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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751299_782_SEI_240344420.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s mild climate may be destroyed<\/p>\n
While much of the world is set to grow hotter as a result of the\u00a0climate crisis, the UK could soon face a different fate. <\/p>\n
Climate scientists fear a \u2018cold blob\u2019 in the Atlantic Ocean may bring Arctic conditions instead of a tropical future. <\/p>\n
Bill McGuire, a professor of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London (UCL), is one of them. <\/p>\n
Here he shares why cold temperatures could be our reality in a few decades.<\/p>\n
Why this could happen<\/p>\n
At the moment, global heating is making the UK hotter. This warmth is thanks to the presence of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of currents over the Atlantic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
- \n
- Without these currents, our climate would be more akin\u00a0to the much colder weather in north-eastern\u00a0Canada.<\/li>\n
- And the AMOC might be set to U-turn.<\/li>\n
- One study suggests that the AMOC has weakened by 15 per\u00a0cent since the mid-20th century.<\/li>\n
- There is not much we can do to stop
this decline. Emissions would need to
be cut in half within five years to have
any chance of dodging a permanent global temperature change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\nHow to prepare for a change\n<\/p>\n
\u201cAll countries need to ensure that infrastructure, food security, services
and public engagement are robust,\u201d
says Professor McGuire.<\/p>\n![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751299_305_SEI_282462314.jpg\")
Caption: Snow falls over in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham. Storm Chandra brought travel disruption and flooding as strong winds and heavy rain hit much of the UK. Picture date: Tuesday January 27, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire
Photographer: Owen Humphreys
Provider: Owen Humphreys\/PA Wire
Source: PA
Copyright: PA Wire<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751300_380_SEI_279809223_352a12.jpg\")
A train arrives into the station in the town of Glossop in the snowy weather last week. New rail projects planned for the North of England are \u2018really exciting,\u2019 the Transport Secretary has said (Photo: Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\nOne paper estimated that only seven per cent of UK land would be suitable for
arable farming in the new climate,
compared with the current 32 per cent. \u201cManaging this looks like rationing and restricted civil liberties,\u201d he claims.<\/p>\nThe global impact<\/p>\n
![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751300_686_SEI_136798593.jpg\")
Smoke billows from a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil (Photo: Bruno Kelly\/Reuters)<\/p>\n- \n
- It could cause the weakening of the African and Asian monsoons, resulting in famine.<\/li>\n
- Increased warming of the southern hemisphere could further dry out the Amazon.<\/li>\n
- Increase melting across Antarctica would accelerate sea level rise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751301_260_SEI_240344420.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nLIFESTYLE<\/p>\n
5 min read<\/p>\n
What we need to do<\/p>\n
\n
This is entirely the result of\u00a0global heating caused by human activities. It is critical that monitoring of the AMOC is maintained, even increased. European governments really need to be planning for a future that could well be
much colder.<\/p>\nAUTHOR OF THE FATE OF THE WORLD: HOW OUR FUTURE IS WRITTEN IN THE PAST<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751301_767_GettyImages-126383237.jpg\")
Snow covering Arlington Row in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nOur shared ownership home is a disaster<\/p>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751302_313_SEI_217472885.jpg\")
Paul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick (Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\nPaul Afshar felt a sense of pride when
he purchased 25 per cent of a new home in East London \u2013 as a way to get on the property ladder without huge financial backing. <\/p>\nBut years on, Afshar has discovered the drawbacks of the scheme, including the rising costs and difficulty moving on. <\/p>\n
\nThe background\n<\/p>\n
A 25 per cent of a one-bedroom flat in London.<\/p>\n
- \n
- In 2007 Afshar put a five per cent deposit (\u00a32,500) on his share of the flat and entered a 35-year mortgage on a standard variable rate.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- Although he only owns a quarter of his flat in Hackney but is eligible for 100 per cent of the maintenance costs.<\/li>\n
