HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in the UK with about about 48,000 women being diagnosed each year, according to the NHS.

Until now there has been no reliable way of predicting the likelihood of non-inherited breast cancer, but doctors may have just found the solution.

A simple blood test could offer many women an early warning of breast cancer even if they do not inherit genes linked to the disease.

breast cancer ribbon

Scientists have identified a molecular "switch" in blood samples that increases a woman's chances of having breast cancer.

The marker is associated with the BRCA1 breast cancer gene, but was also found in women without the mutation who went on to develop the disease.

Around 10% of breast cancers are caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants inherited from parents, leaving 90% of cases unexplained.

A woman with the BRCA1 gene has an 85% risk of developing breast cancer, leading some carriers to take the drastic step of breast removal.

But until now there has been no reliable way of predicting the likelihood of non-inherited breast cancer.

The "switch" discovered by scientists is part of the process by which certain molecules acting on DNA cause genes to be turned on or off.

SEE ALSO:

Five Signs To Check For Breast Cancer - How To Spot The Symptoms

Breast Cancer Survivors Prove There's More To Life Than Worrying About Your Bikini Body

Lead researcher Professor Martin Widschwendter, from University College London, said: "We identified an epigenetic signature in women with a mutated BRCA1 gene that was linked to increased cancer risk and lower survival rates.

"Surprisingly, we found the same signature in large cohorts of women without the BRCA1 mutation and it was able to predict breast cancer risk several years before diagnosis.

"The data is encouraging since it shows the potential of a blood-based epigenetic test to identify breast cancer risk in women without known predisposing genetic mutations."

Dr Matthew Lam, senior research officer at the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, described the findings as "definitely promising".

He added: "This could mean that in the future a woman may be able to have a simple blood test to look for this DNA signature, and therefore know if she is at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

"If she does have this signature, she could then work with her doctor to explore the options available to help her take control of her own risk.

"These could include lifestyle changes, tailored breast screening, risk-reducing drugs or surgery."

What proportion of women at increased risk of breast cancer have the epigenetic marker is unknown, but the fact that it is not confined to those carrying BRCA 1 is significant.

"DNA signatures such as this have the potential to add an extra layer of accuracy in the way we are able to assess a woman's individual risk of breast cancer and we are eager to learn more in this area," Dr Lam said.

The scientists analysed blood sample DNA from 119 postmenopausal women who went on to develop breast cancer over a period of up to 12 years, and 122 who remained cancer-free.

Their results appear in the online journal Genome Medicine.

When you hear the word Wimbledon, you're likely to think of British summer time, strawberries, and tennis whites - and organisers are determined to keep it that way.

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has claimed that women players at this year's tournament have been forced to play bra-less after organisers clamped down on non-white underwear.

Several players have been spotted sans bras, including British star Naomi Broady.

Wimbledon is well and truly in full swing (pun totally intended)

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Pat said: "Some of the girls have been told to go back and change their bras and tops because they had slight colour on them.

"I believe some of the girls didn’t have suitable sports bras and had to go without them. It has absolutely gone ridiculous."

Wimbledon issued new guidelines this year stating that players may only break up their all-white outfits with a coloured trim of 1cm width on caps, headbands, bandanas, wristbands and socks.

Shoes must also be entirely white, including the soles.

According to The Telegraph, the players were written to before the Championships about the white clothing rule.

SEE ALSO:

How Simona Halep's Breast Reduction Helped Her Tennis Career (She's Now Ranked At No. 3)

The New Female Role Models: 10 Inspirational Women In Sport

In the letter, tournament referee Andrew Jarrett is believed to have said: "Undergarments that either are or can be visible during play (including due to perspiration) must also be completely white and contain no more than 1cm of coloured trim."

Wimbledon's harsher rules come after some players, including Serena Williams, began to wear bright underwear in recent years.

serena williams wimbledon 2013

Serena Williams at Wimbledon 2013

Serena's sister Venus Williams, has spoken out in favour of the stricter dress-code.

"I think it's a nice change. I think everyone just kind of glows in white. Obviously not all year, because anything every day is boring. But during these two weeks, it's nice," she said in an interview after her win on Wednesday.

If someone told you to run 'like a girl', would you demonstrate a stride to rival that of an athlete or flap your arms about like a deranged chicken?

A new advert from Always aims to challenge the existing negative connotations attached to doing something 'like a girl'.

The brand aim to redefine the phrase to mean something strong and triumphant in order to empower young women.

girl strong

"We’re kicking off an epic battle to make sure that girls everywhere keep their confidence throughout puberty and beyond, and making a start by showing them that doing it #LikeAGirl is an awesome thing," the brand say on their website.

In the video, adults are asked to run 'like a girl' and throw 'like a girl'. The results are embarrassing - according to the mixed group of men and women, girls are never co-ordinated or particularly accomplished.

In contrast, when the children in the video are asked to demonstrate the same activities 'like a girl', there's no sense of mocking - they run as fast as they can, throw with determination and show that actually, being a girl is something to be pretty proud of.

SEE ALSO:

Feminist Pantene #WhipIt Advert Urges Us To Stop Labelling Women (And Then Go To Buy Their Shampoo)

BBC Ban The Use of The Word 'Girl', But Is It A Sexist Term?

According to Always, our idea of doing something 'like a girl' changes considerably as we get older. This is because the phrase is used as in an insult to imply that women are inferior to men.

"Using #LikeAGirl as an insult is a hard knock against any adolescent girl. And since the rest of puberty’s really no picnic either, it’s easy to see what a huge impact it can have on a girl’s self-confidence," say Always.

This isn't the first time a brand have used an advertising campaign to promote female empowerment - Pantene recently launched an ad encouraging women to stop apologising unnecessarily at work while Dove's Real Beauty' campaign aims to redefine beauty and encourage body confidence in all women.

But both of these campaigns have received mixed reviews, with some labelling them as patronising or merely clever marketing strategies.

Writing about the Pantene campaign for The Telegraph, Dr Brooke Magnanti asks: "Since when did a shampoo company get to tell girls how to behave?"

