years ago it was probably better,” and that the US currently has “the cleanest air we’ve ever had over a 40-year period.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly attempted to roll back, weaken and undermine the 1970 Clean Air Act, which is responsible for what the American Lung Association labelled a decades-long “slow but steady improvement” in the nation’s air quality.
According to the American Lung Association, the EPA under Trump has actively sought to loosen restrictions on hazardous air pollutants including arsenic, CO₂, hydrogen sulfide and mercury, and has taken steps to roll back methane emission standards for the oil and gas industry.
In 2018, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, a formal coal lobbyist, disbanded the air quality panel tasked with advising on airborne particulate matter. He replaced the committee members with paid consultants linked to the fossil fuel, tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.
3. Trump said he’s been told he “‘is the great environmentalist.’ ... And I am. I believe strongly.” He also said his aides told him: “This will make you the number one environmental president since Teddy Roosevelt.”
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Environmentalists, outdoor sporting groups and even a great-grandson of Roosevelt himself have blasted the Trump administration for comparing itself to the 26th president.
Roosevelt protected more than 230 million acres of federal land by establishing five national parks, 18 national monuments and dozens of national forests and wildlife refuges. The Trump administration has protected fewer than 37,000 acres via executive action.
Trump is the most anti-conservation president in US history, having worked to weaken safeguards for nearly 35 million acres — nearly 1,000 times more than has been protected.
4. He claimed his administration had “recovered more endangered or threatened species” than any other administration during its first term.
The Trump administration has repeatedly rolled back protections under the Endangered Species Act, a key legal pillar of protections for imperilled species.
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5. Trump said he’s committed to ensuring that the United States has “the cleanest air and cleanest water on Earth.”
We’ve addressed Trump’s claim of the “cleanest air.” He’s also rolled back clean water protections.
In 2019, his administration reversed a 2015 rule that put limits on the types of toxic chemicals that could be used near various bodies of water. The president’s personal business directly benefited from the overhaul, as it eased restrictions on pesticide and fertilizer use at golf courses.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Chrissy Teigen Recounts Being Followed In Horrifying Racist Experience

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Chrissy Teigen knows firsthand what it’s like to experience racial profiling.
The Cravings cookbook author recently recounted a “horrifying” incident that took place in Virginia over a decade ago.
Teigen said she and husband John Legend were stalked by two white, “neighbourhood-watch-type” men who harassed and followed them to their destination.
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Chrissy Teigen opened up to Marie Claire about a "horrifying" racial profiling incident she experienced with husband John Legend in Virginia. Mike Blake/Reuters
“We were in a nicer neighbourhood at night, driving slowly, looking for John’s godmother’s home. These two guys were in a pickup truck slowly tailing us, flashing their lights and trying to speak to us,” Teigen told Marie Claire in an interview published on Tuesday.
“When we pulled over, they were like, ‘What are you guys looking for?’ and we gave them the address.” “They literally said, ‘Get your asses out of here!’ and proceeded to follow us all the way into her driveway. They got out of the car and stared at us as we knocked on the door and went inside. It was a terrible, scary experience.”
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“That was my first taste of seeing what happens to Black men every day,” Teigen told the magazine, tearing up.
“It was horrifying and could have gone wrong so quickly. I was sobbing afterward for hours, and I noticed John wasn’t emotional about it. Seeing that he wasn’t very thrown by it was really upsetting because he obviously had experienced it before.”
The model and Lip Sync Battle co-host said that people are “very confident” and “open about their racism” today because of President Donald Trump’s support.
“It’s become such a hurtful, weird presidency for so many Americans, and I’m going to fight to get this person out of office because I can’t live another four years with this kind of hatred boiling through America,” she added.
Teigen also spoke to Marie Claire about raising children amid the current state of the world. She and Legend have two kids ― Luna, 4, and Miles, 2 ― and recently announced that they are expecting a third child.
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Teigen and Legend pose with their firstborn, Luna. Jerod Harris via Getty Images
“When it comes to them being treated differently because of the colour of their skin, I’m going to look to John for a lot of help with that because while they are Asian and white too, their skin colour is Black,” she said.
“We just try to talk to them like little adults, saying it in words they’ll understand, making it known that it’s very serious, and letting them ask as many questions as they need.”
Both Legend and Teigen are politically active and have publicly supported the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and his vice presidential pick, Kamala Harris. Harris was one of Teigen’s favoured presidential candidates last year.
The model tweeted her support for Harris in August after the California senator became Biden’s running mate and even suggested a creative way to celebrate voting on Election Day.
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“Fuck yes. excited to vote!!” Teigen tweeted after Harris’ historic acceptance. “Still amazed Election Day isn’t a national holiday. it needs to be celebrated, with a post vote bar crawl.”


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Why We Need More Close Interracial Friendships (And Why We're Bad At Them)