- Between 2007 and 2024 his mortgage rose 48 per cent from \u00a3268.65 to \u00a3400.28. He also pays \u00a3865.48 on rent (shared ownership requires paying rent to the organisation who owns the rest) and a service charge.<\/li>\n
- Fixing unsafe cladding on his block of will also cost in excess
of \u00a350,000, as it isn\u2019t eligible for government funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe impact on residents<\/p>\n
\n
It has definitely triggered a deep sense of anxiety in me that affected my mental health. It\u2019s this constant heavy, nervous feeling in my stomach.<\/p>\n
AFSHAR, 41<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751302_12_SEI_217473018.jpg\")
Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\nPhotographed leaving his flat.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\nShared ownership in the UK<\/p>\n
![\"BRENTFORD,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751303_333_PRI_169247374.jpg\")
Caption: BRENTFORD, ENGLAND \u2013 OCTOBER 19: A general view of some of the student accommodation blocks within the Paragon Residential development which have been placed on a mandatory evacuation order, on October 19, 2020 in Brentford, England. Paragon is a development of six apartment blocks owned by one of London\u2019s largest housing associations, Notting Hill Genesis. A recent investigation into the exterior cladding coupled with structural and fire safety issues has led to the association asking residents of the 1059 flats to evacuate while further investigations are made. The estate was developed by Berkeley First, part of The Berkeley Group plc. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images) <\/p>\nMyra Butterworth
Photographer: Leon Neal
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe
Copyright: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n- \n
- In 2024, 200,000 households were shared ownership properties.<\/li>\n
- In 2021-22 there were 19,386 new\u00a0shared ownership properties.<\/li>\n
- Fewer than 2,000 shared ownership households managed to staircase from part to full ownership in 2022.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751303_597_SEI_293709375.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nBig Read<\/p>\n
9 min read<\/p>\n
\nSelling up\n<\/p>\n
Afshar couldn\u2019t sell his flat but didn\u2019t feel safe to live in it \u2013 because of the cladding. So he lived with his partner for three years, still paying the mortgage and charges.<\/p>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751303_987_SEI_217473009.jpg\")
Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\nGeneral view of the unsafe timber cladding.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751304_548_SEI_217472766.jpg\")
Caption: Paul Afshar, campaigner for End Our Cladding Scandal (EOCS). who???s flat in Hackney Wick has been affected by unsafe cladding which means that he is unable to sell the property. <\/p>\nPhotographed inside his flat.
Photographer: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Provider: Charlie Forgham-Bailey
Source: Charlie Forgham-Bailey<\/p>\nProperty expert\u00a0Crystal Olenbush says selling is the biggest issue. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to figure out how to divvy any equity, then you\u00a0need to find someone to take over the side of the seller\u2019s portion of the mortgage. There\u2019s a whole legal process to transfer that shared ownership stake. If anyone tries to skip steps, it creates huge problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751304_604_SEI_217472955.jpg\")
Paul Afshar is struggling to sell his shared ownership flat in Hackney Wick
(Photo: Charlie Forgham-Bailey)<\/p>\nThe takeaway<\/p>\n
\n
I got into something I didn\u2019t fully understand.\u00a0<\/strong>I was sold a dream of homeownership and it\u2019s come back to bite me years later. It\u2019s heartbreaking.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Looking back Afshar wishes he\u2019d have looked into the service charge, mortgage rate and selling protocols sooner.<\/p>\n
Thinking of getting
a divorce?<\/p>\nIt\u2019s not always the solution, says psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry, who has been married for 32 years. <\/p>\n
Here are the five things she recommends asking yourself before dishing
out the divorce papers.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751305_496_SEI_233854036.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nThe questions you should ask\n<\/p>\n
Is it a you problem?<\/p>\n
![\"Couple,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751305_898_GettyImages-2210372102.jpg\")
Couple, talk and arguing with fight at house for disagreement, conflict and divorce discussion. Woman, explain and bored man for conversation, toxic relationship and drama and marriage fail in lounge \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nIt\u2019s not a good idea to get divorced when you\u2019re just depressed and stressed. You\u2019re naturally irritated by everything and everybody. It\u2019s too easy to\u00a0take that out on your partner and think they\u2019re the problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751306_796_Cat-B-e1777476511582.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nOPINION<\/p>\n
