Durham coastline clean-up cash for volunteers
Councillor Mark Wilkes, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: "We're so grateful to everyone for their efforts."Everyone who has volunteered their time is helping to protect this special environment."
Emily Routledge, head of development and communications at Durham Wildlife Trust, said: "We want to ensure everyone is able to enjoy our coastline for generations to come. "To do that we need to raise awareness of how important this landscape is and make sure that we rally residents to take charge of their own environment by helping to keep it clean. "We look forward to this work continuing over the next few years."
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Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
I'm abrosexual - it took me 30 years to realise
'When did you decide this? Is this even a label – I've never heard of it. I support you, obviously, but this doesn't sound real.' Just some of the words that greeted me when I came out as abrosexual to a close friend, back in 2020. Needless to say, we're not friends anymore. For those of you who don't know what abrosexuality is, in layperson's terms, it simply means when someone's sexual identity fluctuates and changes. I read and re-read the text, the dismissiveness of their message cutting deeper each time. Here I was, sharing my identity with someone I trusted, only for them to scoff at my words. Although the easy defence is that you can't determine someone's tone from a text message, I think it's clear that the vibe was far from supportive. It was judgmental, and immediately doubtful. Sadly, this person isn't the only one who has voiced their opinions on my abrosexuality – and I doubt they'll be the last. When I was growing up, I'd never heard the term abrosexual – you were either straight, gay, or lesbian as far as nineties society was concerned. Anything else was made up. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Of course, we know that's far from the truth – but societal blindspots mean we learn terms much slower than if they're readily accessible. Often, people don't go looking to educate themselves on different orientations unless it directly affects them – without that incentive, I've found many stick to what they know already. I didn't learn about abrosexuality until two years ago, when I was 30. Up until that point, I'd struggled to identify what my sexuality was because it fluctuated so rapidly. There were times that I too scoffed, chastising myself for being so uncertain of who I was. It wasn't that I couldn't make my mind up, but rather my identity shifted. One day I felt like I was a lesbian, yet days or weeks later, I'd feel more aligned with bisexuality. My sexuality was fluid. Before learning about abrosexuality, I felt lost, as if out at sea. I also felt like a fraud because of how much I changed my identity when chatting with loved ones. No one was intentionally hurtful, but I'd get the occasional, 'but you said you were a lesbian only last week'. They didn't understand and, at that time, I didn't have the right words to explain myself. It was only when I was reading the Instagram page of Zoe Stoller, a US based creator, educator, and social worker, who seeks to improve the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community, that I saw the term abrosexuality for the first time. You know in cartoons when a lightbulb appears above their heads? That's how it felt when I read their post. Finally, I feel seen. Yet, while discovering a new term for me has been hugely beneficial to understanding myself better, to some people, my identity is one that evokes confusion. When I tell people that I'm abrosexual, I'm often greeted by a blank expression, followed by a question of what the term means. And questions are fine, as long as they're respectful. I'm not expecting everyone to know what it means – hell, I didn't until two years ago – but you should always listen with respect. I'm happy to say that the rest of my friends and family have been very supportive of my identity, and have strived to learn more. One question I have been asked is about how being abrosexual impacts my love life and, in short, it doesn't. It doesn't alter my romantic relationships in the same way being bisexual doesn't cause a person to feel any differently about their partner. I love the person, rather than their gender so it doesn't matter if my sexuality fluctuates while I'm with them. However, even after explaining this, there's always some people who enjoy demanding that I 'pick a lane' so that my identity doesn't offend them. I want people to know that, just because you don't know or understand an identity, doesn't make it less authentic. But it's still hard to hear things like 'mate, you're just confused' or 'just say you're bisexual and be done with it'. I refuse to be boxed in by someone else's limited knowledge. We're all learning new things about ourselves all the time – that's what growth and development is about. Eventually, I hope that abrosexuality will be seen as normal, just another identity that someone might have, and not regarded as a way to be 'on trend', as some of the hurtful comments I've received suggest. Acceptance can only come from education, and stepping outside your comfort zone to familiarise yourselves with terminology you might not know. There's a whole wealth of LGBTQ+ knowledge online that people would benefit from learning, so that ignorance isn't the main language so many of us speak. Without individuals like Stoller, I'd still be in the dark about my sexuality. I'd know that it was ever changing, but I wouldn't know why or what it meant in terms of my authenticity. I'd worry I was a fraud, or that something was wrong with me. Being closed off from yourself is an awful experience. I wish I knew why my friend reacted to my identity in such a hurtful way. More Trending Before coming out as abrosexual, I felt restricted, unable to be myself because I didn't quite know how to accept the parts of me I didn't understand. Now that I know, I can put a name to my identity, and am excited to see how that fluidity emerges. I'm no longer nervous about my sexuality because it makes sense to me, and in the end, that's all that really matters. View More » This article was originally published December 23, 2023 Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I'm 74 but feel 40 because of my once-a-week expense MORE: Four words that will instantly annoy your partner — no matter how well-intentioned MORE: People say this social media habit is 'weird' — but you're probably guilty of it
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Rat season is about to begin – keep them away from your house & garden with £3.99 item you just need to sprinkle
