THE CHIC LIST: I'm a fashion expert – these are my tips for wearing florals without looking frumpy
Sit in any pub garden on a sunny afternoon and you will see them – midlife women in the ubiquitous summer uniform of a midi floral dress with white trainers.
While I have nothing against florals per se, it bothers me that a certain type of floral dress makes women of all ages look frumpy, milkmaidy and old fashioned.
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The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
I've saved thousands by bagging FREE days out with my two kids & on summer holidays – here's my best tips
A SAVVY mum-of-two has revealed how she saves thousands of pounds without ditching days out or summer holidays. Natalie Smith, from Dymchurch, Kent, insists that there are plenty of ways to plan fun activities for your family without breaking the bank. 3 3 3 She says plenty of organisations offer free entry for kids at their locations and events, but simply don't advertise it - meaning you just have to know where to look. And when it comes to finding holidays on a budget, the savvy mum has a few tricks up her sleeve. When it comes to holidays, Natalie, a full-time blogger, claims that planning is key - particularly for things like checking whether hotels or resorts offer any activities or other perks included in the price. She also says you have to be flexible - potentially planning trips around the cheapest flight dates - or consider alternative options, such as driving to various countries in Europe. And, Natalie is certain her tips work - as she and her husband Jason have been using them for years to take their kids Finn, 14, and Lola, 12, on countless memorable trips. Natalie, 35, said: "We started living like this because we had such a small income when the kids were younger that we knew if we wanted to take them on holidays and trips, we'd have to change things. "Things are easier now, but it becomes a way of life so we're still budgeters. It's what suits our values. "We'd rather do lots of things than have lots of things - so we scrimp in some places to make sure we can travel and have amazing experiences." Weekend Fun Natalie says one of the ways she keeps costs down - while keeping the kids entertained - is to have 'no spend' weekends. This involves tracking down free events. She said: "My biggest tip is to get a Blue Peter badge. These get kids into over 200 attractions across the UK - including theme parks, zoos, museums, gardens etc. - all for free. "Those badges are worth their weight in gold. "Another tip would be to use your Tesco Clubcard points. You don't have to just use them in the shop - you can also put them towards events and days out. Just check the app. "I'd also suggest making use of your surroundings. If you're in a city - or if you want to take a day trip to a city - a lot of stuff is free, like museums, parks, or lidos for the summer. "Take a picnic and that's still a no-spend day out. Where can kids eat for free this summer? THE summer holidays are here, but entertaining the kids need not cost a fortune. Here, we reveal where you can get free and cheap meals for your little ones during the 'endless' summer holidays. ASDA CAFE: Nip into an Asda cafe to feed the kids after the weekly shop. Under-16s get a hot or cold meal for £1 at any time of day. Little ones are covered, too. Kids under 18 months get a free Ella's baby food pouch with any purchase. BEEFEATER: This family-friendly pub chain makes mornings a breeze. Two kids under 16 eat for free with the purchase of an adult breakfast for £10.99. It's available from 6.30am to 10.30am midweek and 7am to 11am at weekends. BELLA ITALIA: Book a table and order an adult meal at the Italian eatery for kids aged two to 11 to get three courses and a drink for £1. Offer valid between 4pm and 6pm on Sundays to Wednesdays. On Thursdays, kids eat free all day when an adult meal is ordered from the a la carte menu. DUNELM: Make homeware shopping a fun day out. Dunelm's Pausa Cafes are offering free kids' meals for every £4 spent on their food or drink. Available all day, every day. BILL'S: Dine in at a Bill's restaurant to get up to two free kids' meals (normally £6.95 each) with an adult meal. Valid weekdays only until August 30. IKEA: Make it a food day at the Swedish home store. On every day except Fridays, enjoy a pit stop at their famous cafe from 11am to get a kids' pasta or mac and cheese dish for 95p. Other