2 min read<\/p>\n
![\"Asian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_255249409_cda430.jpg\")
(Photo: Kawee Srital-on\/Getty).<\/p>\nAre you telling
yourself a story?<\/p>\n\n
We cherry-pick the evidence against our partner until we\u2019re so set on them being the enemy\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
It feels almost like tying up loose ends. But it won\u2019t really solve the problem. It just makes it much worse. It\u2019s okay to be wrong. Good relationships are full of ruptures and repairs.<\/p>\n
\nThe questions you should ask\n<\/p>\n
It is a mixmatch of
conflict styles?<\/p>\n- \n
- When we\u2019re under stress, we have our preferred way of coping.<\/li>\n
- You want a\u00a0partner who\u2019s on the same page as you, so that you have moments of connection.<\/li>\n
- Some people think a lot, other people want to go straight to action. <\/li>\n
- If you\u2019re a thinker, and you\u2019re married to a do-er, it\u2019s important to remind them that they don\u2019t have to fix every problem. If you are a doer, you have to say something like, explain your process and thoughts a little more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Do you believe the
grass is greener?<\/p>\n\n
If this is you, do some serious therapy on yourself. What gets in the way of a good relationship is thinking that the grass is greener and therefore having a lack of commitment. This is why we have marriage because you make a commitment. <\/p>\n
PHILIPPA PERRY, AUTHOR OF BEST-SELLING BOOKS ON PARENTING AND RELATIONSHIPS<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751308_152_SEI_231317064.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDo you have moments
of inclusion?<\/p>\n![\"Happy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751308_539_SEI_296026112.jpg\")
Son\u2019t assume your partner knows how you think (Photo: ljubaphoto\/Getty\/E+)<\/p>\n- \n
- Moments of inclusion are the ones when you both feel like you\u2019ve both clicked, and really get on. \u00a0<\/li>\n
- If these moments are missing, we need to leave more space for them.<\/li>\n
- Also treat love as an action, not a feeling. Ask yourself, what can I do for my partner today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751308_225_SEI_294909057.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nLIFESTYLE<\/p>\n
5 min read<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751309_249_SEI_180458138.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFOOD AND DRINK<\/p>\n
The UPFs the
health experts eat<\/p>\nIn the UK, 50 per cent of our daily energy comes from\u00a0ultra-processed sources, rather than fresh, minimally processed food. <\/p>\n
This has been blamed as one of the reasons for the nation\u2019s poor health and high rates of obesity. While all UPFs get a bad reputation, there are some that are better than others.<\/p>\n
We asked the health experts which UPFs they include in their diets.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe UPFs the health experts buy\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_180458242.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSausages<\/p>\n
Dietitian Aisling Pigott has sausages once a week, choosing the vegan or high-meat versions. <\/p>\n
Orange squash<\/p>\n
Priya Tew buys no-added sugar squash to help her children drink more water.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_180458133.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_180458205.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLentil crisps<\/p>\n
Nutritionist Jenna Hope has these as an alternative to regular crisps. <\/p>\n
\nThe UPFs the health experts buy\n<\/p>\n
Baked beans<\/strong><\/p>\n
Dr Linia Patel, a dietitian and performance nutritionist, enjoys baked beans. She eats them on a jacket potato with cheese and a side salad as a quick, filling and nutrient dense meal.<\/p>\n
![\"Squirts](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751312_839_rsz_gettyimages-486824855.jpg\")
Squirts of ketchup up the sugar in his diet (Richard Heathcote\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Homemade](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751313_115_SEI_260536192_ca8ef1.jpg\")
Caption: Homemade Barbecue Baked Beans in a Black Skillet
Photographer: Dragos Rusu \/ 500px
Provider: Getty Images\/500px
Source: 500px<\/p>\nKetchup<\/strong><\/p>\n
Gut health nutritionist Yalda Alaoui, who follows a mostly anti-inflammatory diet, has ketchup as small amounts do not impact her blood glucose levels.<\/p>\n
\nOther UPFs that health experts put in their shopping basket\n<\/p>\n
