Hate Throwing Stuff Out, But Need More Space? ‘Reverse Decluttering’ Could Help

Posted on 14/12/2025 by Boris Clair

What a rotten mix of traits I have. I love collecting new stuff, hate throwing things out, and also adore free space and clear counters.

That means I can spend hours stressing over my cluttered cupboards, despairing about what could happen if I threw away that once-beloved trench coat, all to end up in a frozen, stressed state.

If that sounds like you, Bill Parkinson, a bedding expert from Sleepy Piglets, may have a solution.

“If you struggle with decision fatigue, reverse decluttering is a great way to ease into the process with a more positive mindset,” he explained.

What is “reverse decluttering”?

The process is pretty simple (and rather like Marie Kondo’s joy-sparking rule) – instead of trying ot work out what you want to lose, consider what you couldn’t live without.

“Rather than starting with what to get rid of, begin by setting aside the things you know you want to keep,” Parkinson said.

“This helps set the tone for a productive session by focusing on what’s already useful or valued in your space. That small win naturally makes the decisions that follow feel less overwhelming, while helping you to feel more confident and in control from the outset.”

Indeed, some research has found that employees who set short-term goals were more likely to complete them.

“Once your essentials are set aside, it’s much easier to look at what’s left and decide what to donate, recycle or move on,” Parkinson continued.

’Tis the season for regifting, too

If you really don’t like the idea of throwing your possessions away, Parkinson said, “Regifting is a great way to give good quality items that you don’t have time to sell a second life.

“A barely-used lamp, for example, could be exactly what someone else is looking for. Passing items on makes the process feel more rewarding and intentional, especially if you’re someone who struggles with the guilt of letting things go.”

After all, he explained, “What tends to slow people down when decluttering is the idea that they might sell everything at a later date. In reality, those ‘sell’ piles often sit around for weeks and can often be mistaken for rubbish in your next clear-out.”

Bedrooms are particularly susceptible to accumulating clutter for this reason, he stated.

“Being decisive about what to actually give away is what turns a declutter session into real progress.”

Andy Burnham Says Latest Labour Leadership Stories Are ‘Rubbish’. But MPs Aren’t Convinced

Posted on 14/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Andy Burnham has described reports he wants to become an MP again before May as “rubbish”.

However, Labour MPs are convinced the Manchester mayor is eyeing a speedy return to Westminster so he can be in position to run for the party leadership if Keir Starmer is ousted.

Voters will go to the polls on May 7 next year for elections to the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and councils across England.

Opinion polls suggest Labour is heading for a catastrophic result, which could trigger a leadership challenge to the prime minister.

Burnham, who quit Westminster in 2017 so he could run to become mayor of Greater Manchester, would need to be an MP again to stand for the top job.

He was accused of plotting to replace the PM during the Labour conference in September, when he made a number of criticisms of the party leadership.

According to newspaper reports today, Burnham has held talks about standing in a by-election before May.

Although Burnham passed up the opportunity to comment before the stories were published in the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday, he did post a reaction on X this morning.

He said: “Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place.”

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Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 14, 2025

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Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 14, 2025

But one of his supporters told the Mail on Sunday: “It’s happening. We are on the brink of securing a seat which is likely to come free shortly and where the polls say Andy would beat Reform.”

It is understood that would most likely be the Gorton and Denton seat currently held by former minister Andrew Gwynne, who was suspended by Labour in February over offensive messages he sent WhatsApp messages and is currently on long-term sick leave.

In a statement to The Times in September, Gwynne said: “In order to end the tedious speculation about my seat while I’m trying to recover from a period of ill health, it is my intention to serve the full term.

“The route to No 10 is not going to be through Gorton and Denton.”

But one MP told HuffPost UK: “Andy is gagging for a seat before May. Why wouldn’t he be? He knows that he needs to be ready in parliament for the local election results in May. Andrew Gwynne’s is the seat he will go for.”

A former Labour frontbencher said: “Burnham has spoken to other MPs who might fancy going but hasn’t been able to get a deal.”

Gwynne is thought to be coming under pressure from senior Labour figures in his constituency to stand down to make way for Burnham, but it will ultimately be up to government chief whip Jonathan Reynolds to authorise a by-election.

Another MP said: “There’s a significant number of us livid that he’s undermining the PM at every turn. He’s overestimating his support at Westminster.

“If he wanted to stand for parliament, he had an opportunity last year to run at the general election.

“We also can’t afford to have a mayoral by-election at the same time as he purports to want to have a leadership contest at the very top of the party during the course of summer 2026. It’s incredible.”

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said Labour politicians should “focus on the day job” of delivering for the public rather than indulging in leadership speculation.

She told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: “I think that all of us in Government and in the Labour Party have a responsibility to focus on the day job and to get on with delivering for the British people.

“I was on your show just a few weeks ago, and I made this point that every single minute you have in government is precious, and it’s a huge privilege and an honour to be the government of your country, and we mustn’t waste a single second of it.

