Emma Evens was just a child when she had her first seizure, but the 32-year-old admits it took her decades to come to terms with having a condition that few people truly understood.

Not only did she have to get used to never knowing when and if it might strike, but Emma says that dealing with other people’s fear, discrimination and ignorancealso had a huge impact on her.

‘It took me a long time to be comfortable with, even though epilepsy is something I’ve had since I was born,’ Emma tells Metro. ‘I used to have chronic episodes at school, where I would fall unconscious, before my body began to stiffen and then jerk, which can be scary for anyone watching.

‘The seizures got worse as a teenager and happened pretty frequently. I remember when I started secondary school that I was excited to make new friends, but people around me were scared.

‘I felt like I had to behave a certain way because I was seen as the girl that was always on the floor. I desperately wanted to be normal, but I felt so alone.’

For Sarah

Last year, on March 10, we lost our beloved colleague Sarah Whiteley. Sarah was a fantastic journalist; she was Metro’s parenting columnist and a valued member of our first-person and opinion desk.

Sarah died aged 39 from SUDEP – sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. It is thought that every year around 1,000 people die from causes related to epilepsy.

With support from Sarah’s family, Metro is fundraising for two very important charities: SUDEP Action and Epilepsy Action.

From March 10 to March 26, which marks Purple Day (epilepsy awareness day), we will be running a series of features and first-person pieces, raising awareness of epilepsy and SUDEP.

Sarah was so incredible at helping other people share their experiences; she was a born storyteller and we hope to do her proud with this series, while raising money in her memory.

When Emma left school and entered the workplace after college, she recalls that her struggles were far from over. Just months after training as a nursery assistant, she felt forced to resign. 

‘My colleagues and manager took me on thinking they were being inclusive, but then didn’t put enough measures in place to support me,’ she explains.

‘I’d often be left with young children on my own, which was dangerous for the kids because I could’ve had a seizure at any moment.’

Emma, who experiences ‘tonic clonic’ seizures – characterised by the stiffening and jerking of muscles followed by loss of consciousness – believes she has experienced discrimination by three different employers to date. 

She’s been disciplined multiple times over ‘excessive’ sick leave, and says colleagues have avoided her out of fears she would have a seizure in front of them.  

‘When I was an apprentice, I was told by HR that I could only have three seizures a month – as if I was somehow in control,’ Emma recalls. ‘I tried to explain that I cannot control when I’m going to have a seizure, so I was put on a second disciplinary.

‘Eventually, my apprenticeship came to an end and I was let go. It was as if they weren’t listening to me as a person or willing to understand the way my epilepsy impacts me. Looking at me I’m a young, fit and healthy person, but there’s this hidden condition I live with.’

Emma is just one of a number of people to report cases of disability discrimination in the workplace and the wider challenges that epilepsy can pose to employment prospects. Now an experienced executive assistant and champion of accessibility within the workplace, she urges companies to update their disability and inclusion policies.

With 42% of employers admitting in a survey by Epilepsy Action, that they would not hire someone with the condition, there’s a real ‘lack of knowledge of what actually needs to happen if someone has a seizure and the side-effects that often accompany the condition,’ according to Kasam Parker, CEO of the charity Voice for Epilepsy.

‘Employees should be able to explain to employers what impact it has on them and what adjustments they require,’ he adds.

According to Professor Ley Sander, head of the Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, one of the biggest challenges facing people with epilepsy is uncertainty.

‘Not knowing if there will be another seizure is always a big worry,’ he tells Metro. ‘Often, not knowing when the next seizure will be or not knowing what the future will bring can have a bigger impact than the seizure themselves.’ 

When Murray Goulder was diagnosed after having a seizure during a driving lesson, the relief was overwhelming.

Having spent weeks trying to find an explanation for the seizure, the then 17-year-old was reassured by his neurologist that with the correct anti-epileptic medication he could maintain a normal life. 