![\"Still](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751313_748_SEI_227981703.jpg\")
Some people can be concerned about a sugar rush (Photo: Elizabeth Perez Holowaty\/Getty)<\/p>\nHaribo sweets for their children
so they can learn to self-regulate with food.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751314_336_SEI_275631128.jpg\")
It\u2019s estimated ultra processed foods make up at least half of the average UK diet (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nEmergency cereal bars when homemade flapjacks run out.<\/p>\n
![\"Sriracha](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751314_182_GettyImages-490533679-e1556126750236.jpg\")
Sriracha chilli sauce on the production line (David McNew\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nHot sauce and mayonnaise<\/p>\n
![\"Oakland,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751314_139_PRI_154246005.jpg\")
Caption: Oakland, CA \u2013 December 02, 2016: Grocery store shelf with jars of Marmite brand Yeast Extract. A by-product of beer brewing, enjoyed at any time on toast for breakfast, in sandwiches at lunchtime; Shutterstock ID 545767972; Purchase Order: \u2013
Photographer: Sheila Fitzgerald
Provider: Shutterstock \/ Sheila Fitzgerald
Source: Shutterstock<\/p>\nMarmite as a source of vitamin
B12 and potassium. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751315_778_SEI_130304791.jpg\")
Photographer: Aleksandr Zubkov
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\nAlmond milk in morning drinks, fortified with vitamin D. <\/p>\n
How to find balance<\/p>\n
\n
My mantra with UPFs is \u2018reduce but not restrict\u2019. I don\u2019t think we need to cut them out but it\u2019s a good idea to assess how much you eat. If some are [things] you especially love, then cutting them out can lead to you craving them more.<\/p>\n
Priya Tew, registered dietitian specialising in eating disorders<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751315_975_UPFs-banner.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Senior](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751316_443_GettyImages-2224659418.jpg\")
Senior female friends spending leisure time knitting while sitting at table in retirement home \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nHow can people give themselves the best chance of a good retirement?<\/p>\n
\nAre retirees in the UK happy?\n<\/p>\n
What the statistics say<\/p>\n
47%<\/p>\n
Almost half of studies into the impact of retirement on people\u2019s mental\u00a0health\u00a0report a negative impact on life satisfaction.<\/p>\n
72%<\/p>\n
According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, among those aged 50-59 who have left the workforce, 72 per cent would consider returning\u00a0to work, often citing a need for financial security and purpose.<\/p>\n
Nearly a third (32 per cent) of 50-70 year-olds retired earlier than they hoped. <\/p>\n
Volunteering<\/p>\n
73-year-old Martin Delgado, who retired from his role as a journalist, enrolled as a volunteer with the NHS 10 years ago. <\/p>\n
He attends seminars, goes on training courses and works with psychiatric patients at an NHS mental health trust in London.<\/p>\n
(As well as looking after his grandson). <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_293136160-e1776886255112.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751317_675_SEI_293136123_a4294a.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nBig Read<\/p>\n
9 min read<\/p>\n
\nMartin\u2019s other tips for retirement\n<\/p>\n
![\"Elderly](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751318_183_GettyImages-1629387728.jpg\")
Elderly couple taking selfie while hiking together in autumn mountains. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nHave hobbies<\/p>\n
He often goes on bike rides, hikes, solo camping trips and finds time to read.<\/p>\n
Exercise<\/p>\n
He runs two or three mornings a week and when it becomes too much is planning to take up swimming or cycling.<\/p>\n
![\"Close-up](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751318_500_SEI_294303414.jpg\")
Find the best shoes for you (Photo: Xavier Lorenzo\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n <\/p>\nSpend time with family<\/p>\n
\u201cI spend as much time with our grandson as I can. Having him around has had a huge emotional impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIt doesn\u2019t have to be all or nothing\n<\/p>\n
For Toni Del Mar, 75, one of the things that has\u00a0made her retirement a happy one is spending more spontaneous time with friends in her Devon village.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_294068724-e1776886381898.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751320_721_SEI_293136123_a4294a.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBut she hasn\u2019t given up everything completely. Mar runs her home as a B&B which she cleans and prepares for guests.
