Welcome to How I Do It, the series in which we give you a seven-day sneak peek into the sex life of a stranger.

This week, we hear from Tammy*, a 43-year-old working in the media, who met her now-boyfriend Charles* three months ago.

Enticed by his good looks, charm, and intelligence, Tammy quickly fell for the 65-year-old, but there’s just one problem: his ‘revolting’ nightshirt.

Charles’ refusal to part ways with his pyjama shirt is a major turn-off for Tammy, and it’s causing her to question the relationship.

‘I have a healthy sex drive and in my last relationship my partner and I usually had sex twice a day,’ she says. ‘We both worked from home and we were always heading back to the bedroom.

‘However, with Charles, although I stay over three or four nights a week, we have not yet had sex.’

Tammy can see potential in Charles, but this lack of sex has left her feeling unhappy in her relationship. ‘It’s making me understand why people have affairs.’

Without further ado, here’s how Tammy got on this week…

The following sex diary is, as you might imagine, not safe for work.

I wake up influencer-orange from doing my tan the night before. After breakfast I go for a swim and have an everything shower. This takes about three hours and I spend the rest of the day doing my hair and make-up.

I work from home, so I answer the odd email, but I’m getting ready to spend the weekend with Charles. I want to look fabulous, so that’s my priority.

I arrive at his at 7pm, in an Uber he’s sent for me. We enjoy a G&T before heading next door for a soiree at his neighbour’s house. There are 12 of us, including a couple who’ve recently moved into the square.

The woman is pretty and when Charles meets her, he practically forgets who I am. He says: ‘This is…….’ Then there’s a long awkward silence where my name should be until I step in and introduce myself. I let it go.

Charles has an eye for pretty women and quite frankly I find it rude. 

As usual, I wake up by myself and open the bedroom door only to be hit by a fog of cigar smoke. Charles gets up at around 5am, so by this point he’s been smoking for over three hours.

I march about briskly opening windows as Charles complains about the cold, and I remind him that I didn’t choose to have a relationship with a smoker. He lied about his smoking on Hinge, as well as claiming he was 50(15 years younger than he actually is).

I suppose this explains his struggles with erectile dysfunction, although I’ve never brought it up with him, but funnily enough this is not the biggest barrier to us having sex.

The most insurmountable issue is that he comes to bed dressed like Wee Willie Winky. Yes, he actually wears a nightshirt. I did not even know they existed outside of the Dickens film that’s on at Christmas, but somehow Charles has located one, perhaps by robbing the grave of someone buried in the Edwardian era.

The one thing worse than seeing him walk into the bedroom wearing it, is seeing him sit about in it all morning. It revolts me and I can barely look at him until nearly 11am, when he finally has a shower and gets dressed.

When he’s in a nice shirt and chinos with a cashmere jumper, I do find him attractive, he’s a handsome man. He’s over 6ft with the sort of bone structure most usually seen in the society pages of Tatler.

Seeing him like this, I definitely would, so I slip his hand inside my bra, hoping to excite him. I’m not sure if his ED is affected by his drinking, so I try to ignite the spark before he has alcohol in his bloodstream.

Charles is a big drinker, at the weekend he’ll start drinking before midday.

My efforts at putting his hand on my breast lead nowhere as he tells me I’m in the way of the television. He’s watching Formula 1.

We open a bottle of wine with lunch, so there’s no chance now, but the motorsports must have jacked up his testosterone levels as he tells me he’ll give me ‘a damn good f***ing’. I wish he would.

It used to excite me when he said things like this, but seeing as he’s never done it, I no longer believe him. It’s like Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses saying: ‘This time next year we’ll be millionaires.’ Ironically, Charles is a millionaire, but I despair of ever again getting a good d**king.

Friends are coming over for lunch and Charles reminds me how much he likes it when I am affectionate towards him in front of other people.

I can’t even deal with dissecting this so I just say: ‘OK darling!’ I give him a little kiss and make a mental note to ramp up the PDA when the guests arrive.

I must do a good job because one of them says: ‘Awww! You guys are so cute!’

And actually, we are a good match in a lot of ways. 

As well as being well-educated, Charles has impeccable manners and he’s very thoughtful. He’s the kind of man who takes care of things and I feel like I’m in safe hands when I’m with him.

Plus, penetrative sex isn’t everything, and Charles did go down on me twice last night. I prefer this anyway. If I had to choose between penetrative sex and receiving oral, I would definitely choose receiving oral. I just wish he would do it more often.

I didn’t actually want it the second time – I was tired and I wanted to go to sleep. However, I think he felt a surge of male pride at making my legs shake as I orgasmed and he wanted to do it again for the applause. 

It’s gone 9pm by the time the last guest leaves. We’re both tired by then, but Charles loads the dishwasher and we watch a bit of Top Gun 2 on the telly.

Monday

I wake up and walk into the sitting room where Charles is chain-smoking his miniature cigars, dressed in his ancient artefact. It’s like he’s cosplaying a Jane Austen character.

I want to tell him: ‘The V&A called – the costume curator wants their 18th century exhibit back’, but I bite my tongue.

He announces: ‘I was rock hard last night! Rock hard!’

He sounds extremely proud of himself, but unfortunately his claim bears no relation to reality. What actually happened is that he poked his semi-flaccid penis at me in the night and I ignored him until he stopped bothering.

