WITH the weather set to stay clear and dry this week, we’re encouraging readers to make the most of the sunny rays with a hike.
So grab those walking boots and head for the hills.
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We’re encouraging readers to make the most of the sunny rays with a hikeCredit: Getty
These hiking-themed staycations are perfect for spring, when nature is in full bloom and before the heat ramps up in summer.
Sophie Swietochowski picks six of the best.
COTSWOLDS
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The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach is a great rest stopCredit: Supplied
For something more challenging than a stroll but not so tough you need all the gear, the 6.8km Northleach and Hampnett circular route is a great choice, passing rolling Cotswolds hills and a gorgeous 15th century church.
Reward yourself with a post-hike pint at The Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach, a traditional country pub where stone floors are kept toasty by roaring fires.
The 14 bedrooms upstairs boast just as much character, with roll-top tubs taking pride of place in the larger rooms. Dogs are welcome, too.
Hilly hikes in the leafy Herts city are a dream for any history lover.
The 10.5km ramble from Hatfield across the disused railway, known as the Alban Way, leads into St Albans city centre, where Roman ruins and a grand cathedral await.
Rest those weary limbs in the heated pool or sizzling sauna at Sopwell House’s Cottonmill Spa, tucked away in 12 acres of countryside.
The charming bedrooms feel cosy, thanks to the old-fashioned decor, while the reception is kept warm with a roaring log burner.
Make sure to pop into the hotel’s Omboo restaurant for sharing plates of sushi, hot, sticky chicken and truffle spring rolls.
Throughout the woodland and green fields of the New Forest, wild ponies are allowed to roam freely.
You may even notice some munching on the grass outside a pub or strolling along the narrow country roads.
Nature enthusiasts should take the challenging, but tranquil, Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst Loop.
It winds 16km through tree-dense forests and past quaint village tea shops.
Book one of the 13 dog-friendly rooms at The Huntsman in Brockenhurst, which recently had a facelift and now features cottage-style furniture and shiny bathrooms in rich green and blue.
Try the Sunday roasts loaded with meat and flavour-packed gravy.
Coastal cliff paths overlooking golden sands and choppy waves are in abundance here.
Pack your binoculars and stroll the St Nectan’s Glen, Tintagel Castle and Rocky Valley circular route to spot foxes, deer, woodpeckers and kestrels.
The 11.7km trail is popular so head out early if you want to soak up the scenery all to yourselves.
Post-hike, order a local ale at the refurbished Wellington in the nearby town of Boscastle.
It’s one of the oldest coaching inns in the South West.
Along with an excellent restaurant serving refined pub and coastal classics, there are 14 rooms and three apartments, each decorated in a castle theme.
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
♈ ARIES
March 21 to April 20
Dreams can get a sharp reality check today as Mercury spins direct.
Maybe you’ve been close to letting some goals slip away – but now you have the ideas and energy to start over, or push through.
Love may feel hard to navigate, but the journey is as important as the destination, so try to relax and enjoy it.
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Your daily horoscope for Monday
♉ TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
Venus and Saturn may set up a choice between security and excitement, but you can have both when you trust – and pace – yourself.
A time of thinking everyone else knows better than you how to live your life is over. Your star skill is an ability to think and act fast.
Luck combines three very different talents.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♊ GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
With maverick planet Uranus deep in your chart, unusual ideas can keep coming to mind – but you have the talents to break with tradition and follow your own path.
This can be the day you see how.
In love? What you think you want may not be what you truly need.
Single? The One works long hours.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♋ CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Information you have struggled to understand can slot into place as Mercury emerges from retrograde.
Instead of a jumbled set of offers, one clear pathway shines brightly in your future.
It’s tempting to try to fix past mistakes, but your chart of the day has a strong, forward-facing drive and energy.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♌ LEO
July 23 to August 23
Your usual “get up and go” may feel a little subdued today as your mindset catches up with your physical strength.
You can see exactly where you may be overstretching, and how to deal with it.
Time is precious today, especially with people, or activities, you love.
An “M” name can bring tempting offers.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♍ VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
It’s not been easy to see a way around a relationship obstacle, whether in work or love.
But today you have clear, calm words that can make a difference.
The key is to say them aloud, not keep them inside. If you start the day single, a face you’ve never really noticed shines from a shared picture.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Saturn’s influence can lead you to settle for less than you deserve, in terms of job security, or opportunityCredit: Getty
♎ LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
Instead of trying to keep several health projects running at the same time, your new Mercury strategy can be to choose one and really apply yourself.
Believing you can, and want, to change is the best starting point.
This sets you free from others’ opinions. Luck links you to one number, repeated three times.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
♏ SCORPIO
October 24 to November 22
Sun physical energy plus moon emotional insight make you a zodiac force to be reckoned with today.
You have a knack for seeing straight through pretence to land on true wants and wishes.
This can stir up unexpected attraction, so be ready. If you’re in love, the fun is still there, despite recent demands.
A celebrity circle can open suddenly, and make space just for youCredit: Supplied
♒ AQUARIUS
January 21 to February 18
Cash questions that have felt out of control can come back into line – the key is your ability to accept change, rather than sticking to an initial budget or schedule.
Rating people by who they are, not what they do, isn’t always easy, but it’s worth your time. It could fix at least one emotional situation.
ROYAL Mail told a mum whose son’s ashes were lost in the post that she could not have compo — as they were worthless.
Heartless officials insisted their £20 maximum payout didn’t apply as the remains had “no intrinsic value”.
To add further insult, they also saw fit to tell the woman her 409g package was 359g more than the postal limit for human ashes, meaning it should be “prohibited from being sent”.
The grieving mum, who asked not to be named, lost her son to suicide aged 27 two years ago.
She now lives in Somerset but wanted him to be buried near to where he grew up in Sussex and so posted his ashes First Class to her friend.
But when the urn failed to arrive, she contacted the postal service, which admitted it had been sent to the wrong address.