mini meals are available for £1.50. PIZZA EXPRESS: Kids up to age ten can get a free three-course Piccolo meal including dough balls, pizza or pasta and dessert with every adult meal purchased. The offer runs every day until August 11. TESCO: Pop to the supermarket cafe from Monday to Friday until August 30 for free kids' meals when an adult buys any item in the cafe. You must have a Clubcard to redeem the offer. THE RANGE: Kids under 16 get one free meal per adult main purchased at The Range cafes. Options include sandwiches, a cooked breakfast and fish and chips. All kids' meals come with a piece of fruit and a drink. "If you're in the countryside, use the beach, use the woods. Something like Geocaching - where you hunt for geocaches - can make a walk really fun without having to spend money. Jet, Set, Go "Train companies offer good deals too. National Rail does a Two For One, where you can get a London activity, like a River Thames boat cruise, included in the price of your ticket. "And on Southeastern Rail kids can travel for £1. "There are lots of these offers out there but companies don't actively advertise them so people aren't aware." Natalie also says that holidays don't have to be unattainable for people struggling with money - as there are plenty of ways to cut back on costs. She said: "One piece of simple advice I give people is to pick somewhere that offers a 'per party' price rather than a 'per person' price. Then it doesn't matter if you have lots of kids. "Also try to pick a destination that offers free things to do - included in your accommodation cost. "So, there are lots of places where you can do water sports for free - or which include passes to local theme parks etc. "We went to a resort in the Netherlands once which offered free access to attractions nearby - and had a safari park onsite. "So that gave us things to do without having to spend while we were out there. "So I'd say looking at those things and almost planning out your itinerary in advance can save you a fortune once you're out there." When it comes to travel, Natalie has some top tips for finding cheap flights - but also encourages families to consider driving if they're holidaying in Europe. She said: "When it comes to flights, Skyscanner is your best friend. If we have a specific destination in mind, then we'll be flexible with dates - and maybe plan the whole trip around which day the flight is cheapest. "If we don't mind where we go, we'll search for the cheapest flights to 'everywhere', and plan around that. "Otherwise though, we tend to drive as much as possible - because of how cheap ferries are. "We've driven to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and more - and the driving becomes part of the fun. "Recently we did a trip driving around Germany, Austria, and Italy, and spent around four days in each spot we stopped at - camping at local camp sites. "We planned activities for each place and it meant every moment was great. "One day, we were walking up mountains in Austria and the next we were at the canals in Venice, Italy. "And I just think sometimes you can spend a whole day trying to get a flight - when you consider driving to the airport, going through security, waiting to board, getting the flight, then getting your hire car on the other side. "So it's something to consider." Saving Up Natalie says that she and her family also look for ways they can cut back on spending throughout the year - so they can put money aside for their holidays. This includes batch cooking to save on groceries, always taking flasks out to avoid buying coffee, and even having dad Jason learn to cut son Finn's hair so they don't have any barber fees. Natalie said: "We batch cook a lot and always meal prep so we know what we need and what we're using for the week. "I also take a flask everywhere so I don't buy coffee - and just switch small things like cycling instead of taking the bus for any journeys I can. "We've learnt to do what we can for ourselves. We clean our own windows and Jason used a YouTube video to learn how to cut our son's hair. "I just think it's all about making small changes. Obviously, money is extremely tight for a lot of people. We've been there so we know. "But I do think just trying to save where you can - it can make life more affordable. "If you don't buy a coffee or lunch out - then you could save £5 a day. £5 a day adds up to £1,825 a year. "That's a great budget for a family holiday."