“So actually, this is on the whole of the government and all of the parliamentary Labour Party and the whole Labour movement to make sure we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in government.”

How To Make Delicious Festive Cocktails Without A Shaker

Posted on 14/12/2025 by Boris Clair

The thought of making cocktails for your friends and family right from your own home is extremely glamorous but in reality, you could end up playing mixologist for the evening and not getting a chance to actually enjoy the company of your loved ones.

Cocktail expert Abi Clephane from Bruichladdich Distillery agrees. She says: ”“I love the theatre of shaking cocktails,

“But when you’ve got people arriving in waves, you want drinks that taste brilliant without needing to stand there making each one like you’re on a shift. Christmas should be fun for the host too.”

Plus, how many of us just have a cocktail shaker kicking about?

The bottle-and-freezer method that replaces shaking entirely

Clephane says her number one hack is to pre-dilute your cocktails, bottle them, and then freeze them.

She explains: “Make your cocktail exactly as you normally would, same ingredients, same ratios, and then just add water. For a stirred drink, add 20%. For a shaken drink, add 25%. That gives you the dilution you’d normally get from ice, but without having to shake or stir anything.

“Freeze the bottle and pour it straight into a glass. It comes out cold, smooth, and perfectly balanced.”

She adds that this one trick avoids the classic hosting nightmare: “There is never, ever enough ice at Christmas for the amount of cocktails people expect. This solves that immediately.

“Just make sure you’re using a sturdy bottle. The ones we use at Bruichladdich are 60% recycled glass and can handle the freezer, so you can batch everything days ahead and not stress about anything breaking.”

Speaking of freezing glassware…

Clephane swears by frozen glassware because it improves everything without any effort at all: “A frozen glass just makes a drink so much more enjoyable. You don’t need fancy ice or special equipment.

“If you’ve got space to chill a few glasses before people arrive, that alone will make your drinks feel more intentional. You can use it for cocktails, wine, even beer – it improves every drink!”

If you want clear ice, the boiling water trick doesn’t actually work

Clearing up an old myth, Clephane says: “People always think boiled water will give you clear ice, but it genuinely doesn’t make a difference.

“If you actually want those really clear cubes, the only method that works is directional freezing. Get a small cool box, fill it with good-quality water, leave the lid off and put it in the freezer.

“It freezes from the top down, and that’s what creates proper clarity. Then you can cut it into cubes or use stretchy silicone moulds if you want to shape it.”

Can’t wait to impress my guests.

When My Husband Died Suddenly, One Of His Family Members Said 5 Words That Taunted Me For Years

Posted on 13/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Not long after my husband, Keith, died suddenly in April 2000, I overheard one of his family members tell someone that she didn’t feel sorry for me and my young children. “This will make them stronger,” she asserted.

Seventeen years later, her words taunted me as I shuffled across the sizzling parking lot of a suburban shopping center on my way to a therapist’s office. Stronger. What a joke; I could barely walk.

Once inside, I slumped into an oversized chair and wearily told my new therapist, Elizabeth, my problem was that I sucked at life and the visit would be a waste of time for both of us.

The only reason I was there was because one of my adult daughters had threatened to call 911 if I didn’t get help for myself. She’d become alarmed after she couldn’t reach me and had stopped by my house, where she discovered me flat on my back on my sofa. I hadn’t bathed or changed my clothes in weeks.

Assuming Elizabeth would show me the door so she could move on to a more worthwhile patient, I was surprised when she instead asked me to elaborate. After listening for nearly an hour, she said, “What you’re suffering from has nothing to do with being bad at life. It’s called resilience fatigue.”

I’d never heard of it, but I knew all about resilience. Its necessity had been drummed into my head since I was a kid. “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps ….” “When the going gets tough ….” “If at first you don’t succeed ….” As I saw it, resilience was the crux of my problem. If I wasn’t so weak and lazy, I could allow adversity to transform me into a deeper, tougher individual.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Elizabeth told me.

The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences.”

“Adapting” is the key word. If stressful events never let up, there’s no time to adapt. Resilience fatigue or toxic stress is about prolonged, excessive and unmanaged intense stress that leads to a sense of being constantly overwhelmed. Without sufficient coping mechanisms, the body’s stress response becomes overworked. This, in turn, can lead to an imbalance in our physiological systems and affect everything from mood to the immune system.

That sounded like me.

I’d been living in a near-constant state of anxiety mixed with dread since April 2000. I’d grown so accustomed to the feeling of impending doom — the racing heart, the perpetual tightness across my shoulders — that I thought it was normal.

Apparently it’s not.

Keith’s death would have been challenging enough on its own, but overnight I also became a single mother of three. Worse still, I was pregnant with our fourth child.

And that was just the beginning.

The author and Keith on their wedding day, March 4, 1989.

Keith had minimal life insurance. I’d been a stay-at-home mother for almost a decade while we continually moved for his job as he climbed the corporate ladder. Even before I buried him, the realisation that I’d have to find both work and child care ASAP filled me with terror. A family of five had to have health insurance. We’d been insured through Keith’s employer, and I couldn’t afford to pay for it outright.

