After welcoming their first baby together, blind couple Hareem and Jonesti faced plenty of criticism over their suitability as parents. But they have since proved the doubters wrong, working out their own ‘different’ approach to parenting

It is August 2024, and my Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) – always worse in the claustrophobic heat of summer – has become unbearably intrusive, with perpetual tremors and tensions anchoring my mood. 

At the same time, mounting stress and anxiety – mainly from pressures at work – had led to a diagnosis of first high blood pressure, then depression and, finally, moderate to severe ADHD.

And my usual defence, a finely tuned but exhausting ‘masking’ – the physical suppression of tics – is failing me. My usual bullet-proof resilience is weakening under this strain.

I wasn’t diagnosed with TS until I was 32 years old – 22 years ago. From what I remember, seeking a diagnosis was influenced by a documentary about footballer Paul Gascoigne, although my memory is a little hazy on this. I spoke to my GP and was then referred to a specialist who made the diagnosis. 

I don’t have the ‘swearing’ kind (Corprolalia) that most people are familiar with; my Tourette’s produces other involuntary movements and sounds, tics, tensions, hums, and sighs. 

Beyond a little bullying at school, and the odd comment since, I’d largely kept my condition under wraps. So much so, that on the very rare occasions I’ve told anyone I have Tourette’s, the most common response has been: ‘No you haven’t.’ 

Even after my diagnosis, and a brief period of sharing the news with close friends and family, I packed it all away again. I didn’t feel like I would gain anything from sharing my condition more widely.

And, having become adept at suppressing most of my tics, especially in social or work situations, I felt strong enough to carry on alone.

But that all changed in the summer of 2024. Stress and anxiety from work exaggerated my tics, which made suppressing them harder; and, as a result, my general health began to slump, then crumble.

Tension headaches that I used to get fortnightly now struck almost daily, and my blood pressure spiralled to levels that medication couldn’t bring down.

I didn’t want to go to work – or anywhere, really. 

One day in mid-August 2024, while staring blankly at the desktop of my MacBook, my elbows on the desk, chin resting heavily on cupped palms, my right foot shaking uncontrollably, I had to acknowledge this was a nose-dive I couldn’t prevent.

So, after heart-to-hearts with family and colleagues, I made the difficult decision to step away from what my GP and specialist agreed was the single biggest contributing factor to my escalating symptoms: my football business.

Of course, it couldn’t be as easy as that, and it hasn’t been. Ties, responsibilities, and conventions are difficult to break – but I managed to slowly release myself from commitments I could no longer keep.

It got worse before it got better, but it did get better. Having worked for myself since I was 28 – in publishing, then events, then cycling, then football – I am now embarking on a new way to make a living in writing, that better accommodates my conditions.

It was ironic to find myself in a cinema recently watching the terrific new biopic, I Swear, about Tourette syndrome campaigner John Davidson (played beautifully by Robert Aramayo). As for John, with his aggressive vocal version of TS, movie theatres – like the libraries he fantasises about visiting in the film – are almost certainly off-limits.

Avoiding cinemas has been a habit of mine too, but at 10.30am on a weekday morning at Everyman Reigate, I was the only one there for what was essentially a private viewing and had the luxury of blinking, scrunching, twitching, wriggling, squirming, sighing and, yes, laughing and crying, as much as I liked.

And it’s a wonderful, authentic film that uses humour and strong performances to present what is an often-misunderstood condition, in a way that will engage and educate anyone who sees it.  

But the cruel truth is that Tourette Syndrome is incurable. The challenge – or opportunity – therefore is to change the environment those with Tourette syndrome or mental health problems live in. To convert attitudes and perceptions, through education and information. To transform the landscape. 

That is what John Davidson (MBE) has dedicated his life to, and what I Swear has done so seamlessly, and why we need to continue to see stigma busting TV and film.

Happily, my headaches have nearly gone altogether; the tics have eased. My blood pressure is on the way down. I’m assured that, even in my mid-50s, there is some therapeutic and medicinal help available. 

So, I’m giving it a go – and feel cautiously positive about the future.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

At 09.10am on a recent Tuesday, I walked past the busiest room in my school.

Not a classroom, the assembly hall, or even the canteen.

No, our school’s laundry room.

I could hear the washing machine humming steadily inside and then I spotted the parent of a Year 5 pupil washing their child’s PE kit. It made me so happy.