It provides her with purpose and help
paying the bills.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_293136328_d813f9.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re struggling, there\u2019s hope<\/p>\n
\n
Retirement was the biggest challenge of my life.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Simon McEwan, who had a 43-year career in journalism, felt lost without structure and routine. He wishes he\u2019d have phased work out slowly.<\/p>\n
Now he\u2019s built a new routine including exercise, mindfulness, meditation and joined a mental health walking group. <\/p>\n
\nHow to stay connected\n<\/p>\n
- \n
- 1Plan in advance <\/strong>\u2013 join community groups or take up new hobbies that can bridge the initial gap when work stops.<\/li>\n
- 2 Enjoy the arts<\/strong> \u2013 creativity can provide a new sense of purpose and organic opportunities for new bonds.<\/li>\n
- 3Maximise fulfillment<\/strong> \u2013 identify activities that you enjoy, and take time to build up interest.\u00a0<\/li>\n
- 4Balance your activities<\/strong> \u2013 mix ones for enjoyment with ones that help others. For example, volunteering at local community groups.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The mistakes parents make at home<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751322_466_SEI_296246655.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBaby-proofing professionals like Al Kola from Baby Safe Steps say there are several mistakes he often sees that are actually more harmful than helpful.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shares the most common ones.<\/p>\n
\nAccidents in the UK\n<\/p>\n
Unintentional injuries in and around the home are a leading cause of preventable death for children under five years.<\/p>\n
67,000<\/p>\n
Every year, more than 67,000 children experience an accident in the kitchen, says the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.<\/p>\n
58,000\u00a0<\/p>\n
58,000 children have accidents on the stairs, often where the most serious incidents occur.<\/p>\n
\nThe mistakes parents make\n<\/p>\n
The wrong gate
<\/strong>
Pressure gates \u2013 gates with a bar along the bottom to keep them fixed in place \u2013 shouldn\u2019t be on the stairs as the bar is a trip hazard. You can end up flying down the stairs with your baby.<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-1486654662.jpg\")
Young Asian mother enjoying family time with her toddler in nature \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/cuggl-e1559225443371.jpg\")
The Cuggle Extending wooden gate failed some of the tests (Photo: Argos)<\/p>\nNot securing furniture
<\/strong>
Parents tend to assume that kids won\u2019t do XYZ. For example, we might assume they won\u2019t pull on drawers, but they can, and it\u2019s a threat that can land on them.<\/p>\n\nWhat to do\n<\/p>\n
![\"Father](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2004444668.jpg\")
Father with baby on hands standing near window at home. \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nDon\u2019t leave windows ajar<\/p>\n
The window could be pushed open the rest of the way by a toddler of about two years old.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hide cords<\/p>\n
Cameras next to a cot are often on a wire, which means that a child could grab it, take it into their cot and get entangled.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/best-travel-cots.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"love](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_270217608.jpg\")
The Government may eventually have to scrap the triple lock (jacquesdurocher\/Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\nLock cupboards<\/p>\n
Lock cupboards where you keep cleaning products, batteries, medicine, glassware and potentially tools.<\/p>\n
\nOther things to note\n<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t need to overprepare. If\u00a0you put edge protectors everywhere, then that child is not going to know what pain is.\u00a0When they go anywhere else like nursery and do get hurt because they don\u2019t understand it.<\/p>\n
![\"Mother](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_278396558.jpg\")
Caption: Mother guiding her young daughter to school up the stairs, symbolizing back to school season and family bonding.