You might imagine I’d be pleased at the prospect of having sex, and perhaps even helped matters along. However, the image of his ‘Tiny Tim’ nudging a molehill in his nightshirt makes me queasy.

I hate the idea of him hitching up his nighty and there’s no way I am putting my hand up there. I just won’t do it. I know he’s naked underneath, only because I see his boxers on the bathroom floor, and I don’t know why he can’t wear those to bed instead. 

Charles is working from home today and he wants me to stay and work from his, but I tell him I can’t concentrate so he orders me an Uber. At home I unpack then tackle my inbox before doing yoga.

I’m so happy to be sleeping by myself in my own bed. I love showering then getting into a freshly changed bed, with crisp clean sheets.

Charles’ cleaner changes his bed on a Monday morning, and I typically stay with him on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, so his bed’s never freshly changed when I’m there.

But it’s the nightshirt that makes the bed manky. I hate it – the fact that it’s always the same grubby garment disgusts me.

My revulsion is skyrocketing, but picking my battles, I decide I might be more able to stomach him wearing a nightshirt if it’s new, and clean on, rather than a dirty old dishcloth that I wouldn’t even use on the floors.

If I buy him a stack of new ones, he can always wear a clean one to bed. But aside from getting in a time machine and traveling back to 1840, where would I even find nightshirts?

I put these thoughts aside as I have a celebrity to interview for a newspaper. I spend the morning prepping, and afterwards I go to the gym.

I’ve spent the day wracking my brains, and all I can think of is an Ebeneezer Scrooge halloween costume. I find loads of them online, modelled by unpleasant old men.

The costumes come in synthetic fabrics with a range of accessories including fake candles, night caps and walking sticks. Although this is an amusing bonus, I’m unwilling to subject myself to a polyester-clad bed partner. Surely there must be nightshirts in natural fibres?

I have a flash of inspiration and turn to a forum on Reddit, where there is indeed a thread on men’s nightshirts. The original poster has asked if anyone wears them so I sift through the replies.

These include: ‘I think that was five generations back from anyone alive today lol’ and ‘Good lord, honey, we weren’t pioneers.’

With no pointers from Reddit, I’ve hit a dead end. I think about this as I transcribe yesterday’s interview. It takes all day but I prefer to do it myself as I don’t trust AI transcription services. In the evening I go for a run and head to bed.

I bite the bullet and call Charles to let him know I’m looking for new nightshirts for him. ‘Why?!’ he snaps.

I want to tell him: ‘Because it’s disgusting!’. However, in an effort to help him understand, I say: ‘Well, you wouldn’t wear the same shirt to work each day, would you?’

‘I wash it,’ he declares. ‘How often?’ I ask, gently.

I know his answer of every other day sadly isn’t true. He just hangs it back up on a hook on the door, with the rip in the cuff confirming that it is indeed the same old rag that he wears night after night.

Wary of arguing, I let it drop, but he later WhatsApps me saying: ‘I’ve bought four for £16 on Amazon.’

This is a miracle. Charles has Amazon Prime so maybe they’ll even be there when I go over tomorrow. As unsavoury as it is seeing him come to bed looking like a relic from Victorian times, at least he won’t be marinating in the same filthy fabric each night.

I stay in this relationship because Charles has some amazing qualities, and we have a shared love for entertaining at lunches and suppers, but now, if I’m feeling less repulsed by his nightshirts, who knows what this could do for our sex life, too.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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First came ‘Brotox’ to smooth out wrinkles, and now it seems that men are jumping on the trend for fillers to restore sagging skin too.

Irish actor Barry Keoghan, 33, sparked tweakment speculation when he attended the premiere for The Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man in New York earlier this month.

Since making his debut in 2010’s Between the Canals, Keoghan’s appearance has changed dramatically, including his sharper jawline and a fuller pout that could be attributed to aesthetic procedures.

Now, a cosmetic dermatologist has revealed he may have also had cheek fillers injected under the skin to restore lost volume.

‘The increased fullness through the cheek area does appear consistent with cheek filler,’ Dr Nora Jaafar told the Daily Mail.

‘When larger volumes are placed through the mid-face it can create a rounded or slightly “puffy” appearance, particularly with older hyaluronic acid fillers, which are highly hydrophilic and attract water into the tissue.

‘In men, this can soften the natural angular structure of the face, which is why poorly placed filler often looks more noticeable on male faces.’

However, Keoghan isn’t alone, with Dr Jaafar noting a ‘rise in men seeking aesthetic treatments’ to look more youthful – especially those whose appearances are under constant scrutiny on camera.

‘It’s a fast way to sharpen the face and look more refreshed almost immediately.

‘Male celebrities may opt for it because it quickly restores or enhances mid-face structure, which can soften with age or weight fluctuations. In high-definition filming and photography, stronger cheekbone definition can make the face appear more angular and youthful.’

Jim Carrey 

Jim Carrey broke cover earlier this month when the reclusive funnyman made a rare public appearance at the 51st Cesar Awards in Paris.

Carrey, 64, looked dramatically different as he accepted the Honorary Cesar at the French equivalent of the Oscars, with fans going as far as suggesting that he had sent a body double to collect the award.

Most noticeable was the added volume at the centre of his face, as Carrey’s visage looked softer and more rounded. 

Fans on Reddit suggested the change was due to cheek fillers, but Carrey has not commented on the rumours yet.  

Simon Cowell 

Simon Cowell has always been open about the work he’s had done. 

