I think I speak for us all when I say; summer, we love you, but could you please calm down with these temperatures?
Greater Manchester has been in the grips of a sweltering heatwave this last week, and it isn’t looking likely to be cooling down any time soon, with the Met Office this week predicting highs of 35 degrees celsius in certain parts of the UK.
Yet while the hot weather is ideal for a spot of sunbathing or an impromptu trip to the local beer garden, it has been proving to be a real challenge throughout the twilight hours.
Mario Sanchez Prada / Flickr
Because British houses and apartment blocks were designed and built to withstand the chilly conditions experienced for the majority of the year, they transform into something not unlike a greenhouse when the sun is shining.
This design flaw makes for some pretty uncomfortable (and sleepless) nights during the summer months – particularly during heatwaves.
But thankfully, help is at hand.
That Property Guy, a property expert who uses TikTok to educate people on all things property, recently shared a handful of helpful tips to keep your home nice and cool during the heatwave.
@thatpropertyguyuk / Instagram
In a video that has been viewed more than 2 million times, he says: “I don’t know about you but I’m starting to struggle with this heat, so here are some ways to keep your house cool.”
That Property Guy’s first tip is an obvious one: Keep all windows, blinds and curtains closed during the day to avoid letting in any sunlight or warm air. However he did add that, if needed, opening windows on opposite ends of the house can create a lovely cooling draught through the house.
He also said that filling up a bowl with ice water and placing it in front of a fan can help to circulate cold air throughout the room.
Any cooking needs to be done outside (if possible) to avoid using hot appliances like ovens and hobs – get those BBQs at the ready!
That Property Guy also suggested freezing your bedsheets before hitting the hay – sounds bizarre, I know, but it’s a great way to keep your sheets icy cold while you drift off to sleep.
Other tips included turning off all electric appliances such as televisions while they’re not being used, and swapping halogen light bulbs to LED bulbs, which don’t heat up as much and also cost less – it’s a win-win!
To stay up to date with all of That Property Guy’s tips, tricks, and renovation hacks, make sure to following him on Instagram here.
A three-year-old girl is putting a smile on the faces of care home residents across Greater Manchester with her adorable Queen Elizabeth outfit for the upcoming Platinum Jubilee.
Young Isla Bates, from Wigan, is taking her love for the royal family across the county by dressing up as her Majesty and paying care home residents a very regal visit.
Her mum Alex, who works as a recruitment lead at care home operator New Care Homes, knew that her daughter loved nothing more than dressing up, so made her daughter a Queen outfit from the likes of Childrensalon, Monsoon and River Island.
And with Isla having visited care homes quite frequently in the past, Alex knew combining the two would make the perfect Jubilee surprise.
New Care Homes / Facebook
She told the Manchester Evening News: “Isla has come into work with me a few times as sheās grown up, and loves meeting the residents and everyone on the care team.
“We thought a mini royal visit would be a great way to celebrate the Queenās Jubilee. I think the celebrations represent a great opportunity where people, both young and old, can come together and engage in some wonderful activities.”
Isla kick-started her royal tour with a visit to Bridgewater Manor in Worsley,Ā Salford to greet residents, where she made a very royal entrance along to the National Anthem.
The youngster also unveiled a Mountain Ash tree which was planted specifically as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign, an initiative set up to encourage tree planting across the UK.
Alex said on the success of Isla’s visit: āIsla has thoroughly enjoyed her visits and we feel very privileged to be able to contribute in some way. I think it has truly been a really great experience all around.”
New Care Homes / Facebook
And Isla said on her experience: “I really like to wave like the Queen does. She has a very special way of waving. It makes people laugh and smile when I do it, which is really nice.”
Dawn Collett, Commissioning Director at New Care Homes, said the visits had gone ‘down an absolute stormā with both residents and care home staff alike, adding: “Weāre delighted that Isla and her mum are taking time to visit our care homes.
“Theyāve played an incredible role in bringing the Jubilee celebrations to life for our residents and staff. Seeing the smiles on the faces of everyone is amazing – there have been some really special moments to remember such an amazing event.”
Isla and Alex are now planning on visiting more care homes across the region, including Ashlands Manor in Sale and Cheadle Manor in Stockport.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has defended Boris Johnson after newly-released photos showed him drinking during an alleged lockdown party.
ITV News published four photos showing the Prime Minister raising a glass with a group of aides around a table littered with alcoholic drinks and party food on November 13th 2020, when the country was in its second national lockdown.
The photos, which were reportedly taken during a leaving party, cast fresh doubt on Johnson’s claims that he was unaware of rule-breaking in Downing Street during the pandemic.
However, a number of Tory MPs have spoken out in defense of Johnson, including Shapps, who insisted that Johnson ‘wasn’t partying’ in the first place.
EXCL: @ITVNews has obtained pictures of Boris Johnson drinking at a No10 party during lockdown in November 2020.
The photos cast fresh doubt on the PM's repeated claimsĀ he was unaware of rule-breaking in No10 during the pandemic.
Speaking to Sky News’ Kay Burley this morning, Shapps said: “The question is, was he down there partying?
“No, clearly not. He’d gone by to say thanks and to raise a glass to a colleague who was leaving. And, you know, the answer to this of course, is the police have spent a lot of time with a lot of people and a lot of resources… And they’ve come to their conclusion.Ā
The Cabinet minister went on to say that Johnson is ‘completely mortified’ by the publishing of the photos, acknowledging that ‘it shouldn’t have happened’.Ā
Transport Secretary @GrantShapps tells #KayBurley the police have not fined Boris Johnson for 'that event', which was 'not a party'.
He said: “He [Johnson] has paid the fifty quid fine. Thatās the right thing to do. Heās human, and sometimes humans make mistakes.”
Shapps added: “I donāt think the fact of the pictures, us seeing them for the first time, changes what the police and Sue Gray already know.”
Just one week ago, it was announced that Sue Gray’s highly-publicised report into government misconduct during the Covid lockdowns had been completed.
A source close to Gray and her team said she now intends to publish her report āas soon as possibleā, adding that it could come as early as next week, according to The Independent.
Gino D’Acampo has hit back at ‘all the haters out there’ who criticised him for kissing his daughter on the lips.
The celebrity chef shared two photos of himself and his eight-year-old daughter Mia, one in which the pair shared a kiss and the other showing them laughing candidly together.
Gino captioned the post: “To all the haters out thereā¦ā¦yes I still kiss my principessa on the lips, get over it and get a life”.
The famed chef was met with a wave of support from his followers for sharing the post, with his teenage son Rocco also commenting with a series of hearts.
Though Gino hasn’t always received this level of praise, with him recently dividing opinions after revealing his daughter gets sent to bed on an empty stomach if she doesn’t eat her dinner.
He said: “When people talk to me about fussy children with food and ask me, āWhat do I think?ā I tell them there is no such a thing as a fussy child. There isnāt.
“But there is a thing of moron parenting. By moron, I mean idiots. A child doesnāt grow up fussy, itās not possible. Itās the parents.”
Gino also likened his children to training a puppy, saying: “Iām not comparing a dog to a child, for Godās sake, but itās the same as a when you have a little puppy.
“You only have to tell him off and pretend to smack him a couple of times not to do the wee on the floor. Eventually, heās not going to do the wee on the floor, heās going to go outside.”