Finding work took precedence over everything, including grieving my husband and bonding with the baby born three weeks after he died.

I’d always assumed the capacity for resilience was limitless and also hardwired into human beings like the fight-or-flight response, but during my counselling sessions, I learned otherwise. It’s not innate; rather, it’s learned and comes not just from individual effort but also from available support and resources.

The times I attempted to discuss my fears or concerns with others, they dismissed them: “You’re young, you’ll bounce back ….” “God never gives you more than you can handle ….” “In a few years you’ll remarry and hopefully the next guy will be rich ….” This was what passed for support in my world.

Still, I believed grit and determination would not only save me but someday I’d look back on those terrible days and be thankful for what I’d gone through while reflecting on how far I’d come.

For a hot minute, that seemed to be the case. After an obsessive job search, I found a position in an auto insurance call center with top-notch benefits. My parents, who’d recently retired and had moved nearby, agreed to watch my kids and not charge me. I began humming the song “I Will Survive.”

Unfortunately, the job turned into a trap. Callers were frequently angry; they swore and shouted at me all day. There was little room for advancement unless I could put in overtime or travel, which was impossible given my situation. I’d leave work depressed and drained and come home to a messy house full of bickering kids and memories of the life I used to love.

I also began flashing back to the morning I found Keith dead in our bed. As time passed, I thought about him more instead of less, and I couldn’t understand why the last day of his life played on a constant loop in my head, as if I could change the outcome if I relived it enough times.

When I mentioned this to a relative, she chastised me. “You need to focus on all the good things you still have, not on the bad.”

Of course I was grateful for what I had, despite the fact that my finances were eroding at a frighteningly rapid pace. Despite the fact that I’d gone from enjoying a vibrant, hope-filled life with a man I loved to living like a cloistered nun. Despite the fact that one day my future had beckoned like the yellow brick road and the next there was a ROAD PERMANENTLY CLOSED sign blocking the entrance.

The author's family on their last family vacation in 1999. "Keith had less than a year to live," the author writes. — The author’s family on their last family vacation in 1999. “Keith had less than a year to live,” the author writes.

Most of all I was grateful for my parents.

In their mid-60s, they were now practically raising a toddler and an infant. I was tired all the time and so were they. Our relationship deteriorated even as I suffered crushing guilt over what they were doing for me.

Yet I was certain I could turn everything around. So I prayed daily for acceptance of my situation. The Secret became my Bible, and I spewed positive affirmations morning, noon and night. I tried to banish negative thoughts from my head and focus on future abundance, not what I’d lost.

Nothing changed. Eventually I went through bankruptcy followed by foreclosure. I was fired from my job for not being able to keep up with the ever-changing metrics. When I discovered my oldest daughter was using heroin, I thought life could not get any worse.

I was wrong.

My father developed Alzheimer’s disease, and I moved in with my parents to help care for him. Two years after he died, my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I took care of her until the end.

By then my daughter was no longer using heroin, which was an unexpected miracle.

But at that point my younger daughter was in trouble for school truancy and drug use. Eventually she was removed from my home by Franklin County Children Services after her high school filed a criminal complaint with the local juvenile court and a judge ruled that she be placed in foster care at a local psychiatric residential treatment facility. It was a good thing I was unemployed, as my days became a merry-go-round of mandatory meetings with social workers, psychiatrists, counsellours and a court-appointed guardian. They picked apart my life and told me everything I was doing wrong as a parent but offered nothing in terms of concrete solutions or support.

My daughter was gone for over two years. Upon her return, she told me she’d been sexually assaulted while she was at the treatment facility. Guilt for what she’d been through vied with an impotent sense of rage deep inside me. The feelings were so inflammatory that sometimes I was sure I’d self-combust.

In the midst of my ongoing crises, I met a man in a writers’ group I’d joined in an attempt to get away from my life. Jim became a bright beacon in my otherwise dreary existence, so much so that I dared to envision a future with him. But three months after my mother passed, he died by suicide in my car. My younger son, who’d adored Jim, was so traumatised he had to be hospitalised after he became suicidal. My older son ghosted me for several years, deeming me a toxic mother.

I could no longer deny that my life had become a not-so-funny running joke, with me as the punchline. Sometimes I imagined my husband disgustedly shaking his head as he watched his family fall apart.

Just thinking about it exhausted me. One day I lay down on my living room sofa and couldn’t find the strength to rise again. I prayed for death as I thought about how I’d failed everyone, including myself.

Elizabeth helped me to reframe my viewpoint.

“Your husband died, then you had a baby. You had to hit the ground running with no time to grieve him or help your children. Your life became a runaway train that took 17 years to crash,” she said.

She put me in touch with a psychiatric nurse who prescribed a combination of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. She also utilised cognitive therapy, including EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing). Slowly I began to feel better.

The author and her youngest daughter, Dianna. "She was born three weeks after her father died," the author writes. — The author and her youngest daughter, Dianna. “She was born three weeks after her father died,” the author writes.