For these families, that half hour of washing is more than just practical help – it’s a small moment of relief, and a chance for their child to feel prepared and ready to learn in clean clothes.

It’s moments like this that I’m glad my school is part of Suds in Schools – a nationwide programme created to combat hygiene poverty by installing washing machines in schools, so families who are struggling can still have access to washing facilities for their clothes, for free.

Before cleaning company smol donated a washing machine to our school earlier this year, I’d become aware of a worrying pattern among some of our pupils.

Teachers had quietly told me they’d noticed some children wearing the same uniform for days and that this was having an impact on them in the classroom.

‘They don’t raise their hands due to concerns about body odour,’ one explained. Others said they’d seen certain students avoiding PE, after-school clubs or choosing to stay home altogether, because they felt self-conscious.

Naturally, I was concerned about the impact this could have on their long term engagement with school but also their relationships with their peers.

Bullying isn’t tolerated at our school, but kids can be cruel, even if it’s unintentional.

We tried to help where we could – running a food bank for families, including hygiene products, keeping spare uniforms on hand, even taking washing home ourselves – but it never felt enough.

So when I read about the Suds in Schools programme in December 2024, it stopped me in my tracks.

The email outlined the findings from smol and The Hygiene Bank charity’s recent research. It said that hygiene poverty in UK classrooms has surged by 68% in the last year, meaning nearly three-million children have been affected, with teachers reporting an average of 6.5 school days lost per child – that’s over 23-million lost learning days nationally.

It also found that 91% of teachers say hygiene poverty harms children’s long-term confidence, and three-quarters believe it affects mental health and self-esteem.

Knowing that applied to some of my students made me desperately sad and I knew we had to act.

I immediately applied for a washing machine for our school, outlining the ways in which it would be used to support our children and families. And in February we had a follow-up email to say our application had been successful.

Within a couple of months, what had been our staff room was transformed into a working laundry room, with smol installing the washing machine and donating a steady supply of detergent (which is now sent every quarter).

After that, we alerted families through newsletters and one-to-one conversations and assured them that its location – near a side entrance – was private but accessible. Word spread quickly after that.

Seeing the room in action made me feel extremely proud. The relief on both parents and pupils’ faces was plain to see. And while we’d continue running our Christmas food and hygiene bank, the washing machine also meant we’d be able to keep our free school uniform shop fresh and well stocked, too.

But the best thing was seeing the shift in the children.

Pupils who had kept to themselves began joining in again, one boy who had previously completely avoided PE even started participating enthusiastically once he had a clean kit ready each week.

Children who had started to become a concern due to low attendance were now not missing school and children weren’t afraid to put their hand up due to body odour issues anymore. Their confidence had been restored in ways even I hadn’t anticipated.

Before long, the laundry room was busy most mornings and afternoons, with a family either using the washing machine just after school drop-off or just before school pick-up.

For that parent of a Year 5 pupil, carefully folding their kit into a neat pile at the end of the cycle at school is practically routine now, but I could still sense their relief when they looked at me, smiled and said: ‘It’s all ready for tomorrow.’

It’s a small moment, but one that quietly shows the difference this small resource can make to a family’s day-to-day experience.

But our school is one of the lucky ones. Over 100 schools currently have Suds in Schools laundrettes, yet there are many more who could benefit.

Thankfully, the Government has set up a Child Poverty Taskforce and promised a Child Poverty Strategy, due to be published anytime now. What I’d be reassured to see is for it to explicitly acknowledge hygiene poverty as part of the work and that support is needed at scale for children and schools.

We need to treat hygiene as a basic need – it’s just as vital as food or heating – but schools cannot fix the problem alone. Partnerships like Suds in Schools show how practical, immediate support can make a huge difference.

Our laundrette can’t fix every hardship, it won’t solve hygiene poverty, but it does remove one barrier that can make the difference for inclusion and help with isolation.

Most importantly it has given families and students their dignity, confidence and their place in the classroom back. For me, that’s worth every single spin cycle.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Sitting in our campervan in the hospital car park, my fiancé Jason and I had tried everything to distract ourselves.

After a walk and a coffee, we’d resorted to watching Spiderman films, but it wasn’t working. I was still anxious.

Inside Leeds General Infirmary, our 2-year-old son, Heaton, was undergoing open-heart surgery to fix an Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD), a congenital heart defect characterised by a large hole or holes in the wall between the chambers of the heart. The waiting was torture.