Also writing for The Telegraph, Karen Robertson points out that Dove's real beauty campaign has a central flaw: "I would much prefer women to get better at backing themselves for their achievements and capabilities – rather than honing their skills at praising their own and their mates’ ‘beauty spots’. Come on Dove – it’s time to update your marketing patter."

Here at HuffPost UK Lifestyle, we're all for anything that tackles sexism and aims to promote gender equality. Yes the Always advert may look a little staged, but if makes one person re-think using 'like a girl' as an insult, then we approve.

If there was a site dedicated to buying presents for your enemies, this lifelike poo soap from Amazon would definitely feature on it.

Even looking at it is making us want to hurl - but you have to admire the lifelike detail. Apparently The Poop Soap costs around £9 and smells like 'dessert' (although you'd have to pay us money to make us sniff it), and the manufacturer proudly announces it has bits of corn for that extra touch.

poo soap

On Amazon, user Frank Hewitt wrote: "Used this as part of a prank, leaving it in the bathtub - once wet this thing is so realistic I almost gagged."

Another user, Ali G added:"I mailed it to a buddy of mine and he said he thought he was supposed to eat it because it smelled so good. And he took a pic and sent it to me. It looked like a legit turd."

The ingredients list includes 'all plant and vegetable oils, pthalate-free fragrance, natural colorants' and, worryingly a 'trade secret ingredient.'

Sounds like a load of sh*t to us.

(H/T: Metro.co.uk)

FOLLOW HUFFPOST UK LIFESTYLE ON TWITTER | LIKE OUR PAGE ON FACEBOOK

When Olympic athlete Alysia Montano finished last in her 800 metres heat at the US track and field championships on Thursday, she was far from disappointed. Why? Because she's 34-weeks pregnant.

The 28-year-old five times national champion raced just seven weeks before she is due to give birth to her first child and said she "felt really, really good".

pregnant athlete

"I've been running throughout my pregnancy and I felt really, really good during the whole process," Alysia told AP after the race.

"I just didn't want to get lapped and be the first person to get lapped in the 800," she said.

The mother-to-be certainly fulfilled her personal goals, taking a relaxed pace to finish in 2 minutes, 32.13 seconds. This race time came in slower than her personal best of 1:57.34 and slower then her performance that earned her fifth place at the London Olympics in 2012, but then she is now running for two.

SEE ALSO:

Lea-Ann Ellison, Heavily Pregnant Mother Defends Weight Lifting Regime Two Weeks Before Giving Birth

Mother-To-Be Meghan Leatherman Weightlifted 215lb Two Days Before Giving Birth

Before running, she consulted doctors to ensure it was safe for herself and the baby.

"That [doctors' advice] took away any fear of what the outside world might think about a woman running during her pregnancy," Alysia said. "What I found out mostly was that exercising during pregnancy is actually much better for the mum and the baby... I did all the things I normally do... I just happened to be pregnant. This is my normal this year."

Fleshlight, makers of what we can only describe as gentlemens solo pleasure tubes, have invented an iPad case you can have sex with.

(Well, we say can... But there's not much else it's designed to do.)

The Fleshlight LaunchPAD is a hefty plastic case for Apple's tablet, which contains a pre-made slot for one of Fleshlight's realistic, closely-fitting tubes.

The idea -- if you can't already guess -- is to "use" the device while watching a film. A naughty film.

"Tablet devices have allowed for porn consumption to become ‘mobile’ and more convenient for viewers to watch their favourite content," Daniel Pacheco from Fleshlight told the Daily Dot. “Coupled with our Fleshlight LaunchPAD, they’re set for a pleasurable time!"

Fleshlight describe the surprisingly low-cost item ("a whole new perspective on masturbation!") as follows:

"Use the rugged handgrips on either side of the Fleshlight LaunchPAD and enjoy a completely new perspective. Explore using your Fleshlight LaunchPAD in a variety of positions, including keeping the device stationary during use - another great way to practice improving your sexual stamina! As with all Fleshlight products, don’t forget to use Fleshlube® water-based lubricant."

They have also produced a NSFW pitch site, which you can find here. But if you want to get the gist without too much disturbing imagery, you can watch the safe-for-work trailer above and the GIF below:

Customers, apparently, love it.

'CaptainBeefstik' writes on the Fleshlight website: "I love warming up my Fleshlight, finding some awesome porn, and going to town with the LaunchPAD."

Meanwhile 'All4Girls' praises the case's grips and solid velcro attachments.

Yet another customer said that combining the realistic 'Stoya' porn star attachment (modelled on the actress's real body parts) with her films leads to new levels of delight.

"Stoya porn on your tablet + the Launch Pad + Stoya’s Fleshlight makes it feel like she’s really in the room! IMHO this is better than the real thing."

Each to their own. You can buy the case for the low price of just €29, but that doesn't include a Fleshlight or the potential cost to your reputation when someone finds this incriminating piece of plastic in your bedside table.

Supporting Nema has some incredible advantages. Of course there is the satisfaction of knowing that we are doing some good, albeit in very difficult circumstances where nothing seems to progress as planned. Furthermore, since JoJo and Guludo cover the charity overheads locally and in the UK, all funds donated go straight to the end cause. And finally, we just can't help commenting, several times a day; "This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on earth!"

It's true the rains have just ended and whilst they were terrible and caused much damage, the land is green and fertile. So lush that in places there are paddy fields, tall grasses grow out of the dark red African soil and rivers flow again. It won't last but for now, the Quirimbas area of Northern Mozambique feels like the Garden of Eden.

Nema HQ is at the Guludo Beach Lodge. Spread out along a stunning palm tree lined beach, the 'bandas' or huts are simple but comfortable with open air showers and eco-loos. If I were madly in love and needed nothing but the company of my partner, this is where I would come. Whilst it's hot, there is a sea breeze, whilst there are plenty of bugs and mosquitoes their bites do not seem too bad, whilst there is no electricity, what better excuse to head to bed early? I first came here with my kids, attracted because of the environmental policy that the lodge was totally made from natural resources; built from mud brick and thatch, tiles fashioned in the village by the artisan group, upholstery made by the Nema tailor from local African patterned fabrics. The policy that the lodge would never leave a scar on the landscape has proved itself in parts. During the terrible rains many of the bandas were damaged and have literally melted back into the earth. Thankfully most have been totally renovated and are comfy and stylish - really beautiful in their simplicity.