Of course you can’t always control what life throws at you, but Elizabeth pointed out that my path might have taken a different turn if I hadn’t been forced into a race against time to secure health insurance and child care, those fickle twins that dictate life for so many Americans.

Still, I had trouble letting go of the conviction that I’d traded in resilience for lethargy. All my life I’d heard that adversity builds character and that what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Elizabeth shook her head. “Those are dangerous generalisations and they’re mostly false. Beliefs like that allow us to minimise other peoples’ suffering without feeling guilt.”

A growing body of research shows that despite the widespread belief that negative life events result in “post-traumatic growth” or positive personality change, “the only type of growth that seems to arise consistently is deepened relationships,” according to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Our relationships with loved ones often become more meaningful during times of struggle.

“But that requires having supportive relationships in the first place,” Elizabeth said. “Other than your parents, who were tossed out of the frying pan into the fire with you, you’ve been going it alone all this time. What would you say to that relative who told you Keith’s death would make you stronger if you saw her today?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I’d say, ‘You have no idea how badly I wish you’d been right.’”

Seven years on, my own mental health is in a much better place, and my children are thriving. We’re closer than we’ve ever been, and all four are involved in healthy relationships and working at jobs they enjoy. My older daughter became a psychiatric nurse and the younger one is pursuing a nursing degree in the same field.

After my oldest child went through a divorce a few years ago, I began watching my two young grandchildren while she worked, paying it forward the way my parents did for me.

I understand the urge to offer platitudes to someone who’s experienced a loss or tragedy. The right words can be difficult to find. But it’s better to say nothing than to imply they’ll somehow benefit or be improved as a result of their misfortune.

Suffering hasn’t made me stronger, but it certainly has taught me about the kind of person I want to be. Now I’m able to offer more than platitudes to others going through difficult times because I can share my experience along with empathy. Pain does not build resilience; lending support does, even if it’s only a sympathetic ear.

I’m grateful that today I can be that support for my family.

This piece was originally published in December 2024 and we are sharing it again now as part of HuffPost Personal’s “Best Of” series.

Margaret Jan Feike’s personal essays concerning subjects such as addiction, mental health, and grief have been published by Salon, McSweeney’s, Modern Loss, and other venues. She resides in central Ohio with her younger two children and a herd of cats and recently completed her first novel.

Do you have a compelling personal story you’d like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we’re looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

‘Tis The Season To Share The Mental Load – Keeping Christmas Merry, Not Messy

Posted on 13/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Every parent knows that the merriment and magic-making surrounding Christmas requires time, energy, and often more capacity than any of us have.

Upended schedules, school plays, non-uniform days, PTA events, parties, end-of-year work deadlines, gift-giving, cooking, baking, entertaining – the mental load, which is hard enough to juggle at the best of times, gets thrown into a pressure cooker.

And if one of you assumes the other is happy to manage everything, it won’t take long to reach breaking point.

It’s no wonder the first working Monday of the new year is often referred to as “Divorce Day”, when the strain over the holidays gets too much, and old wounds and buried resentments resurface.

For most couples, divorce isn’t on the cards. But the holidays can still churn up emotions we’ve managed to bury for most of the year; resentment and frustration can boil over and explode during this intensified time.

If you find yourself feeling withdrawn, short-tempered, unsupported, unseen and unheard – you’re not alone.

Take a step back and think about this while wearing your professional hat: would you ever host a major event without a detailed plan? Would you ever launch a new product without a communications campaign? And would you ever do the whole thing alone?

Think of your household as a mini organisation, and December is your biggest annual event. You need to come together as a team to make it a success.

So, set a time to sit down with your spouse or partner (and the kids if they’re old enough), and use the following questions as a guide. The end result is (hopefully) a smoother, happier, argument-free holiday season.

How to start sharing the load over Christmas

With a shared calendar, review all necessary events: school plays, worship services, Christmas parties, family gatherings.
In work settings we use the word ‘objective’. For the family, let’s stick to priorities. Take a deep breath, and each share your top two priorities for the holiday. (Use this opportunity wisely! These should be selfish. Maybe you don’t want to do dishes for two hours on Christmas night, or you want several hours on Boxing Day to do shopping, or you want to attend your work party and stay late without guilt.) Name what is truly important to you and respect each other’s wishes. It might help to add WHY these are important: maybe they don’t want to do dishes, not because they are lazy, but because they love the end-of-the-day snuggles with kids by the tree. Maybe shopping on Boxing Day is the alone time needed to get through the remainder of the school holiday. Maybe the work party is a way to get on the boss’s good side going into the new year.
If your kids are old enough, ask them their priorities as well! If the kids are still little, agree on three priorities you know they love.
Look at everyone’s priorities collectively and talk about how to keep those as the focus. Are any of them conflicting? Do you have the resources to make everything happen? If any priorities cannot be met, reset expectations now to prevent disappointment on Christmas morning. What are you going to let go of this year because it’s just too much?
Now it is time to make a mini action plan. Create a to-do list together, including everything that needs to happen to meet everyone’s expectations. Include deadlines, and decide who is taking responsibility for which task. Be careful to divide as evenly as possible (including all the gift lists) – one person should not be taking on 80% of the tasks. It’s good to discuss consequences too: what is going to happen if one of you drops the ball and doesn’t complete their list? What impact will that have on the family?
Finally, set follow-up meetings. Sit down together 1-2 times a week throughout the holidays to check in, troubleshoot, see where you might need additional help, and hold each other accountable.