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In 2014, a study found that three-quarters of white people don’t have any non-white friends.
The study, reported by The Washington Post and conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute, found that for every 100 friends a white American had, 91 were white. On average they had one Black friend, one Asian friend, one Latino friend, one mixed-race friend and three friends of unknown race.
By comparison, the average Black American had eight white friends and 83 Black friends, in a 100-friend scenario.
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The sad reality is that, as adults, we tend to be racially segregated in our friendships. While interracial friendships are fairly commonplace during our school years, studies have shown that children entering adolescence are less likely to maintain cross-racial friendships as they grow older.
If a white child has a friend of colour, it’s likely that the friend is a minority in a mostly white community, said Beverly Daniel Tatum, a psychologist and author of “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? and Other Conversations About Race.”
“Then, as those friends of colour approach adolescence, they start to become aware of experiences with racism, from name-calling and racial profiling in stores or by police, to social exclusion ― not being invited to teenage birthday parties, for instance,” she told HuffPost.
If the child of colour is being teased or excluded, and the white friend doesn’t speak up, or worse, participates in the teasing or excluding, “the cross-racial friendship will eventually unravel,” Daniel Tatum said.
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Developing cross-racial friendships is even more difficult in adulthood. Outside of maybe bonding with a co-worker of a different race, we mostly adhere to our geographic segregation and stay socially segregated, too.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images In adolescence, "cross-racial friendships will eventually unravel" if a white friend doesn't object to a friend of color being teased or excluded, psychologist Beverly Daniel Tatum said.
The barrier to befriending someone is even higher when the person of colour thinks their otherwise friendly white co-worker or neighbour is closed off to learning about what it means to be white in a race-conscious society.
“It’s possible to learn some of that in the context of a cross-racial friendship, but it’s easier to become friends with a person of colour if some of that work has already been done,” Daniel Tatum said. “If one friend is always in the role of teacher and the other is always in the role of learner, their friendship lacks reciprocity.”
When it comes to friendship, it takes two to tango ― and two to understand the racial heaviness of this current moment. As anti-racism protests broke out in America this spring, many white people probably told their Black friends, “I had no idea this kind of stuff was still happening. Why didn’t you tell me?”
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It speaks to the superficiality of many cross-racial friendships. As mixed-race best friends Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman write in their new book, “Big Friendship,” genuine friendship requires honest dialogue across colour lines.
“There is no way to be intimately close with people if you refuse to engage in the truth of how the world is organised,” Sow said recently in an interview with The New York Times. “For a lot of people, conversations about race are new. Most of those people I would venture to guess are white.”
Ketsia Gustave, a Haitian American writer in South Florida, has only two interracial friendships for that very reason: It’s hard to see someone as an emotionally supportive friend when they’re ill at ease talking about the racial micro-aggressions (and worse) you encounter regularly. How aggressive a police officer acted while pulling you over, for example, or the white woman at the store who cut in line as if you didn’t exist.
“I think the real reason these friendships are hard to maintain is that in order to be truly authentic, I need to feel like I can share all the parts of myself with my friends,” she said. “If I can’t do that, our ‘friendship’ isn’t as close as the ones I have with my Black friends and other POC.”
“White people tend to think that the answer to racial injustice is to foster cross-racial friendships while POC are often, in my experience, looking for friends who will join the struggle for genuine equity.” - David W. Swanson, a Chicago pastor
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Gustave has a white friend at work whom she’s close to, but she’s wary of bringing up her own subjective experiences with race because of how past conversations about politics played out.
“She disagreed with Colin Kaepernick kneeling in peaceful protest during
the national anthem a few years ago, so from then on, I steered clear of politics or anything that could lead to it,” she said.
David W. Swanson is a pastor and the author of “Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity.” His closest and longest cross-racial friendship is with an African American man he met in graduate school. The two instantly bonded over church ministry experience and have remained close since.
“We’ve been there for our children’s births and through many ups and downs,” Swanson said. “I simply cannot imagine my life without this friend.”
The friendship itself is built on shared experiences and trust ― race certainly isn’t something that’s constantly discussed ― but that trust wouldn’t exist if Swanson hadn’t been interested in learning about his friend’s experiences, even at the expense of his own comfort.
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“You have to choose to prioritise racial justice, even when it’s outside of your comfort zone,” he said.
Too often, according to Swanson, white people seem to struggle with cross-racial friendships because they don’t need to be cross-culturally competent in this society.
“While POC have the skills to navigate diverse relationships, white people often lack the experience and empathy to do the same,” he said. “White people tend to think that the answer to racial injustice is to foster cross-racial friendships while POC are often, in my experience, looking for friends who will join the struggle for genuine equity.”
How cross-racial friendships can make us better people, if we’re willing to get real about race.
We all benefit from cross-racial friendships, but if we’re being honest, white people may benefit a little bit more ― at least currently, said Deborah L. Plummer, a psychologist and author of “Some of My Friends Are... : The Daunting Challenges and Untapped Benefits of Cross-Racial Friendships.”
“When a white person travels through life with a friend of a different race, they get to understand and witness how the dynamics of privilege plays out,” Plummer said.
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“It allows them to really find a way to claim their white identity apart from that of a historical oppressor,” she explained. “They get to practice being anti-racists. They gain a positive white identity that is aligned with being a fully authentic human being.”
So then, what do people of colour gain from befriending a white person?
“I think many BIPOC have done the emotional work of racial identity resolution independent of having cross-racial friends,” Plummer said. “But it’s a far more nuanced, layered and conclusive resolution when we have cross-racial friends.”
The psychologist believes that cross-racial friendships can reduce the widening racial divide that affects the quality of our lives ― but only if friends are mutually learning from each other and listening with humility.
Luis Alvarez via Getty Images White friends need to be OK discussing uncomfortable aspects of race for a cross-racial friendship to work, experts say.
The white friend in particular has to learn to be OK discussing uncomfortable aspects of race, said Tabitha Purple, a pastor in London whose oldest friend is white.
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“We have a genuine friendship, one that’s full of honesty and love,” Purple said. “When we were younger, she was probably way more aware of the world than me, to be honest. This friend is comfortable talking about systemic racism and never writes off whole groups of people.”
What’s more, Purple’s friend accepts that sometimes she might get things wrong. The pastor said she often hears white people say they fear they’ll say something that could be interpreted as racist in conversation with someone who’s Black.
“White people need to accept that making a mistake is part of the process to learn and grow to be anti-racist,” she said. “Fear of saying the wrong thing props up the system. That fear shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not make real friends across the colour lines, so to speak.”
That’s something Danny Richardson and Erin “Big Debo” Ridgeway have learned in their eight years of friendship. The pair host the podcast “My Black Friend,” where they discuss race-related issues in a lighthearted way.
Over the years, Ridgeway has nudged Richardson to think beyond his own experiences as a white person.
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“I think the main thing I learned through our friendship is just listen,” Richardson said. “Stop trying to assume you know what everyone is going through. You may hear their experiences, but that doesn’t mean you know what it’s like to actually experience them.”
Ridgeway says that many of his relationships with white people feel one-sided and inauthentic, but that’s not the case with Richardson.
“That’s because we have had those tough conversations dealing with race and racial injustice. Danny is more aware,” Ridgeway said.
Knowing what he knows now, Richardson tries to encourage others to recognise their privilege and understand the covert ways race works in our society. That’s the biggest benefit of truly listening to someone’s lived experiences and contrasting it with yours, he said.
The bottom line, Ridgeway said, “is you can’t call yourself someone’s real friend if you’re OK or all right with them being mistreated.”
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--'I Was Too Scared To Look At My Daughter When I Gave Birth To Her'

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In HuffPost Birth Diaries we hear the extraordinary stories of the everyday miracle of birth. This week, Shomoy Dormer shares her story. If you’d like to share yours, email amy.packham@huffpost.com.
Being pregnant during a pandemic was a struggle. I gave birth in July, so had spent nearly five months worrying. I lost touch with the outside world. My partner couldn’t come to scans. I was anxious and lonely.
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I couldn’t wait to meet my daughter, though. I wanted a home birth, but was declined one due to my BMI. I requested a home-from-home birthing centre, but was declined that, too. Someone I spoke to on Instagram advised me I could ask to speak to the chief consultant midwife about my requests – I did, and she agreed I could give birth in the birthing centre, and go in the pool.
The night it all kicked off, I was at home and had just put up the baby’s cot. I went to sleep and woke up around 5am with contractions. They were painful, but I’d been doing hypnobirthing so I used that. I left my partner to sleep, so he could be more alert later down the labour line, and went into the living room.
I played some positive affirmations and stayed there all night and morning.
HuffPost UK Supplied
My family came over in the afternoon, coaching me through it. I was using a birthing ball, had a few showers, which helped, and was pleased when my partner offered me body scrubs and massages. But when the pain got more intense, I decided to go to hospital.
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I’d been in labour 24 hours at that point. We went to the maternity emergency unit and I was checked – but I was only 3cm dilated. I was told partners weren’t allowed in until I was at least 4cm. They gave me a painkiller in tablet form, and I went back home (I only live five minutes from the hospital).
As soon as I got back, I threw up. Any benefits of the tablet were gone – and the pain was back. I stayed back at home from about 9pm until 2am, then went back in when the pain cranked up.
They wouldn’t check my dilation again, as they said it hadn’t been long enough. So I had to go in alone to the birthing suite. By morning, at 7am, contractions were really intense. About three hours later part of my waters broke – they popped the rest of them and then checked me: 6cm. My partner could come in.
I was asking for gas and air and felt like I wasn’t being listened to, so I had to tell them that. Soon after, they gave it to me and things go a bit blurry from there. My partner reiterated to staff that I wanted to go into the birthing pool, which they agreed to – if I could walk to the room.
Somehow I managed to (I’ve no idea how). I was in there for about 45 minutes, but it felt like six hours. They told me I was the first woman to give birth in a pool there since lockdown, so it was a privilege.
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When my daughter came out, I was exhausted. I felt like I was having an out of body experience, I was so tired, I felt like I couldn’t push. But I knew I had to get her out and make sure she was healthy. I gave birth on my knees and she came out behind me. They told me to turn around and look at her. I was so scared, though! I couldn’t turn around. I told them I was scared. But then my partner faced me and told me to look down at our daughter. So I did.
It was amazing, it was surreal. I went into shock and I couldn’t speak for a few minutes. But it was one of the most beautiful experiences.
My birth advice? Definitely do your research and know what you’re entitled to during your birth. I got my decision turned around about giving birth in the birthing centre. So know your rights, and speak out.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--5 Reasons You Should Book A Beach Staycation This Autumn