Photographer: FreshSplash
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+<\/p>\n![\"Asian](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2226939653.jpg\")
Asian small toddler child is riding a toy car when he falls on the floor, leading to cries and shouts. The unhappy boy, playing with his toy car in the living room daylight, sheds tears \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nThe only baby gate brand Al Kola trusts is Baby Dan. \u201cWe\u00a0use them for a few reasons: firstly, safety, secondly, practicality, and then thirdly, they look good. They are the only brand that currently ticks those boxes for most scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a finance expert that\u2019s made money mistakes in the past, these are the secrets I\u2019ll pass on\u2026<\/p>\n
Clare Seal once had \u00a327,000 of credit card debt. Now she\u2019s a financial coach. <\/p>\n
Here are the tips she\u2019ll pass onto her daughter.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_291520917-e1774882917103.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751329_905_SEI_291520927-e1774883151367.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMONEY<\/p>\n
Clare\u2019s story<\/p>\n
\n
I want [my daughter] to learn from my mistakes and make smaller, less catastrophic ones.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Over the course of 10 years, Seal amassed debt that equated to her whole pre-tax salary. Some was down to high living costs and a low salary and some from her wedding. <\/p>\n
Now she\u2019s paid off her debt, she is teaching her child to avoid this \u2013 and be wiser.<\/p>\n
Align your career and lifestyle aspirations<\/p>\n
\n
I\u2019d like to make sure my daughter knows what sort of salary her chosen profession can command, what sort of hours she might work and where to set her sights when it comes to lifestyle. When there\u2019s a mismatch, it can lead to frustration, resentment and debt if you try to make up the shortfall with credit.<\/p>\n
CLARE SEAL, AUTHOR OF FIVE STEPS TO FINANCIAL WELLBEING<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751330_117_GettyImages-2010738320.jpg\")
Young woman making a payment with a credit card \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n\nThe money tips I\u2019ll pass on\n<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_296932548.jpg\")
Caption: A married couple sitting in silence, looking in opposite directions. The image captures the concept of female loneliness within a marriage, emotional disconnection, and relationship problems. Symbolizes quiet desperation and isolation at home
Photographer: Galina Zhigalova
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\nKeep a \u2018freedom fund\u2019<\/p>\n
This\u00a0is specifically designed as an escape hatch from a difficult situation, like a horrible partner or bad boss.<\/p>\n
Start investing<\/p>\n
Investing even just a
tiny amount of pay
could help to grow real financial security.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_296761102.jpg\")
Rent control has proved a controversial topic in the UK, but is used more widely across the world (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_234457780.jpg\")
(Photo: Tang Ming Tung\/Getty).<\/p>\nAlways negotiate<\/p>\n
For women additional benefits like a generous pension, paid leave and health insurance, can make a huge difference.<\/p>\n
\nThe money tips I\u2019ll pass on\n<\/p>\n
Liking yourself is your armour<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cI could not tell you how much I have spent over the years, trying to \u2018fix\u2019 the parts of myself that society told me were not good enough,\u201d says Seal.<\/p>\n
![\"Senior](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751332_931_SEI_296952235.jpg\")
Friendships can be hugely rewarding but like any relationship you have to nurture them (Photo: Halfpoint Images\/Getty\/Moment RF)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751333_570_SEI_284334630.jpg\")
Caption: A young girl plays sits on a wooden bench beside a long radiator and a sunny window. She gazes out through the glass. The room is homely and comfortable. Conceptual with space for copy.
Photographer: Catherine Falls Commercial
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF<\/p>\nHave an enjoyment allowance<\/strong><\/p>\n
A pot of money for guilt-free spending is a good idea. If you start young enough, spending on your lifestyle and saving for your future don\u2019t have to be mutually exclusive.<\/p>\n
Use credit wisely <\/p>\n
- \n
- I want to teach her how easy
credit makes it easy to hide your own spending from yourself.<\/li>\n - I hope she understands that there
is always a price to pay.<\/li>\n - I don\u2019t want her to be scared of credit though because that\u2019s a recipe for misuse and shame.<\/li>\n
- I want her to know how to use it well and what the red flags are.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751333_437_SEI_225809359.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nLIFESTYLE<\/p>\n