It’s time to leave resentment in 2025 and let the holidays be the start of something new.

Rachel Childs is a parenting equity expert, founder of Parents That Work and co-host at Equal-ish, the parenting podcast.

Here’s Where You’ve Seen The Cast Of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Before

Posted on 13/12/2025 by Boris Clair

In Hollywood, you can usually chart a sequel’s quality on a downward-sliding line graph: the higher the number after the original, the lower your expectations should be.

But Knives Out seems to be gloriously bucking that trend based on the glowing reception the third film has received from fans and critics alike.

Wake Up Dead Man sees Daniel Craig return with his usual southern drawl and thirst for a juicy murder mystery to solve. This time, it centres on a dead priest and his flock of suspicious characters, meaning we’ve got pews full of new characters to get to know.

Here’s where you’ll have seen them before.

1) Josh O’Connor

Ever since his big breakthrough as a binge-drinking sheep farmer who falls in love with a Romanian migrant worker in God’s Own Country in 2017, it’s been an upward trajectory for Josh.

He picked up an Emmy Award for his role as Prince Charles in Netflix series The Crown and also starred opposite Anya Taylor-Joy in the 2020 adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma.

Josh had another huge moment when Challengers and its steamy tennis love triangle – completed by Zendaya and Mike Faist – became the film of 2024. With it, he accidentally ushered in the ‘hot rodent boyfriend’ movement that dominated the summer, making him a well-known face across pop culture in general.

You might have also seen Josh in the artier films La Chimera and The Mastermind, while before his big screen breakthrough, he spent three years playing Larry Durrell in the ITV series The Durrells.

2) Glenn Close

Glenn is an acting legend that you’ll most definitely have come across at some point in your viewing life.

Glazing over her recent stint in Kim Kardashian legal drama All’s Fair, Glenn has been nominated for eight Oscars for her standout roles in The World According To Garp, The Big Chill, The Natural, Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, Albert Nobbs, The Wife and Hillbilly Elegy.

Never one to fall victim to typecasting, she’s also well-loved for her depiction of Cruella de Vil in the 1990s Disney classic 101 Dalmatians and played Nova-Prime Irani Rael in Marvel superhero film Guardians Of The Galaxy.

If you’re more of a small-screen person, you might have come across Glenn on TV shows like the Emmy-winning Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and Damages.

3) Mila Kunis

You’re likely to recognise Mila’s voice thanks to her ongoing voice role as Meg Griffin in Family Guy, while she rose to fame as Jackie Burkhart in That ’70s Show opposite her now-husband Ashton Kutcher.

Her big film breakthrough came with Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008, which she followed up with fellow comedies like Friends With Benefits, Ted and Bad Moms.

You’ll probably have seen, if not heard about, Mila in the 2010 psychological horror movie Black Swan, where she played a ballerina opposite Natalie Portman.

She’s further tested the waters with more dramatic roles, like in Four Good Days, where she played a woman struggling with drug addiction (with Knives Out co-star Glenn Close playing her mother).

4) Kerry Washington

Kerry is probably best known for playing powerful ‘fixer’ Olivia Pope in the political drama series Scandal, which landed her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

She picked up further Emmy nods for Confirmation, American Son, and drama series Little Fires Everywhere, where she starred opposite Reese Witherspoon, shaking up suburbia.

2000s film fans will recognise Kerry for her breakthrough film role as Chenille Reynolds in Save The Last Dance, while she’s also appeared in Ray, Mr & Mrs Smith, Fantastic Four, The Last King Of Scotland and Django Unchained.

5) Josh Brolin

You might have recently clocked Josh in Weapons, aka the best horror movie of the year, but he first became famous for appearing in the classic 1980s film The Goonies.

While he followed it up with a handful of other movies like Guillermo Del Toro’s Mimic, his portrayal of Llewelyn Moss in 2007 neo-Western No Country for Old Men is largely considered to have ushered in the second act of his career.

He went on to appear in the likes of American Gangster, Milk, Inherent Vice, Sicario, Oldboy and Dune, but swathes of people will know him as supervillain Thanos within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

6) Jeremy Renner

Jeremy is widely known for playing Clint Barton/Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in films like The Avengers and the Disney+ miniseries Hawkeye.

A regular in the action world, you might have also seen him in the Mission: Impossible film series and The Bourne Legacy, while he also had a brush with a zombie apocalypse in 28 Weeks Later.