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There’s been a raft of mixed messages about going on holiday this summer, but just because August is over, it doesn’t mean it’s too late for a UK trip away.
Whether for a work staycation or to chase the potential Indian summer, Britain’s beaches are thrilling in autumn. They’re less crowded, but it’s still warm enough to have a dip – more on that below – and hotels will be encouraging visitors in with great deals.
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Not convinced? Here are five reasons you should head for a seaside trip this autumn.
creacart via Getty Images An autumn day on the beach in Cornwall
1. Self-care is crucial amid the pandemic.
Many of us are stressed by the uncertainty in our lives at the moment. It feels as if we were only just told to relax and see people again, and then the highest rise in cases for three months gets reported.
But getting away often helps us take stock of our lives, reframe our thinking, and get some well-needed R&R. So it’ll do wonders for your wellbeing.
You can still holiday safely while social distancing. The AA launched its Covid Confident programme earlier in the summer, to work more closely with hotels to ensure guests can trust their booking is Covid-secure. The entire list of AA-rated hotels across the country is available on ratedtrips.com.
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2. The sea is still warm in September – and even October.
Cameron Smith via Getty Images The sea is at its warmest in September
Noticed sea swimmers in September before and wondered how much they were getting paid? Contrary to what we all might assume, the sea in autumn is the warmest because the water’s had all summer to warm up.
If that sounds like a chilly lie, it’s actually hard science. According to the Sea Temperature – if we take Fistral Bay in Newquay as a case study – the average water temp in September is 16.4°C, which is the same as the average July day.
That’s down from a summer high of 16.9°C in August. It’s still 14.9°C in October, before a sharper drop to 13.4°C in November.
3. There’ll be plenty of places still open to enjoy.
Peter Llewellyn via Getty Images Seagull permitting, of course...
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Due to the cultural shift toward British staycations this year, café owners, publicans and those running attractions across the country are staying open even longer.
Blackpool’s illuminations have announced it will continue until January 3 2021, encouraging more people to visit the coastline by dark for the famous light display. And some of the UK’s biggest holiday parks are extending their season to November. Haven holiday park, the Bridge Leisure group and Park Holidays UK are a handful of the operators remaining open into the winter.
Typically, British staycation hotspots pack up around October, but the lack of safely-visitable international locations, coupled with anxiety over travelling abroad, has led to UK options being available into autumn to cater to demand.
“By keeping some of our parks open through November and December, we’ll be able to provide the breaks which so many people feel they desperately need,” said Park Holidays UK director, Tony Clish.
4. You can get accommodation for cheaper.
Tourism operators have acknowledged that Brits want to holiday on the coast for longer this year, but they’re not fighting off demand like in the summer. So autumn is ideal for bargain spotting and getting accommodation for cheaper.
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You can save further by swapping your location for similar destinations just a few miles away, Which? Travel found. A stay in Dartmouth, for example, rather than more-famous Salcombe, would save visitors 30% a night on hotels. And the beautiful beachside town of Tenby costs on average £112 per night compared with £155 a night in more traditionally sought-after Saundersfoot.
Tamas Gabor via Getty Images Tenby bay, Wales, has cheaper autumn accommodation
5. You could even end up with the beach to yourself.
Even if there’s a rise in staycation-seekers this autumn, there’s plenty of UK coastline to go around: 7,723 miles to be exact. If you think a little off-track, you’ll probably find yourself sharing the beach with a couple of local dog walkers – if isolation is your idea of relaxation.
Rather than Brighton, try Hastings for secondhand and vintage stores with equal charm – and less of the price tag. It’s just as easy to get to by train.
Swerve Skegness for Sutton-on-Sea, for wide sandy beaches that could be in Miami or South Africa. Walk up the coastline to reach Ingoldmells for a more energised beach bar vibe and, before it, find the North Sea Observatory at Chapel Point for decent sea views with outdoor seating and good food.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--11 Gorgeous Photos Of Small-Scale Weddings In A Pandemic World