It said it can “only assume” a label from another parcel somehow got stuck to the box.
Three months after complaining, the mum of six got a letter from Royal Mail saying: “There is compensation available for the loss, but this is a maximum of £20 for the intrinsic value of the content, but there is no intrinsic value to someone’s ashes.”
The mum told the Sun: “Royal Mail have no compassion at all. No money could replace my son’s ashes. They were priceless.
“I just want to know what happened to them.”
Royal Mail did send a £50 cheque as a gesture of goodwill.
And a spokesman said: “We are truly sorry for the loss of this important item. We did everything we could to try to locate it but sadly without success on this occasion.”
Royal Mail plans to cut 2nd-class deliveries to save £300m a year
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Royal Mail told a mum whose son’s ashes were lost in the post that she could not have compo
HE has swapped the newsroom for the open road twice to make travelogues – and now Clive Myrie is going for the hat-trick.
I can exclusively reveal the BBC News At Ten and Mastermind host has landed a third series showcasing his global jaunts.
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Clive Myrie has landed a third series of his BBC travel showCredit: BBC
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Clive first went to Italy, then to the CaribbeanCredit: BBC
First he went to Italy, then to the Caribbean, and now his new ten-parter takes him to Africa — the continent he once covered as a news correspondent.
Clive said: “I was based in Johannesburg, working for the BBC, more than 20 years ago.
“It’s such an exciting, culturally rich and diverse continent and I’ve always wanted to come back to explore it more deeply.”
Airing next year, Clive Myrie’s African Adventures shows him visiting Morocco, where he will be riding with the Arab world’s first all-female motorcycle group.
In Tangier he jams with the country’s most famous Sufi musician, and he joins a footie academy in Nigeria.
While in South Africa, he works in vineyards, conservation centres and fruit farms.
But Ghana may be the most personal part of the trip, as it lets Clive dig deeper into his family’s roots.
He even takes part in a ceremony to the ancestors, with a chance to take on a Ghanaian name.
In 2023, Clive’s Italian Road Trip on BBC Two took him to locations including Lazio, Florence and Capri.
And his 2024 Caribbean Adventure for the channel saw him examine his Jamaican heritage, journeying from Cuba to the beaches of Barbados.
BBC newsreader Clive Myrie left shaken by death threats and racist abuse after sicko sends him bullet in post
Clive was in trouble with the Beeb last year, apologising for not declaring extra earnings, but it looks like they’ve kissed and made up.
And just think of the air miles he’s racking up.
He’ll never have to pay for a flight again . . .
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
You may assume Neptune will weaken willpower, but the opposite can be true.
The dreamy planet helps you see into the future, pinpoint a distant goal.
And suddenly you can be halfway there.
Mercury’s switch, to full speed ahead, sharpens romance skills – laughter is a great aphrodisiac, all week, for Scorpio couples.
Single? Say yes to an Aquarius early-riser. Luck circles “33”.
DESTINY DAYS Re-briefs of all kinds look most likely on Wednesday, while Saturday is a great day for any kind of negotiation.
Don’t hold back from holding forth. “Sorry” can be so close, on Sunday.
What your zodiac sign says about your home decor
LUCKY LINKS Fabric or wallpaper with a pattern of leaves. Flashing blue lights.
The scent of mint – and tastes that are sweet, but also salty.
Deep mysterious colours like rust, midnight blue and black can turn uncertainty into a pleasurable experience.
MERCURY MOTIVATE! Mercury is out of retrograde at last and the big winner can be your confidence.
Instead of expecting everyone to dismiss or disrespect your ideas, you have the kind of calm, considered approach that really impresses and inspires others.
Your hands are gifted at creating wonderful things, once you set them free to try.
So yes, rip up the Scorpio rulebook!
Fabulous is the home of horoscopes, with weekly updates on what’s in store for your star sign as well as daily predictions.
ED Miliband has been slammed for “astounding hypocrisy” after his department splurged more than £40,000 on UK flights in Labour’s first six months.
The Energy and Net Zero Secretary spent more on domestic travel than his Tory predecessor – despite urging Brits to fly less while in opposition.
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Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband’s department spent £43,644 on UK flights in Labour’s first six monthsCredit: PA
New figures show his department racked up a £43,644 bill for internal flights between July and December last year – eclipsing the £40,279 spent under the Conservatives in the first half of 2024.
Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie raged: “The hypocrisy from ‘eco zealot’ Ed Miliband and his Labour chums is astounding.
“In opposition, Miliband was all too happy to lecture the rest of us — but now in government, it’s one rule for him and another for everyone else.
“Worse still, he’s forcing the country to suffer under his sanctimonious eco agenda.”
A spokesman for the energy department defended ministers and officials using domestic flights, saying: “Ministers and civil servants are required to travel for government business, and while most journeys are by train, flights are sometimes necessary to ensure ministerial and officials’ time is used as efficiently as possible.”
At a speech in Buckinghamshire’s Pinewood Studios, the PM declared he wanted to put the UK on track “to at least 95 per cent cleanpower” by 2030.
But in Labour’s manifesto, Sir Keir was definitive that his party would enforce a zero-carbon power system in six years’ time.
The PM denied any watering down or policy change, insisting “the clean energy pledge is today exactly what it was in the election; that has always been central to our mission”.
Cringe moment Keir’s own Cabinet fumble over his baffling ‘Plan For Change’
THE parents of a boy killed by a driver who jumped a red light told her: “You may as well have killed all of us.”
Christopher Arnett’s dad Lee, 49, faced Evie Wiles in court yesterday to tell her that she had stolen his son’s future, adding: “I will never forgive you.”
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Christopher Arnett with his mum ClaireCredit: Simon Jones
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Mum Claire told his killer, Evie Wiles, pictured: ‘I mourn the fact I won’t watch him grow into a man. He was one of my best friends’Credit: Facebook
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Wiles went through a red light and hit 14-year-old Christopher as he walked home from playing with pals after schoolCredit: Simon Jones
And the boy’s chemistry teacher mum Claire, 52, told his killer: “I mourn the fact I won’t watch him grow into a man. He was one of my best friends.