‘Until then, I was worried I might have a brain tumour,’ he remembers. ‘But when I discovered it was epilepsy, I was happy because it’s something I can live with. There’s still lots of things I can do.’

Murray, 44, currently works as a manager in Parcelforce Worldwide’s HR department and has been instrumental in establishing an equality and inclusion support group for staff to discuss their health conditions and disabilities. 

‘It’s about learning about your condition and if you’re not embarrassed to, providing that safety net so that people are able to talk to their colleagues and friends about their condition. It’s about demonstrating what good looks like.’

However, he says there’s still a huge lack of understanding surrounding the condition, which became evident when he needed to claim financial aid.

After an assessment that he describes as ‘discriminatory’, the 44-year-old was refused Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in 2017 and embarked on a relentless battle to get his financial aid reinstated. 

‘The assessor claimed I was safe to use kitchen knives and cook on my own, even though medically I’m not able to,’ Murray explains. ‘I’ve already proven that I’ve got the condition and I had it proven by my neurologist and caregivers, but it was as if I was being told I had epilepsy one moment and then I didn’t the next.’

It took two years for Murray’s claim to be eventually upheld at an appeal tribunal in 2019. Then, the Department for Work and Pensions took away his payments again in March 2023, despite providing evidence of his seizures.

Fitted with a Subcutaneous EEG implant (SubQ) in December 2021, Murray discovered that the frequency of his seizures were far greater than he thought and used the findings in his claim. 

‘The device has proven that I have more seizures than I notice,’ he explains. ‘But I’m still judged on a system that measures us against people with physical disabilities. We need a category that puts us in a neurological bracket.’

In response to Murray’s claims, a spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) told Metro: ‘We support millions of people with health conditions and disabilities every year and our priority is that they receive a supportive, compassionate service.

‘All our disability assessors are qualified health professionals and PIP entitlement is assessed on the needs arising from a health condition or disability, rather than the condition itself. Anyone who disagrees with a decision has the right to a review.’

For Rebekah Smith, deputy CEO of Epilepsy Action, it is vital that people feel comfortable when speaking about epilepsy.

‘We should be passing on the message that for the majority of people, epilepsy is not a problem,’ she tells Metro.

‘The problem is the way that people perceive it, and it is crucial we continue to raise awareness around how we deal with and support those with the condition.’

The Epilepsy Society is calling for the NHS to provide free dental repairs to teeth damaged by seizures. Find out more about their Fix It 4 Free campaign here.

This article was originally published August 17, 2024

A woman has found herself torn as her younger partner has informed her he now wants to date someone his own age, leaving her heartbroken and in a difficult position

A woman was left speechless after discovering her husband’s infidelity, but his reaction to her finding out only made things worse

I was watching TV to relax, having cleaned the entire house from top to bottom, when my phone rang. 

It had just passed midnight on the first day of February half term in 2024. Hours earlier, I had come home from our local hospital in Poole with our middle son, Charlie, leaving my husband Gary with our youngest, eight-year-old Thomas, while he had some tests.  

It was Gary on the other end of the phone, panicked: ‘Louise, you’ve got to come back. They’ve found something on the scan.’ 

My stomach lurched.  

My eldest, Josh, 23, looked after Charlie while I drove the half hour journey to the hospital, from our home in Bournemouth.  

I was terrified.  

It was January 2024 when I first took Thomas to the doctors – I noticed he had started speaking more slowly than usual. Everything he said was perfectly clear, it just took ages for him to get a sentence out.  

Our GP, however, wasn’t concerned. Thomas also had some trouble with his hearing so the doctor said it must be because his ears were blocked and affecting his speech. We put olive oil in them and took him to have the wax suctioned but there was no change.  

Thomas was getting increasingly frustrated. It didn’t make sense that our cheeky, bright, mini-Ed Sheeran, who could identify any country’s flag and loved being with his brothers or school friends, now couldn’t speak well. 