When I visited with my boys we walked into the village to play football with the local kids who are mad keen. This time I have brought with me 36 footballs and 4 pumps to donate where needed. Something as simple as owning a real football it outside their dreams - balls are all too often made from a jumble of plastic bags strapped together with tape and still much prized since getting the tape is a major challenge.

There is still so much work to be done, but we have spent a good few days looking at the projects. Lisa will continue to evaluate the work which has been done in the past and establish exactly what would be most helpful to the communities going forwards. What could be the most important use of our funds?

1. Water pumps - there are still many pumps which need mending or replacing?

2. Funding school meals to ensure the children go to school?

3. Building new schools, as some were washed away by the rains?

4. Or maybe the new hospital wing which is so badly needed?

The projects we are sure we must continue are:
- The 110 scholarship children, funded to go to secondary boarding school. The gift of education is without doubt the best way to bring a generation out of poverty and help the local community for years to come. To help support the kids and make sure they get to school with uniform, books, transport, food at the boarding school we offer several full time jobs to locals. We are also considering tertiary education funding or micro loans for the graduates to help set them up for life post education. We have been lucky to get a generous windfall donation last year which has secured these scholarships for the time being.

- We will keep supporting the orphans and vulnerable children, employing Rema, who is our local Maternity nurse. Her job is to look after children in Nuande village where there are 5,000 inhabitants and for numerous reasons (HIV, Malaria, premature death, travelling for work and failing to return etc.), there are 160 orphans. In rural areas when you become an orphan, you will never be out on the street since the extended family that will take you in, but they are likely to be overstretched already. Finding enough food for the next meal is the main day's work and when there are extra mouths they can be left till last. Rema makes sure the orphans are not malnourished or lacking basic necessities like clothing and that they are allowed to go to school. We at JoJo have supported this project and helped to fund a little present for the vulnerable kids at the time of Eid (the big feast at the end of Ramadan which is a bit like our Christmas). We would love to roll this project out to other villages.

- The school feeding projects. When subsistence farming and fishing is the only way to eat, the more helpers the better. By offering a free school meal, parents can 'afford' to send their children to learn rather than out to work in the fields or fish. We really need to roll this out to more schools, but it's an expensive project and funds are not currently there.

Giving to a charity like Nema is win-win all round. The very poor local population benefit from the work we do, but we get so much back. And do you know what the best thing about this place is? They may have no possessions and the constant worry of what to feed their families that night, but people seem happy and they laugh so much. It's been a harrowing few days but I've giggled with them - it's infectious. Nema (happiness following hardship) is part of everyday life here - I wish it was the same in the UK.

When David Cameron backed the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2013, he said it was a simple matter of equality. Quite right too. But now, a year later, he has rejected the principle of equality by refusing to allow opposite-sex couples to have a civil partnership.

His government announced yesterday that it is maintaining the current ban on male-female civil partnerships. What happened to Cameron's much boasted commitment to equal rights for all? Surely, in a democracy we should all be equal before the law?

Since the legalisation of same-sex civil marriage, for the first time in British history, gay and lesbian couples have a legal advantage over straight ones. Same-sex couples have two options: civil marriage and civil partnership. In contrast, opposite-sex couples have only one option: marriage. This is profoundly unjust and unfair.

How did we get into this bizarre mess?

In 2012, at my request, the government's public consultation on legalising same-sex marriage included a question on whether civil partnerships should be retained and opened to heterosexual couples. Over 200,000 people participated in the consultation. A whopping 61% supported extending civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. Only 24% opposed.

This was not the result the government wanted, so David Cameron ordered a new public consultation earlier this year on the future of civil partnerships. This time only just over 10,000 people responded. The churches mobilised to oppose civil partnerships for opposite-sex couples, in the absurd belief - apparently shared by David Cameron - that legalising them would undermine marriage. How exactly?

Both civil marriages and civil partnerships embody the same core values of love, commitment, loyalty and stability. Why does it matter if a straight couple choose a civil partnership? How does their choice undermine the marriages of the others and the authority of an institution that still enjoys majority support?

Civil partnerships may be a different institution from marriage but they are, in most respects, marriage-like. So why maintain the ban on female-male civil partnerships?

This year's public consultation got the result the government wanted: 76% opposed civil partnerships for heterosexual couples; 22% supported them.

Majority opinion has been allowed to veto equality and human rights. That's wrong.

As a basic democratic and human rights principle, everyone should be equal in law. To deny opposite-sex couples the right to have a civil partnership is discrimination and discrimination is wrong. It cannot be justified, no matter how many or how few opposite-sex couples may want a civil partnership.

Many male-female couples (and same-sex ones) don't like the sexist, homophobic history of marriage. They are turned off by the antiquated language of husband and wife. They'd prefer a civil partnership; finding it more egalitarian and modern. They don't want to be married.

Marriage should therefore not be the only option. Couples should not be forced to marry to get legal recognition and rights. They should have the alternative option of a civil partnership.

For their security and their mutual rights and responsibilities, it is better that currently unmarried opposite-sex couples have a civil partnership, rather than merely live together and have nothing; especially where children are involved.

The UK should adopt the popular Dutch system of opening civil partnerships to both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. A majority of Dutch civil partnerships are now between heterosexual men and women. The same is likely to happen if UK civil partnerships were made available to couples of the opposite-sex. Based on the experience in the Netherlands, around 10-15% of British male-female couples would seek a civil partnership if it was available.

Indeed, the government's 2014 consultation on the future of civil partnerships found a potentially even higher up-take. Of currently unmarried heterosexuals, 63% said they would choose marriage and 20% indicated they would prefer a civil partnership, if it was available.