Last December, the record executive, now 66, told the Daily Mail: ‘I’ve had Botox. I’ve had lasers and this and that.’ 

The Britain’s Got Talent judge denied rumours he had undergone a facelift, adding: ‘I look at myself sometimes and go, “Oh God, I look like s***. Sometimes I think I look okay. 

‘I’m more about, “Is it real?” I guess that authenticity was my main thing.’ 

Simon previously also revealed he had gone ‘too far’ with facial fillers, adding that certain photos had left his son Eric ‘in hysterics’. 

He confirmed ‘there is no filler in my face at all now’ in an interview with The Sun in 2022. 

A plastic surgeon previously told this newspaper that the broadcaster had had Botox and fillers as well as some skin resurfacing work as a ‘part and parcel of his looking-good regime’. 

Tom Cruise 

Tom Cruise has sparked plastic surgery speculation a few times over the last decade, including in February 2025. 

Fans noticed his face looked oddly ‘puffy’ in a pregame ad for the Super Bowl as cosmetic experts told the Daily Mail that Cruise, 62, showed signs of filler in his cheeks. 

Dr Gaurav Bharti, a plastic surgeon at HKB Cosmetic Surgery in Charlotte, North Carolina, said: ‘I think the biggest thing with Tom Cruise is that he has historically aged pretty well.

‘But the biggest thing is his jawline definition has changed, and he now looks a little fuller on the Super Bowl and a bit more stretched out… instead of that harsh definition he typically has.

Dr Bharti suggested this could be due to weight gain or an ‘over-abundance of fillers’. 

In October 2021, a photo of Cruise at a baseball game in San Francisco hinted at the use of cheek fillers as his face appeared significantly fuller. 

However, he looked back to his old self when Cruise attended the Top Gun premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2022. 

Commenting on the transformation, aesthetician expert Dawn Attewell told the Daily Mail: ‘In the infamous October 2021 picture, you can see that Tom looked swollen and puffy, which could be due to excessive filler, post-procedure swelling, or weight gain.’

When he attended the BAFTAs in 2016, Cruise’s fans suggested he looked dramatically different from earlier appearances because of his round cheeks. 

‘He has excessive volume in the middle of his face, probably as a result of fillers,’ said cosmetic surgeon Dr Costas Papageorgiou. ‘For four to six weeks afterwards, they can leave noticeable swelling and water retention.’

Barry Keoghan 

After it was suggested that Barry had gotten lip fillers, his most recent red carpet appearance left fans wondering whether he had used them on his face as well. 

A cosmetic surgeon previously revealed that Barry’s new look could be the result of using lip fillers amid a ‘noticeable rise’ in men exploring ‘undetectable injectables’.

‘What is important here is that it reflects how closely male facial changes are now noticed and discussed. Moments like this mirror what we see in clinic, where men are increasingly open to subtle lip enhancement that prioritises balance rather than obvious volume.’ 

Ryan Gosling 

Among the A-listers that have been rumoured to get cheek fillers is Ryan Gosling – with the speculation following him into 2026. 

During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Hollywood hunk surprised his wife Eva Mendes with an on-air celebration for her 52nd birthday. 

The internet’s boyfriend was showered with praise for the romantic gesture, but some fans also noticed Gosling’s face looked more plump and full. 

Fans suggested he may have opted for cheek fillers to counteract the effects of weight loss, with one X user writing: ‘It’s starting to look a little overdone.’

Others said that getting fillers is ‘normal in Hollywood’ and urged people to ‘stop hating’. 

Ryan Gosling is currently riding high on the success of his new film Hail Mary after it earned rave reviews from critics. 

Daniel Craig  

American plastic surgeon Dr Gary Motykie previously told the Daily Mail that Daniel Craig may have opted for fillers to counteract the effects of extreme weight loss programs during his time playing James Bond. 

Craig, now 58, reportedly underwent gruelling training while shooting for the Bond films, as experts suggested this would have caused a permanent loss of volume in his face. 

Dr Motykie said he likely received fillers to combat this and give himself a ‘fuller’ facial appearance.

‘Daniel Craig did start to look a bit gaunt in his 40s and upwards,’ he said, ‘when you lose all that weight it really shows up in the face’. However, Dr Motykie points out that, from around 2018 onwards, Craig’s face seemed to miraculously balloon in the cheek area.

Fillers can initially cause a ‘puffy’ and ‘fuller’ face, the surgeon said, because they suck in fluid from surrounding tissue that collects in the face.

This eases within a few days to weeks as the body redistributes the fluid and inflammation declines, but there is a lag-time where the face appears ‘poofy’.

Many stars hide away during this period, Dr Motykie said, but some can have their ‘hand caught in the cookie jar’ if they step out in public too early.

 Zac Efron 

The High School Musical star is no stranger to speculation about his changing appearance.

In 2021, Zac Efron suddenly debuted a new jawline, which he said was because of reconstructive surgery following a nasty fall that had ‘shattered his jaw’. In late 2023, he also appeared with a puffier face.

Dr Motykie said it was almost certain that Efron had received fillers in his face – possibly to replace volume lost from diets aimed to reduce fat.

But the plastic surgeon said it was also possible that the star’s puffier appearance could be linked to hormone or testosterone shots, which the star is also speculated to have used.

‘It may be that he lost the weight and then tried to put it back’ said Dr Motykie, ‘but could not regain volume in his face’.

Zac has faced repeated speculation about plastic surgery after he appeared with an altered jawline, but he has denied all the suggestions.