Jeremy received Oscar nominations for his roles in The Hurt Locker and The Town, but he’s also no stranger to television, having starred as Mike McLusky in Mayor of Kingstown for the past four years.

7) Andrew Scott

Andrew is forever known to a generation as ‘hot priest’ thanks to Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s award-winning series Fleabag.

His other TV roles include Sherlock, The Town, Black Mirror, His Dark Materials, Ripley and – most recently – Lena Dunham’s Netflix series Too Much.

Andrew has gone on to make a massive impact on the big screen with roles in Pride, Spectre and 1917. But it was his turn in All Of Us Strangers, opposite Paul Mescal, that truly set him apart, gaining serious awards attention with the pair’s portrayal of doomed lovers.

Also a big name on stage, thespians might recognise Andrew from his role in the 2019 production of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter or A Girl in a Car with a Man, both of which landed him Olivier Awards.

8) Cailee Spaeny

Cailee’s most high-profile role to date was portraying Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s 2023 biographical film, opposite Jacob Elordi as Elvis – a performance that earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

She went on to star in Civil War and Alien: Romulus while you might have also seen her in films like Pacific Rim Uprising, Bad Times at the El Royale, On The Basis Of Sex and Vice.

Over on TV, Cailee has appeared in Devs, Mare Of Easttown and The First Lady.

9) Daryl McCormack

Daryl received a BAFTA nomination for his role as the titular sex worker in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande.

He’s also appeared in Twisters, along with Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and opposite Richard E. Grant in 2023 thriller The Lesson.

Peaky Blinders fans will know him as Finn Shelby’s close pal Isaiah Jesus while he had a key role in Sharon Horgan’s Apple TV+ comedy Bad Sisters and has appeared in other TV series like A Very English Scandal, Cleaning Up, The Wheel Of Time and The Woman In The Wall.

10) Thomas Haden Church

Thomas rose to fame starring in 1990s US sitcoms Wings and Ned And Stacey, with more recent TV roles including Divorce, where he starred opposite Sarah Jessica Parker as a married couple going through a knotty break-up.

He’s most known for his film roles, which include Sideways, Easy A, George Of The Jungle, Smart People while Marvel fans will know him as the villainous Sandman in the Spider-Man films.

11) Jeffrey Wright

Beginning his career in theatre, Jeffrey picked up a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway production of Angels In America, later adding an Emmy to his mantelpiece after also starring in the TV adaptation.

You might have also seen the actor in Boardwalk Empire, Westworld, The Agency or season two of The Last Of Us.

In film, he recently earned a ‘Best Actor’ Oscar nomination for his appearance in comedy-drama American Fiction.

Jeffrey has had a prolific career in movies before that nomination, having starred in other big-name productions including The Batman, The French Dispatch, Broken Flowers, The Hunger Games films, Daniel Craig’s James Bond films, and Rust.

12) James Faulkner

James’ Knives Out role isn’t his first brush with the clergy, having played Pope Sixtus IV in the TV series Da Vinci’s Demons and Saint Paul in 2018 film Paul, Apostle of Christ.

On the other side of the spectrum, many will know him as pervy Uncle Geoffrey from the Bridget Jones films, while James has also appeared in Atomic Blonde, Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey and Slow Horses.

13) Bridget Everett

Not forgetting her role as “drunk party girl” in the Sex And The City movie, Bridget is known for comedy appearances in the likes of Inside Amy Schumer, Trainwreck and Breaking News In Yuba County.

Bridget also picked up an Emmy Award nomination for her lead role as Sam in comedy drama series Somebody Somewhere, where she played a woman who returns to her hometown to care for her dying sister.

14) Noah Segan

Noah is a Knives Out regular, and also starred in the previous two films, with director Rian Johnson clearly a fan of his work as he also cast him in his movies Looper and Brick.

As well as his collaborations with Rian, Noah appeared in US soap Days Of Our Lives, comedy-horror film Blood Relatives and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Wake Up Dead Man is streaming now on Netflix.

The 70-20-10 Rule Can Help With Christmas Overwhelm

Posted on 12/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Whether you love or loathe Christmas, it’s hard to deny just how stressful the season can be. Gathering gifts, decorating, reconnecting with family members and if you’re hosting Christmas Dinner… SO much prepping.

Even with all the best intentions, this stress can really take a toll and prevent you from enjoying the holidays which feels like it defeats the entire point.

Thankfully, one psychologist, Nathan D Iverson PhD has found a way to apply the leadership value of 70-20-10 to holiday stress and you know what? It just might be the solution we’ve been looking for.

The 70-20-10 rule for Christmas stress

70% – ‘hard moments we didn’t choose’

We are ALL familiar with them. An established couple being asked when they’re planning to have a child, a flustered family member trying to please everybody or even just falling back into family dynamics you thought you left behind in childhood.

Petty sibling arguments, anyone?

Iverson says: “For most of my life, and still right now, I’ve experienced these moments as obstacles to a peaceful season. But lately, I’m trying—imperfectly—to see them as part of my growth instead of proof of my shortcomings.