Before Heaton, the only family history came from my maternal grandad, who had blocked arteries and underwent heart bypass surgery in his late 60s. 

I thought heart issues were generally experienced by older people so when I fell pregnant in 2021, it wasn’t on our radar. In fact, all my scans came back clear, my morning sickness eased after 20 weeks and though I was in labour over several days, in October I had a ‘normal birth’.

At first, Heaton seemed healthy, hitting all his early developmental milestones. 

On a couple of occasions, he was poorly with a rattling cough and as a worried first-time mum, I took him to the GP. The doctor thought it was a virus and gave him an inhaler.

Then, in the autumn of 2022 when he was around nine months, I spoke to his childminder – a former ICU nurse – about how I’d noticed a blue tinge to Heaton’s lips, hands and feet after the bath.

She immediately advised us to get him checked out.

Our GP tried to listen to his heart, which I thought was odd as I didn’t think that was the issue, but Heaton grew so distressed she referred us to Grimsby outpatient’s department for further investigation.

I’m very anxious around hospitals and suffer with panic attacks, but when I took Heaton in in March 2023, I thought nothing of it – that’s how confident I was that his heart wasn’t the problem.

Nurses took him for an ultrasound and soon after, the consultant asked a nurse to play with Heaton so he could ‘speak to Mum’. I realised something must be wrong.

I was then told that Heaton had AVSD. He had two holes in his heart and would need open heart surgery to fix it. 

I was so distraught, I couldn’t take it in. The consultant asked me to come back the next day with Jason.

‘Why weren’t the holes picked up with the pregnancy scans?’ we asked. The explanation was that sometimes these things can simply be missed. 

We were then told Heaton would be put under the care of the specialist cardiac team at Leeds General Infirmary and we would see them every few months for an ECG, echo scan and blood tests.

Other than watching for any signs of breathlessness, Heaton could carry on ‘as normal’. 

Of course, ‘normal’ suddenly felt very different.

I run my own cleaning business but work had to take a backseat; I spent much of my time feeling sick with worry and it was too difficult to focus. Being self-employed created extra difficulties for our income.

While Jason worked for the police, he also struggled to make it through the days. The waiting was undoubtedly the worst.

As Heaton’s case wasn’t urgent, we spent 18 months waiting to find out when his surgery would happen, calling up most months to check.

Eventually, in August 2024, we finally received the call to say they had space to operate on him on 11 September.

At 3pm that day, we took Heaton to theatre and Jason held him whilst he was put to sleep. Once again, all we could do was wait.

The operation was supposed to take five or six hours but it ended up taking nearly eight. Time seemed to stretch on forever. Thankfully, surgeons successfully closed both holes in his heart and repaired two leaking heart valves, which is why it took a bit longer. Heaton was out of surgery and OK. Better still, we could see him.

As much as I wanted to rush to his side, I’d got so worked up with my anxiety that at first, I was too scared to visit the chaotic ICU.

Jason, however, went up straight away and sent me photos. Heaton looked so vulnerable, and it was heart-breaking to see the complicated tubes protruding from his chest. 

Eventually I plucked up the courage to go up but my crippling anxiety of hospitals had crept back. It was painful not being able to spend hours by his bedside. I took comfort knowing he had great care with the nursing team.

After two days, Heaton was moved to High Dependency. Though he was quite grumpy about being poked and prodded, his cheeky charm meant everyone there loved him and he ate them out of ice lollies.

After just five days he was allowed home to continue recovering. Like any typical toddler though, he just wanted to run around and play – and not much has changed since.

Today, Heaton is a hilarious four-year-old who loves Spiderman, arts and crafts and racing toy cars around the house. He is thriving at nursery and can usually be found doing funny dances or pulling silly faces. He will proudly show off his ‘superhero scar’ to anyone who asks (and some who don’t).

He still has annual check-ups and I think he’ll continue to be monitored by the cardiology team for life – a small price to pay for the happiness he brings us every day.

I couldn’t be prouder of the person he’s becoming and seeing him win a BHF Young Heart Hero award in September topped it all off.

He’s been through so much in his short life already, and I’ll never take him being here for granted.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. A disabled woman has told how her ex-boyfriend abused her at home, by denying her medication, blocking her surgery and headbutting her – before her attempt to escape was thwarted by the lack of suitable accommodation

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It’s officially Baileys season, not that you ever really need an excuse to sip the stuff.