Last November, the 38-year-old actor sent his fans into meltdown when they noticed his face had seemingly changed again. 

Seen cheering for his younger brother Dylan during an episode of Dancing with the Stars (or the American version of Strictly), Zac looked noticeably like his old, teen heartthrob self. 

‘Oh wow, Zac Efron is back,’ one fan announced, while another added: ‘I don’t know what he did, but his face doesn’t look as botoxy tonight – he looks great.’

 David Beckham 

David Beckham, 50, was the pretty boy of soccer, known for his angular jaw and sharp cheekbones.

But in 2023, he appeared at the UK premiere of the movie ‘Beckham’ modeling a much fuller face.

Dr Motykie said his face may have thinned out as a result of losing weight for his copious fashion shoots – with the star then turning to filler to regain volume. 

The Manchester United legend has never addressed plastic surgery speculation.  

A sexed-up sexagenarian says Ozempic has super-charged her love life — and left her looking four decades younger.

Bobbi Parker-Hall, 67, says people mistake her for being in her twenties since she started taking the GLP-1 jabs.

“Some people ask what surgery I’ve had and others assume it’s good Botox, filters or genetics — but the truth isn’t glamorous,” the blonde beauty told What’s The Jam.

“I’m not chasing skinny; I’m protecting my metabolism, muscle and long-term health. That’s why I microdose.”

Parker-Hall, who hails from Portland, Oregon, is a fitness coach who has long lifted heavy weights.

But the bombshell says she was never able to silence food noise or lose her stubborn lower belly bloat, no matter how much she worked out.

“Used carefully alongside lifting and real nutrition, microdosing feels less like dieting and more like stability,” she stated. “My cravings are calm, my weight is steady and food no longer runs the show.”

For those thinking about using the weight-loss shots, Parker-Hall says they must be teamed with weight work in the gym.

“Rapid weight loss without strength training also causes Ozempic face or butt,” she explained.

“For some reason, a strong and lean woman after 60 feels suspicious to people. I won’t pretend it’s all down to me — but I’ve become more attractive and healthier after menopause and I refuse to disappear.”

Parker-Hall’s husband, Dean, is also reaping the benefits of his ladylove’s Ozempic use, with the frisky fitness enthusiast saying sex is better than ever.

“It’s so crazy to realize that at my age, I am having the best sex of my life,” she swooned.

“The intimacy I share with my husband, Dean, has made me feel a deep sense of closeness and safety on so many levels, that I’m now enjoying multiple orgasms every time we have sex,” Parker-Hall declared. “This depth of pleasure and intimacy is a precious gift.”

In the heart of the Lincolnshire countryside, there is a learner driver centre unlike any you have ever seen. Here, you won’t find any examiners, provisional licences or emergency stops (hopefully) – just excitable dogs racing around practising with their new wheels.

That’s because it is home to Broken Biscuits, a disabled animal rescue charity and sanctuary where poorly and recovering pups are given a new lease of life at what the founders say is the ‘world’s first disabled dog park’.

Here, disabled dogs are initiated at the learner driver centre, where they can run around, negotiate obstacles and navigate their wheelchairs at speed on tarmac before being promoted to the park, where they yip, chase balls and run without a care in the world.

Tim Giles, co-founder of Broken Biscuits, tells Metro: ‘A lot of times, when you get a dog fitted into a wheelchair, if it’s in strange surroundings, like a park, the dog will just stand there. But we found the best place to take a dog to do a fitting was a tennis court, because there is tarmac, a fence around it and they have space to run around.’

After their discovery, Tim, 58, and co-founder and wife Cassie Carney, 49, built the racetrack to get the dogs running again.

The seven-acre park enables dogs to pass their learner driver’s test on hard surfaces, before graduating to a grassy area alongside stables and small houses where timid dogs can hide or take a break and grassy mounds which more advanced wheelchair users can climb up and race down.   

The couple set up the charity 18 years ago after going on holiday in Europe and seeing how many stray puppies were paralysed then euthanised after being hit by cars.

Cassie, a veterinary nurse, and Tim started working with clinics, providing spaying and neutering in Moldova, Bosnia and Romania, when they came across Otto, a shih tzu-yorkie cross whose back legs were amputated after he was hit by a car and was due to be put down.

They brought Otto back to the UK in 2009, along with two other dogs, and set up a sanctuary that is now home to 20.

Cassie admits that working with disabled dogs, they made ‘a lot of mistakes’, because fitting wheelchairs is a complicated art. They often require a lot of adaptation, and dogs in shelters are frequently undernourished, so the fit needs to change as the pups gain weight.

‘If you get the wrong equipment, you then put the dog off. If you put them in a wheelchair that’s rubbing on their body or becomes too hot in the sun because the bars heat up, you lose that trust with the dog. So you’ve spent all this money on a wheelchair, and you feel like you failed them,’ she explains.

For the past few years, the couple have been working alongside Rachel Wettner, founder of dog charity Winston’s Wheels. She knows just how valuable a wheelchair can be after she was told her beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier Winston would have to be put down in 2017 due to a spinal tumour.

‘We [she and husband Sydney who passed away last year] took him to the vets and after scans and tests they said – just take him home and enjoy him, and when you’re ready, put him to sleep. And that was it,’ Rachel, from Suffolk, tells Metro.