Legalising same-sex marriage was the recognition that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are of equal worth and have the right to equal treatment in law. The same principle of equality applies in the case of civil partnerships. Heterosexual couples should be able to have a civil partnership.

My human rights campaigning is based on the principle of equality for all. I can't accept LGBT human rights at the expense of equal rights for straight people. For me, selective and partial equality is unthinkable. That's why I back heterosexual equality in civil partnership law.

On a separate point: I am delighted the government has announced that same-sex couples in civil partnerships will be able to convert them into marriages, if they wish, from December this year. But why the long delay until then? This is nine months after the first same-sex marriages and 18 months after the legislation was agreed by parliament.

For more information about Peter Tatchell's human rights campaigns and to make a donation: PeterTatchellFoundation.org

Google has always been a supporter of LGBT Pride Month, but this year they've done more than just publish another Google Doodle.

The search giant has actually included a great hidden 'Easter Egg' in its spreadsheet app on Google Drive.

All you have to do to see the hidden feature is type "PRIDE" into a spreadsheet, one letter per column.

You'll never believe what happens next:

With the shocking news earlier this week that the average Brit spends £2,500 on lunches every year, we thought it was time to dust off the tupperware and save some money.

But if the thought of packed lunch reminds you of soggy sarnies and a bruised banana, think again.

Top chef James Ramsden brought out a cookbook dedicated to livening up the nation's lunches.

'Love Your Lunchbox' has 101 mouth-watering recipes to make you the talk of the office, here are a selection to whet your appetite.

Enjoy.

New potato, smoked mackerel and boiled egg salad

tuna

Reluctant as I am to suggest using your lunch as a sort of graveyard for the fridge’s odds and ends, you could in theory be somewhat more extravagant with the contents of this salad – some blanched green beans would work nicely, for example, or a handful of black olives – but I’ve kept this simple for now.

Don’t cut up the egg until you’re ready to eat or you’ll lose all the lovely yolk.

Serves 2

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Freezable? No

2 fresh eggs
250g/9oz cooked new potatoes
2 fillets smoked mackerel, skinned and flaked
2 little gem lettuces, washed and roughly torn
a handful of parsley leaves
For the dressing
1 tbsp Dijon mustard or horseradish sauce
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
a pinch of sugar
salt and pepper

AT HOME

First, make the dressing: shake all the ingredients together in a jar, along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.

Boil the eggs for 5 minutes, then transfer to

a bowl of iced water. Leave until cool, then peel.

In two – safely transportable – containers, assemble the potatoes, smoked mackerel, lettuce and parsley. Carefully sit an egg among the leaves.

IN EACH LUNCHBOX

A portion of salad; a portion of dressing.

TO FINISH

Quarter the egg. Dress the salad. Eat.

Slow-cooked beef buns with smoked chilli sour cream

lunch recipes

You could use up leftover beef stew to make this sandwich, though you can just as easily cook the beef specially, as here.

Chipotle chillies are smoked jalapeños, which you can find increasingly in the supermarket, or order online. Alternatively, use chipotle paste, or smoked paprika.

Serves 2
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 2 hours

olive oil
300g/10½oz beef shin or other slow-cooking cut, cut into chunks
salt and pepper
300ml/10fl oz/1¼ cups beef stock
a splash of beer (optional)
1 tbsp tomato purée (tomato paste)
1 dried red chilli
1 chipotle chilli, or 1 tsp hot smoked paprika or chipotle paste
2 tbsp sour cream
juice of ½ lime
2 crusty buns
1 Little Gem lettuce, shredded
a good handful of coriander

AT HOME

Heat a little oil in a saucepan and brown the beef all over, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the beef stock, beer (if using), tomato purée and dried chilli and bring to a boil. Simmer for a minute or two, then cover and cook for 1½–2 hours over a low heat, stirring every now and then. Once tender, rest for 10 minutes, then shred the meat with a pair of forks. Cool.

Meanwhile, boil the kettle and pour over the chipotle chilli, if using. Leave for 10 minutes, then chop finely. Stir through the sour cream, along with the lime juice.

Pack the buns with the cooled beef and lather with the spicy sour cream. Finish with shredded lettuce and coriander. Wrap tightly in clingfilm and store in the fridge for up to a day.

IN EACH LUNCHBOX

A beef bun.

TO FINISH

Eat.

North African-style chicken broth

recipes

In truth, you could do this with any leftover meat. Lamb or beef will benefit from a longer, gentler cooking time.
Ras-el-hanout is a North African spice blend that you can find in the spice section of most supermarkets these days.

Serves 2
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Freezable? Yes

olive oil
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped
salt and pepper
2 tsp ras-el-hanout
½ tsp chilli flakes
400g/14oz canned chopped tomatoes
400ml/14fl oz/1 ⅔ cups chicken stock
a pinch of sugar
50g/1¾oz/5 tbsp couscous
70–100g/2½–3½oz cooked chicken, shredded
2 preserved lemons, flesh discarded, peel roughly chopped (optional)

AT HOME

Heat a splash of oil in a saucepan over a low heat and add the onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft.

Turn up the heat to medium and add the spices. Stir briefly, then add the tomatoes, stock, and a pinch of sugar. Simmer for 7–10 minutes.

Meanwhile, boil a kettle and cook the couscous according to packet instructions.

Stir the cooked couscous and shredded chicken through the soup. If using, add the chopped lemon. Cool, cover, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.

IN EACH LUNCHBOX

A portion of broth (in a microwaveable container).

TO FINISH

Microwave on medium for 4 minutes, or gently reheat in a saucepan.

Chocolate tiffin

AKA fridge cake. Bound to make you the most popular person in the office.

Makes 8-10 pieces

Prep time: 10 minutes, plus chilling
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Freezable? Yes

100g/3½oz/7 tbsp unsalted butter
100g/3½oz dark chocolate, broken up
1 tbsp golden syrup
50g/1¾oz skinned hazelnuts, roughly chopped
100g/3½oz digestive biscuits (graham crackers)
50g/1¾oz raisins, or
50g/1¾oz chopped dried sour cherries
a pinch of sea salt

Put the butter, chocolate and golden syrup in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and melt, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in a dry frying pan, toast the hazelnuts over a medium–high heat, taking care not to burn. Set aside.