At this time of year, many of us will reach for the Irish Cream, as it promises immeasurable amounts of silky indulgence and festive cheer. (Plus enough sugar to put a number of dentists’ children through university and pay off their student loads at the end of it.)

But it’s not our only option when it comes to dessert-inspired drinks.

Cream liqueurs have proliferated of late and now it’s not just Baileys Original you’ll find on the supermarket shelf – there are more flavours, colours and textures than you can shake an insulin pen at.

We’re talking everything from pumpkin spice, to limoncello, Terry’s chocolate orange, Dubai chocolate and Tiramisu.

What is a cream liqueur?

They’re made by combining dairy cream with a base spirit, such as whisky or vodka (and in one case, tequila), and blending them with sugar and flavourings.

A process called ‘homogenisation’ is used to emulsify the cream, using high pressure to break down the fat into tiny, uniform particles. They then use ingredients like sodium caseinate to stabilise the liquid so the cream and the alcohol don’t separate.

Do supermarket dessert-inspired drinks taste as good as they sound?

In the run-up to December, I took it upon myself to taste test over 20 different liqueurs, so you don’t have to and my teeth haven’t stopped aching since. You’re welcome.

I’ve narrowed the selection down to just feature the best of the bunch, hopefully this makes it easier for you to find the most decadent dessert drinks for Christmas.

And there’s also one you’ll probably want to avoid, which scored a 0/10 in my rankings and was without a doubt, the worst one I tried.

Let’s tuck in…

Note: I tasted all of them at room temperature, but ideally, you’ll serve them over ice, in a hot chocolate, in coffee or over your dessert.

Baileys Terry’s Chocolate Orange, £16.50, Ocado

My thoughts: Courtney, Metro’s specialist food writer, reveiwed this one recently, but I have to give it another shout-out. Baileys just do it so well, and this one is literally liquid Terry’s chocolate orange with lightly nutty, biscuity undertones. From sweetness levels to flavour integration, it’s all bang on. Nailed it.

Score: 8.7/10

Taste The Difference Irish Cream Liqueur, £13.25, Sainsbury’s

My thoughts: Sainsbury’s version of the classic is lovely and punchy on the palate. I’m a sucker for a spirity kick when it comes to cream liqueurs, otherwise they can taste too cloying and sugary, like melted ice cream in a heatwave. This bottle gives you a thwack like you’ve just walked around the back of a startled horse. At the same time, it’s luxuriant in texture, warming and velvety.

Score: 8.6/10

No.1 Blonde Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur, £14, Waitrose

My thoughts: I had to taste this multiple times, for research purposes, obvs. Each time, I upped its score a notch. If you’re a fan of rich and unctuous flavours of creamy fudge and milk chocolate brownie, you’re in for a absolute treat. You can imagine Nigella pouring herself a glass during one of her midnight fridge raids. Because, importantly, it has a luxuriant texture, a sensible amount of sweetness and no cloying gloopiness.

Score: 8.5/10

Chocolate Brownie Flavour Country Cream, £7.29, Lidl

My thoughts: I was pleasantly surprised by this bottle. I feared it could be a sweet, sickly and soupy, but it was nothing of the sort. It’s balanced, uncomplicated and tastes exactly of what it’s meant to; chocolate brownie. But one of those good quality brownies, made of slightly darker chocolate that costs a bit more. Fridge chill and pour over ice.

Score: 8.3/10

Ballycastle Pumpkin Spiced Flavour Country Cream, £6.99, Aldi

My thoughts: Ginger nut biscuit in liquid form, is exactly what I wrote in my tasting notes. A great balance of sweetness, warming with a light suggestion of spirit. If the spirit levels were increased, I would have given this a higher mark. There’s nothing like a spicy, ginger kick of booze to get you ready for winter.

Score: 8.2/10

Taste The Difference Pistachio and Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur, £12, Sainsbury’s

My thoughts: Yes, Dubai chocolate is everywhere, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s doing it well. In fact, there were some in the line-up that really weren’t delivering. Sainsbury’s, on the other hand, have nailed it with this bottle. You instantly pick up the pine-like piquancy of pistachio, balanced beautifully against the creamy milk chocolate. It’s very good.