‘It was heartbreaking because even though he couldn’t use his back legs, he was exactly the same dog down to his waist. He was cheeky and playful and he just wanted to carry on. And we were devastated – we’d had him from a puppy so we had such a close bond. We were just determined we weren’t going to give up on him.’

In desperation, Rachel, a learning mentor for young adults with special needs, asked for advice on social media and a kind stranger got in touch offering to loan her a wheelchair.

‘That was a real blessing because Winston took to it straight away and did everything he did before – like dog shows and paddling in the sea. It was a total game changer. He really was amazing. And the cat was fascinated by him,’ she recalls.

Every time the wheelchair came out for a run around the garden or a walk, Winston’s tail would wag like crazy, Rachel remembers, and he enjoyed three extra years sniffing around and playing in his wheels before passing away in 2020.

Inspired, Rachel, went on to home two further disabled dogs and set up Winston’s Wheels in his memory, which has helped thousands of dogs.

The charity loans out wheelchairs to pets, which are returned when they are no longer needed after the dog has either recovered or passed away. They have even provided wheelchairs for disabled sheep. And the charity has enlisted the help of Team Tactics, who run corporate days building the wheelchairs to help spread awareness and raise funds.

‘It’s fantastic, because people get to see these special dogs and they fall in love with them instantly. People’s reaction to them is amazing and for them to see how the wheelchairs transform dogs’ lives is brilliant, Rachel says.

Disabled dogs can live a long time – as Otto is living proof. Although now aged 13 and going through heart failure, he ‘still looks and acts like a puppy’, Cassie says.

Care for disabled dogs has come a long way in recent years aided in part by the popular TV show Colin from Accounts.

‘It’s not unusual to see a dog in a wheelchair now. When we first started, we would have Otto in his chair and cars would stop, people would point, say it’s cruel,’remembers Tim.

Cassie adds: ‘Disabled dogs are put into a “freak show” – “too difficult” category. But we want to normalise it. It doesn’t have to be that difficult or scary. Nearly all pet parents will have their dog become disabled at some point in their life – by being hit by a car or having a stroke.

‘But also, they will become disabled as they age. They will lose bladder control, their sight, their hearing, or there are diseases like cancer, arthritis and Cushing’s that will affect their mobility. It’s just a normal part of life.

‘Life rolls on and we’re glad to be able to help dogs and their owners as they navigate that.’

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Firefighters have plenty of ways to battle the spread of flames, but some first responders have a different approach to wildfire response.

A smokejumper is a unique type of wildland firefighter that’s trained to reach remote fires by parachuting from about 3,000 feet to attack a designated area, typically without road or trail access, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

This type of response allows firefighters to arrive hours before anyone could hike or drive to a location to extinguish the flames.

These first responders receive intensive training in parachuting, aircraft safety and firefighting tactics, along with specialized skills such as tree climbing, aerial cargo delivery, chainsaw use, parachute equipment manufacturing and prescribed burning.

Footage shared by the U.S. Wildland Fire Service shows smokejumpers leap from a plane, strapped with equipment, into rugged desert terrain where a wildfire rages in the distance.

Large plumes of smoke can be seen rising high into the sky as wrist responders parachute into the region.

Smokejumpers must undergo intensive training in parachuting, aircraft safety, firefighting tactics, tree climbing, aerial cargo delivery, chainsaw use, parachute equipment manufacturing and prescribed burning.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the smokejumping program began in 1939 as an experiment, but was fully established in 1943, proving to provide outstanding service across the nation.

Notably, the 555th Airborne Battalion Paratrooper unit served as smokejumpers to combat the Japanese balloon bomb offensive during World War II, when Japan launched close to 9,000 balloons during a five-month period to be carried by high-altitude winds into the U.S. carrying anti-personnel and incendiary bombs.

With airlines charging a premium for both carry-ons and checked bags, bringing a change of clothes can cost you as much as the flight ticket.

And if you’re anything like us, you’ll do anything to avoid paying extra.

Now, a Dutch start-up says it has the answer to overpacking woes.

The signature backpack from Amsterdam-based Airback contains a vacuum-sealed section designed to help you squeeze more into less space, plus a range of mod-cons including a USB/C charging port.

This volume-squeezing, gadget-loaded beast claims to go from 22L to 47L with the flick of a switch and the hum of a pump.

But is it a silver bullet for dodging baggage fees?

Our Travel Editor Alice Murphy puts it to the test.

The details

The Airback is an expandable, compression-enabled backpack that tries to give you the best of both worlds: everyday carry-on and full-sized hauler.

There are several versions, but I’m trying the Original, which has a base capacity of 22L and the potential to balloon up to 47L, thanks to both an expansion zip and a vacuum compression system.

Built using weather-resistant recycled nylon, it is waterproof and looks and feels premium, with a finish that resembles rubber.

It has a lockable laptop compartment, water bottle holder, and a built-in scale on the handle (though I’m not sure how much use this is for a cabin bag).

It comes in five colours: black, navy, grey, olive green and beige, and has several pockets including a quick-access strip that’s good for phone, passport, wallet.

Opening the bag, you’re met with a clamshell layout. There is an odour-resistant shoe pocket, an internal zip section for chargers and documents, and the main compression chamber.

The brand claims that this fits a week’s worth of clothing, which can be vacuumed down using either the hoover you have at home, or an Airback electric pump which they will sell you for £37 extra.

The cost

£291. At the time of writing, on sale for £214. This is not an ad, but if you’re interested, you can buy it here.