4 min read<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751334_466_SEI_257036614.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSummer is approaching, and so are the insects<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751334_230_SEI_261169543.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAre we getting more flies in the UK?<\/p>\n
\n
With warmer, wetter winters and longer summers, flies are likely to breed quicker and survive for longer. We\u2019re likely to see more in the future.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
James Logan, professor of medical entomology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says we could see more bugs as warmer temperatures create an ideal environment for breeding.<\/p>\n
\nHow to deter flies\n<\/p>\n
Clear out leftovers<\/strong><\/p>\n
Flies love leftover food, especially if it\u2019s sugary or decaying. Food should be covered or in airtight containers, and leftovers cleared away immediately after eating.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_261169602.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751336_823_GettyImages-1509889349.jpg\")
A man pours a glass of water from a chrome tap at a kitchen sink \u2013 stock photo. (Photo: Getty)<\/p>\nClean your sink<\/strong><\/p>\n
Particles of food found in the sink or drains after washing up will attract flies so keep them clean and clear. Keeping windows closed will also help. <\/p>\n
\nAt-home remedies to try\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751336_631_SEI_129283494.jpg\")
<\/p>\nTry vinegar <\/p>\n
Mixing apple cider vinegar with a spoonful of sugar and washing up liquid attracts flies\u00a0\u2013 they then drown in the liquid.<\/p>\n
Lemon with cloves<\/p>\n
Cut a lemon in half and stick in some cloves. It\u2019ll create a strong combination of smells that repel flies.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751337_954_SEI_121088359-e1661446493825.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Flat](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_277295949.jpg\")
If you\u2019re looking for a way to boost your health and wellbeing, you likely already have a goldmine in your store cupboard (Photo: Yulia-Images\/Getty)<\/p>\nHerbs<\/p>\n
Placing mint, rosemary and basil around windows and kitchens can keep flies at bay. <\/p>\n
\nTechniques to use\n<\/p>\n
Keep windows closed<\/p>\n
Have windows ajar not wide open and use fans as the airflow makes it hard for flies to land.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751338_449_SEI_291888647.jpg\")
Take time to rest (Photo: Counter\/Getty\/Digital Vision\/Nicolas Hudak)<\/p>\n![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751338_921_PRI_165242972.jpg\")
One example of this is the Intelligent Street Lighting project being trialled by Glasgow City Council. It uses an algorithm to process real time sensor data on noise, air pollution and footfall around the city and control street lighting in reaction to people\u2019s use of cycle paths and open spaces.
(Richard Baker via Getty Images)<\/p>\nUse warm lights, if any<\/p>\n
While flies are attracted to blue light, they are repelled by warm tones so try to get yellow or orange-toned lights.<\/p>\n
Check your drains<\/p>\n
Remove any organic matter that could be a food source, and clean them using boiling
water and vinegar.<\/p>\n![\"WEYMOUTH,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751339_215_SEI_144056827.jpg\")
Water companies are allowed to spill sewage so long as their plants are overwhelmed (Photo: Finnbarr Webster\/Getty)<\/p>\n\nLook at your bins\n<\/p>\n
Leftover and decaying food is a playground for flies<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751339_281_SEI_247627639.jpg\")
Caption: A resident walks past uncollected bin bags piled up on Poplar Road in Birmingham, central England, on April 15, 2025. Residents are desperately trying to get rid of an estimated 17,000 tonnes of trash that has piled up since refuse workers ramped up a strike last month. Four weeks in, the city council has declared a \u201cmajor incident,\u201d the prime minister has had to defend the government\u2019s response in parliament, and residents say their problems are worsening by the day. (Photo by Paul ELLIS \/ AFP) (Photo by PAUL ELLIS\/AFP via Getty Images)
Photographer: PAUL ELLIS
Provider: AFP via Getty Images
Source: AFP
Copyright: AFP or licensors<\/p>\nKeep your compost bin as far from the
house as possible, use a wheelie bin liner and keep the lids sealed, says pest control expert Jonathon Nicholls.<\/p>\n\t
\n\t\t![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780751340_846_SEI_215961023.jpg\")
\n\t<\/a><\/p>\nLIFESTYLE<\/p>\n
2 min read<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t
<\/p>\nThe NHS doctor, 32, told The i Paper she felt she had no choice but to pause her pension <\/a>payments as a temporary measure so she could receive extra cash in her monthly pay packet.<\/p>\n
The NHS Pension Scheme<\/a> is widely considered one of the most generous in the UK because it is a defined benefit plan.<\/a><\/p>\n
Instead of relying on volatile stock market <\/a>investments like most private sector employees, the retirement income of NHS workers is guaranteed and is based on earnings and length of service.<\/p>\n