“My family and I will never forgive you for putting us through a trial and this horrific ordeal.
“You not only killed Christopher, you may as well have killed all of us. Our lives will never be the same again.”
Wiles, now 25, had been texting her girlfriend as she drove her Seat Leon to pick her up to go to a football match.
She went through a red light and hit 14-year-old Christopher as he walked home from playing with pals after school.
Former mortgage company office worker Wiles showed no emotion when she was jailed for five and a half years at Luton crown court yesterday.
And she was similarly unmoved when her victim’s parents addressed the court. Claire railed at her: “You’ve not once said sorry. You never even called 999.”
The mum of two was unable to hold her Star Wars fan son’s hand as his life support was turned off a day after the crash in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, on February 2, 2023.
Claire said: “I wanted to hold him. I wanted to kiss his face. But they wouldn’t let us take the tubes out.
“It’s a very peaceful process and I’m honoured that I was there for it. I was there when he was born, I was there when he died.”
Wiles was found guilty in January of causing Christopher’s death by dangerous driving.
She had been messaging her partner — but claimed the lad had not used the crossing properly.
Judge Andrew Hatton told her: “You were distracted by your phone.”
KEIR Starmer now has an urgent duty to extract whatever advantage for Britain he can from the Trump tariffs disaster.
That means thinking what for him has been the unthinkable: Stealing a march on the EU he has always revered.
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PM has urgent duty to extract advantage for UK from Trump tariffs disasterCredit: AP
First, though, all talk of revenge tariffs against the US must be jettisoned.
They are a tax ultimately paid by consumers in the country imposing them. The President will find that out in the end.
Why would our PM inflict yet more hardship on Britain just to appease Trump-hating Labour and Lib Dem virtue-signallers? It would be insane.
Trump, who acts on whims and prejudices, would probably hit back by doubling our ten per cent tariff if we brainlessly engaged in a trade war we cannot win.
There is nothing Labour can do about him being President — or to convince him of his folly, even as it continues to crash global stock markets.
It is possible America might axe our tariffs if Labour negotiates a free trade deal — but it’s very far from certain.
Pending that, the Government should count itself “lucky” that our levy, entirely thanks to Brexit, is half the EU’s.
And it should rapidly exploit that advantage to lure exporters and investors from the Continent to our shores for the cheaper US access we will have.
It is spectacularly ironic that this vital task should fall to Sir Keir.
Arguably Britain’s most ardent Remainer Europhile, the Brexit-hater who championed a second referendum, is now able to undercut the Brussels club and nick its business.
His “reset” in UK-EU relations is pointless. His mission for growth is failing utterly. So here, admittedly against all of Labour’s instincts, is a golden opportunity to generate some, and snatch a measure of victory from the jaws of defeat.
World leaders react to to Trump’s tariffs
“Country before party”, he often says. Can Sir Keir bring himself to act on it?
If not, what IS his growth strategy in this chaotic new world?
Clown court
YET again a judge frees Just Stop Oil clowns out of sympathy with their cause.
It cost taxpayers a staggering £104,750 to clean off the red paint they sprayed on the Treasury.
Three had previous convictions. But they walked away with suspended sentences because Judge Nicholas Rimmer said they had a “heartfelt, conscientious motive”.
So what? He and some of his colleagues seem unable to judge dispassionately the actions of criminals whose beliefs they admire. It cannot be right.
Millions care about the climate without breaking the law. These self-centred morons decided to “help” by brainlessly damaging a public building.
Why weren’t they properly punished — and billed for every penny?
IF you’re a nosy so-and-so like me, Alison Hammond’s new Big Weekend telly show is going to be right up your street.
I can exclusively reveal that Alison has signed up some huge names, including actor Luke Evans, plus singers Perrie Edwards and Mel B, who have all welcomed her into their homes for a poke around.
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Presenter Alison Hammond is fronting a new show to peek into the homes of starsCredit: Getty
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Perrie Edwards is one of the big names who has invited Alison’s camera crew inside her homeCredit: Getty
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Hollywood star Luke Evans is another one of the stars who has signed up the new seriesCredit: Getty
The series, made by BBC Studios Entertainment, airs this summer and will see Little Mix star Perrie, Dracula Untold leading man Luke and Spice Girl Mel allowing cameras into their lives — to show the public what they’re really like.
An insider said: “Alison’s new Big Weekend series is shaping up to be amazing and she has already filmed with some massive names.
“The show offers a really candid insight into the stars’ lives.
“She literally moves in with them and then gets under their skin and sees what makes them tick.
READ MORE ON ALISON HAMMOND
“Perrie’s fans, for example, have never really seen her at home and it will be a really revealing watch.
“She talks a lot about her life in Little Mix and the transition from that to motherhood and then launching a solo career.
“It’s the same with Luke, who is a genuinely big acting star.
“No one would have guessed he’d ever sign up for something like this.
“Luke’s fans only know him for his on-screen work, so to have Alison probing him with questions in his own home is something no one has seen before. They really are both amazing signings.”
But it’s Mel B who really spices up the humour.
New girlband Sweet Love get stamp of approval from Spice Girls as they ask for a support slot for rumoured reunion
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Former Spice Girl Mel B is one of the stars of the series, and has great chemistry with AlisonCredit: Getty
“She and Alison get on like a house on fire. For Spice Girls’ fans, it is something you don’t want to miss.”
I’m told there are at least three other big names who have welcomed the This Morning presenter into their homes, with the new series running across six episodes on BBC One.
Jade dreams of album 2
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Former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall is already making plans for her second albumCredit: Getty
JADE THIRLWALL hasn’t even released her debut solo album yet – but she’s already lining up the second record.
Keen to make 2025 her year, Jade is also thinking of ideas for her first solo tour, which is due to take place this autumn.