Score: 8.2/10

Chocolate & Cherry Flavour Irish Cream Liqueur, £13.50, M&S

My thoughts: This one was a grower. I was very undecided when I first poured it out. For starters, it’s brownie-purple in colour, and no question, the flavour combination jars on first sip. But, the flavours come together very well after a while, the dark chocolate base notes melding with the brightness of the cherry. Good texture and balance, too.

Score: 8/10

Deadman’s Fingers Blue Raspberry Tequila, £13.15, Ocado

My thoughts: I’m still processing this, figuratively and physically. What is it? Why is it called Deadman’s Fingers? What colour even is it? Did it break me, or give me life? So many questions. What I will say is, in a strange and unexpected way, it works. Were it not for the addition of tequila, this would straight up be something you’d give your kids on Halloween (please don’t though). With a Starburst-like flavour of blue raspberry, a creamy texture and a unicorn blue colour, what’s not to love? I think…

Score: 7/10, by far the most unusual drink I tried

And one dessert drink to avoid…

Hotel Chocolat Velvetised Chocolate Cream, £23, Ocado

My thoughts: I’m hoping this was a duff bottle, as it tasted like burnt, spoilt milk with nothing to redeem it. If Hotel Chocolat want to send me another for a retaste, I’m all ears. I mean, mouth.

Score: 0/10

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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Owning a pet is pure joy, cuddles, company and a built-in best friend. But the second you leave them home alone, the guilt hits like a ton of bricks.

Suddenly, you’re imagining them pacing, whining, or plotting their dramatic escape. And let’s be honest, leaving the radio on or tossing out a few chew toys just isn’t gonna cut it.

Luckily, it’s 2025, and pet tech has become seriously impressive. Enter: Furbo.

Furbo’s range of pet cameras goes beyond mere monitoring, allowing you to speak to your pet in real time, toss them treats on command, and get instant alerts when they bark or meow.

But the standout is the new subscription AI-powered Furbo Nanny, which delivers daily behaviour summaries, health insights, and even early warnings if something seems off. It’s like having a digital nanny who never clocks out.

Furbo 360° Dog Camera

See more than ever before with the all-new rotating Furbo 360° Dog Camera. This clever pet cam enables you to hear and speak to your dog, toss treats on the go and be notified when they're making noise with real-time Barking Alerts.

shop from £32

Better yet, there’s a Furbo for every budget, and with Black Friday savings in full swing, you can score even bigger discounts of up to 50% off.

The Furbo Mini 360° is now just £24, while the Furbo Mini is as little as £15. Subscriptions for the new nanny service are also a steal, now coming in at just £5.59 a month.

At around 18p a day, that’s a tiny price to pay for major peace of mind.

The range of pet cameras, which also include a dedicated one for dogs and cats, has thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon, too, so you know you’re getting something that works.

‘I slept better not having to get up to check in on her, I could just check my phone,’ One reviewer wrote of their tiny kitten, while another added: ‘Everyone should have a Furbo if you have a dog/cat amazing product and well worth the price, the ai assistance is so helpful, I would definitely recommend.’

‘Really like this camera and it’s good to have a nanny watching over my much loved cat Flint”, Donna said in her feedback.’ raved a third reviewer.

Meanwhile, another wrote that the Furbo range proves invaluable if you have older pets, explaining that it was a blessing after her cat suffered a sudden health decline.

‘Not only did it help me show the vet that there was no signs of a health decline but gave me video memories of her. So I highly recommend if you have older animals to have cute funny keepsakes.’

Gosh, is someone cutting onions?

Furbo pet cameras – Black Friday

Furbo Mini

Small in size but offering big peace of mind, the Furbo Mini is designed to help keep your dog safe and your cat out of trouble. Receive instant pet-related alerts, auto pet tracking and video playback with Furbo Nanny.

shop from £15

NEW! Furbo Mini 360°

Score the smartest AI pet camera, now smaller and complete with 2K QHD 360° view and Lite Treat Toss, made to fit in any space.

shop from £24

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Been on the hunt for derm-approved skincare without splashing the cash? We’ve found just the place.

Known for its science-backed formulas trusted by dermatologists, beauty editors and celebrities alike, Medik8 is the skincare brand shoppers can’t get enough of this Black Friday. 

Combining the highest-quality ingredients with cutting edge technology, Medik8 products are widely loved for very good reason – bringing shoppers quality to write home about and real results.