Rodents have stopped breeding for the year – now they're on the hunt for food DIY DETERRENT Rat season is about to begin – keep them away from your house & garden with £3.99 item you just need to sprinkle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PEST control expert has revealed a simple way to keep rodents away from homes and gardens – and all it takes is a quick shake and sprinkle. With rat season about to begin, the advice arrives just in time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Ceith's timely video has received more than 200 comments 4 Cider vinegar can be purchased for just £3.99 The easy – and humane – method is unveiled in a social media post just weeks before cool weather arrives in the UK. That is the end of the breeding season for rodents and signals their arrival around homes and in gardens. This is when the little blighters are at their most active as they search for food and shelter ahead of winter If hungry they will take more risks such as raiding bird tables and bins. And they don't move in at night – they often seek food during the day, particularly if other rats are congregating in the same garden or porch. But fear not, help is at hand – literally. Monster '22-INCH' rat 'as big as a cat' is found in UK home - as locals warned more could be on the loose In a video posted to his Facebook account, Ceith Griffith unveiled a simple and effective way to keep rats from the door. "It's that time of year again, guys ... mice and rats are going to try and get inside your home but I'm going to show you how to keep them out by repelling them," he said in the video, which has received more than 2,500 likes. Ceith goes on to explain how attaching a spray nozzle to a vinegar, apple vinegar or pine salt bottle can turn into the ultimate repellent. "Pine salt works the best but I know a lot of people are allergic to it," he said. "Just take the spray and point it at your porch and anywhere you don't want the rats to come near. "You can use this around your garage or even inside your garage ... and it's going to keep all the mice and rats from coming around your home, or garage or RV." 4 The handy contraption can save a lot of grief over the autumn and winter Facebook users rushed to the post to comment and thank Ceith for his help. One person said: "Love UR videos. I watch and write them down. Thank u." A second person said: "Definitely going to try this." A third person, however, said they were looking for advice after encountering another type of pest in their home. They posted: "Hello, how do you get a raccoon or possum out of your loft? Please help." Other ways to repel rats Rats are a nuisance and can be difficult to get rid of but by using the pickled onion hack you can deter them, but other methods can help too, one of which is planting certain plants in your garden that rats hate. One home expert shared: "Plants such as lavender, mint, marigolds, daffodils, rosemary, sage and several others can be planted in your garden to disrupt the smell of a rat. 'If a rat can't smell inside of your home then it is far less likely to try.' For best results, plant these plants along fences, around sheds, and near compost bins or generally anywhere that rodents might be tempted to settle.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman thought she married 'good man' until Facebook message 'changed everything'
A woman is heartbroken after uncovering a secret her husband has been hiding from her since they began dating seven years ago - and it's completely changed their relationship Finding out something your partner has been keeping hidden from you can be devastating. Relationships are built on trust, and if they've been hiding key parts of their life from you for years, it can leave you feeling as though you don't really know them at all. One woman has found herself in this situation, as she recently discovered that her husband of four years has been keeping a colossal secret from her ever since they began dating seven years ago. While some partners might be able to excuse the occasional white lie, this "earth-shattering" discovery has changed the course of their relationship forever. In a post on Reddit, the woman explained she has been married to her husband for four years and they have two sons together. She described her spouse as "a good man" and claimed he has always been "very honest" about his life, including the events of his past before he began dating his now-wife. However, she recently received a Facebook message from a woman who changed everything. The other woman claimed that her husband is the father of her 15-year-old daughter, and that he hasn't been involved in the teenager's life since she was around two-years-old. This would mean he had this child long before he ever met his current wife, but she is absolutely devastated about the news - as her husband has never even mentioned it to her. She said: "A week ago today, a woman messaged me on Facebook saying that my husband is the father of her daughter (15-year-old girl) and that he hasn't been involved in her life since she was 2. HE HAS NEVER MENTIONED THIS GIRL TO ME. "Obviously, I was shocked and asked her to prove this, and she sent me a birth certificate and pictures of them together when they were younger with their daughter. I asked why she was just now telling me this, and she said it was because her daughter wanted to make contact with her father." The woman immediately confronted her husband about it, and was furious when he first tried to deny it. But when she showed him the birth certificate proof, he backtracked and finally told her the truth - after seven years of lying to her face. She added: "I called my husband out on this, and at first he tried to deny it until I sent the picture of the birth certificate with his name on it. He told me that they broke up when they were in their early 20s, and she didn't let him see his daughter because she was with another man. "He decided to move on with life and thought it was a good idea to pretend he wasn't a father. He told his parents to drop it and act as if she weren't a part of their lives." The mum-of-two concluded her post by saying she feels "betrayed, lied to, and heartbroken" over the bombshell, as not only has her husband been lying to her, but his entire family has, too. She is now filing for divorce as her trust in her husband is completely broken. And commenters have commended her for the move, as many described her husband's actions as "irredeemable". One person said: "Obviously irredeemable to start an entire life with someone and omit that information. But I'm especially struck by the fact that he DENIED it until you provided photo evidence. That's a disturbing lack of integrity." Another added: "That is an inexcusable omission by your husband." A third also wrote: "This is a major red flag. If he would do that to one child, he certainly would do it to others. You are right to consider divorce."