The pros

Like Ronseal, this bag does what it says on the tin: it helps you to pack more in carry-on.

I kept a list in my Notes app and here’s what I fit with the help of the vacuum (and a bit of elbow grease):

• One pair of jeans
• One chunky knit cardigan
• Three tops
• Three pairs of underwear
• Three pairs of socks
• One pair of tights
• Pair of pyjamas
• Soft running shoes
• Laptop
• Paperback book
• Phone and laptop chargers
• Journal
• Skincare bag
• Makeup bag

The vacuum section really does work, but it works best if you pack only clothing in that section. I watched as it shrunk, fabric shrivelling like a prune.

Keep electronics, books, and anything hard in other compartments for maximum compression.

I’ve taken the Airback on five Ryanair flights, and even stuffed to the limit, I have yet to be pulled out of line to the ‘cage of doom’.

It fits comfortably into overhead bins and under the seat, with a shove. You can position it so that the quick-access top pocket stays easily accessible.

The cons

It’s not the lightest backpack out there. In fact, it’s quite a bit heavier than it looks, even when empty.

At this size and capacity, it could do with a hip belt or load lifter. That would make it more comfortable to carry.

The nylon is stiff, which makes some compartments difficult to open.

And another downside is the lack of YKK zippers, which all other zippers are compared to in terms of quality and an industry-standard for travel bags at this price point.

Finally, I’m not convinced on the built-in scale. You can order the bag with or without the weight handle (£14 extra) and honestly, I’d save yourself the money.

The verdict

The Airback is designed for people who want to maximise space on the road.

And as someone who lives out of a bag for a living, I can confirm that on that front, it delivers.

That said, it’s a bag that feels heavy even before you’ve filled it. At times, it is cumbersome.

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Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro’s resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.

How do you sleep at night?

That isn’t an existential question about your morals, but a literal one you should be asking yourself regarding the way you physically rest — because sleeping position can make all the difference in daylight hours.

Given you spend around a third of your life in bed, stress on your spine and joints takes its toll, contributing to back pain, neck stiffness and a whole host of musculoskeletal issues.

This can then impact your posture, as misalignment, tight muscles or pressure points cause you to twist or hunch.

‘Sleep and posture are closely connected,’ Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, tells Metro.

‘The position we sleep in can either support the natural curves of the spine or place it under unnecessary strain for hours at a time.’

According to the sleep advisor, where you lay your head ‘plays a crucial role’ here, since ‘a mattress that’s too soft or firm can disrupt alignment, while the wrong pillow height can strain the neck.’

But position is key too — and some are far better for your posture than others.

On your back

Lisa says this is one of the best options for spinal alignment, explaining: ‘Back sleeping allows the head, neck and spine to rest in a neutral position, particularly if a supportive pillow is used.’

Also known as the supine position, it ensures you aren’t twisting and helps distribute body weight evenly to reduce pressure on certain areas, but can worsen snoring or sleep apnoea because the tongue may fall backward.

If you’re a back sleeper, a firm mattress is likely your best best to avoid arching, and you can also place a small pillow under your knees to maintain a natural spinal curve.’

Starfish position: Issues may come from back sleeping if you hold your arms above your head, known as the ‘starfish’. While it maintains this neutral alignment, it can strain shoulders and compress nerves, as well as increasing snoring, so is best avoided where possible.

On your side

‘Side sleeping can also be very beneficial,’ Lisa continues.

Not only does it keep your spine relatively straight, lateral sleeping can reduce snoring and breathing problems, and is particularly good for pregnant people and those with digestion issues (who are typically advised to sleep on their left).

On the flip-side, some have issues with shoulder pressure or neck pain in this position, but this can usually be rectified with a supportive pillow.

Hip rotation can sometimes pose a problem too, so Lisa recommends popping a pillow between your knees to keep them aligned.

Foetal position: Although it’s technically on your side, and may feel more comfortable for those with lower back pain or herniated discs sleeping in the foetal position (with your knees pulled up toward your chest and the body curled) is less beneficial in terms of posture.

When sleeping on your side, try to keep your spine as straight as possible to limit excessive curling that rounds the upper back — it’s also better for your breathing.

On your front

Front sleepers, be warned.

Of all the positions, Lisa says this is ‘usually the most challenging for posture, as it forces the neck to twist to one side and can flatten the natural curve of the lower back.’

She adds: ‘Over time, this may contribute to stiffness or discomfort on waking.’

If you must sleep in this prone pose, use a very thin pillow or no pillow, and place one under the pelvis.

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When I first moved to London in 2018, I was always trying to nab a seat on the Tube.

On a rammed Northern Line train during a morning commute, I was desperate for a seat to avoid being smushed into a stranger’s armpit. 

And on the way home after work, I’d gaze longingly at the seats, waiting for the moment one would free up so I could get off my feet (I had a terrible habit of wearing uncomfortable shoes).

But flash forward to today, and you’ll hardly ever catch me sitting down on the Tube. 

Instead, I opt to stand – a choice I appreciate I’m privileged to have as many fellow Londoners need to sit due to mobility issues.

My aversion to sitting on the Tube began in 2023, amid the bedbug outbreak in France. 

Like many others, I became paranoid about inadvertently bringing the critters home, especially after seeing videos of them crawling around on Tube seats. 

And while we didn’t end up having an infestation on the Underground here, I found myself unable to return to sitting on the vast majority of the lines, as the more I stood, the more I noticed just how gross many of the seats actually looked.