Bizarre understands that the trek will see her play medium-size venues, including the 3,600 capacity Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, West London.
A source said: “Jade is laser-focused on making this year a big one for her.
“She’s been keen not to rush the first album, as she was finding her sound and footing as a solo artist. But now she’s feeling really confident and has big plans.
“Her team are working on putting together a UK tour for the autumn, which she hopes will be big and bold.
“Her Brit Awards performance was super-dramatic and went down a storm, so she’s hoping the tour will be in the same vein.
“As for album two, she’s only just got back into the studio and is still working out the direction.”
The plans mirror that of Harry Styles, who played theatre-sized venues in 2017, in support of his debut album.
The tour included two nights at the Eventim Apollo and one performance in Manchester.
He’s now one of the biggest stars on the planet, so no doubt Jade and her team are hoping history repeats itself.
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After Snow White’s box office numbers, Disney have put plans for a Tangled re-make on holdCredit: Alamy
THE Disney live-action remake of Tangled is on hold after Snow White’s underwhelming performance at the box office.
A new version of the 2010 animation had been in the works for years, with The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey set to helm it.
It is now on ice, amid the reception to Snow White, starring Rachel Zegler which looks unlikely to recoup its $270million budget.
But a live-action version of Lilo & Stitch is still due out next month, followed by a remake of 2016’s Moana in July next year.
Lily’s Lotus bid fails to flower
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Lily Allen has revealed she fell short with her White Lotus audition tapeCredit: Alamy
LILY ALLEN has told that she was rejected for a role on hit Sky Atlantic drama White Lotus.
She will play the lead in Hedda at Theatre Royal Bath this summer, but said telly is her real goal.
Revealing on her Miss Me? podcast how she filmed her solo audition, Lily said: “I did do a self-tape for White Lotus and obviously did not get it. But I think I’m a bit scared of doing self-tapes.
“Maybe now I would do them because I don’t think people give as much of a s**t about me any more.”
On her dream role, after moving back to the UK from New York, she added: “I don’t really know if the Oscars is what I’m going for, but a nice UK detective series, I’d love that.”
I CAN reveal former CelebrityBig Brother stars rejected huge amounts to return.
It is back on Monday and a source said: “Gemma Collins and Jewards were both offered deals reaching into six figures.
“They both love attention and the show but felt like it would be a step backwards.”
Harry Clark, the 2024 winner of The Traitors, also said no.
It’s Flo white in Sin City
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Actress Florence Pugh put on an all white outfit when she appeared at CinemaConCredit: Getty
FLORENCE PUGH was all white on the night in this mini-dress and cowboy boots for an appearance at CinemaCon.
On the final day of the film extravaganza in Las Vegas, the actress debuted five minutes of her new Marvel movie Thunderbolts, ahead of its release next month.
There were loads of stars there to show off projects, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan putting on bright outfits to discuss Freakier Friday, their sequel to 2003’s Freaky Friday.
Glen Powell talked about his The Running Man remake, while Oscar-winner Zoe Saldana showed snippets of the upcoming Avatar: Fire And Ash.
Tom Cruise, Mark Hamill and Ana De Armas were among others there, alongside Jeremy Allen White who showed a trailer for his Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere.
How long can Sir Keir put up with this loose cannon, who after an ignoble career spent opposing British interests has now effectively attacked him personally?
Air farce
THE Heathrow blackout and shutdown was already a global embarrassment.
Now we learn bosses were warned days earlier about the risk of power cuts.
The Queen met Loose Women’s Denise Welch and Janet Street-Porter at a royal charity reception yesterdayCredit: PA
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Queen Camilla with Diana ParkesCredit: PA
Camilla, 77, hosted the event to mark the 21st anniversary of SafeLives, which aims to end domestic violence.
Diana Parkes, whose daughter Joanna Simpson was killed by her estranged husband, told the Queen the scale of domestic abuse was “frightening”.
Camilla replied: “Terrifying. And social media.”
She also met the parents of Holly Newton, a 15-year-old who was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend.
Holly’s mum Micala Trussler is campaigning for the age at which a person can be classed as a domestic abuse victim to be lowered below 16.
She said of Camilla: “She was really passionate about our campaign.”
In her first engagements since the King was taken to hospital she had earlier inspected a giant “Green Man Humpty Dumpty Egg” outside Buckingham Palace.
Marvelling at the 2ft high sculpture outside Buckingham Palace she said: “This is very exciting, a real Humpty Dumpty.”
The artwork is one of 123 that make up “The Big Egg Hunt” campaign by Elephant Family, the conservation charity founded by Her Majesty’s late brother Mark Shand.
Beautician famed for bee venom mask honoured with royal warrant by Queen Camilla
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Camilla inspected a giant ‘Green Man Humpty Dumpty Egg’ outside Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme –Sun Club.
Lord Justice William Davis has faced accusations of politicising the judiciary and endangering public safetyCredit: Photoshot
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Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick told the Commons that Lord Justice Davis must resign, stating he had brought the Sentencing Council into complete disreputeCredit: PA
He added: “Not only did he oversee two-tier sentencing guidelines.
He’s freewheeling and boasting about giving non-custodial sentences to hyper-prolific offenders.”
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood refused to say whether she had confidence in the Sentencing Council boss, saying she would not make a personal attack.
But she vowed the quango’s role must be considered further after it had twice refused ministers’ demands to abandon controversial edicts to judges.
Guidelines could have seen ethnic minority, religious and transgender criminals potentially handed softer punishments by prioritising them for pre-sentence reports.
The Sentencing Council leadership backed down at the eleventh hour.
Shadow Justice Secretary Mr Jenrick claimed victory after threatening legal action against the Sentencing Council.
He said: “The sentencing council had until 5pm to respond to my legal challenge or face an injunction. I was advised we had a strong chance of winning.
“They have folded under the pressure. Thank you to everyone who supported our campaign to save equality before the law.”