“Psychologists call this a learning orientation—seeing challenges as opportunities to grow rather than threats to avoid. It doesn’t make the moment easier. But it does change how we make meaning of it.”

It sounds like it makes perfect sense but I reckon it’ll take some practice to get used to.

20% – ‘The people who help us make sense of things’

A sneaky heart-to-heart with your favourite auntie or words of wisdom from your mum, these quiet corners of conversation can help us to make sense of our own feelings, according to Iverson.

Iverson says: “Often, they help us laugh a little at ourselves—which is a form of grace we don’t give enough credit.

“I rely on these conversations far more than I admit. They turn holiday tension into insight. Without them, the moment just stays a moment. With them, the moment becomes meaningful.”

10% – ‘The tools we bring with us’

Finally, this is a little work you must do yourself. Learn how to control your stress, your big feelings and how to empathise with even your most frustrating family members.

Iverson assures: “These tools rarely show up perfectly in the moment. But afterward, they help us reflect with less shame and more clarity.

“Knowledge alone doesn’t change us—but it supports the slow work that does.”

Buddy The Elf Was Almost Played By A Different Actor

Posted on 12/12/2025 by Boris Clair

The film came out over 20 years ago (2003, would you believe it) and still, Elf is a family favourite in many households. In fact, in an ongoing survey by Newsround, Elf is currently the third most popular Christmas film in the UK, just behind Nativity and Home Alone, which has taken the top spot.

Along with Anchorman which came out in 2004, Elf is one of the films that comedian and actor Will Ferrell is known for. He plays Buddy with such whimiscal charm that it was one of his career-defining roles.

However, the actor wasn’t the first choice for the flick and was actually given it a decade after the original script was written.

The actor originally chosen to play Buddy the Elf

So, the script for Elf was written way back in 2003 by David Berenbaum and according to film website Screen Rant, the role was written with actor Jim Carrey in mind.

This may be surprising but this same year, the actor was filming Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and starring in In Living Color. He really was just about to become a comedy giant in Hollywood. Screen Rant also explain: “Given his wild and zany characters on In Living Color, Carrey was seen as a natural for the goofiness and playfulness needed to play Buddy the Elf.”

While I personally prefer Jim Carrey, it really is hard to imagine anybody but Will Ferrell playing the role and it turns out, the actor thought the exact same.

He and screenwriter Adam McKay took on the script after several years of stagnation and decide to make it themselves with director Jon Favreau. The film originally had a darker tone but this trio made it into the modern fairytale that we see on our screens every year now.

Elf is available to stream on Netflix UK.

‘I’m A Dentist – 6 Dental Changes Can Reveal Hormonal Imbalances’

Posted on 12/12/2025 by Boris Clair

You might associate menopause primarily with symptoms like hot flushes. But that’s just one of dozens of symptoms, which include burning mouth syndrome and gum disease.

That’s not to mention pregnancy gingivitis, periodontal disease, which has been linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome, or even delayed tooth eruption and other dental changes among people with hyperthyroidism.

So it’s a good thing Dr Mohammad Ali, a dentist and co-founder of Emerdency, has shared the signs experts can spot in seconds which may reveal changes to your hormone levels.

These are:

1) Gum inflammation that seems to come from nowhere

This may be a sign of pregnancy, Dr Ali said. “Gums look swollen, red and bleed very easily even when brushing and cleaning are good, which can suggest that hormones are making the tissues more reactive to plaque.”

This may happen, the expert explained, because “Progesterone and oestrogen increase blood flow levels to the gum tissues and make them more reactive to plaque.”

Additionally, “Thyroid disorders can also interfere with tissue healing, so gums can become inflamed more quickly and take longer to recover.”

2) A dry mouth (xerostomia)

“If a patient’s tongue seems to be textured or sticky and saliva is low,” especially if the person’s dental hygiene is generally good, Dr Ali said dentists may begin to suspect “menopause, low oestrogen, ongoing high stress, and certain medications or medical conditions”.

He added, “Low oestrogen can reduce saliva production in many women. Saliva is key to protecting teeth, so menopausal women may notice more frequent cavities and greater sensitivity than before”.

And, he added, saliva production is linked to our parasympathetic, or “rest and digest,” system. Overproduction of stress hormones like cortisol “can disrupt these pathways and reduce saliva flow in many people.

“Dry mouth has also been linked to burning mouth syndrome, another condition linked to menopause.”

3) Jaw cleaning, cracked enamel, and worn teeth

This may be linked to elevated stress levels (and the overproduction of associated hormones) as well as poor sleep, said the dentist.

“When dentists examine teeth at a check-up, they can usually see clear signs of grinding, such as tiny fractures, flat edges and chipped enamel.

“These are classic signs of clenching or grinding, which are commonly linked with chronic stress and restless sleep, although there can be other contributing factors as well.”

4) Unexplained bad breath

“Bad breath is not always about brushing routines,” Dr Ali shared.