Three weeks after seeing the doctor I saw he was having trouble playing with his LEGO because his right hand was shaking.  

This, paired with his slow speech, worried me, so I rang 111. After answering their questions, we ended up being referred for an MRI scan. 

Fast forward two weeks, and more tests, when Gary called me from the hospital rushing me to get back for the results.  

It was the worst news.  

Thomas had a cruel disease that would gradually rob him of his speech, his ability to walk, eat and, ultimately, his life – he had malignant brain tumours in his basal ganglia, both thalami, the left temporal lobe, frontal lobe and upper brain stem.  

The doctor explained: ‘I won’t beat around the bush. It’s high grade, it’s aggressive. We’ll send the sample off to Great Ormond Street Hospital for further tests.’ 

We were completely shocked, in disbelief, numb even. I just wanted to get my little boy, who was waiting outside the room, and take him home. 

We told Thomas he had a lump in his head and that’s why his hand and speech had been affected. He didn’t really say much, he just accepted what we told him.  

But we had hope.  

There was no swelling around the mass, so it wasn’t urgent, we were told.  

We thought surgery might be possible, like with other cancers, and that a biopsy to identify genetic mutations might mean Thomas was eligible for a clinical trial. But unfortunately it was a ‘no’ on both counts.  

Two weeks after finding the brain tumour, when we received the initial biopsy results, the consultant said: ‘I’m only telling you this because I know you’ll Google it.

‘Thomas has a year at most. We can give him some radiotherapy, which may buy you a bit more time, but our advice is to do nice things while you can.’ 

The news was delivered so bluntly, that it stayed with me. 

I understand that medical teams do this every day, but they’ve got to remember this is someone’s child and telling his family he’s going to die is really tough. We just wanted to do whatever we could to keep our little boy alive for an extra day or an extra hour. 

I sobbed silently in the passenger seat as Gary drove us home, while I tried to process it all. After that it was a whirlwind.

We wanted to understand what was happening and find out more, so we went on The Brain Tumour Charity website – it told us that about 40 children a year in the UK are diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma.

Only 10% survive for two years or more. Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and the under 40s.   

After the diagnosis, I took leave from my role as a mortgage advisor to be with Thomas while he had 30 rounds of radiotherapy at University College London every weekday for six weeks. We were able to come home at weekends, or have the family come to meet us.  

Over the next five months, whenever we could, we decided to take the advice we’d been given and ‘do nice things’.   

Thomas loved animals so we visited a different place each weekend: London Zoo, Sea Life, the Oceanarium in Bournemouth, Marwell Zoo, Paulton’s Park and, in June, we went to Paignton Zoo in Devon for a Family Day organised by The Brain Tumour Charity.  

From April onwards Thomas used a wheelchair as he got really tired but we were still able to go to Madame Tussauds, Tower Bridge, The London Eye, Center Parcs, Alton Towers, Butlins and Hamleys – which has a whole floor of LEGO.  

He loved Alton Towers. Since he was in a wheelchair, he was given a special pass to access each ride. He even got to hold a starfish at the aquarium there. 

Thomas did the best he could under the circumstances, but it did upset him that he couldn’t eat and had to have a feeding tube. He couldn’t go to school much and really missed it, as well as his friends.  

But he never asked any questions about his tumour; we told him it was still there and he simply accepted that.  

He lost his hair and had to have a platelet transfusion in every chemo cycle. The first one caused anaphylactic shock, so he was terrified of it happening again. 

There were also positive memories. Thomas decided to set up a lemonade stand outside our house. He’d been inspired by something he’d seen on YouTube, so I put a notice out on our local community Facebook group asking passers-by to come and buy some lemonade.  

We were overwhelmed by the support – hundreds of people came by as customers. Thomas raised £1,000 to help the homeless and even help pay for one of our trips.  