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
EastEnders fans predict recast after huge character is rumoured to return – and it's a familiar face
EASTENDERS fans reckon a recast is on the cards with a very familiar face taking over. BBC viewers are convinced a legendary Walford resident is making a comeback. 4 4 EastEnders favourite Max Bowden is set for a dramatic return as Ben Mitchell - months after his shock exit from the soap. The actor, who played the troubled Mitchell for five years, left Albert Square last year after Ben was extradited to the US for credit card fraud. The Sun has revealed Max could be back on screen sooner than fans think, with bosses lining him up for a guest stint - and a possible full-time comeback on the cards. A source said that the soap's new producer Ben Wadey had a "list of characters he wanted to bring back" after taking over from Chris Clenshaw, with Ben Mitchell being one of them. But fans think the next actor to play Ben should be Daniel Delaney, the actor who portrayed a younger version of Phil in two spin off episodes. Taking to Reddit, one fan wrote: "Not only is he the spitting image of Steve McFadden but he's also a fantastic young actor too. "It wouldn't be the first time someone has played two characters in the same show either." Daniel Delaney played a younger Phil Mitchell in the flashback episodes during Phil's psychosis storyline. The actor was praised for both his resemblance to Steve McFadden and his powerful performance. The episode even won the award for Best Single Episode at this year's British Soap Awards. Coronation Street and Emmerdale humiliated at British Soap Awards as rival soap wins EIGHT gongs EastEnders managed to secure a total of eight wins in its 40th anniversary year. Meanwhile, addressing his EastEnders exit last year, Max Bowden admitted he was suffering from burnout and knew it was time to step away. 'The important thing was my time was ready. I was very tired, and like I said, I wasn't me, I wasn't,' he said candidly. 'The Max sat in front of you today was kind of a ghost - and they recognised that. I recognised that.' He continued: "I did nearly six hundred episodes in five years, which is a hell of a lot, and it was time for a rest. "The character was tired, I was tired, they [the producers] were probably tired of me being tired. "From an honest perspective, I think yeah, a lot of it was that I needed to go for a bit. "I needed to go work on me, get myself back to a place of really good mental health, focus on healing and also be a dad." 4
The Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Sun
Ncuti Gatwa breaks silence on Doctor Who exit after Billie Piper is confirmed as replacement
NCUTI Gatwa has broken his silence on exiting Doctor Who - after Billie Piper was confirmed as his replacement. Viewers watched the Fifteenth Doctor regenerate into a new character played by former Doctor Who star Billie. 3 3 Speaking in a behind-the-scenes video, the 32-year-old explained his reasons for leaving the BBC show. Ncuti said: "It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. "The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. "I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time." The star also shared a poignant message to Doctor Who's fans on Instagram. He penned: "Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists… you've had quite a busy two years. "Well done and rest up son. Thank you endlessly XV." While another shared: "You were a phenomenal Doctor, who truly showed the emotional side that no one could ever portray. Thank you Ncuti." His replacement, Billie, previously played companion Rose Tyler on and off from 2005 to 2010. Billie Piper announced as new Doctor Who as she replaces Ncuti Gatwa in BBC series Fans were left stunned by her shock comeback in the BBC programme's latest episode - although it's unclear if it will be a permanent move. Upon the regeneration, Billie's character mumbled a quick "Oh Hello!" and smiled before the series ended. She said of her return: "It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse. "But who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see." Last month, The Sun revealed Ncuti's departure from Doctor Who after just two series. He was first announced as the Doctor in 2022, taking over from Jodie Whittaker. Who has starred in Doctor Who? Which actors have portrayed the famous Time Lord over the years? First Doctor: William Hartnell (1963 - 1966) Second Doctor: Patrick Troughton (1966 - 1969) Third Doctor: Jon Pertwee (1970 - 1974) Fourth Doctor: Tom Baker (1974 - 1981) Fifth Doctor: Peter Davidson (1982 - 1984) Sixth Doctor: Colin Baker (1984 - 1986) Seventh Doctor: Sylvester McCoy (1987 - 1989) Eighth Doctor: Paul McGann (1996) Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (2005) Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (2005 - 2010) 11th Doctor: Matt Smith (2010 - 2013) 12th Doctor: Peter Capaldi (2014 - 2017) 13th Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (2018 - 2022) 14th Doctor: David Tennant (2023) 15th Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 - present)
