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The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘These scars saved my life, why hide them?' inspiring cancer survivor proudly goes topless on TV after double mastectomy
WHEN Louise Butcher had a double mastectomy after her breast cancer diagnosis, she declined reconstructive surgery. Instead, the 51-year-old went on to become the first woman to run the Advertisement 4 Louise Butcher, 51, was proud to go topless on This Morning Credit: Instagram/@thismorning 4 The mum-of-two had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2022 Credit: Instagram/@thismorning 'There's beauty in these scars… They saved my life,' she said. 'Why would I want to hide them?' Louise lays her scars bare to help end the stigma of having flat closure surgery after mastectomies, rather than breast reconstruction. The mum-of-two was told she had lobular breast cancer, a type that originates in the milk-producing glands within the breast, in April 2022. The diagnosis came just three weeks after she was given the all-clear from a private mammogram. Advertisement read more real life She discovered a lump deep in her left breast quickly after the mammogram and raised the alarm with her GP, who sent her for an ultrasound scan. This scan is what picked up the form of breast cancer she had, which is sometimes missed by mammograms. Louise was told she needed a double mastectomy - and knowing she didn't want to have implants to reconstruct her boobs, she opted for flat closure surgery. Not one to hide away or let insecurities take hold of her, she spent six months coming to terms with her new body - and then started flaunting it. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review She began running topless around her home area in Devon as a way to accept her appearance and show others that mastectomy scars are nothing to be ashamed of. 'This is what I'm about,' she shared during an inspiring interview on today's episode of This Morning. 'It's about being your authentic self and owning your scars. 'There's beauty in these scars… They saved my life! Advertisement 'Why would I want to hide them?' Louise described her first topless London Marathon last year as 'magical' and said women were crying due to the 'empowerment' of seeing a lady embrace her scars. What are the signs of breast cancer? BREAST cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. The majority of women who get it are over 50, but younger women and, in rare cases, men can also get breast cancer. If it's treated early enough, breast cancer can be prevented from spreading to other parts of the body. Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, but the first noticeable symptom is usually a lump or area of thickened breast tissue. Most breast lumps aren't cancerous, but it's always best to have them checked by your doctor. You should also speak to your GP if you notice any of the following: a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood) a lump or swelling in either of your armpits dimpling on the skin of your breasts a rash on or around your nipple a change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast Source: NHS 'They were cheering and there was no pity there,' she recalled. 'Because you can't pity someone running a marathon, can you?' People have flocked to social media to praise her resilience and positivity. Advertisement 'What an amazing woman! Amazing! So empowering,' Gem Marshall wrote on Instagram. 'What a beautiful, incredible woman,' actress Catherine Tyldesley echoed. 'What an amazing lady,' Sheila Rayner added. 'She is so dignified and inspirational.' 4 Louise described her first topless London Marathon last year as 'magical' Credit: Instagram/@thismorning Advertisement 4 She shared her story on today's episode of This Morning with hosts Cat and Ben Credit: Instagram/@thismorning
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I found the perfect ornament for my lounge on Temu but when it arrived all I could do was laugh – it was an epic fail
A WOMAN was left in hysterics when the "ornament" she bought on Temu arrived - and it wasn't quite what she was expecting. Maisie-Ellen was delighted when she spotted what appeared to be a colourful elephant, which she said would look perfect in her bright and cheerful lounge. Advertisement 7 Maisie-Ellen was thrilled when she found this colourful elephant on Temu, and quickly bought it Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee 7 But when it arrived, she couldn't believe it was a picture of said elephant on wood Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee 7 She turned it to the side to show it in all its glory Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee So she hit buy, and eagerly awaited its arrival. But when her order arrived, she couldn't believe what she found upon opening the box. In She then held up what had actually come in the order - a wooden cut out of said elephant. Advertisement Read more Temu stories "No seriously, that is my elephant!" Maisie-Ellen sighed. "It's flat, it's not even 3D! "Well it is 3D kind of but that's not a statue!" Things went from bad to worse as she pulled out a rug that she'd ordered, also to go in the lounge. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review "It looks all thick and nice and colorful and pretty and whatever else," she said. But when she put it on her floor, she realised it was as thin as a "sheet of paper". Shoppers race to nab 'beautiful' water feature to turn gardens into a tranquil haven, as price is slashed from £44 to £5 "It's the thinnest, flimsiest, crappiest..." she laughed. Maisie-Ellen said another issue was that the rug didn't have any green it it. Advertisement "The listing that I bought had like loads of green in it because obviously the living room is green!" she said. "Where's the green?" She'd also ordered inserts for some sofa cushions, which were paper thin, and concluded by showing the colourful pampas grass she'd picked up from the site as well. "It looked f**king sick on the pictures," Maisie-Ellen said. Advertisement Why is Temu so cheap? TEMU exploded onto the scene in late 2022, with people all over social media raving about the low prices. The company is a Chinese-owned digital marketplace - essentially an online shopping app where people are connected to the retailer directly while the app takes care of the shipping element. The frenzy over the app is not completely unfounded either as it offers a wide variety of products, including fashion, make-up, electronics and furniture. The loophole is called the de minimis exception and it means they can ship goods valued up to $800 (£643) to the US without it being inspected or taxed by US customs. Temu connects customers directly to manufacturers and only manages how the items are sent to customers. It means Chinese vendors can essentially sell their products directly to customers and ship it without building a network of warehouses across the globe. By doing this, they cut down on huge costs and ensure the product itself isn't marked up extra. While many of the products seen on the Temu app are from brands with extensive, original collections, many more are dupes of designer brands. "It really did. "It looked silly nice on the pictures. "I don't know how it looks in here!" "That elephant was diabolical," one person in the comments laughed. Advertisement "My nan ordered a lamp and got a metal picture of a LAMP," another said. "I made something like that elephant in Design and technology in 2003 in y7," a third giggled. "It's Temu so things aren't ever perfect," someone else wrote. 7 She'd also ordered a colourful rug from the site Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee Advertisement 7 And while it looked great on her lounge floor... Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee 7 She was very unimpressed with how thin it was Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee 7 She was also disappointed with this pampas grass she ordered from Temu Credit: TikTok/@maisiepee
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Iconic market town being transformed with THREE £375m developments including demolishing once-thriving Debenhams store
A BUSY market town located just outside of London is set to undergo a £375 million upgrade. Three major redevelopment projects are set to take place in the area this year. Advertisement 3 St Mary's Wharf is a new development being constructed in the centre of Guildford, consisting of new homes, riverside gardens, restaurants, and business spaces Credit: Facebook 3 The North Street Regeneration project will see the addition of new residential spaces as well as a refurbishment of the bus station Credit: North Street Regeneration One of Guildford's developments will see the construction of 183 new homes along the town's riverfront. The demolition of the department store is expected to be completed by late August, with the overall project set to conclude by 2030. Located in the centre of Guildford, the site will include affordable homes, ranging from one to five bedrooms. Advertisement Read More On UK Towns The £125 million project will also see the addition of restaurants and business spaces for further shops, cafes, and bars. An acre of new public riverside walkways and gardens will also be created as part of the development. This will provide direct access to the Guildford's River Wey from the High Street for the first time in more than 50 years. Designed by architect Squire & Partners, the buildings will be fossil fuel-free and net zero carbon in operation, and will enhance local biodiversity with green roofs as well as the addition of 50 trees. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review St Mary's Wharf is just a five-minute walk from Guildford train station, which operates routes to central London in just 30 minutes. This development is currently under construction, having received approval from Guildford Borough Council in November 2022. Huddersfield Station Closure: £70 Million Revamp Set to Transform Travel A second project is underway a short distance away at Guildford's This £150 million regeneration project is set to deliver both residential units and upgrades to public areas. Advertisement A total of 477 highly sustainable new homes, including 47 affordable units will be developed along with a 2.2 acre of public space, featuring a wellness garden and a new town square. Guildford's bus station will also be refurbished as part of the redevelopment. And North Street is set to be pedestrianised, a move which is projected to improve the town's air quality by 10%. 