He got featured in the local paper too, so people started recognising him, which made him feel famous – he loved that.  

In September 2024, Thomas fed the giraffes at Port Lympne Safari Park thanks to the charity Make-A-Wish UK. But he was complaining of back pain and looking back at the photos it was clear he wasn’t feeling well that day. 

His next MRI scan on 12 September showed the tumour had spread down his spine and brain stem. The hospital said there was nothing else they could do and stopped all treatment. During this time, Thomas was unable to do much.   

He lived for another nine weeks and then, with his pain under control, Thomas died peacefully on November 16, 2024. That’s all you can hope for.   

After all he’d been through Thomas didn’t want to be in hospital and, although it’s lovely, I wouldn’t have been happy in the local children’s hospice either. He wanted to be at home and that meant we could set him up in the lounge and his brothers could see him whenever they wanted to – with a care team from the hospital and Julia’s House hospice.  

Having the choice is so important. We were able to choose what we wanted and what was best for us. It comforts me that he was happy throughout it all. 

I think we were very lucky because not everyone receives this care. We can’t fault the NHS – the palliative care we had was excellent.  

It’s important to us to raise awareness of brain tumours in children, hoping that one day a cure is found and no other family has the heartbreak of losing a child. 

Thomas was so brave and we want people to remember him like that. 

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

Share your views in the comments below.

When I discovered that Ollie* from work was interested in me, I couldn’t believe my luck. 

I had always thought he was out of my league – he was privately educated, athletic with a talent for ‘posh boy’ sports, and had a reassuring air of self-confidence about him that, at the time, I was severely lacking myself.

We chatted and flirted in the office, and he was always generous with his compliments. When he asked me out on a date, I said yes immediately.

It was late August and we arranged to go to an open-air proms event. Armed with an M&S picnic and some fruit cider, we rolled out the picnic rug to enjoy the last of the warm summer evenings. Conversation flowed and I felt chilled and content.

When the show was over, I had two choices: the first was an hour’s train journey home. At the time, I was being investigated for suspected epilepsy after having a couple of seizures in my sleep, meaning I’d had to give up my driving licence for a while. 

The second option was 20 minutes in the other direction to Ollie’s. 

As I had spent the last couple of hours mentally undressing him, as far as I was concerned, we couldn’t get back to his fast enough.

We kissed on the train and within the hour, we were in his bed.

The sex was… functional, at best. Looking back, I think it was probably the first time it crossed my mind that Ollie’s overwhelming self-confidence may have been somewhat misplaced.

I think I hid my disappointment well, as Ollie just rolled over and went to sleep.

I decided not to let mediocre sex ruin things, though. Despite this hiccup, we’d still had a pleasant evening, so I chalked it up to the drink, even though we really hadn’t had that much between us.

I woke up at around 1am feeling exceptionally groggy. It took a few minutes to piece together where I was, as if my brain was slowly rebooting.

I felt some strange aches in my stomach muscles and other parts of my body that I couldn’t account for (it certainly wasn’t from any sexual gymnastics).

The bedside light was on, but Ollie was nowhere to be seen. I assumed he was in the en suite bathroom and decided to wait for him to come back.

For Sarah

Last year, on March 10, we lost our beloved colleague Sarah Whiteley. Sarah was a fantastic journalist; she was Metro’s parenting columnist and a valued member of our first-person and opinion desk.

Sarah died aged 39 from SUDEP – sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. It is thought that every year around 1,000 people die from causes related to epilepsy.

With support from Sarah’s family, Metro is fundraising for two very important charities: SUDEP Action and Epilepsy Action.

From March 10 to March 26, which marks Purple Day (epilepsy awareness day), we will be running a series of features and first-person pieces, raising awareness of epilepsy and SUDEP.

Sarah was so incredible at helping other people share their experiences; she was a born storyteller and we hope to do her proud with this series, while raising money in her memory.