I’d argue the worst culprits can be found on Northern, Central, Victoria, and Picadilly lines, which have previously been named as some of the ‘dirtiest’ and ‘most polluted’ lines in the city.

To give you a better idea of what we’re dealing with, one study by the London Metropolitan University found 22 different types of living bacteria on the Victoria line, four of which were on the WHO priority list as potentially deadly, antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

And if this doesn’t make you think twice about parking your bum, this just might…

Latest London news

To get the latest news from the capital, visit Metro’s London news hub.

A video has been doing the rounds on social media this week, showing an unknown man urinating on a priority seat on a Northern Line tube after a night out. 

The original clip appears to have been deleted, but the damage has already been done.

Many Londoners have shared snippets of the clip as a warning, proclaiming they’ll ‘never sit on the Northern Line again’, while some went as far as to vow they’d never sit on any Tube again. 

And honestly, I’m feeling pretty vindicated about my decision to stand right about now.

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If something like this has happened once, you can bet there will be so much more we haven’t seen – as a Reddit thread also seems to attest.

Over on the r/London forum, people have shared the ‘worst’ things they’ve witnessed on the London Underground, and the jaw-dropping list involves many more accounts of people weeing on Tube seats, as well as incidents involving ‘explosive puke’, ‘dogs with diarrhoea’, ‘masturbation’, and ‘faecal matter’.

I’ll spare you any further details, but what we can take from that is that those seats have seen just about everything and more.

Understandably, for those who need to sit, it does beg the question…

How often are the Tubes cleaned?

Transport for London (TfL) revealed how often seats on the Tube were cleaned in 2024 in response to a Freedom Of Information (FOI) request.

David Wells, the FOI case officer at TfL, said: ‘On the London Overground, there is a 30-day heavy cleaning programme for the interior of trains which includes seats. A dry foam is used and then vacuumed out. 

‘On the London Underground, seats across the fleet are brushed and checked daily prior and post going into service. The seats are also further cleaned and hoovered every 28 days, with the Northern Line also receiving an annual steam clean, due to the levels of dirt and dust being seen, with at least two trains per week being achieved as part of this maintenance programme.’

He added: ‘These cleaning programmes are also supported by seat covers being changed where necessary (for example, due to vandalism, chewing gum, paint damage and so on).’

Metro has contacted TfL for further information on their cleaning process.

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Prince William told Princess Anne: ‘I’ve had enough of hearing his name,’ according to a lip reader who has revealed the ‘tense’ conversations shared between the Royal Family at the Commonwealth Day service.

King Charles, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday led the largest gathering of senior royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, marking the annual occasion at Westminster Abbey.

During one ‘telling’ moment, William made his feelings known to his aunt, the Princess Royal, apparently saying to her: ‘I’ve had enough of hearing his name, to be honest,’ claimed Nicola Hickling.

The forensic lip reading expert and analyst at LipReader said it was unclear what Anne said to prompt this reaction as her back was to the camera. However, during the ‘brief and subdued’ conversation, William also said: ‘It’s up for debate.’

Nicola was unable to confirm who exactly the Prince was referring to with his comments but it could have been related to the ongoing fallout surrounding the disgraced former Duke of York, who was arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Meanwhile, King Charles appeared to share a ‘tense’ moment with his son upon his arrival, saying ‘oh finally’ whilst wearing an irritated expression, the lip reader claimed. 

William responded with a quick greeting, kissing his father on both cheeks, but did not appear to say anything in return.

The King then told his sister Princess Anne: ‘It’s not good out there… it’s rather tense, isn’t it? It’s not good.’ It’s likely Charles was referring to the small but vocal group of anti-monarchist protestors outside the Abbey.

His Majesty then continued to greet the rest of his family, including the Princess of Wales, and ‘seemed to say something further to Kate and William, prompting the Prince to step slightly forward and respond: ”We’re not happy”’, Nicola told the Daily Mail.

Elsewhere, like her brother, Princess Anne also apparently referred to the protestors upon her arrival at the London occasion. According to the lip reader, she told her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence ‘don’t listen to them, ignore them’. 

The faintest occasional cry of ‘what did you know’ in reference to Andrew could be heard from a small group of flag-waving anti-monarchist protesters from the Republic pressure group, but they were competing with the sound of the abbey bells and a group of Commonwealth musicians. 

‘Oh listen to that, do you know what it is they’re playing?,’ asked the Princess Royal as she walked past the band, no doubt in an effort to distract from the protesters’ shouts. 

Earlier large crowds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal party, who joined an 1,800-strong congregation celebrating the historic ‘family of nations’ formed in the breakdown of the British empire but now comprising 56 independent member countries, united by ‘shared values including a commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.7 billion citizens’.

The royal party arrived to a fanfare inside the Abbey with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arriving first, followed by the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and then the Prince and Princess of Wales.

All were greeted by the Dean of Westminster and presented to the Chapter and members of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

They included Commonwealth Secretary General, The Hon Shirley Botchwey, and Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Janet Cooper.

The King and Queen were the last to arrive, shaking the hands of those in the line-up before greeting the rest of the family with warm kisses. Charles opened up his arms to welcome his eldest son and heir.

The ladies slightly giggled amongst themselves about the size of their hats, with Princess Anne smiling and indicating to Catherine that she wouldn’t even attempt a kiss. Others just offered a peck on one cheek, instead of the traditional two for fear of knocking their sizeable headwear.