But minimum payments are relatively high. Private sector staff generally have to pay 5 per cent of income to have their employer enrol them in a pension scheme. NHS employee contributions range from 5.2 per cent to 12.5 per cent, depending on earnings \u2013 with those earning a UK average wage of \u00a338,000 paying in 9.8 per cent.<\/p>\n
With living costs rising, for some this can feel like too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NHS pension <\/a>is very generous, but people don\u2019t always understand that you have to pay a lot in to get it,\u201d Ekene explained. \u201cAt the time, I don\u2019t think I fully appreciated how good the NHS pension is<\/a>. All I could think about was that I needed the money now and my pension is a future problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ekene, who is married to Tommy and lives in Hertfordshire, works as a paediatric doctor in Harlow, Essex. She opted out of her NHS pension <\/a>for around two years at the start of her career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got engaged and we needed money for our wedding and a house deposit, I couldn\u2019t think what I could do to get the extra money I needed. My commute was costing me a lot and I already had a huge amount of student debt.<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cThen one of my colleagues mentioned that they had opted out of their pension<\/a> and I hadn\u2019t thought of that as an option. I thought if I did that temporarily, it would give me an extra \u00a3200 to \u00a3300 a month and once everything had settled financially, I would jump back into the pension scheme again.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy priority was my present time and affording what we needed then \u2013 which was our wedding and house.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ekene](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_299034006.jpg\")
Ekene Okey-Udah, 32, paused her NHS pension for two years when she needed money for her wedding and a house deposit <\/p>\nBut while the decision to opt out of an NHS pension may ease short term pressure, it can come with long term repercussions and many people do not fully realise what they are walking away from.<\/p>\n
For Ekene, regret started sinking in when her husband Tommy was organising his pensions from various different places and \u201che told me how much he had altogether and I thought: \u2018Oh gosh, I haven\u2019t got anything\u2019\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ekene says with spending five years at medical school as a postgraduate after a previous three-year degree, she was already on the back foot when it came to paying into a pension \u2013 having started work later than some of her friends \u2013 and she realised she needed to make up for lost time.<\/p>\n
Ekene has since restarted her NHS pension<\/a> contributions and is keen to catch up when it comes to preparing for retirement. She has recently started a stocks and shares ISA<\/a> and is contributing \u00a3200 to \u00a3300 a month to help support her retirement savings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say I wish I hadn\u2019t paused my NHS pension as I only did it because I felt I had no other choice,\u201d she said. \u201cAt the time, it worked for me. Rather than look back with regrets, I view it as \u2018I can still catch up\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some would like a more flexible system<\/p>\n
While some NHS workers pause their pensions temporarily to get them through difficult financial periods, others find it hard to reach a position when they can afford to restart them.<\/p>\n
Emily, 39, who only wants to be known by her first name, is an NHS midwife<\/a> who cancelled her pension contributions after going on maternity leave in 2020 and reduced her hours on returning to work.<\/p>\n
As a senior band 7 midwife, she says in 2019, her pension contributions were \u00a3320 which felt astronomical after having her daughter.<\/p>\n
However, even though her daughter is now at school, Emily is still opted out of her NHS pension due to the cost of living and high interest rates on her mortgage, which affects how far her pay stretches.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t live lavishly, and while essential bills are always paid with ease, our disposable income seems to only go down.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pension payment would mean my essential bills wouldn\u2019t get paid. I can\u2019t afford for such a huge lump sum to come out of my take-home salary each month, but at the age of 39, I am genuinely worried about my future financial stability.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Wooden](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298490426_878e0b.jpg\")
The option to reduce or flexibly contribute to my NHS pension would enable me to actually pay into it, says midwife Emily<\/p>\n
- 2 Enjoy the arts<\/strong> \u2013 creativity can provide a new sense of purpose and organic opportunities for new bonds.<\/li>\n
- 1Plan in advance <\/strong>\u2013 join community groups or take up new hobbies that can bridge the initial gap when work stops.<\/li>\n