The minutes ticked by and the confusion gave way to worry that Ollie wasn’t feeling well, and I was just about to knock on the door when he came out, pale and shaken.

I asked if he was OK, only to be told off for scaring him. At first, I couldn’t understand what he was saying – then it hit me.

I had suffered a seizure in my sleep.

And, rather than call an ambulance, get help from one of his housemates or even bother to check if I was still breathing once it was over, Ollie had locked himself in the bathroom. 

I get that a seizure can look scary if you haven’t witnessed one before, and that it can be a rude awakening in the middle of the night. But a cursory check that your date is OK isn’t too much to ask, is it? Ollie obviously thought so. 

We hadn’t discussed my seizures at length before our date but he did know about them before he asked me out. 

Now, he proceeded to gaslight me, berating me for convulsing, for vocalising and calling out (pretty common in tonic-clonic seizures) and for scaring him so much that he felt he had no other option than to hide in the bathroom until it was all over.

I felt so mortified at the time that it didn’t occur to me that I should be angry about what had just happened. In fact, like a fool, I apologised to him for scaring him. 

We went back to bed, but I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t leave either – I had no car, no money for a taxi and the last train had already gone.

The next morning, Ollie acted as if nothing had happened, and I continued to blame myself. 

Unsurprisingly, things fizzled out shortly after two more unremarkable dates, although we remained civil at work.

I didn’t realise at the time, but the episode with Ollie really impacted the relationships that I would have over the following months and years.

When men asked me out, I would self-sabotage so the dates wouldn’t progress any further. I didn’t feel comfortable sharing a bed with anyone while my epilepsy was uncontrolled.

I didn’t sleep with anyone for 18 months following the incident with Ollie. It took a long time for me to learn to trust a man again.

Fast forward a few years, and I am happily married to only the second man in my life who has seen me have a seizure. On the rare occasions I have them, my husband always makes sure I am safe and stays with me until I regain consciousness.

He has never once guilt-tripped me or made me feel like I was the problem.

I never got an apology from Ollie – but then there isn’t really an acceptable apology for abandoning someone at their most vulnerable moment. And I never gave him the bollocking he deserved for leaving me unconscious in his bed.

It’s probably one of my biggest regrets that I allowed someone to use my disability against me in that way and never called him out on it.

But then I remember: I was not, and never have been, the problem. That’s all on him. 

If your date ever has a seizure in your bed, stay calm, cushion their head and once it’s over, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position. Stay with them until they recover.

And for the avoidance of doubt, on no account lock yourself in the nearest bathroom, hallway or cupboard. 

*Name has been changed

This article was originally published December 14, 2024

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

Share your views in the comments below.

The cult following of Aldi’s middle aisle is unparalleled. From candles to kids bikes and cute cookware to skincare – it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

So, it came as a big shock when the bargain retailer announced the death of the middle aisle to its nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram yesterday.

Mass panic ensued, but the announcement isn’t all it seems. In fact, Aldi’s post is an early April fools stunt and the beloved special buys range isn’t going anywhere. *Breathes a sigh of relief*.

Shared less than 24 hours ago, the post shows an image headed: ‘RIP MIDDLE AISLE.’ This is accompanied by a picture of the iconic middle aisle in one of its stores, with a white angel wing either side.

Below was a concerning caption: ‘An important message from Aldi admin.’

Many quickly assumed that the middle aisle had been axed and were distraught, claiming they ‘live’ for the special buys and felt ‘sick’ at the thought of losing them.

But, if you read the full post, all becomes clear. It says: ‘RIP MIDDLE AISLE. And by that, we meant Really Impressive Prices. You might have heart that our iconic middle aisle is heading to the shop in the sky.

‘Actually, you probably haven’t. Because it isn’t. We’ve made something up for attention again (come on, at least look a little bit surprised). We’d never do you guys like that.