It can also be caused by “metabolic and hormonal factors,” like insulin resistance and PCOS, which “may alter the balance of bacteria in the gut and mouth”.

Hypothyroidism, too, “lowers metabolic rate and slows saliva production, letting odour-causing bacteria thrive,” he added, while “elevated ketones from blood sugar imbalance,” sometimes caused by insulin issues, “can also change breath smell”.

5) Enamel erosion that seems linked to stomach acid

Stomach acid doesn’t just cause heartburn – it can wear your teeth down, too.

And, Dr Ali said, some hormonal shifts can create acid reflux. “Hormones can contribute to acid reflux, especially progesterone in pregnancy and stress hormones such as cortisol during extreme stress.

“Progesterone relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter, which can increase reflux. Stress hormones such as cortisol can increase stomach acid and make reflux symptoms worse in susceptible people.”

6) Mouth ulcers and slow-healing sores

“Drops in oestrogen are thought to weaken mucosal barriers and make tissues more prone to irritation,” which could lead to more ulcers in eg menopause and perimenopause.

And, the dentist added, “persistently raised cortisol can interfere with the activity of immune cells that look after wound repair,” meaning stress may prevent your sores from healing as quickly as usual.

“When hormones are out of balance, small injuries in the mouth may take longer to heal, and ulcers may appear without any clear trigger.” Autoimmune conditions may slow the healing process, too.

What should I do if I think I have hormone-related dental issues?

“People are often surprised by how much their mouth can hint at what is going on in the rest of the body. As a dentist, I cannot diagnose hormone conditions from your teeth alone, but I can spot patterns that suggest it is worth speaking to your GP or practice nurse,” Dr Ali ended.

He recommended keeping a diary of your symptoms, asking a GP for a hormone or blood test if symptoms continue, visiting a dentist if you have any dental concerns, increasing your hydration if you have a dry mouth, and using a fluoride toothpaste to protect your enamel.

Moscow Threatens British Soldiers In Ukraine While Nato Chief Warns: ‘We Are Russia’s Next Target’

Posted on 11/12/2025 by Boris Clair

Russia has warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine are “legitimate targets” following the death of a British soldier.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Wednesday that Lance Corporal George Hooley had died in a “tragic accident” this week.

He was observing Ukrainian forces testing a new defensive capability away from the frontline.

His death marks the first time a British soldier has been killed within Ukraine since the war began in February 2022.

The government praised him for being an “exceptional soldier who will be very deeply missed”.

The UK has revealed little information about what its military personnel are doing in Ukraine, partly to avoid giving Russia material for its propaganda.

But after Hooley’s tragic death was confirmed, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow would regard any foreign military contingents in Ukraine as “legitimate targets”.

She also demanded the UK reveal what its troops are doing in Ukraine, saying: “Let the UK government not lie to its subjects.

“Don’t lie about those who are being sent there from the United Kingdom. Those who are sent there, they conduct direct instructions of the UK government in Ukraine.”

Offering no evidence to back up her claims, she said: “They commit acts of sabotage, terrorist acts, extremist tasks as well.”

It’s no secret that Britain, along with other European allies, has been helping Ukraine since Russia invaded, although officials have not declared how many UK troops are in the country.

Zakharova’s new threats come as Nato chief Mark Rutte issued a warning about the real dangers Russia poses to Europe.

Speaking at a security conference event in Berlin, he said Europe should make efforts to prevent a war which could be “on the scale of war our grandparents and our great-grandparents endured”.

He said: “We are Russia’s next target. I feel that too many are quietly complacent. Too many don’t feel the urgency, and too many believe that time is on our side. It is not.

“The time for action is now.”

Rutte claimed Russia could be ready to use military force against Nato in the next five years.

His remarks come after a flurry of diplomatic efforts in recent weeks to secure a new peace deal to end the Ukraine war, led by Donald Trump’s US administration.

Rutte also insisted in his speech that the US and Europe can get on the same page as Ukraine amid growing fears that Washington is going to lean towards a peace plan which rewards Russia for its aggression just to end the war sooner.

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NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned its member states are \"Russia’s next target\".

Speaking at a security conference event in Berlin, Rutte says the bloc must make all efforts to prevent a war that could be \"on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured\". pic.twitter.com/7eEsWcpu65

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 11, 2025

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NATO chief Mark Rutte has warned its member states are “Russia’s next target”.

Speaking at a security conference event in Berlin, Rutte says the bloc must make all efforts to prevent a war that could be “on the scale of war our grandparents and great-grandparents endured”. pic.twitter.com/7eEsWcpu65

— Sky News (@SkyNews) December 11, 2025

Vladimir Putin’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov also hinted at how well Russia was getting on with the US now in comments today.

According to Reuters, he said: “In our negotiations with the Americans on the Ukraine issue, I personally believe that the misunderstandings and miscommunications have been resolved,

“We have conveyed to our American colleagues additional proposals concerning collective security guarantees.

“We understand that when discussing security guarantees, we cannot limit ourselves to Ukraine alone.”