The brand’s skincare best-sellers target a range of skincare concerns, from fine lines and wrinkles to hyperpigmentation, acne, dryness and sensitivity – so there’s sure to be something that’ll blow you away. 

If you’re new to the brand or looking for some kudos-worthy Christmas gifts for loved ones (or yourself), there’s no better time to shop than now.

From 23rd November, shoppers can score 25% off the brand’s advanced serums, nourishing moisturisers and powerful sunscreens. This is not a drill.

Making the deal even sweeter is free delivery when you spend £25 or more, so you can stock up on your favourites without worrying about extra costs.

This is the perfect chance to experience professional-quality skincare at a fraction of the cost, so make the most of it and get shopping.

Explore our top picks from the Medik8 Black Friday sale below.

Medik8 Black Friday sale – top picks

C-Tetra Luxe 30ml

Meet vitamin C like never before with the C-Tetra Luxe Serum. It stars 14% vitamin C, which is double the amount in the brand’s original C-Tetra Serum, to significantly brighten and boost your skin’s radiance. It’s also clinically proven to lessen the look of hyperpigmentation and wrinkles in four weeks of consistent use.

shop £44.25 (save £14.75)

Crystal Retinal 6 30ml

Medik8’s Crystal Retinal is famous for delivering jaw-dropping results, and it's all thanks to its namesake retinal (proven to work 11 times faster than retinol), which targets hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles and loss of elasticity with aplomb. There’s also six different strengths to be tailored to your skin type, with number 3 recommended for beginners.

shop £51.75 (save £17.25)

Advanced Night Restore 50ml

If you can only dream of waking up with plump, smooth and radiant skin, this night cream is for you. It’s packed with impressive ingredients, from hydrating saskatoon berry and a nourishing multi-ceramide complex, to a blend of skin cell-repairing peptides – all included to make you look like you’ve had a full night’s rest.

shop £45 (save £15)

Press & Glow 200ml

Perhaps one of the most iconic Medik8 products, Press & Glow is beloved around the globe and frequently seen on the skincare shelves of beauty insiders. It’s clinically proven to increase your skin’s radiance in four weeks by sweeping away dead skin cells to exfoliate and smooth, as well as boost your skin’s clarity and luminosity.

shop £24 (save £8)

Hydr8 B5™ Intense 30ml

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve seen this recommended as the best hyaluronic acid serum on the market. It features advanced multi-weight hyaluronic acid, panthenol and Natural Moisturising Factors (NMFs) to significantly hydrate the skin from within, leading to a plump, soft and smooth complexion.

shop £44.25 (save £14.75)

Liquid Peptides Advanced MP 30ml

Designed to rapidly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this innovative serum combines a blend of 13 potent peptides to smooth and rejuvenate skin. 100% of testers experienced a visible reduction in wrinkles within 10 minutes, whilst deeper lines had a visible improvement within eight weeks.

shop £59.25 (save £19.75)

We need just about everything…

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Here at Metro HQ, we pride ourselves on finding you the absolute best bargains all year long, especially when Black Friday hits. 

We’ve lived (and worked) through several Cyber Week sales, but we have to admit we have never seen a deal as good as H. Samuel’s price cut on the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 smart watch.

This incredible fitness smart watch has been slashed by half price in the longstanding jewellery brand’s sale, as the price drops from £769.99 down to £369.99.

We can’t believe it either!

Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2) Men's 47mm Black Strap Smartwatch

Fitted with a 47mm AMOLEd display that tracks your fitness goals, step count, heart rate, as well as the time. This watch can be synced to your Spotify playlist, receive messages and calls, which makes it a multi-purpose smart device that caters to every shopper’s needs. IT also boasts 16 days of battery life. 

BUY NOW FOR £369.99 (save £370)

An excellent pick for the fitness-obsessed in your life, this watch features advanced training and wellness technology so you can stay on top of your fitness goals, monitor your heart rate, sleep, calories burned and other activities.

In truth, even at full price this watch is worth every penny – hence why this half price deal is so impressive.

Boasting a built-in LED light and a 47mm AMOLED display, you have clear visibility of all your data on crisp, clear screen, which we consider an essential – especially in the winter months when those afternoon runs and gym trips take place in the pitch dark.

There’s nothing more frustrating than going for a workout only to find your watch has died, but Garmin’s Epix Pro watch boasts a super long 16-day battery life, ensuring you never have to worry about running out of juice on the go.