‘After all, what’s life without being able to grab an inflatable kayak when you’ve only popped in for milk? Rubbish, that’s what. Long live the middle aisle and all her beautiful treaty bits.

‘Had you in the first half though didn’t we? Yours (in)sincerely, Aldi admin.’

The post has had more than 20,000 likes in less than 24 hours, with traumatised but relieved shoppers rushing to the comments.

‘My heart skipped a beat then! Where else would i get a facial steamer and a bag of prawns from?’ wrote @sophie_gluten_free.

@sazbegley added: ‘Don’t do that again (unless you are planning to put heart monitoring machines in the middle aisle).’

Another said: ‘I just nearly s**t myself.’

The post was also described as an ’emotional roller coaster’, and it was intended to be.

In fact, Aldi’s post is the most recent in the latest trend where big companies are pretending to axe beloved fan favourites.

Lipton Ice Tea left Brits in tears and demanding compensation after it took to socials earlier this week to announce it had discontinued its beloved Peach Lipton Ice Tea flavour.

It used the angel wings either side of the adored beverage, and wrote: You may have heard that our iconic Peach Lipton Ice Tea flavour is getting discontinued. We know – it hurts (sorry if we’ve ruined your go-to afternoon chill bev). 

‘But don’t worry, the rest of your faves are still here to keep you refreshed. And who knows? Maybe one day, Peach will make a legendary comeback. 

‘We appreciate your understanding during this period of adjustment and apologise for any inconvenience caused. #RIPeach.’

The announcement went viral but ‘distraught’ fans were relieved to find out it was an early April Fools stunt, and that the drink isn’t going anywhere.

It’s not just Aldi that has emulated the stunt either. Lynx recreated it almost word-for-word, claiming that Lynx Africa had been axed.

Shoppers claimed their Christmas presents had been ‘ruined’ but others caught on pretty quickly writing: ‘Liptons already made this prank.’

Anyway, you can rest easy that you can still peruse Aldi’s middle aisle as you please, leaving with a fire extinguisher and the ingredients for that family favourite shepherds pie.

Special buys aren’t going anywhere.

Do you have a story to share?

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

Comedian Katherine Ryan recently revealed a new skin cancer diagnosis after returning to the doctors for a second opinion on a mole she felt ‘uneasy’ about.

Speaking on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, the comedian warned melanoma was ‘a deadly form of skin cancer’ and that ‘it does spread quickly’.

This isn’t the first time Katherine has battled cancer, as the 41-year-old previously underwent an operation to remove a ‘golf ball-sized lump’ on her leg while at university.

Her shocking news comes as cases are projected to rise by 9% in the coming years.

New melanoma skin cancer cases are set to increase from 20,800 cases in the 2023 to 2025 period, to an average of 26,500 cases between 2038 and 2040, according to Cancer Research UK. That’s a staggering rate of 33 cases per 100,000 people.

Despite the projection, the UK charity revealed last year that it believes around 17,000 melanoma cases every year are preventable, with the majority of cases caused by too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Katherine shared how important it was to be her ‘own advocate’ when it comes to concerns about skin cancer, but you can only do this if you know how to spot the warning signs.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is melanoma?

Cancer Research UK warns that there are two types of skin cancer – melanoma skin cancer and non-melanoma skin cancer.

They state that ‘Melanoma is a different type of skin cancer that develops from skin cells called melanocytes.’

Non-melanoma skin cancers are rarer and include basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer and others

What are the signs of melanoma skin cancer?

Symptoms of melanoma include a change to a mole, freckle, or an otherwise normal patch of skin.

Despite initially getting the all-clear from the doctors, Katerine Ryan said her mole ‘kept changing’, leading to her seeking a second opinion.

So, how do we know if it’s something to be concerned about?

Dr Sagar Patel, a dermatology specialist at MyHealthcare Clinic, said: ‘Unfortunately, the UK is way behind countries such as Australia and the United States when it comes to awareness of moles.