Keir Starmer must IGNORE judges demanding Britain gives up Chagos Islands, top Tory blasts
SPRING is here and while many of us are jumping for joy, it is also the time of year when lots of people come down with a bug.
It is no myth that spring can see an uptick in viruses and infections.
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Dr Zoe Williams helps Sun readers with their health concernsCredit: Olivia West
The change in temperature can weaken the immune system, as can a lack of vitamin D over the darker, winter months, making people more susceptible to illnesses.
And when the weather gets warmer, we are more inclined to socialise than at the start of the year – and more contacts means more chances of catching something.
Staycations and trips abroad during half-term and Easter holidays may also expose us to germs.
Heading outdoors can also trigger seasonal allergies – with 25 per cent of hayfever sufferers allergic to tree pollen, which may cause sniffles, itchy eyes and more.
Meanwhile, the clocks went forward last weekend and studies show that a shift in daylight hours can put stress on the body.
So you are not imagining it – you may not feel so sprightly at the start of the season.
Data shows that people who got the jab last year were 40 per cent less likely to be admitted to hospital with the virus for two months after.
Here is a selection of what readers have asked me this week . . .
Dr Zoe tells This Morning she’s getting tested for bowel cancer after change in toilet habits
STOMACH PAIN AND TOILET TROUBLE
Q) ABOUT an hour after eating food I get a pain in my stomach and need to head for the toilet. It can mean a few visits.
I tried getting a doctors’ appointment but the receptionist said it could take weeks.
I have lost money because I’m too scared to travel in case I have an accident.
If I have to, I take diarrhoea tablets and don’t eat. What would you recommend?
A) If this has been a short-lived problem – less than a fortnight – then the most likely cause would be viral gastroenteritis, a virus that causes infection of the intestines.
It can result in symptoms like cramps, watery diarrhoea, nausea and sometimes vomiting or fever.
It gets better on its own in most people, though some people find it can take a few weeks for bowel habits to fully return to normal.
If it has been going on for longer, it definitely needs to be explored further.
There are many potential causes ranging from emotional stress to autoimmune disease (including coeliac, Crohn’s and colitis) to food allergies and intolerance.
It is also important to rule out bowel cancer if a change in bowel habit has persisted for longer than four weeks with no obvious cause.
It might be helpful to explain to reception the severity of your symptoms or complete an e-consult online.
E-consults are usually triaged by a trained member of the reception team according to your symptoms.
An altered bowel habit of over four weeks should trigger a reasonably urgent GPreview.
For anyone reading – it is really easy to do the FIT test, which is sent to your home as part of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme.
It just requires a small sample of your poo that you collect at home.
The test is sent to everyone aged 54 to 74, but this will soon cover everyone from the age of 50.
The test identifies small traces of blood in the stool that you cannot see with the naked eye.
What caused the shadow on my lung?
Q) IN July I had a severe pain down my right breast and round into my back which took my breath away.
Assessments at the hospital found a shadow on my lung.
It was hoped that it was an infection but despite two courses of antibiotics there was no change.
A further CT scan, PET scan and another CT have been taken and all I have been told is they are unsure what it is.
A recent letter on my latest scan said it is shrinking but hasn’t resolved and another CT scan will take place in six months.
If it keeps shrinking will I ever know what caused it? I have never smoked.
A) The term “shadow” on the lung actually means an area that appears more dense on an X-ray or CT scan than normal lung tissue.
Causes include infections, inflammation, benign nodules and cancerous tumours.
Of course, the focus for your doctors is to hopefully rule out cancer, and the fact that it is shrinking is a reassuring sign.
A normal PET scan is also reassuring as this is a test that can help detect cancer throughout the body.
The hope will be that the shadow continues to shrink and eventually disappears.
Sometimes people have benign “lung nodules” which can persist, but not grow and there are guidelines in place to monitor these depending on how they do or don’t change over time.
To answer your question about whether you will ever know the precise reason for the shadow on your lung – there is a likely chance that you might never know exactly what the cause was if it keeps shrinking.
The only way to determine for certain would be to do a biopsy, which means removing some of the denser tissue from the lung to analyse it under the microscope, but this would only be advised if the benefit of knowing would outweigh the risks of the procedure.
My husband’s in spots of bother
Q) MY husband has suffered a skin condition for a month.
It seems to be improving but that’s only because it’s not itching now.
The size of the spots seem to be getting larger. Can you please help?
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This reader’s husband has been suffering from a mystery rash, and has come to Dr Zoe for helpCredit: Supplied
A) When it comes to rashes it’s often the case that there are clues in the history to help make a diagnosis.
There is a common skin condition called pityriasis rosea that can cause scaly oval-shaped patches on the skin or the chest, abdomen and back.
They tend to appear pink or red on white skin and grey, or darker brown/black on brown or black skin.
A major clue is the “herald patch”, which is the first patch to appear, and it tends to remain the largest patch.
Around one or two weeks later, the rest of the rash appears gradually over about ten days.
Another clue is that most people have some mild flu-like symptoms before the rash appears.
It can be very itchy, but isn’t always, and the good news is that it gets better without any specific treatment over about six weeks.
It could also be erythema multiforme, which has what we describe as “target lesions” on the skin because they look like a dart board bull’s-eye.
Not all of these skin lesions have this appearance but some do.
Clues that would point towards this would be if you had an infection, such as herpes simplex (which causes cold sores) or pneumonia, or it can be a reaction to some vaccines, or medicines, especially anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen), antibiotics or statins.
This usually gets better on its own after two to four weeks.
The final cause to mention is autoimmune diseases such as skin lupus.
Which of the above fits best with the history of his rash?
If in doubt, see your GP in case further tests, such as those for lupus, are required.
It’s a deadly cocktail
SMOKING and boozing can more than double the risk of head and neck cancer, a groundbreaking new study has revealed.
Around 70 per cent of cases are linked to smoking, making it the biggest preventable cause.