HuffPost UK Covid weddings
Planning a wedding is an exciting, yet testing, time for many couples. Venues booked months in advance, countless dress fittings, mass invitation send-outs, and figuring out a seating plan for the big day – it can be a logistical nightmare. But this year, thousands of couples tying the knot have had to contend with the added stress of a pandemic that no-one could’ve seen coming.
For months, coronavirus halted weddings and civil partnerships across the country, with plans postponed or cancelled altogether. Current guidelines now allow up to 30 people to gather indoors for a ceremony and reception if social distancing can be maintained.
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Even though it may not have been the wedding they’d originally planned, many brides and grooms across the UK decided not to delay their special day any longer. With reduced guest lists, receptions in the back garden, and live stream Zoom video calls walking down the aisle, we asked people to share photos of their Covid weddings in a post-lockdown world.
‘We were able to make it a more intimate day that was incredibly personal to us’
Al Harley Kelly Wainhouse, 30, and Andrew Parkes, 31 based in Lewisham, South East London
Kelly Wainhouse, 30, and Andrew Parkes, 31, based in Lewisham, London, got married in September at Southwark Registry Office. It was followed by a small celebration at a few bars in Peckham with eight guests. They’d originally planned a big outdoor woodland ceremony in Kent with 150 people.
“With a small group, we were able to walk through and celebrate in areas of south east London that were significant in our relationship,” Wainhouse tells HuffPost UK, “including cutting our wedding cake in the venue where we met and walking by our first flat.
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“Although the changes were difficult, we feel very lucky we were still able to get married as we know many people still haven’t been able to tie the knot. I had originally bought a big wedding dress but it didn’t feel right walking around Peckham in that, but I fell in love with this suit in the end!”
‘We had our dogs as best men and maid of honour’
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Ruby Winchester, 26, and her wife Kristen Winchester, 27, from North Carolina, US, originally planned to get married on June 6 with a venue at the park they met – a typical wedding.
“Once the pandemic hit, we were going to move it to next year but with things growing increasingly difficult with moving plans back for another year, we decided to just leave a date in the door until we knew when the pandemic was going to be over,” they tell HuffPost UK.
“Until spontaneously my wife and I decided to have a small quick get together with the two of us, our dogs as best men and maid of honour, two witnesses and our officiant, who was a mutual friend and my wife’s coworker. Masks and social distancing all happened during the short, 15-minute ceremony. And that’s about it. The officiant read what they had to read, we said ‘I do’ and then we were married!”
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‘Having a micro wedding meant we really focused on the marriage itself’
Katie Rogers (@katierogersphotography) Matheus Matioli, 29, and Naomi Richardson, 29, London, Zooming loved ones during wedding
Matheus Matioli and Naomi Richardson, both 29, originally planned to have a London church wedding with 180 guests, followed by dinner and dancing. Instead, they got married at a tiny chapel in the Sussex countryside where Naomi grew up. “We decided to still get married because it didn’t feel right not getting married, as simple as that sounds,” says Richardson. “With the world so uncertain at the moment, we didn’t want to postpone everything in case a second wave of Covid stopped us getting married again! “We had nine people and, after taking some photos on the South Downs, we had fish and chips in my parents’ garden! Sadly, my husband’s parents flew all the way from Brazil for the wedding, but were on day 11 of their quarantine on the day of the wedding. They Zoomed into the wedding from Vauxhall, which was pretty devastating for us all that they were so close but couldn’t be there.” ‘We weren’t able to get married in the church, so the priest came to us!’
Angela Abrams (@qatarfamilyphotography) Anna Kennedy, 29, and Giovanni Malatesta, 31, getting married in their living room in Qatar
Anna Kennedy, 29, and Giovanni Malatesta, 31, chose to get married in their living room in Qatar. “Of course, we were disheartened that we weren’t able to get our dream wedding in Scotland,” says Kennedy.
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“However, not knowing how long Covid-19 was going to last for, we decided to get married anyway. We weren’t able to get married in the church, so the priest came to us! Living abroad meant our friends and family couldn’t join us, so we did a Zoom call instead. We had two witnesses (three including our dog Betty!) and it was a lovely afternoon.”
‘Becoming husband and wife was the most important thing, it’s an incredible feeling’
Anthony Achille La Braya Richmond, 25, and Daniel Richmond, 27, from London getting married at their local church
La Braya Richmond, 25, and Daniel Richmond, 27, from London had their big ceremony with 200 guests scrapped due to Covid – and their original venue even closed down completely due to the detrimental effects of the pandemic.
Instead, they decided to get married in their local church with just a few guests. “It was a really devastating experience and took me a while to process that something we had worked so hard towards had been taken just like that,” Richmond tells HuffPost UK.
“But eventually I realised our union was the most important thing and we could not let this stop us becoming husband and wife. Marriage is a beautiful covenant and we knew we didn’t want to wait any longer to share that union with each other. ”
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‘It was a pure elopement and no one knew beforehand’
Shutter Go Click Photography Matthew Mee and Gema Mee (née Bate) getting married at Leeds registry office
Matthew Mee and Gema Bate, both 31, from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, were due to get married on their fifth anniversary of being together at Central Park in New York City. They’d originally planned to get married on their joint hen and stag do at Slam Dunk Festival in Leeds on May 23 – but unfortunately, everything got cancelled.
“It didn’t feel right waiting, so we talked about eloping,” Bate tells HuffPost UK. “We drove to Leeds, walked over to the registry office, and did the deed. We had Ryan (our photographer) and his girlfriend as our witnesses, then went for a bottomless brunch at an NYC-themed restaurant, dressed in our wedding gear.
“We wandered around Leeds Museum and finished up at Five Guys. We had an amazing day celebrating just us and were amazed we managed to get it all together and aligned so well and so quickly.”
‘Our wedding day was still so happy and special’
Lina Hayes Sabrina Nordlund and Angus Gibson, 24 and 27, on their wedding day in Edinburgh
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Sabrina Nordlund, 24, and Angus Gibson, 27, got married in Edinburgh, and had to cut their guest list right down, as well as change the venue.
“We made a lot of sacrifices to what a ‘normal’ wedding would look like, but our wedding day was still so happy and so special,” Nordlund explains. “It was the first time we saw any family after lockdown, and was truly just a beacon of happiness that brought us through the end of lockdown. It already feels like it was a lifetime ago! Definitely not a day we could ever recreate, and I love that.”
‘After two months of lockdown, it felt like such a treat to say I do’
Caren Hayward Gina Rooke-Rendell and James Rooke-Rendell, 33, got married at Cardiff registry office
Gina Rooke-Rendell and James Rooke-Rendell, both 33, got married at Cardiff Registry Office. Originally, they were due to get married on May 9 and had planned a humanist ceremony in a small seaside town in south Wales, with 80 of their closest friends and family.
“After two months of lockdown, it felt like such a treat saying our ‘I dos’,” says Gina. “We are still planning to have the our wedding in 2022 but we wanted to get legally married as soon as possible. As everything else we’d planned wasn’t able to go ahead, such as our honeymoon, we just wanted to be able to celebrate something this year.”
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‘When we found out we could have an intimate wedding, we just felt sheer joy’
Emily Smith and Ben Watts Emily Smith and Ben Watts on their wedding day at the Ash Barton Estate in north Devon
Emily Smith, 29, and Ben Watts, 35, got married at the Ash Barton Estate in north Devon. “Ben and I had come to the conclusion that our wedding wasn’t going to happen,” says Smith, “so, when we found out that we could have an intimate wedding with 30 guests or less, we just felt sheer joy.
“Knowing that our original date [July 4] could happen, and we could make that commitment to one another was an amazing feeling. As we were confined to our homes for so long, it was extra special to see our closest friends and family again. Knowing we couldn’t give our family hugs on the big day was difficult. It’s all those small details that we take for granted.”
‘It was the most romantic fairytale setting ever’
Darren Paul, www.darrenpaul.co.uk Domini Hooper, 50, and bridesmaid daughter Helena, 19
Domini Hooper, 50, and her partner Peter Hooper, 50, from Bath, got married at Manvers St Baptist Church. “There were no guests, no extended family, just the bride, groom, our three children, the Baptist Minister and someone to film it all,” says Hooper.
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“The church was going to be very empty and slightly eerie without a congregation or guests to fill the pews. So, as a complete surprise, my partner filled the sanctuary with the most beautiful blossom trees, flowers, and luscious plants, transforming the sanctuary into the most romantic fairytale setting ever!
“When it looked like the ceremony might be possible with major changes, we realised it felt right to go ahead”
Jermaine Chandra Deya Dasgupta, 36, and Sam Leigh, 31, from south London getting married at Battersea Park Bandstand
Deya Dasgupta, 36, and Sam Leigh, 31, from south London had their wedding in August at Battersea Park bandstand, followed by a socially-distanced picnic with 20 guests.
“When it looked like the ceremony might be possible with major changes, we realised it felt right to go ahead,” says Dasgupta. “We did consider postponing the entire event, but given how unpredictable the pandemic has been, any future date also carries some degree of uncertainty.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--How To Stay Covid-Safe As We All Start Socialising More Indoors