‘While regular mole-mapping is very common in other parts of the world, many Brits simply ignore changes in their skin.

‘Granted, we don’t have the same warm climate, but you don’t need high temperatures to be exposed to harmful UV rays that can increase the chances of a mole becoming cancerous.’

How to check for skin cancer

It’s clearly important to check our skin regularly, but how?

Dr Sagar has a good acronym for guiding your frequent checks of your skin.

‘This simple guide is used by skin specialists to help patients understand what they should be looking out for,’ he said.

• ‘A – asymmetry, when half the mole doesn’t match the other
• ‘B – border, when the outline of the mole is irregular, ragged or blurred
• ‘C – colour, when it varies throughout and/or there appears to be no uniform colour
• ‘D – diameter, if it’s greater than 6mm
• ‘E – evolving, or changes in the mole.

‘If you check your moles for these five points it can help you stay on top of any issues.But there is no substitute for having an appointment with a specialist, who will examine your skin and discuss any area of concern.’

Skin cancer myths debunked

Dr Sagar also wants to bust a couple of common myths you might be taking as truth.

He said that a mole doesn’t have to be itchy or bleeding to warrant a check-up; there are other more subtle changes or sometimes no symptoms at all.

That being said sometimes moles will just change a little over the years.

‘Moles can change over time,’ Dr Sagar said, ‘becoming raised and altering in colour, shape and size. Some even disappear altogether,’ said Dr Sagar.

‘This is where being aware of your skin is key, as changes that occur over months rather than years – moles becoming darker quickly – are definitely worth getting looked at as a matter of urgency.’

Another myth is that skin cancer affects those with a fair complexion more than someone with darker skin – and this is simply not true.

He said: ‘Yes, those with a darker complexion are slightly more protected from the sun than those who are very fair.

‘But it doesn’t mean they can’t be exposed to enough UV rays to damage the skin cells and increase the likelihood of developing a melanoma.’

Lastly, it’s also important to check all of our skin, not just our moles, for any changes.

So, go forth and get checking.

What to do if you’re worried about a mole

Cancer research advises: ‘See your GP if you develop a new mole or abnormal area of skin. This includes on the soles of your feet and the skin under your nails. Or if you notice a change to an existing mole.’

They recommend making a note of when you first noticed the abnormal mole or area of skin, and if there’s been any changes to it, as well as telling your doctor about any family history of cancer.

The GP will examine you and either confirm it’s not an issue of concern or refer you to a dermatology clinic that specialises in picking up suspicious moles and diagnosing melanoma.

If they don’t refer you, ask them to explain why you don’t need to have specialist tests (and consider writing this down to reassure yourself with the information after the appointment), whether there’s anything you can do to help yourself, and what changes you should look out for in future.

Do you have a story to share?

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

The sun is setting later, hot cross buns are everywhere and the clocks are about to spring forward.

That means it’s time for a new wine range to hit the supermarkets soon, as the end-of-season drinks make way for the spring/summer ones for 2025.

And there’s one retailer that’s really killing it with their fresh whites, zesty rosés and pretty complex reds, all for bargain prices.

Aldi has one of the strongest of supermarket offerings out there, so it’s no surprise they were recently crowned the ‘Supermarket of the Year’ at the People’s Choice Wine Awards, for which I was one of the judges.

As someone on the inside, my top tip would be to bypass the regular Pinot Grigios, Sauvignon Blancs and Malbecs in Aldi’s core range and make a beeline for some of their quirkier seasonal offerings.

Why? Not because they aren’t great, but because those that specify ‘core’ will stick around in the range, while ‘seasonal’ lines will be replaced come autumn.

But there are two donkeys lurking within the stellar line-up. Not literally, of course, that woud be bizarre.

So, let’s name and shame them, shall we? The only two worth avoiding were the Beachfront Californian Buttered Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The white was over the top on the butteriness, the red on fruit, to the point of having to request a replacement tasting glass to taste the next wines in the line-up.