'Downtrodden' English ghost town where locals feel 'left behind' being turned into 'vibrant' shopping hub in £9m revamp By Nicole Cherruault A "DOWNTRODDEN" English ghost town is being turned into a "vibrant" shopping hub in a £9million revamp. The town in northern Manchester set to totally transform as the More than 600 people were consulted over renovation plans in Eccles, Salford and work has now started on demolishing the town's shopping centre, which was suffering from falling visitors numbers. Following the demolition stage, a development partner will be appointed to bring new life to what residents described as a "downtrodden" town, reports The objective, the council said, is to create a "vibrant" and a "fit for purpose" centre for people to enjoy. Attracting more independent retailers, and new bars and cafes are among the council's top priorities. And just three miles from Salford Quays and Manchester city centre, the redevelopment project looks set to transform the area into a buzzing place for young professionals and business owners. This comes as locals despaired over the ailing town, saying they felt it had been "left behind" and it was in desperate need of some "drastic" improvements. The council stressed that the demolition work will be a long process, with the initial phase due only to be completed by the end of the year. However, Councillor Mike McCusker reassured locals that despite the renovations, the town centre "remains open for business", stressing that the works only affect a few areas. He said: 'Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today's town centre remains open for business,' said Coun Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford council. 'I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre. 'The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.' Meanwhile, Councillor McCusker, who represents the Eccles ward, shared his enthusiasm for the project, in particular for its focus on the local community. In a statement, he spoke of his "excitement" for the times ahead in materialising their vision for a brighter, more dynamic Eccles. He said 'Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community. 'It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community. 'The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life.' There will be 115 new trees planted, which is set to boost the local biodiversity by over 200%. Advertisement And finally, a new medical centre will be constructed to serve the community's needs. A third development, costing a total of £150 million, will see the transformation of This will be home to a new station building, 438 new homes, retail and office spaces, and a "radically enhanced station environment" with a modern new station. The brand new station plaza will be roughly the size of a rugby pitch and will include new shops and eateries as well as new offices and a transport interchange. Advertisement This plan is set to transform the station into a "fitting gateway to Guildford town centre" and is also set to wrap up by the end of this year. A total of £25 million is being invested into station improvements with the new building providing a larger double height ticket hall to accommodate more passengers. The scheme has been designed to accommodate anticipated passenger growth up until 2035. A new multi-storey car park with improved, safer pedestrian access and reduced average walk time from car to platform is also being developed. Advertisement There will also be separate pick-up and drop-off arrangements and an improved taxi rank. Local reaction Solum's regeneration project received mixed reactions since it was first submitted in 2017. Many in the area opposed the development due to the height of the construction, dubbing it " The Great Wall of Guildford", according to Local residents had similar concerns over the St Mary's Wharf project, describing the tower block as "too big". Advertisement "We should not be looking at anything above six storeys along the river corridor," Amanda Mullarkey, chair of 'Is this what we want: A string of tower blocks along the river and the town's downland setting obscured from view?' However, others supported the addition of new housing and public spaces to the town's centre. 3 St Mary's Wharf will be constructed on the site of a former Debenhams, with construction expected to be complete by 2030 Credit: Facebook Advertisement
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I gave my boring bathroom a bold makeover & now people say it looks dead posh like The Ivy – it's all thanks to B&M buys
A DIY enthusiast has given her boring bathroom a mega makeover, whilst staying on a budget. So if you want to add style to your pad but without breaking the bank, then you've come to the right place and will need to listen up. Advertisement 5 A DIY fan has transformed her bathroom from drab to fab, without spending thousands Credit: Facebook / DIY On A Budget Official 5 Jolene Dalton added style to the once dark and grey space Credit: Facebook / DIY On A Budget Official 5 Now it looks super posh Credit: Facebook / DIY On A Budget Official 5 People thought it looked like the toilets in pricey restaurant chain The Ivy Credit: Facebook / DIY On A Budget Official Thanks to bargain buys from B&M and The Range, Jolene Dalton was able to transform her Not only were many inspired by Jolene's DIY project, but others thought her new So if you're eager to give your Clearly overjoyed with her Advertisement Read more DIY stories Posting on She then confirmed: 'All work [was] done by my husband and me!' Jolene confirmed that she was able to add colour and style to the once dark and dull space thanks to Not only this, but she also used some leftover Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review Additionally, to brighten up the room, Jolene hung up a jaw-dropping colourful light, which she bought for £50 from Matalan. She also spent around £150 on wood I transformed my bathroom using B&M and Amazon buys As well as this, the We think Jolene's Advertisement Eight Easy DIY Tips & Tricks The ultimate guide for homeowners and renters: DIY expert's Save time and money with this easy DIY tiling hack to transform a room in under an hour Avoid these five mistakes in your next DIY project Transform your kitchen with this Noisy neighbours? Here's DIY expert shared her favourite strategy for painting around glass without tape If you want to give your kitchen a fresh look, here's Five tricks to Social media users were left gobsmacked with Jolene's bathroom One person said: 'Love it! It looks so classy. What a I love this! More ideas for my bathroom. Thank you Facebook user Another added: 'Wow, looks [like] the toilets in The Ivy!' A third commented: 'Oh wow that's stunning. Well done.' Advertisement Most popular DIY jobs homeowners love to do Paint walls New carpet Paint fence Paint ceilings Wallpapering Paint skirting boards New light fitting Re-grout/replace bathroom tiles Hang curtains/blinds Paint/oil interior doors Paint a shed Paint stairs New plug sockets New hard flooring New front door Update kitchen sink Replace kitchen worktops Hang shelves Change/update doorknobs Paint/upcycle garden furniture Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: 'I love this! More ideas for my At the same time, another DIY fan simply wrote: "Bold is best." Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club 5 Jolene got her light from Matalan for £50 Credit: Facebook / DIY On A Budget Official Advertisement
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
The Argos gadget that removes dandelions, cuts weeding time ‘in half' & there's no bending OR chemicals involved
THE POPULAR store Argos has come to rescue with a new gadget that ''works wonders'' at banishing dandelions from your outdoor space. Although Advertisement 3 Are you on the lookout for an affordable tool to tackle stubborn weeds this season? Credit: Argos 3 Then you may wish to plan a trip to the nearest Argos to snap up a bargain find that's won an impressive 4.2-star rating Credit: Getty 3 Priced at an affordable £40, the Gardena Weed Puller the ideal gadget to effectively remove unsightly weeds in your lawn Credit: Argos According to experts, dandelions release a chemical that can actually stump the growth of other plants in the area by hogging nutrients from them - but luckily, Argos has released a special tool to tackle the problem. The best part? Not only is there no bending involved but you also won't need to use any harsh chemicals that could do more harm than good. Priced at an affordable £40, the As the patented blades of the tool are particularly narrow and close together, this design is well-suited to pulling up dandelions in your lawn without leaving large holes. Advertisement read more on gardening The weed puller, which has won an impressive 4.2-star rating, is comfortable to use, featuring a practical footrest and integrated release mechanism for easier removal. We all know that working in the garden - though relaxing - can also leave you with Luckily, using the practical weed puller is pleasant and gentle on your back, even over longer periods of time. A specially shaped handle enables a comfortable motion when rotating the weeding blade and the integrated release mechanism makes it easier to throw out the weeds. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Review This simple method of weeding works purely mechanically and without chemicals, protecting your cherished flora and fauna while still maintaining a beautiful and well-kept garden free of dandelions and other weeds - it really doesn't get much better than this. The product, which weighs a little over 2lbs, comes with a 25-year guarantee, so it's sure to last you for many summers to come. The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD Online, Argos fans cannot get enough of the budget buy, with one customer writing: ''Great product, easy to use. Pulls weeds with ease without the strugggle of bending down. ''Only downside is you need something to pull the actual weed out of the blades safely, to do this you would need another tool. All in all a good tool to the collection.'' Advertisement Someone else also gave the product a whopping four stars, writing: ''We found the weed puller really easy to use. Good quality and does the job, took half the time it would have to clear my front garden if I was pulling by hand. Why you shouldn't use fizzy drinks as a weed killer THE internet is full of gardening hacks - some incredibly useful, and others just downright stupid. Fabulous' Associate Editor and gardening enthusiast, Rebecca Miller, has shared her thoughts. "The latest suggestion is to use fizzy drinks as a weed killer - but this will cause more harm than good. Fizzy drinks contain acidic ingredients which, yes, will effectively kill weeds - but also any other plant it touches. More importantly, it will impact your soil quality because of the artificial sugar content. While this may not seem like a bad thing because plants need sugar to survive, the issue is, the sugar in fizzy drinks, is the wrong type of sugar plants need, and it cannot be absorbed by them. Instead, the plant which has been covered in soda will pull water from the roots of surrounding plants, causing them all to become hydrated. So yes, you might kill a weed or two, but you'll also see a lot of your other plants and flowers dying. To add to this, the microbes and underground critters that like the sugars found in fizzy drinks, are often not good for plants - and some of them can be actively harmful. If you have pesky weeds, the old fashioned way is the best. Get a kitchen knife, a weed puller or brush and remove them by hand. But remember - a weed is just a plant growing in a location you don't want it to ." ''10/10 and would recommend for anyone who especially finds it a struggle on their hands and knees to pull the weeds.'' A third left a positive review, writing: ''This works as described, pulls weeds out with great ease, no bending required and pulls out even the toughest of weeds. ''However, it works best in border's and flower beds as it did leave a rather big hole in my lawn which had to be filled. Advertisement ''Therefore I would be cautious about using it on lawns but perfect for ''Doesn't work on driveways or