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We’re here to guide you through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up to the Life newsletter for daily tips, advice, how-tos and escapism.
It’s cold and rainy outside, but moving indoors to socialise with friends and family isn’t so simple.
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Under the government’s new three tier system, you need to get acquainted with the rules before organising an indoor meet-up – or risk a hefty fine.
In tier one, or medium risk areas, you can meet with up with friends and family indoors, but you must stick to the rule of six.
In tier two (high risk areas) and tier three (very high risk areas), the rules state that you “must not meet socially with friends and family indoors in any setting, unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.” This includes private homes, and any other indoor venues such as pubs and restaurants.
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In tier three, you’re also banned from meeting those outside your household outdoors in a private garden, or at most outdoor public venues.
There are a few exceptions though, such as being allowed to attend smaller weddings and funerals indoors, whatever your tier.
But even in circumstances where you can meet loved ones indoors, some may be a little nervous, with Covid-19 cases rising. For those concerned about staying safe, HuffPost UK asked leading experts in respiratory disease, immunology and hygiene for their top tips to reduce the risks.
Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
1. Wear a face mask
By now, you’re probably used to wearing a face mask on public transport and in the supermarket, but Dr Jenna Macciochi, an immunologist based at the University of Sussex, recommends wearing a face covering “in any situation where you are indoors and can’t keep at least 1m from people outside of your family bubble”.
2. Consider seating arrangements
Professor Sally Bloomfield, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, acknowledges that while face masks are the best option, people are unlikely to wear them when visiting friends and family in the home. In this situation, she says you should strive to maintain social distancing “as much as possible”. This includes avoiding hugs and thinking about where you sit.
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“If you’re sitting in a lounge area, make sure you’ve got enough chairs so people aren’t sitting close together on sofas. If you’ve got a dinner table, make sure that people are properly spaced,” she says.
“Even grouping people at the table, you should try and do things like put one household at one end of the table and the other at the opposite end.”
3. Choose home over the pub
If you’re split between meeting a mate at the pub or inviting them over for a beer (in a tier one area), choose the latter, says Dr Julian Tang, a consultant virologist and Professor in the Department of Respiratory Sciences at University of Leicester.
“Avoid crowded indoor spaces if possible, where there is poor ventilation and where people are unlikely to be wearing masks, like bars, pubs and restaurants,” he says. “If there are many people inside, the probability that someone may be infected is higher and the smaller air volume is less able to dilute the virus.”
4. Opt for venues with high ceilings
If you are meeting outside the home, try to avoid indoor spaces with low ceilings, adds Dr Tang.
“Large open indoor areas with high ceilings like churches, concert halls, cinemas, theatres have larger air volumes to dilute any airborne virus – which is convected upwards by people’s body heat – away from their breathing zones. High ceilings can allow for this. However the ventilation is not always good in these indoor recreational spaces.”
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Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images
5. Open the window
Both Dr Tang and Professor Bloomfield recommend cracking open a window if you’re indoors with others, even if it means grabbing that spare jumper. This is easier at home, but you can also try to grab a window seat at the pub, restaurant or wedding venue. “Any airborne virus concentration will gradually increase if the ventilation is poor,” explains Dr Tang.
Maskot via Getty Images
6. Avoid public transport
Whether you’re travelling to work or a mate’s house, avoid public transport where you can. “Wake a little earlier and enjoy the walk or cycle to work, see it as part of your daily movement,” says Dr Macciochi. “Public transport due to the proximity and shared surfaces make it a perfect place for viruses to spread. Avoid any non-essential journeys on public transport.”
7. Do not share food
If you’re hosting a lunch or dinner party (again, tier 1 only), small adjustments such as putting out two bowls of crisps (one for each household) rather than one central bowl can make a big difference, says Professor Bloomfield. At dinner, avoid passing around communal crockery such as dishes of vegetables, she adds, where one person will touch the bowl and spoon after the other.
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“If you’re the host, plate up the food in the kitchen with hands that you have recently washed,” she says. “Guests should eat it with their knives and forks and afterwards, everything goes in the dishwasher. It’s about making sure that you don’t pass around any germs while you’re passing around that food.”
8. Maintain good hand and surface hygiene
If someone is entering your home, you should work on the assumption that they may have the virus, says Professor Bloomfield.
“There is a risk of transferring the virus via hands or surfaces. If any one in the group is infected, a) they will be expelling droplets which will settle on to surfaces and b) they will likely be touching their mouth or nose and have the virus on their hands,” she says. “Avoiding transmission via their hands and contact surfaces is key.”
You don’t need to sanitise your entire home, but do regularly clean surfaces that are frequently touched, such as door handles, Prof. Bloomfield adds. You might also want to consider making sanitiser readily available in your home, so guests can use it before meals if they choose.
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9. Ask guests to clean the loo
Okay, it might break every rule in the etiquette rule book, but politely ask guests to spitz down the bathroom after using it, as this is a major area for contamination risk, says Prof. Bloomfield.
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“Everyone uses the toilet and when they do, they’ll touch the toilet seat, the flush handle, the tap handle,” she says. “You really should position a bleach spray by the toilet and leave a polite notice asking everybody to spray and wipe any surfaces they’ve touched before they leave the area.”
10. Keep the noise down
We get it, you’re excited to hang out with loved ones and experience a slice of normality, but keep a lid on your volume.
“Try not to speak loudly or shout during normal conversation over normal conversational distances – and try to avoid those who do,” says Dr Tang. “Masking still helps with this, but the number of aerosolised droplets increases dramatically with loudness of talking and shouting - and singing. Similarly with laughing.”
11. Know the Covid-19 symptoms
The breadth of symptoms now noted for Covid-19 is increasing, as our knowledge of the virus is updated. Keep up to date with the possible signs and ensure you isolate to avoid spreading the virus if in doubt, says Dr Macciochi.
If you are spending increasing periods indoors “make sure to get some time outdoors each day and top up your vitamin D with a supplement”, she adds.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-08--Coronavirus Update: Gatherings Of More Than Six People To Be Banned

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Social gatherings of more than six people in England will be banned from Monday as Boris Johnson moves to stem the “concerning” rise in cases of Covid-19.
The PM will set out the new rules at a press conference on Wednesday, warning police can hand out fines of £100 to anyone who flouts them.
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Cutting the legal limit on gatherings from 30 to six signals growing unease among ministers and government scientists about the possibility of a second wave taking hold in the UK.
The cap will apply both indoors and outdoors – including in private homes, parks, pubs and restaurants.
But gatherings of more than six people will be allowed where the household or support bubble is larger than six, or where the gathering is for work or education purposes.
Weddings, funerals and some organised team sports will also be exempt.
The crackdown follows the biggest jump in infections in more than three months on Sunday, when new cases hit almost 3,000.
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Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance, left, and Chief Medical Adviser Chris Whitty agreed urgent action was needed after rise in cases ASSOCIATED PRESS
The UK also reported 30 new coronavirus deaths over a 24-hour period on Tuesday, the highest since July 29.
Health secretary Matt Hancock, who ordered new local lockdown measures for Bolton on Tuesday, has urged people to be vigilant.
He also said young people had been driving much of the latest spike, though ministers feared infection could quickly spread to the vulnerable and elderly without curbs.
Johnson is expected to tell the press conference: “We need to act now to stop the virus spreading. So we are simplifying and strengthening the rules on social contact – making them easier to understand and for the police to enforce.
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“It is absolutely critical that people now abide by these rules and remember the basics – washing your hands, covering your face, keeping space from others, and getting a test if you have symptoms.”
The move follows schools reopening last week.
Chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Chris Whitty agreed that urgent action was needed after the jump in cases, Downing Street has said.
As lockdown measures were eased in July, Whitty had cautioned that the country had “probably reached near the limit of what we can do”.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Why Boris Johnson Needs To Stop Dreaming Of A Nice Christmas