Put the biscuits in a sturdy plastic bag and smash up with a rolling pin. Line a cake tin or small baking sheet (about 20 x 20cm/8 x 8in) with clingfilm or baking parchment.

When the chocolate and butter has melted and is glossy, stir in the nuts, biscuits, raisins and salt, then tip into the prepared tin. Cover with clingfilm and set in the fridge for a few hours. Cut into pieces and store in the fridge for up to a week.

I realise I'm probably quite alone in this but I HATE warm weather. HATE it. I cannot bear this stupid weather is because of the dressing dilemmas it presents. Even the snappiest fashion fans seem to fall prey to the pitfalls of the London summer where you can encounter many different weather conditions, usually sun, wind and rain, in any 12 hour period.

My weather workaround has been to rely on cropped trousers, sandals or skate shoes and some denim staples - two denim shirts, one dark, one light, a denim sweatshirt and a classic (trans: 'old') 90s Levi's denim jacket that I discovered when unpacking my 'archive'. And the more I wear them, the more I'm rediscovering my love of good denim (which doesn't have to be expensive, by the way - Gap has some of the best denim around, including Japanese denim, for completely reasonable prices, plus SALE TIME!).

So that's why I'm writing about all the indigo it-pieces I have my eyes on right now. From high end to high street, there are some great choices so step outside your jeans comfort zone and try some other denim styles. A shirt dress, these skate shoes and super hot denim heels are topping my wish list this weekend.

2014-06-27-SummerDenimStylesSarahMcGivenHuffingtonPost.jpg

1 Chinti & Parker, stripe shirt dress, £175 from www.chintiandparker.com; 2 Gianvito Rossi denim pumps, £260 from £520 at FarFetch.com; 3 Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, striped denim shorts, £109, exclusive to Harrods; 4 Miss Selfridge, denim shorts, £25 from www.missselfridge.com; 5 Primark, denim drop waist dress, £12, available in store; 6 Gianvito Rossi, denim buckled sandals, £470 from www.selfridges.com

2014-06-27-SummerDenimStylesJacketsShirtsJeansSarahMcGivenHuffingtonPost.jpg

1 Sainsbury's TU, denim shirt, £18 from selected stores: 0800 63 62 62; 2 MiH Jeans, boyfriend denim jacket in 'blue blue', £235 (pre-sale price), from www.mih-jeans.com; 3 Eileen Fisher, organic cotton boyfriend jeans, £160, from www.eileenfisher.co.uk; 4 Current/Elliot denim shirt dress, £145 and 5 Mother, Trainer jeans, £237, both from www.stylebop.com; 6 Primark, acid wash camisole top, £6 available in stores 7 Ralph Lauren Blue Label, Raphaella shirt, £160, from Harrods

2014-06-27-DENIMshirtsjacketsaccessoriesSarahMcGivenHuffingtonPost.jpg

1 Gap, chambray skate shoes, £29.99 from www.gap.co.uk; 2 H&M x Urbanears denim wash headphones, £29.99 from www.hm.com; 3 Balmain, embellished denim bomber jacket, £11,100 (soon to be 30% off) from www.harrods.com; 4 Claire's, Denim Snap Band Hair Styler, £1.50 from www.claires.co.uk; 5 MaxMara Weekend, star print denim shirt, £135 (30% off available) from www.harrods.com; 6 The Kooples, Baroque embroidered denim shirt, £122.50 from www.harrods.com

1 Miss Selfridge, denim romper, £30 from www.missselfridge.com; 2 Oliver Bonas, floral denim shorts, £35 from www.oliverbonas.com; 3 Pinko, Casablanca denim shorts, reduced to £93 from www.harrods.com; 4 Claire's, large denim hair bow, £4.50 from www.claires.co.uk; 5 Amber floral denim shorts, £100, and 6 Hendrix shorts, £250, both by Hudson Jeans, exclusively from Harrods; 7 3.1 Philip Lim, Cartoon print mini skirt, £155 (soon to go on sale) from www.harrods.com

Quinoa possesses all the properties on every dieter's wishlist: it has the texture of a grain but isn't one, and is packed with so much protein it's handy for people trying to tone up or vegetarians trying to boost their diet.

With so much emphasis on gluten-free food, quinoa has never been better placed as an alternative. It's actually a plant, and has a similar texture to cous cous.

In fact, it works as a really great substitute for rice, pasta and oats. Even better, because it has become so popular, gone are the days when you had to buy it in a sack from your local health shop and rinse it 10 times to get rid of the bitter taste.

Now, you can buy it in vacuum packs that you pop in the microwave or supermarkets sell it by the bag-load.

quinoa

So why would you want to pop it into your shopping basket?

Unlike bread and pasta, which is mainly used by the body as pure energy, quinoa is packed with minerals and vitamins meaning it's great for your health too.

It's a personal trainer's godsend because it contains both protein (good for building lean muscle) as well as carbohydrates, giving you a slow, sustainable release of energy while helping you to tone up at the same time.

Vicki Edgson, founder of Honestly Healthy, loves the stuff. She says: "It's a rich source of zinc and selenium, both of which boost immunity, as well as abundant B vitamins, required for energy, mood and concentration."

Nutritionist Karen Poole is aware that it has a high carbon footprint, but think it is a great, low-cost option to eating healthy.

"It is a complete protein providing the essential amino acids needed to build tissue and muscle, contains fibre to aid digestion and help gut function, offers the minerals iron and magnesium vital for energy production."

quinoa

Protein helps the absorption of calcium, and quinoa provides this but without the saturated fat you'd find in another protein-heavy source such as lamb. Apart from strong bones, MSN Canada also claimed it helped lower high cholesterol.

They quoted a 2010 study conducted in the Netherlands, where rats bred to have high cholesterol were fed quinoa.

"These rats were also fed a high fructose diet that should further increase their harmful cholesterol (LDL) levels. After quinoa was introduced to the diet, the detrimental effects of the cholesterol and fructose began to reverse and cholesterol levels were returning to normal."