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Smoking and boozing can more than double the risk of head and neck cancer, a groundbreaking new study has revealedCredit: Getty
Alcohol alone is responsible for some four per cent of cases.
But when smoking is combined with alcohol, the damage done to a person’s DNA by booze is amplified by up to 2.5 times.
Dr David Scott from Cancer Research UK said: “These findings represent a significant advance in our understanding of how everyday exposures like smoking and drinking contribute to cancer development.”
The study, published in Nature Genetics, reveals “molecular scars” left on DNA by tobacco smoke.
Researchers analysed tumour samples from 265 head and neck cancer patients across eight countries, finding six distinct patterns of tobacco-related DNA damage – several of which were previously unknown.
Ultraviolet light is a known risk factor for lip cancer but the study found it may also play a role in cancer of the internal lining of the mouth.
Smoking intensified the DNA damage combined with UV rays.
Head and neck cancer affects areas such as the mouth, throat, and voice box, with 12,800 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year.
Pill link to baby blue
NEW mums could be at risk of postpartum depression if they go back on the Pill, a study claims.
Danish researchers analysed 610,000 first-time mums and revealed that those who started using hormonal contraceptives within a year of giving birth were 49 per cent more likely to develop depression compared to those who didn’t.
The risk was highest for women using the combined Pill.
And the experts said the earlier these pills were taken after childbirth, the greater the likelihood of depression.
Forty per cent of the mums went onto hormonal contraceptives after their birth, which includes the Pill, the implant, the hormonal coil (IUD) and injections (such as Depo-Provera).
The researchers, led by Dr Søren Vinther Larsen at the Copenhagen University Hospital, said: “The early postpartum period appears to be a window of heightened susceptibility.
“This raises the question of whether routine contraceptive prescriptions could be unintentionally increasing depression rates in new mums.”
The findings, published in the journal Jama Network Open, suggested even women with no history of mental health problems were at risk.
Postpartum depression is thought to affect one in ten women.
The condition should be considered if “baby blues” persist more than two weeks after the birth.
WHEN I left my marriage, I thought it was all my husband’s fault.
I didn’t want to start again at the age of 55, but I felt I didn’t have a choice.
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I was sure that the reason our marriage broke down was all his fault – but it was mine, candidly admits Jane GreenCredit: Supplied
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We would snap at each other and swallow the terrible things you think but can’t say, says Jane (pictured with her ex-husband)
Filled with sadness and blame, I truly believed that had he been different, we would still be married.
Divorce is always brutal. We vowed to stay friends, to try and stay together as a family, still doing Christmas and holidays together.
But as the months progressed and as we battled over money and what we each believed we deserved, things started to get sticky.
After I left, we navigated our divorce via Zoom, choosing to do mediation rather than litigation.
The latter would have cost a fortune and there’s no doubt that we would have ended up hating each other.
But it was still hard. Long-held grievances came out in those video calls.
We would snap at each other and swallow the terrible things you think but can’t say, for once they are said they can never be unsaid.
I wanted to try and get through the divorce as painlessly as possible, but our mutual pain and grief was written all over our faces. When we’d Zoom, I would sometimes cover my husband’s face with a Post-it note because it was so painful to see him.
I was sure that the reason our marriage broke down was all his fault.
But it’s been almost six months since the divorce came through and a strange thing has happened.
Jessica Alba ‘files for divorce’ from Cash Warren after 16 years of marriage and couple has ‘no prenup’
I’ve realised how much of the fault lies with me.
Like many women who grew up in the Seventies, I was raised to be a people-pleaser.
We weren’t surrounded by helicopter parents who adored us unconditionally. Far from it.
In summer holidays and every weekend, we were turfed out of the house in the morning, essentially told we wouldn’t be welcome back before supper.
Like many parents of that era, mine weren’t terribly interested in children. If we behaved well, all was good, but heaven forbid I was in a bad mood or didn’t appear with a smile.
“Jane is difficult,” became the family mantra. “She’s moody.”
I learned very young to take the temperature of the house when I walked in. If my mother was in a good mood, all was good and my whole body would relax.
The days when that wasn’t the case told a very different story.
How people pleasing could be ruining your relationship
EVERYONE wants to be liked but people pleasers engage in behaviours that attempt to win the affection of others at the expense of their own wellbeing – and in relationships the balance of power can be in favour of one person.
Relationship counsellor Georgina Sturmer explains: “If we have ‘people pleasing’ behaviours, it makes it really hard to feel as if we are allowed to voice what we need.
“These habits develop as we grow up and are often ingrained more deeply by social expectations, particularly on women.
“It often comes hand-in-hand with low self-esteem and may lead to us failing to truly know what we really need, as we are so used to denying our own desires or thinking we do not deserve them to be met.
“There’s usually a fear that if we voice these needs, we will be met with rejection.
“However, lots of people pleasers may hope or expect, sometimes without realising, that their partner can read their mind.
“There’s also an expectation that if we have to articulate our needs, we are perhaps failing in some way, when the reality is that none of us are mind readers.
“In these circumstances, it can be incredibly difficult to have a balanced relationship. Your partner has to rely on assumptions or guesswork on what makes you happy, all of which leads to frustration and miscommunication.
“It’s key to find balance – learning to express our own needs and desires, while also listening to those of our partner. Then the relationship can flourish.”
I could smell the atmosphere from the welcome mat and would tense up. I would tiptoe around on eggshells, trying to avoid her.
There was always the possibility of an explosion waiting around the corner and, on those days, nothing I said or did was right. It was similar with my father.
I would twist myself in knots to ensure I didn’t set off a row.
As I grew older, our relationship changed and we are now a close, loving family. But those early days were hard.
What I didn’t know then was how I was unconsciously being trained to become a people-pleaser.
The alternative – standing up for myself – was so often met with anger, I would do anything to keep the peace.
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Jane and her ex-husband on their wedding day
This was the great epiphany about my marriage.
As long as I was blaming my husband for our relationship going wrong, I would stay stuck and likely find that my next one would have the same dynamic.