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Let’s talk about Six, baby
As a fun-loving, crowd-pleasing, bon viveur kinda guy, Boris Johnson is rarely convincing when he has to do ‘serious’. Adopting a stern tone and telling the British public what they may not want to hear does not come naturally. But having suggested just a few weeks ago that the Covid crisis will be all over by Christmas, on Wednesday he was forced to rain on his own charade.
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The PM certainly surpassed himself in the irony stakes. As he spelled out that his new rules will mean some grandparents will not be allowed to see their grandchildren, he uttered this immortal line as justification: “People who think they can take responsibility for their own health and take their own risk are, I’m afraid, misunderstanding the situation.” Classic Dom, you could call it.
Just as he didn’t blame Dominic Cummings for breaking the rules (three times don’t forget), he was keen to stress today he wasn’t having a go at the great British public. “With the best will in the world people have not, I’m afraid, been totally following the guidelines,” he said. “I certainly don’t want to blame people but now is the time for us to focus, to concentrate and to enforce the rule of six.”
Of course, he didn’t blame himself either, but there was a smidgeon of an admission that the government was partly responsible for the shocking rise in cases among young people. “I know that, over time, the rules have become quite complicated and confusing,” he said. It certainly seems as though socialising at home and abroad (and importing it) has driven the spike that has so worried many in Whitehall.
Yet as the PM unveiled his “rule of six”, the extent of that confusion was laid bare. The new legally backed rule replaces the current guidance that allows two households to meet indoors. From Monday, six people from six different households can mix. But how many people knew that was not allowed already? Loads of millennials and youngsters, judging from social media.
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As a result, if you’re a singleton today’s new rule is actually a relaxation, not a tightening, of your social restrictions. The downside, and Johnson’s face told that story, is larger family groupings will not be allowed. In another irony for a PM who hates ‘nanny statedom’, he criminalised any Christmas dinner party of more than six people. And as only one ‘support bubble’ is allowed, families will have to choose which grandparent or in-law is allowed across the threshold. Not quite a John Lewis ad, is it?
Never wanting to portray himself as a killjoy (probably the worst insult Johnson could think of for his enemies), he was keen to say today’s moves were “not a second national lockdown”. But that’s precisely what they were: the rule of six applies across the whole country and has real legal force to allow the police and a new army of hi-vis ‘Covid-secure marshalls’ to take action. A new map showed how widespread the spike in cases was too.
But Johnson was still dreaming of a nice Christmas, courtesy of his hopes for a “moonshot” plan for instant, daily home testing for everyone, giving those who test negative a “laissez passer” or “freedom pass” (once a London Mayor, always a London Mayor) to go to work, the theatre, sports.
Within seconds however, both chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientist Patrick Vallance poured buckets of ice cold caution over this tempting mirage. Vallance said it would be “completely wrong to assume” that mass saliva testing would be viable. The PM’s moonshot plan felt as real and tangible as his deceased ‘fantasy island’ scheme for a new London airport in the Thames estuary.
Whitty wanted to plan on the basis of grounded reality, basing his assumptions on not getting a vaccine, let alone some ‘moonshot’ testing regime. On the day Keir Starmer raised the continuing laboratory problems with the public failing to get tests near their homes, Whitty also said “those constraints are not just going to magically disappear”. Most candid of all, he made clear the new rules would be around for months, and probably until the spring.
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A snap poll from YouGov showed 77% of Brits in favour of tightening social restrictions on big groups. The public like clear, simple messaging as long as their prime minister and other people in power stick to it too.
Let’s hope for all our sakes that the new rules work, and are adhered to. It’s even possible they could help people get back to the office (meeting five workmates can lunch together or drink in the pub after work now). And there’s still a chance a winter nightmare could be avoided, but only if test and trace gets much, much better.
But perhaps it’s time for a new rule for the PM too: stop selling the public fool’s gold of best case scenarios and get on instead with the unglamorous but vital drudgery of delivery.
Quote Of The Day
“It breaks my heart to have to insist on these restrictions upon individuals, upon families, grandparents.”
Boris Johnson
Wednesday Cheat Sheet
A further 2,659 people tested positive for Covid in the UK, up on Tuesday.
Boris Johnson defended his new Internal Markets Bill and its clear provision to break international law, saying it was designed to stop “extreme or irrational” interpretations of the Northern Ireland protocol he signed earlier this year.
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Sir John Major warned that breaking treaties would mean the UK would lose its reputation for honouring its promises and “we will have lost something beyond price that may never be regained”.
Matt Hancock blamed the public for “inappropriate” booking of tests, stressing only those with symptoms should apply for them.
Jonathan Bartley and Sian Berry were re-elected as co-leaders of the Green Party.
What I’m Reading
5 Wild New Trump Revelations In Bob Woodward’s Book - New York Magazine
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Send tips, stories, quotes, pics, plugs or gossip to waugh.zone@huffpost.com.
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thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Skies Glow Orange In West Of US As Wildfires Rage

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Wildfires across the US West left skies engulfed in an orange glow on Wednesday morning as officials declared an emergency for “unprecedented” blazes.
Strong winds and high temperatures fed nearly 100 extreme wildfires across California, Washington and Oregon as firefighters retreated from uncontrolled fires that forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes and hundreds of thousands to lose power in the three states.
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Parts of Medford, Oregon, a popular retirement location with over 80,000 residents in the state’s scenic Rogue Valley, were under evacuation orders or warnings as a growing wildfire closed a section of Interstate 5, the primary north-south highway in the West.
The fire moved north to Medford from Ashland, where it started on Tuesday. The blaze did little damage to Ashland, home to the historic stages of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which normally draws more than 350,000 theatregoers a year.
But as the blaze moved northward, it heavily damaged the small town of Talent with about 6,000 residents, according to local police.
The Bidwell Bar Bridge is surrounded by fire in Lake Oroville during the Bear fire in Oroville, California. JOSH EDELSON via Getty Images
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The Oregon town of Mill City, about 65 miles (105 km) south of Portland with a population around 1,900, also had major damage, and Malden, with about 200 people in eastern Washington state, was destroyed on Monday.
In central California, the Creek Fire about 35 miles (56 km) north of Fresno tore through a forest killed by drought and bark beetles as U.S. military helicopters pulled campers, hikers and residents out of the area.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown called the extreme heat and wind a “once in a lifetime event,” as climate scientists blamed human activities for higher average temperatures that have supercharged fires.
“This is proving to be an unprecedented and significant fire event for our state,” Brown told a press briefing.
An orange glow fills the sky above the Embarcadero as smoke from various wildfires burning across Northern California mixes with the marine layer, blanketing San Francisco in darkness. Philip Pacheco via Getty Images
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Patrick Kenefick, left, and Dana Williams, record the darkened Golden Gate Bridge covered with smoke from wildfires. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The skyline in the distance behind Crissy Field is barely visible with smoke from wildfires late Wednesday morning. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Across the United States wildfires have burned nearly 4.7 million acres in 2020, the highest year-to-date area since 2018, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Most of the fires are in western states, where 17 new large blazes were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total to 96 that have burned more than 3.4 million acres - an area nearly the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut.
Over a century of efforts by federal and state agencies to suppress naturally occurring blazes have left forests replete with dry timber and brush that provides fuel for large wildfires.
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Red sky and thick smoke are seen in Salem City, Oregon, U.S., September 8, 2020, in this picture obtained from social media. Picture taken September 8, 2020. ZAK STONE/via REUTERS ZAK STONE via REUTERS
Home construction has encroached on some forests in recent decades, and owners are watching their houses burn as firefighters are unable to save property.
“You add the winds, the dry conditions, the hot temperatures, it’s the perfect recipe,” said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for California’s state fire authority of the Creek Fire that has torched over 360 homes and other structures.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Trump Admits He Lied About Covid-19 Threat In New Woodward Book