SEE ALSO:

What's Low In Fat, Rich In Minerals And Has 8 Legs?

Why Protein Isn't Just Good For Fat Loss

With around 120 types of quinoa, what should you buy?

"White quinoa is the most widely-available in stores," wrote HuffPost Healthy Living. "Red quinoa is more often used in meals like salads since it tends to hold its shape better after cooking. Black quinoa has an "earthier and sweeter" taste. You can also find quinoa flakes and flour."

Writing for HuffPost Canada, Diana Herrington, head chef on Real Food For Life mentioned the following health benefits:

1. A good source of riboflavin -- riboflavin helps reduce the frequency attacks in migraine sufferers by improving the energy metabolism within the brain and muscle cells.

2. The saponins from quinoa are used to promote healing of skin injuries in South America, making it a good antiseptic.

3. It's alkaline-forming. Although it is not strongly alkaline-forming, it is comparable to wild rice, amaranth, and sprouted grains.

4. It only has 172 calories per ¼ cup dry quinoa.

5. Since it is not related to wheat or grain, it's gluten-free. Millions are discovering they feel better and lose weight when they reduce gluten grains or at least wheat products.

6. It is a complex carbohydrate with low glycemic index. This is again good for weight management. I use it in a number of my health Boot Camps.

But how should you make it? Vicki has some ideas.

"I usually cook my quinoa in green, white or rooibosch tea that I have made previously to add to the antioxidant content of the finished dish. Adding turmeric, cumin and/or star anise to increase the immune boosting, anti-inflammatory properties makes the finished result not only delicious, but highly nutritious.

"I use quinoa cooked in this way to accompany savoury dishes, as part of salads, or as the base for risottos, rather than rice."

Some use quinoa flour (you can get it from Holland and Barrett) as a wheat-free alternative for cookies and flapjacks, others turn quinoa into burgers. Our favourite has to be in a salad with lots of fresh vegetables and herbs.

"By the end of the class you will be dancing like Beyoncé".

That was the guarantee that Seen on Screen founder Bonnie Parsons made me before I tried out her Beyoncé dance class at Tottenham Court Road's Central YMCA Club - needless to say, I was a little dubious.

Anyone who's ever seen Beyoncé perform (and if you haven't, where have you been?) will know how incomprehensibly brilliant she is, so it was a pretty big promise to make.

But Bonnie has worked with Beyoncé's choreographer Frank Gatson, danced for Kelly Rowland, Florence and the Machine, JLS and Alexandra Burke, so if anyone could pull this off, it would probably be her.

Seen on Screen run dance-fitness classes based on the moves of Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Usher, Jason Derulo and more - perhaps unsurprisingly, the Beyoncé classes are among the most popular.

beyonce

With the aim of giving you a good time while you work out - one class can burn up to 800 calories - Bonnie describes the hour and a half sessions as "like fitness, disguised."

"It is about fitness, you do lose a lot of weight if you do the class regularly, but it's more about having fun, setting yourself a challenge and pushing yourself further.

"The aim of the class is for you to let go and not be worried about making a mistake or what you look like - because you will look fabulous!" Bonnie said as we chatted before class.

I was signed up to try the 'XXX' class - a workshop with moves inspired by Beyoncé, Chicago, Crazy Horse Paris (Le Crazy Horse de Paris) and Bob Fosse ... but mainly Beyoncé.

As I entered the studio I must admit, I was a little apprehensive - I love a good dance class but I'm a girl more suited to jazz hands than popping my non-existent booty à la Sasha Fierce.

We began with a 15-minute warm up, copying Bonnie as she demonstrated simple moves to get our heart rates up, before stretching.

Next up were a series of ab exercises - because everyone wants core strength to rival Beyoncé's after all.

So far, so normal dance class - but all that was about to change.

LIKE HUFFPOST UK LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | WE'RE ALSO ON INSTAGRAM

The class then moved on to the 'strut' section.

Second to Beyoncé, Bonnie is queen of the strut and can perform the same walk that Bey does in her Crazy In Love video with uncanny accuracy.

For this section the studio lights were dimmed, which helped me to feel relaxed and less self-conscious.

Bonnie encourages you to totally let go, touch your hair, pose at the end, do whatever makes you feel sexy - I realise this sounds like the most cringe-worthy exercise to ever be invented, but when you're there, it's really not.

The girls in the class (some of which go to Seen On Screen every week) cheer and whoop as each group strut across the room - I have never been in a dance class with such a welcoming, supportive atmosphere.

It's worth noting that some of the regular attendees slipped into a pair of heels before the strut section - I'd recommend packing a pair of chunky heeled boots (the most popular shoe of choice) because as I got more and more into showing my sassy side, I felt a little frumpy in my dance trainers.

For the remainder of the class we learnt a routine to Beyoncé's 'Work It Out'.

Full of hip rolls, body ripples and a LOT of 'hairography', the sequence certainly channeled the effortlessly seductive Queen Bey.

Unlike traditional dance classes (I'm thinking back to my ballet days here) the final piece isn't meant to be a regimentally polished routine where every dancer looks identical - the idea is to feel like Beyoncé, as well as look like her, therefore adding your own style, arms and additional hair flicks is very much encouraged.

Although this class is suitable for all abilities, if you've never been to a dance class in your life, I think you may struggle a tad.

Although the moves themselves aren't horribly taxing, the pace of the class is pretty fast, which might make keeping up an issue.

That said, I would not discourage complete novices from going - Bonnie creates a fun, friendly environment where asking questions feels totally acceptable.

To give you a better idea of what to expect, here's a video from the class I attended - If anyone cares, I'm the gal second row centre. Yes, the one who gets a bit carried away with the arms...

Work It Out from Charlie Hoole on Vimeo.

Looking back at the footage, I may not look exactly like Beyoncé, but at the time I sure did feel like her. Not only does the class teach you some of the tricks of the trade, but it also provides a massive confidence boost.