Phew, now we’ve got that out of the way, here are 10 of the best bottles you can get from Aldi this spring/summer:

Bowler & Brolly Pétillant Naturel, England, £12.99

Meet Aldi’s English Pet Nat, made by Lyme Bay winery in Devon. Pet Nat is a sparkling wine where the second fermentation is kicked off by Mother Nature. And although this is made from a dysfunctional blend of grape varieties, including Reichensteiner, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, it makes for a pleasantly dry and textured, ancestral appley and pear-strewn sipper.

Estevez Chilean Viognier, £5.79

Viognier is such a great choice for the ‘Will it? Won’t it?’ weather we’re having. The grape’s style is the wine equivalent of a maternal cuddle, all pillowy stone fruit and tropical richness. The thing about Viognier is its low acidity, but this Chilean example has a lively, lemon sherbet finish to it. Also perfect for when the mercury starts to rise.   

Filos Estate Greek Chardonnay, £8.49

Despite it’s slightly funky nose, this one grew on me. It’s from northern Greece and there’s no oak ageing, for anyone who’s triggered by the Chardonnay-and-oak combo. There is batonage though, meaning the dead yeast ‘lees’ are stirred to bring in creaminess and texture. It’s a process that has conjured flavours of tinned peach, lime sherbet and nectarine, and I’m here for all of them.

Unearthed Gemischter Satz, Austria, £8.99

I do believe we’ve found a little spring gem here. Made from a ‘field blend’ of up to 20 grapes, meaning those found in a single vineyard so no variety dominates. That’s what a Gemischter Satz actually is, something the Austrians lost interest in making but are now reviving. It’s light, refreshingly dry and full of green apple and preserved lemon flavours with a pop of fennel seed on the finish.

Specially Selected Austrian Zweigelt Rosé, Austria, £8.99

I could tell you that Zweigelt is the most widely-planted red grape in Austria, but that would be yawn-inducing. Instead, I’ll tell you that, until Aldi’s tasting, I’d never tasted it in rosé form. How was it? Well, I’ve put three stars by it and my tasting notes say, ‘unusual, fruit-driven, a touch of sweet strawberry and tart rhubarb. Something different’.

Unearthed Thracian Valley Pinot Noir, Bulgaria, £8.99

Calling all Provence rosé lovers, which is just about everyone with a pulse, let’s be honest. Here’s something the same but different, as it’s from Bulgaria. Barely-there in colour, bone dry with flavours of rhubarb, wild strawberry and watermelon. This will be living, rent-free in my ice bucket over spring/summer, make no mistake.

Mimo Moutinho Lisboa Red, Portugal, £5.25

A Porta 6 alternative that’s almost £4 cheaper and I’m here for it. What a lovely wine it is too. Both are medium-bodied, easy-drinking, juicy with plum and cherry flavours. I suppose they’re crowd favourites for a reason.  

Kooliburra Coonawarra Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia, £7.19

A baller of a red, with hedgerow notes of blackberry, cassis, Bonne Maman strawberry jam and dark chocolate. Granted, the flavours don’t stack up to its more complex Penfolds alternative, but it’s lovely for the price.

Specially Selected Argentinian Cabernet Franc, £8.99

You can check out my column on the best Argentine grapes that aren’t Malbec. Cabernet Franc was one that particularly blew my mind when I went over there. They do it so well over in Mendoza, honouring its herbaceous, mulberry character while fleshing it out and making it smoother than a baby bat in texture.

Specially Selected Washington State Syrah, USA, £9.99

Washington State wines are not cheap, so this is an absolute steal. Based around unoaked Merlot, with a soupcon of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, this red is jam-packed with plush, purple fruit and minty, herbaceous intensity. Don’t get it confused with the Beachfront version, which in fairness, I haven’t tasted yet but I don’t imagine to be as accomplished.

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