Led by the King, the family then formed into a processional group ahead of the National Anthem.

The party walked to their seats behind the Commonwealth Mace Bearer during the first hymn ‘Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, The King Of Creation’.

In his annual Commonwealth Day message – which this year emphasises the theme of ‘collaboration’ – King Charles acknowledged deeply challenging times globally, but insisted it was also an opportunity for the Commonwealth to demonstrate its ‘enduring spirit’.

In his address, which was printed in the order of service, he said: ‘We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility.

‘Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing moments that the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth is most clearly revealed.

‘Ours is a remarkable association that spans every ocean and continent. Embracing an extraordinary diversity of culture, language and faith, our Commonwealth family is united by shared values of justice, democracy, opportunity, compassion and mutual respect.

‘In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our Member States home.’

He stressed that the organisation holds ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’ – which some might consider a backhanded nod towards US President Donald Trump and his controversial trade tariffs.

He added: ‘With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of thirty, we are a family defined by youth and possibility. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.’

The King also used his message to highlight an environmental message, saying the inheritance of the Commonwealth ‘depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend’.

He continued: ‘Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality. The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.’

Highlighting this autumn’s biannual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the King stressed that the organisation was very much the sum of its parts, saying: ‘We are reminded that the great gatherings of our nations are strengthened by the daily endeavours of their people. What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity.

‘When leaders meet, they do so on behalf of millions whose quiet determination, resilience and generosity give true meaning to our shared endeavour.

‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good – grounded in community, committed to the kind of restorative sustainability that has a return on investment, enriched by culture, steadfast in its care for our planet, and united in friendship and in the service of its people.’

‘When I want a little break, I put a small weight on the spacebar and open a blank notepad file, and let it sit for a while,’ confessed one employee.

The work-shy hire admitted they’re monitored on their work laptop when they WFH via MS Teams, which shows an ‘inactive’ label after five minutes of idling.

So, to get some time to themselves, they put an object on their keyboard that’s heavy enough to press down the spacebar, to make it appear like they’re working.

But this isn’t just for a 10-minute tea break, the staffer confessed they do this for more than an hour every day.

Those who do this have earned the title ‘keyboard jammers’, and employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, Jim Moore, tells Metro these workers are well-known to HR departments.

‘Keyboarding jamming is one of the less sophisticated ways of pretending to work remotely, and we’ve known about mouse jiggling software for years,’ he says.

‘These tactics have been known in HR circles for years, but their use soared during the pandemic as millions more employees started working from home.’

It’s been a problem for years

And it’s a behaviour that’s still prevalent in the homes of countless UK employees, with the new that the police force has sacked 50 ‘keyboard jammers’ in the past three years alone.

In Durham Constabulary, Niall Thubron, a former detective, pressed the ‘i’ key more than 16,000 times on December 3, 2024, between 10.28am and 11.56am, while one Kent police officer used the hack to visit a gym and a golf course during the working day.

Greater Manchester police found 28 staff members were guilty of ‘key jamming’ with objects like staplers and fizzy drinks cans.

Avon & Somerset police’s, PC Liam Reakes, was caught weighing down the ‘z’ key during shifts for a total of 103 hours between June and September 2024, sometimes for more than four hours at a time.

‘There’s certainly a minority who view working from home as an easy option,’ Jim says. ‘Remote working is not a holiday, and employers are well within their rights to expect the same productivity and availability as office-based work.’

All remote workers suffer

‘Key jammers’ put those who rely on working from home in disrepute, many of whom may rely on remote working to be able to pick up their children from school.

Britons aged 25 to 49 are the most likely to have an overall favourable opinion of WFH (84%), likely in part because this is the age group most likely to have young children, according to YouGov.

‘This behaviour is bad news for genuine remote workers, the vast majority of whom are highly productive and professional,’ Jim explains. ‘It provides ammunition to flexible working sceptics and undermines the business case for remote work.

‘It’s unfair on employees like parents, carers and those with disabilities who rely on remote working to remain in employment.’

It also ruins it for those who simply enjoy a hybrid working model, and 83% of businesses in the UK say it’s boosted the productivity and wellbeing of their employees, according to Grant Thornton research.

How companies are fighting back

But if you’re guilty of jamming your keyboard, is it likely you’ll get caught? In short, there are plenty of ways your organisation can catch you out.

‘Many organisations have invested in monitoring tools that track actual work output rather than just keyboard activity, or by software that captures random screenshots,’ Jim says.

‘This has led to an arms race, where some workers become more creative at getting around controls, causing trust to plummet between both sides.’

Those on Reddit’s WFH thread also shared ways they believe employers have been catching ‘jammers’ out.

‘Screen monitoring is a thing,’ said one, while another added: ‘My employer confirmed they track keystrokes.

‘Nothing about watching the screen, but there are mentions of a) knowing which programs you’re using/have open, b) keystrokes in each program (including browser), c) when your computer was on/off.’

The repercussions for ‘keyboard jammers’

Jim says the consequences for jamming your keyboard can be ‘severe’ and put an end to your time at the company you’ve been working for.

‘In the police cases, dismissal was appropriate due to the breach of trust and the fact that these were public servants,’ he says.

‘In other organisations, this behaviour could constitute gross misconduct leading to summary dismissal without notice.

‘Employees need to be clear: this is potentially career-ending fraud.’

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