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US president Donald Trump knew in early February that coronavirus posed a unique and deadly threat to the country, and was “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.”
At the time, Trump repeatedly publicly downplayed the virus as no more dangerous than the flu.
The revelation is one of many in journalist Bob Woodward’s forthcoming book, “Rage”, for which Trump granted Woodward a series of interviews.
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“You just breathe the air and that’s how it’s passed,” Trump said in a February 7 call with Woodward. “And so that’s a very tricky one. That’s a very delicate one. It’s also more deadly than even your strenuous flu.”
“This is deadly stuff,” he repeated.
“I wanted to always play it down,” Trump told Woodward on March 19, according to a copy of the book obtained by CNN. “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”
But by ignoring reality in public, the president didn’t prevent panic, he provoked it. Many statements Trump made as the virus spread in the US were outright falsehoods:
“We have it very much under control in this country.” “It’s going to be just fine.” “It’s one person coming in from China.” “We’re doing a great job with it.” “It’s going to have a very good ending for us.” “We’re in great shape.” “We have 12 cases — 11 cases, and many of them are in good shape now.” “Just stay calm. It will go away.” “And again, when you have 15 people, and the 15 within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero.” “It’s going to disappear. One day it’s like a miracle — it will disappear.”
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Responding to the bombshell on Wednesday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump “has never lied to the American public on COVID” and also claimed he “never downplayed the virus.”
Republican lawmakers greeted the news with mixed reactions.
When asked about Trump’s admission in Woodward’s book that he downplayed the coronavirus, senator Mitt Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill: “It doesn’t sound ideal to me.”
“I don’t think he needs to be on TV screaming, ‘We’re all going to die,’” Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of the president, countered. “His actions shutting the economy down were the right actions.”
Trump repeatedly resisted calls to shut down businesses in order to save lives. In March, he claimed that the US would see more deaths from an economic shutdown than from coronavirus.
Nearly 190,000 Americans so far have died of Covid-19, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University.
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According to The Washington Post, the book is based in part on 18 on-the-record interviews with Trump from December through July. Woodward also interviewed former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and former Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats.
In addition to documenting the Trump administration’s failed and fragmented coronavirus response, the book also chronicles Trump’s response to anti-racism demonstrations, North Korean diplomacy and other topics.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--Three Times The Government Raised Our Hopes Of Having A 'Normal' Christmas

After a summer of falling coronavirus cases, low Covid-19 deaths and fewer and fewer people in hospital the virus, infections are on the rise once again.
On Tuesday night, it was revealed that the government would make gatherings of more than six people illegal following almost 9,000 new cases in just three days.
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The first question on everyone’s lips – what would this new rule mean for Christmas?
One expert told HuffPost UK: “Christmas will not be the same – of that I am absolutely sure.”
Meanwhile, politics editor Paul Waugh reported that while there will be a review of the new rules in December, the restrictions are likely to last until spring.
Matt Hancock’s merry prediction
Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives in Downing Street, London. PA
But health secretary Matt Hancock seemed pretty optimistic about festive season when chatting about coronavirus rules on Wednesday morning.
Telling BBC Radio 4′s Today programme about the new limit on social gatherings, he said it would be in place “for the foreseeable future”.
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“I really hope we can turn this round before Christmas,” he said. “I think that, in a pandemic, Christmas is a long way off.
“Three months is a long time in a pandemic and I very much hope this strong rule, together with the local action we’ve taken in places like Bolton… I very hope much therefore this can work to do that by Christmas.”
Fingers crossed he’s right.
But if he’s not, it wouldn’t be the first time the government has given us false hope about when things might be back to normal...
Boris Johnson’s own Yuletide suggestion
PA Archive/PA Images
Back in the heady days of July – when pubs were newly opened and coronavirus cases were dropping – Boris Johnson told the UK the government was planning for a “significant return to normality by Christmas”.
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“It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas,” the PM said.
Among the moves back to ‘normality’? Further relaxation of social distancing rules for loved ones.
“Throughout this period, we will look to allow more close contact between friends and family, where we can,” he said.
In Johnson’s defence, he did warn that ministers were “hoping for the best and planning for the worst”.
But with most people staring down the barrel of a very quiet Christmas following the introduction of the newest Covid-19 restrictions, the prime minister might be regretting ever bringing it up.
Grant Shapps also got in on the (panto) act
Transport secretary Grant Shapps arrives at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office POOL New / reuters
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Hancock and Johnson aren’t the only two Cabinet ministers who have bandied around the idea of a Christmas not ruled by Covid.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps backed up the PM’s announcement, saying a return to normality by Christmas was “possible” – as long as people followed the current restrictions.
Talking about the government’s roadmap for coronavirus, he told BBC Breakfast in July: “We want to give people some sense of direction, because a lot of people are running businesses or rely on the Christmas period and need to know that if everything goes well that this is our intention.


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--What It Actually Means If The Government Breaks International Law

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Boris Johnson today found himself in a bit of a tight spot in the Commons as he was forced to say everybody should obey the law – just a day after his own government admitted it would be breaking it.
The PM was asked to explain why he thinks it is acceptable for his administration to misbehave while expecting people to follow new coronavirus restrictions on social gatherings.
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Johnson replied: “We expect everybody in this country to obey the law.”
The response drew quite the reaction on social media.
BREAKING: 'We expect everybody in this country to obey the law' - Boris Johnson in #PMQs just now. The same @BorisJohnson who is brazenly breaking international law. Even by his disingenuous standards, this is beyond parody. — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 9, 2020
Gatherings of more than six people will be illegal, unless they are conspiring to break international law. — Keith Burge (@carryonkeith) September 9, 2020
What’s all the fuss about?
Boris Johnson is trying to unpick parts of the withdrawal agreement (WA) he negotiated last year to give UK ministers key powers to decide when EU rules apply to Northern Ireland.
But there’s a slight issue – on Tuesday, Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis was forced to admit the proposals “break international law” in a “very specific and limited way”.
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That sounds serious
That’s because it is.
What actually is international law?
According to the United Nations, international law is “among the greatest [of its] achievements” and “is central to promoting economic and social development, as well as to advancing international peace and security”.
In layman’s terms, it’s the rules that countries follow on a global level in order to avoid nasty things like war, genocide, economic ruin and general bickering.
Which law will the government be breaking?
In January, the government secured the UK’s departure from the EU, a process that was laid down in international law when the WA was agreed between Britain and Europe.
The WA contained something called the Northern Ireland protocol, which states Northern Ireland will continue to follow single market rules for some goods and administer the EU’s customs code at its ports.
It was designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, but unionists have been vehemently opposed to it, insisting it instead creates an economic border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
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The WA states that it is down to a trade deal (currently being negotiated) to decide which goods will be the subject of EU tariffs. In the absence of one, the default is: full checks on everything, as though Northern Ireland remained part of the EU.
But Johnson, looking ahead to the possibility of no trade deal being struck, now wants to change that so that the UK gets a unilateral say.
By now saying it will pick and choose when EU rules will apply to Northern Ireland, the UK government will be breaking the WA, which is international law.
But only in a ‘very specific and limited way’...
Hmm, that doesn’t really make any difference, as a whole host of people have pointed out.
Bugger. Just got home to find another speeding ticket has arrived. Have sent back with the message I was speeding in a very specific and limited way (specifically slightly above the limit) Am hoping that should do the trick. Thanks @BrandonLewis for the free legal advice — ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) September 8, 2020
'Yes we've invaded Poland, but in a very specific and limited way'
'Righto'#ToryShambles pic.twitter.com/HfHCVvdWoZ — Harry Palmer (@harrypalmer285) September 8, 2020
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So who’s getting arrested?
Nobody. Unlike domestic law, which is maintained and policed by the state in which it applies, international law has always been a bit more... pliable.
In the absence of a global police force or a United Nations that isn’t riven by individual state interests, countries have often been able to get away with breaking international laws without major consequences.
One of the most infamous examples of this in modern history is the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq which breached international law, resulted in the deaths of hundred of thousands of people yet not one person has been held to account.
And even when people are brought to justice, such as for war crimes committed during the Bosnian war in the 90s, it can take decades.
Obviously, the UK government’s actions are not comparable, but it does suggest on the international stage, at least, that the PM doesn’t have too much to fear.
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What will happen?
While the international response might be muted, Johnson does face a huge domestic backlash to the plans.
Senior Conservatives have expressed dismay, warning the move risks undermining Britain’s standing and reputation as an upholder of international law.
Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Commons Defence Committee, said that if the government went through with the changes to the agreement – which secured the UK’s departure from the EU in January – it would “lose the moral high ground”.
“This is about the rule of law and our resolve and commitment to uphold it,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
“To unilaterally ignore any treaty in its obligations which we’ve signed and submitted to the United Nations would actually go against everything we believe in.”
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However, health secretary Matt Hancock insisted the changes were necessary to protect the Northern Ireland peace process if they failed to get a free trade deal with the EU.
“The decision we’ve made is to put the peace process first, first and foremost, as our absolute top international obligation,” he told the Today programme.
So nothing will happen then?