The end of a marriage is rarely one person’s fault. A relationship is a dance that two people do together.
If I was to heal and, more importantly, learn not to repeat the same mistakes in another relationship, I would have to look at my part.
I realised very quickly that a huge part in my marriage not working was my inability to speak up for myself because I was frightened that if I did, I would be abandoned.
Instead, I learned to stay silent. It was exhausting and I withdrew into myself, the gap between my husband and myself growing larger and larger.
UNCLEAR BOUNDARIES
We hear a lot of talk these days about boundaries, telling those around us what we will and will not put up with.
Because I was raised in a family where my boundaries weren’t considered, I learned that my needs didn’t matter.
My husband wasn’t very clear about boundaries either. A people-pleaser himself, he often said yes to keep the peace.
There were times when we had unannounced guests that I felt uncomfortable about, which led to disagreements.
It put a strain on the relationship, but I’d already gone through a first divorce and didn’t want to put my four children – or two stepchildren – through that hell again.
Because of this, I think I suppressed my feelings, not speaking up about things that made me desperately unhappy.
It continued for years.
What I didn’t realise was that every time I agreed to something I didn’t want, resentment was building inside me, eventually pushing the two of us far apart, with no way to come back together.
I learned to stay silent. It was exhausting and I withdrew into myself, the gap between my husband and myself growing larger and larger.
There was further strain when we hit some financial difficulties after my husband lost his job and we eventually had to look at downsizing.
I was heartbroken about leaving our home, a house I loved, that was always filled with kids, friends and parties.
We started looking for a new place but disagreed about the best option.
My resentment made me silent, angry and cold. The easy affection that had existed between us for years had gone.
When I looked at my husband, I no longer felt warmth and love. I was cold to him and unsupportive, while nothing I did or said was right.
I had no idea how to talk to him about how I felt without it ending up in a row. I was so tired of the anger, it was easier to stay silent, to withdraw so completely.
He felt like a roommate rather than my partner.
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The end of a marriage is rarely one person’s fault – a relationship is a dance that two people do togethes, writes JaneCredit: Supplied
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I realised very quickly that a huge part in my marriage not working was my inability to speak up for myself, says JaneCredit: Supplied
Eventually it blew up. We had a row and this time I knew it was the last time.
Sobbing, I packed two suitcases and left.
Crushed by grief, I eventually started – with the help of a therapist – doing the very hard work of looking at myself and just how much I contributed to my marriage failing.
Whatever issues my husband brought to our relationship, I finally understood that my inability to speak up and ask for what I needed, to hold my ground on the things that were important to me, had been the death knell for us.
I swallowed all my pain and resentment until I eventually imploded.
It was easy in the beginning to blame my husband, but I realised that’s not the full story. I gave up my voice, recreated my childhood home in my marriage, then blamed him.
Perhaps it’s not that he is entirely blameless, but that in looking at what I did wrong, I’ve found so much of the hurt and resentment falling away.
PSYCHOLOGIST Emma Kenny highlights the quirky ways that mean your relationship could be heading towards a separation.
She says: “These signs aren’t a foregone conclusion, but if you spot any of them creeping in, talking through your worries with a supportive and neutral friend, a counsellor or therapist can help you reconnect before those quirky issues turn into a permanent parting.”
1. The Passive-Aggressive Coffee Cup
Did you always enjoy bringing each other morning brews brimming with love? But now only make your own, without even considering if your other half fancies one?
If you notice you no longer think of the little things that make one another feel valued, it could be a sign that resentment is brewing.
2. The Duvet Tug-of-War
Sharing a bed can feel like a nightly battle if one of you has become a blanket bandit.
That never-ending tug-of-war can hint at a deeper sense of wanting space, both under the covers and in your relationship.
3. You Laugh At, Not With
Light-hearted teasing can be sweet, but if jokes turn barbed, poking fun at each other’s habits, dreams, or even new hobbies, you might be masking real frustration. When laughter becomes a weapon, the cracks in your marriage may be widening.
4. The Deafening Silence
If your home has gone eerily quiet: there’s no laughter, no playful banter, not even comfortable chit-chat about the day: this is a red flag.
Silence might seem like a peaceful break from arguments, but it often signals deeper emotional distance.
When you’re no longer investing in each other’s thoughts or experiences, it suggests that resentment or apathy has taken hold.
I’m starting to date again and this time, my approach is completely different.
Now, I walk away at the first sight of a red flag. I’m learning to ask for what I need and if those needs cannot be met, I wish them well and say goodbye.
The dating apps have taught me so much, too, especially how to speak up for myself.
I asked someone not to call me “darling” the other day.
On another date where there was no chemistry, I could tell he was going to kiss me and I asked him not to. He went ahead and kissed me.
Months later he got back in touch and I told him that kissing me after
I asked him not to was a dealbreaker for me.
I don’t know that I will ever marry again, but I do know that in my next relationship, I will no longer be a people pleaser.
A ROYAL Marine commando looks set to lead the Navy for the first time in history – if King Charles gives his seal of approval.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins – who lists sailing as a hobby – has been picked as the next First Sea Lord.
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Royal Marine commando General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has been picked as the next First Sea LordCredit: PO Phot Joel Rouse/ MOD
It is the first time in the navy’s 500 year history that a Royal Marine commando – an amphibious soldier not a sailor – has beaten admirals to the post.
Gen Jenkins commanded the Special Boat Service and raised the alarm over claims that SAS troops were murdering prisoners in Afghanistan.
A defence source hailed Gen Jenkins’ leadership and war-fighting experience as commander of the SBS.
The dad-of-three brokered defence deals with Norway and Germany recently as a strategic advisor to John Healey, the defence secretary.
READ MORE ON THE ROYAL NAVY
A source said it marked “a remarkable comeback” after Sir Kier Starmer rejected Jenkins as National Security Advisor in August.
They said: “The Marines are delighted. They are taking command of the Navy. But the admirals are in mourning.”