The watch can also track your route, which is particularly useful if you’re marathon training and want to keep a log of your mileage.

Not a runner? This clever feature is also handy if you’re heading on a long winter walk and are known to lose your sense of direction after a pit-stop at a cosy coffee shop. 

Alongside telling the time and tracking your fitness, this watch can also be synced to your Spotify playlist to keep you motivated. You’ll also be able to receive all your notifications like calls and messages, as well as respond to them, too. 

The black silicone strap fits the wrist comfortably and doesn’t irritate the skin, but it is also durable and waterproof for sweaty workouts and showers. 

It’s unknown how long this sale will last, or stock for that matter, but if you know a fitness fanatic then this will be the perfect Christmas gift to treat them to this year.

Even if you consider yourself more of a couch potato (no shame), this watch may be just the ticket you need to inspire you to get those steps in, too. 

Plus, no discount is needed, which makes for even more fuss-free shopping. You’re so welcome.

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Ladies, ever feel like you’re not reaching your potential at the gym? Like protein isn’t made for you? Well good news: Selfish Supps is – and it’s currently on sale for Black Friday.

Selfish Supps, the women’s sports nutrition brand that recently launched in the UK, has just dropped its biggest ever Black Friday offer at Boots, giving shoppers a whopping 50% off the entire protein range.

And that unmissable deal includes the Give Me Protein Water – a firm favourite amongst the gym girlies, who call it ‘SO refreshing’.

Originally £29 but now yours for just £14.50, this tasty Protein Water in the Tropical Crush flavour is set to become your new staple for whenever you need a protein hit – whether you’ve just hit the gym or simply need filling up.

Selfish Supps Give Me Protein Water 300g Tropical Crush Flavour

This light and refreshing vegan protein water has been formulated with a hydrolysed pea and brown rice blend for a hydrating hit of plant protein – ideal for strength, tone and recovery.

shop £14.50 (save £14.50)

Lighter and more refreshing than traditional protein shakes, Selfish Supps’ Protein Water is a light, fast-absorbing formula designed to deliver a burst of hydration alongside 10g of hydrolysed plant protein per serving.

Dairy, gluten and soy-free, this vegan formula features a hydrolysed pea and brown rice blend, forming a complete amino acid profile that helps support your daily protein intake, tone and build lean muscle mass, repair tissue, and support fitness and whole-body balance.

Built with women’s unique fitness and wellness needs in mind, Selfish Supps is fast becoming the go-to brand for those who want effective sports nutrition without compromising on taste or convenience.

Because despite women making up almost 40% of the UK sports nutrition market, most supplements are still designed for male bodies and male performance needs. Shocking, but sadly not surprising.

So, the girls at Selfish Supps flipped the script with a women-first brand that actually considers women’s physiology, hormones and goals.

Their Black Friday sale at Boots gives shoppers the opportunity to shop the entire protein range for just £14.50 each instead of £29 – an incredible 50% saving on formulas that really work – like the Protein Water.

‘Was pleasantly surprised that this is actually delicious and sooo easy to drink,’ raved one impressed shopper. ‘not heavy or powdery, very pleased.’

Another added: ‘This protein water is making it so much easier to stick to my new routine. The flavour is so nice, just like a refreshing cordial without being too sweet. You wouldn’t even know it’s vegan protein.’

Ready to shop the full range on sale? Explore our top Selfish Supps Black Friday sale picks below.

Selfish Supps Black Friday sale 2025

Selfish Supps Give Me Plant Protein 450g Vanilla Flavour

This smooth and creamy vegan protein powder offers 20g of lean plant protein per serving, helping to fuel your day while being gentle on the stomach. This protein is in classic vanilla flavour.

shop £14.50 (save £14.50)

Selfish Supps Give Me Plant Protein 450g c Flavour

This smooth and creamy vegan protein powder offers 20g of lean plant protein per serving, helping to fuel your day while being gentle on the stomach. This protein is in Rich Chocolate flavour.

shop £14.50 (save £14.50)

Selfish Supps Give Me Protein Water 300g Very Berry Flavour

If you're not a fan of protein shakes, this fast-absorbing pea and brown rice protein water is light, refreshing, and seriously effective. Drink post-workout or anytime you need a protein hit. Shoppers say it's so tasty, it makes the perfect sweet treat indulgence.

shop £14.50 (save £14.50)

All the supps you need – for less.

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