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--No One Should Go Through Cancer At 14. But This Is What It Taught Me

HuffPost UK Lily, in treatment
It all began at a badminton session.
After I felt a pop in my collarbone area while playing, I began to notice a lump that would, day by day, get progressively bigger and more painful.
I remember how shocked my mum was when I showed her – she immediately booked an appointment with our local GP, who then referred us to the hospital. There, I had a scan and was told we would have to wait eight to ten days for any result.
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But just two hours later, we got a call asking us to come back immediately. Something wasn’t quite right. They ran some blood tests and by the end of the evening my blood sample was on its way to the Royal Marsden Hospital, a specialist unit. They suspected I had blood cancer.
We got sent home to quickly pack some things, and prepared to stay overnight at the hospital. After a week of more tests, scans and a biopsy, we attended a meeting at the Royal Marsden, where I was diagnosed with grey zone lymphoma, a rare blood cancer, and told I needed to start six sessions of chemotherapy.
While I was going through chemotherapy at The Oak Centre for Children and Young People at The Royal Marsden, I can honestly say I met some of the bravest people in the world – and that includes doctors and nurses as well as patients. I made a new friend, Yasmin – her and her family have got two more years of treatment, but they helped us a lot with getting used to treatment. They made it easier and so welcoming, as did all the staff at the Royal Marsden, who are unbelievable people that I can never thank enough for all the work they did. My doctor, Elisha, made me feel safe and positive whenever we had a check up and whenever I had to go for chemotherapy. She is a hero who saved my life, and I will always be thankful to her for everything she did for my family and I.
“After chemotherapy had finished and I didn’t have a main focus, finding self-love and accepting myself got much harder.”
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I was just 14 at the time I was diagnosed, and I honestly don’t think I quite understood how surreal it was. Suddenly, my only priorities were my family and friends, schoolwork and staying alive. But after chemotherapy had finished and I didn’t have a main focus, finding self-love and accepting myself got much harder. I didn’t look like anyone else at school, and I felt like I couldn’t escape what had happened to me. I got stared at a lot, and it became hard to be polite and ignore the way people saw me. My self-image got so bad I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror without crying – at one point I literally put bin bags over my mirror because I didn’t want to see myself.
I tried not to let my image stop me from going out with friends when I could, because they made me feel ten times better. In fact, I think the reason I have been able to stay happy and focused through cancer is because of the people around me, I didn’t surround myself with any negative energy.
Losing my hair was definitely one of the toughest things I went through, though I knew the treatment was helping me and I lost it for the right reasons. I have a few inches back now, I can straighten it, and I’m already making plans with what I want to do with it when it’s grown longer.
“I think a lot about how lucky I am to be here, and how I appreciate life much more than I did before my diagnosis.”
Thankfully, I’m now in remission and only need check-ups every three months at the Marsden. But I think a lot about how lucky I am to be here, and how I appreciate life much more than I did before my diagnosis. I’ve learned that cancer doesn’t pick and choose, so we can never dwell on the question ‘why me’ – because it’s just the way the cookie crumbles. But, of course, I would never want anyone to go through what I have been through. I would like to think, with how fast modern technology is advancing, cancer will be beaten once and for all, and the future will be brighter for anyone who is diagnosed.
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Above all, every day I try to be thankful to still be here. Some days are harder than others, but I’ve learned you’ve got to keep pushing and do things that make you happy. With the help of my doctors, my family and friends, who have been saints from start to finish, I’m back in a place where I am genuinely happy with how my life is.
Can We Cure Kids’ Cancer? airs tonight 10pm on Channel 4 and will be available to stream on All4


thehuffingtonpostuk--2020-09-09--'Operation Moonshot' Promise Of National On-Demand Testing By Spring Shot Down By Scientists

Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance, left, and Chief Medical Adviser Chris Whitty ASSOCIATED PRESS
Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.
Top government scientists have poured cold water on Boris Johnson’s plan to rollout nationwide on-demand testing for Covid-19 in time for spring.
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Dubbing the government plan “Operation Moonshot”, the PM said “a new type of test” would be widely available to people next year and allow checks that have results in “90 or even 20 minutes”.
It would mean people could get a negative result before entering a pub, theatre or workplace.
But both the chief scientific officer, Patrick Vallance, and the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, who were flanking the PM at a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday, cast doubt over the claims.
Asked if he was confident, Vallance said the technology “had to be tested properly”.
“There are as always with technologies unknowns and we would be completely wrong to assume this is a slam dunk that can definitely happen,” he said. “I think this needs to be tested properly.
He added of the new tests: “We do not yet know if they work.”
Whitty, meanwhile, said it was “likely” there would be fast new tests “in the not too distant future”. But he said “that covers quite a wide time range’, adding: “I think it is important that we don’t pin ourselves to a date and say by this time this will be achieved.”
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Johnson acknowledged their interventions as “a very important dose of realism” despite having trumpeted the ambitious plans minutes earlier.
He said Salford had been chosen for a pilot scheme for the new test, with NHS Test and Trace aiming to rollout widespread testing by spring.
Explaining the tests, Johnson had said: “Up to now, we have used testing primarily to identify people who are positive – so we can isolate them from the community and protect high risk groups.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a press conference inside 10 Downing Street in London. ASSOCIATED PRESS
“And that will continue to be our priority. We are working hard to increase our testing capacity to 500,000 tests a day by the end of October.
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“But in future, in the near future, we want to start using testing to identify people who are negative – who don’t have coronavirus and who are not infectious – so we can allow them to behave in a more normal way, in the knowledge they cannot infect anyone else with the virus.
“And we think, we hope, we believe that new types of test which are simple, quick and scalable will become available.
“They use swabs or saliva and can turn round results in 90 or even 20 minutes.
“Crucially, it should be possible to deploy these tests on a far bigger scale than any country has yet achieved – literally millions of tests processed every single day.”
Theatres and sports venues could test all audience members and let in those with a negative result, the PM said, adding testing for negative results could transform workplaces.
He said: “Workplaces could be opened up to all those who test negative that morning and allow them to behave in a way that was normal before Covid.
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“Those isolating because they are a contact, or quarantining after travelling abroad could, after a period, be tested and released.
“Now that is an ambitious agenda, but we are going to pilot this approach in Salford from next month, with audiences in indoor and outdoor venues.