Jenkins is set to replace Admiral Sir Ben Key later this year.
A second Royal Marine commando, Lt Gen Rob Magowan, was also reportedly in the running.
They were both interviewed last week alongside senior admirals including Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Martin Connell and the Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Andrew Burns.
A Navy spokesperson said: “The process to appoint the next First Sea Lord is ongoing.
Watch dramatic moment Royal Navy squadron lands stealth jets on aircraft carrier for first time
“All senior appointments are announced in the usual way.”
Royal Marine commandos are part of the Navy but specialise in amphibious soldiering – such as storming beaches and arctic warfare – not sailing.
They rely on the Navy’s warships, submarines and aircraft to get them to their operations.
The Navy is normally led by a career Naval officer.
Jenkins was the most senior candidate to apply after jumping two ranks to reach general in 2022.
He was strongly backed by the Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and he was Radakin’s choice to lead the Army – which sparked fury among the rival service and was thrown out by Tory ministers.
It is unclear if he intends to change his rank to admiral when he takes the top naval role.
Jenkins, who commissioned in 1990, lists his hobbies as “sailing, skiing and creative writing”.
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
♈ ARIES
March 21 to April 20
The last day of the month can mark the first day of a new you as you get used to sensitive Neptune in your sign.
You can show more vulnerability and still stay stronger than ever.
Talking takes off suddenly, even if there have been long silences – this can apply to dating or work. Luck opens a round envelope.
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Your daily horoscope for Monday
♉ TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
Mercury’s effect on your social settings could be quite drastic as you start to see who brings little to your table, and you make some big decisions.
But when you need to reach out you have extra tenacity and can connect, even with hard-to-handle people, so don’t give up.
Love links to a musical group reunion.
Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♊ GEMINI
May 22 to June 21
Looking beneath slick surfaces is your zodiac skill right now, as you start to see what certain people in powerful positions may be hiding.
The way you deal with this can be a life-changer.
Try to apply this insight to yourself, aided by Neptune, to see why you may resist love or work links that could be so special.
Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♋ CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Outrageous and conventional planets make a confusing blend for you, as you see clearly what you should be doing, yet you seem to do the opposite.
Taking a decision step by step can help, but ease off on any sense that you must be perfect.
Passion has an adventurous air, and a newly-introduced Leo is the key.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♌ LEO
July 23 to August 23
You are ready to learn more about what makes you tick. This includes admitting you find certain situations challenging.
Just trying to power through won’t work as well as taking time to consider new tactics.
In a family, you can have more say than you expected. Love that has been on pause can fast-forward by tonight.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
♍ VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
Feelings that you usually manage to hide rise to the surface today, thanks to Neptune.
Your wisest reaction to this is to welcome it. Holding back true views may seem smart but could weaken you.
At least three people in your circle need to know you are open to change. Luck speaks with a strong accent.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Saturn’s influence can lead you to settle for less than you deserve, in terms of job security, or opportunityCredit: Getty
♎ LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
Making a firm choice with a creative element can seem harder with Pluto’s input, but the moon helps you identify what matters most to you, so go with this.
Maybe it seems less glitzy on the surface, but beneath is the genuine commitment you will need.
Passion that has felt like work lately is ready to fly free again.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
List of 12 star signs
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
♏ SCORPIO
October 24 to November 22
Mercury and Venus are both tracking back today and you will feel it most in romance.
Whatever you try to do may take more effort but remember that it’s worth it. Take extra care over wording in messages, and check you’ve been understood in conversations or calls.
Bringing your sensitive self to work has a team bonus.
A celebrity circle can open suddenly, and make space just for youCredit: Supplied
♒ AQUARIUS
January 21 to February 18
You are usually such a clear, logical sign – but today, be more instinctive.
Read between the love lines in a relationship and suggest a fresh way of seeing a shared future.
If you’re single, instead of planning a chat to the letter, just start talking – but do listen too. A cash path may briefly reverse, but keep to a promise.
TOXIC influencer Andrew Tate is being blamed for an alarming rise in young men choking partners during sex.
The trend is most common in those aged 16 to 34 — with 35 per cent of females reporting being throttled during consensual sex, a government-funded study found.
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Andrew Tate is being blamed for an alarming rise in young men choking partners during sexCredit: AFP
Tate often promotes the idea of male dominance and sexual control online.
A recent survey by the government-funded charity the Institute For Addressing Strangulation, found that strangling is most common in the 16-34 age group, with 35 per cent responding that they had been choked by a partner during consensual sex.
Non-fatal strangulation (NFS) was made a specific offence in 2022, and can lead to a five year prison sentence.
In the year up to 2023, around 700 offenders were sentenced for the offence.
Michael Conroy, from anti-misogyny training firm Men At Work, said: “The rise in choking comes from porn and I see Tate as part of the porn world. He is part of porn world. He is the idea of porn made flesh.
“There’s a visual grammar of heterosexual porn, which is that you – the man – are dominant, you are the controller, you are the one who tells them what to do. You are at the top and she is at the bottom. And then Andrew Tate says it and reinforces it.
“He is responsible for fuelling the fire of sexual violence by putting that feeling in their stomach. And he refuses to acknowledge accountability and responsibility and that is attractive.”
Harriet Smailes, research officer at Institute for Addressing Strangulation, a Home Office funded group that carried out the research on the rise, said the practice was being turbocharged by online culture, where porn, influencers, and viral content are reshaping sexual expectations.
She said: “Online culture plays a huge role in normalising certain behaviours, and strangulation is now showing up as just another part of the expected sexual script.
“It’s not just porn anymore – it’s TikTok trends, memes, influencers and music lyrics. And there is a really strong message that this is a violent act, predominantly done by men to women.
Andrew Tate facing NEW police probe after joyride in £3M Koenigsegg – moments before it breaks down in middle of road
“And when used in a non-consensual sexual environment, it’s almost entirely done by men to women. This is an incredibly gendered act.”