By the end, I was sad to be heading home - I felt more like I'd been on a girls night out than attended a fitness class, and you definitely can't say that of the gym.

Seen On Screen run classes as several London gyms. The Beyoncé XXX class costs £18 per 1hr 30min class.

I learnt a new word during a yoga class this week: 'Yama'. Devoted yogis will probably point out that it's hardly a new word, having been around for centuries and centuries, but I'm an occasional yogi (you know the type: Lululemon leggings, Triyoga membership, but still incapable of doing a headstand), and it's been going round and round in my head ever since.

According to Wikipedia, Yama means 'self-restraint, self-control and discipline' (I Googled it sitting on the bench in the changing room straight after class, which is about as bad etiquette as it gets when it comes to yoga; you're supposed to at least wait until you're outside before firing up your iPhone).

According to the yoga teacher who introduced me to it, Yama means not pushing yourself too far.

In a world when we're constantly told to strive for more, to push our limits and test our boundaries, the idea of it being ok - and not just ok, but actually wonderful - to find a comfortable spot and just sit there for a while resonated.

The class teacher was thinking about it after her own yoga instructor pointed out she was pushing herself just that little bit too far in her poses, and realised that was a pretty good analogy for her entire life - queue a murmur of agreement across the floor. Each extra stretch was fine by itself, but add that all up and she was putting unnecessary stress on her body, and elsewhere also her mind.

Socially we're all guilty of it. The Thursday night drinks invite that you're too tired to make, but FOMO (fear of missing out) means you head out anyway, and pay for it with an unproductive (possibly hungover) Friday.

In yoga, the idea shouldn't be to leave a class feeling like you've been steam-rollered into the floor, and life is pretty much the same. That doesn't just count for how hard we party, but how hard we work as well.

In his recent HuffPost blog, Chris Deaver proposes that instead of working harder and smarter, we start working creatively instead. He used to work for a newspaper where his boss told him to work "as if I had a gun to my head", but now believes that to get ahead you need to connect with an inspiring vision and connect creatively with others.

We'd all like a little more; a little more in our pay cheque, a little more square footage in our house. All that means we spend a lot of time looking at what others have and craving it for ourselves, rather than counting our blessings for what we have today.

My yoga class ended with the suggestion that instead of pushing ourselves too far, we go out and "find things in life that feed you, not deplete you". When I Googled yama on my phone straight after class, I also typed that mantra into my to-do list.

It's sensible advice in a world that always pushes for that little bit more. And sometimes that little bit too much.

A former model struck down by Crohn’s disease plans to return to the profession after bravely posing for pictures which exposed her colostomy bags.

The photo - which shows the first time Bethany Townsend, 23, dared to bare after being fitted with two of the bags - has now been viewed be over an incredible nine million people.

Bethany, a make up artist from Worcester, has been so overwhelmed by the response that she now feels confident enough to resume her dream career of becoming a full-time model.

bethany townsend crohns disease

Bethany Townsend now has the confidence to resume modelling

Bethany said: "I didn't expect this kind of reaction at all.

"The photo has been seen by millions of people and it's had 190,000 likes and over 10,000 comments on Facebook - it's just gone ballistic.

"I'm just so glad that it's brought about more awareness of Crohn's disease and it's made me feel so much more confident about the colostomy bags.

"If I can inspire or help other people in my position to feel a little more comfortable in their own skin then I'm really happy.

"When I first had the bags fitted I was devastated - the reaction to this photo has really helped me accept them."

Bethany was fitted with her colostomy bags after having suffered from Crohn's disease since the age of three.

It is a condition that causes inflammation of the digestive system, affecting the sufferer's ability to digest food, absorb nutrients and eliminate waste.

bethany townsend crohns disease

Bethany was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was just three

In extreme situations, like Bethany's, it becomes necessary to remove the damaged section of the intestine and bring the healthy part out as a stoma - known as a colostomy.

After almost dying when her bowel ruptured in 2010, Bethany woke from a life saving operation to find she had been fitted with two colostomy bags.

Bethany said: "Growing up I'd had various surgeries to try and combat the Crohn's.

"I'd go in and have sections of my intestine cut out, but I'd only be in remission for a couple of weeks before it came back again.

"Then, four years ago I woke up in the morning and couldn't move because I was in so much agony. I had to break a glass on the floor to alert my mum who called on ambulance.

"When the paramedics came they lifted up my top to see that my surgery scar had split open.

bethany townsend crohns disease

The 23-year-old has been fitted with two colostomy bags

"I was rushed to intensive care where they doctors told me family I would need more surgery as my intestines had become infected and inflamed again.

"I had no idea when I woke up that I would have the bags.

"When I first woke up and my mum told me about them I was just relieved as I'd thought I was going to die.

"When I came out of hospital and everything finally sunk in, I remember going upstairs into my bedroom and just bursting into tears.

"I'd known a colostomy bag might have been an option but it was always something that I had wanted to avoid.

"I had a really good cry that day, and since then I haven't shed another tear - I've just got on with it I suppose."

It was only after Bethany met and married her husband, Ian, 33, and jetted off to Mexico last Christmas that she finally felt ready to accept the colostomy bags.

bethany townsend crohns disease

Townsend credits her husband's support with boosting her self-esteem

Bethany said: "When I met Ian I showed him my bags straight away, but he didn't bat an eye lid - I actually felt like I was over reacting.

"He taught me that there was more to me than the bags and would always encourage me to show off my figure.

"I wasn't sure but in Mexico I finally realised he was right, and decided to wear my bikini.

"At first I was nervous and worried that people would stare but it was fine. I realised that the colostomy bags didn't control me or define who I am.

"The staff at the hotel asked me about the bags on the last day of the holiday, but rather than being offended I was glad because it meant I could talk to them about Crohn's and tell them what it is.

"Ian's always been my rock and supported me no matter what, we've had a tough few years but I know he'll always be there for me."

But it wasn't until six months after their dream holiday in Mexico that Bethany finally felt ready to share her colostomy bags with the world.

Bethany said: "When you're on holiday you're in a bit of a bubble and it's much different to when you're back at home.

"I'd posted a few pictures to Instagram and Facebook but only my friends could see them.

"But after looking on the internet I saw a few other pictures of girls like me showing off their bags so I thought why not.

"I decided to get in touch with Crohn's and Colitis UK Facebook group to see if they would let me post something on their page.

"I sent them the picture and my information, and it all blew up from there."

Bethany still suffers with her Crohn's disease and hopes ones day for a cure.

She said: "Doctors had hoped that the colostomy bags would put an end to the Crohn's but four weeks later it was back.

"I then underwent a stem cell transplant but unfortunately I caught MRSA of the skin and the blood and it nearly killed me twice.

"Since then my Crohn's has still been extremely active, I've lost more weight and now I'm waiting for the NHS to fund a drug that hasn't really been in the UK.

"If this doesn't work a bowel transplant is in talks as I can't have anymore of my intestine out as I haven't got much left.

"But I'm still really hopeful and after everything I've been through I know I'm a strong person."

Bethany is now considering getting back into modelling - a career she gave up on after she was fitted with the bags.

Bethany said: "I feel confident enough now to put myself out there and pursue modelling again.

"I did a little bit of work here and there before I had the colostomy bags, but once I had them fitted I thought that was the end of the dream.

"I'm looking forward to chasing my goals, and I know now that nothing can hold me back. I won't let the Crohn's control me anymore."

'Dear Sebastian,' the letter began. 'Thank you very much for my Birthday Present. I love 'Angelina Ballerina' books. Love Yore God Daughter Eleanor'.

As any mother reading this would expect, the likelihood of my husband sending the present himself, or knowing that his goddaughter liked Angelina Ballerina, is that of me going ten rounds at the pub. (That last bit wasn't intended to be a gender stereotype. I am teetotal.)

For the truth is, while women have made huge strides in the workplace, many men have not found the same inspiration at home. Domestic responsibilities, by which I don't just mean childcare but the million tiny acts of kindness, arduousness and remembering that make up life at home, are largely still done by mothers. Rather than scrupulously dividing these little labours, many women just get on with it.

For some, the pressure of trying to achieve perfection both at home and work is proving too much. In the early days of my career and motherhood I wanted to make good on the bounties of feminism while also taking traditional roles into the modern age. I wanted to be independent and successful and to work long hours, but I also wanted to have the same bond our ancestors might have had with their children, forged by constant closeness, uninhibited by twelve-hour-a-day jobs. Fair play to those who have managed to excel in all their roles. I found it health-threatening.

Over the past seventeen years I suffered two breakdowns and have had a long-running battle with depression. This was the subject of my memoir, Black Rainbow. With its publication, I lost the option of concealing my mental health track-record from other mothers at the school gates (should I wish to keep it secret from them in the first place). But in most cases the responses have been encouraging. They have also been alarming: many have confided that they too suffer from high levels of anxiety and depression.

The World Health Organisation assures us that "Overall rates of psychiatric disorder are almost identical for men and women." But there's no denying more woman come forward to talk about their depression.

Figures put together by the mental health charity SANE show that in 2013 almost 475,000 women were referred for counselling or behavioural therapy compared to only 274,000 men. Earlier surveys according to the Mental Health Foundation suggest that anxiety is almost twice as common among women as men. You could well say this reflects men's traditional reticence to admit to their problems, or that men manifest stress differently from women. You could equally come to the conclusion that women struggle more than men.

What then is the answer? I have been forced by mental ill-health to impose limits on the way I live. I've replaced life in an office with freelance writing and voluntary work in prisons and hospitals supporting those with poor mental health: I am entirely the beneficiary, given the well known benefits of trying to help others.

I have also been forced to reassess my relations with others: we know women are especially vulnerable to depression given the pressure they put on themselves to maintain friendships and other relationships. My new attitude to all important relationships, including that with my husband and friends, but especially with my children, is to aim to replace 'good' with 'good enough'. In 1965, when women had yet to become a sizeable presence in the workforce, mothers spent 3.7 fewer hours per week on childcare than in 2008, even though women in 2008 were working almost three times as many paid hours, according to American research. (1)

These women were like I used to be, ferrying children to ballet classes, watching every match, supervising homework and responding to every need of the priceless modern child. I've learnt that not only can I not manage; my hothousing parenting and ensuing stress may not have pleased my children, either. A 1998 survey of American children conducted by the Families and Work Institute found that 10 per cent of the surveyed children wanted more time with their mothers, 15.5 per cent wanted more time with their fathers, but 34 per cent said they wished their mothers were less stressed. (2) I've certainly been trying to put less pressure on myself of late. It won't magically stop me getting in a flurry about birthday presents. But maybe, from now on, I'll get my husband to have more of a hand in picking them.

References:

1) All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood by Jennifer Senior, Virago (2014)

2) Ask the Children: What America's Children Really Think About Working Parents by Ellen Galinsky, William Morrow (1999)

Rachel Kelly's memoir Black Rainbow: How words healed me - my journey through depression is published by Hodder & Stoughton. Its accompanying app, also called Black Rainbow, is available for download on the Apple App Store for £1.49. All author proceeds of the book and app are being given to the charities SANE and United Response. Follow Rachel @rache_Kelly or go to www.black-rainbow.co.uk

Last year, while I was home alone, I had discovered something that sent a wave of shock through me. I had ventured into the basement for a work out when it was to my dismayed surprise that I noticed a very old robin stuck in our window well. I knew he was old because he he had grey tufts of hair surrounding his head like a halo, and the poor little guy didn't move very much. My fiance was out of town on business, so I initially panicked wondering how the hell I was going to retrieve the robin from the well and bring him to safety. After I took a few breaths, it became my mission to save him.

I went upstairs and outside to open the gate to the window well. I had no idea how the robin managed to get down there. When I peered down, I saw loads of spider webs and creepy crawly critters that immediately prompted vomit in my mouth. I tried getting Gandalf, (yes, I named the robin Gandalf for he was old and grey, and I loved him), out of the well by many means including a broom and a wiffle ball bat...not my shining moments of intelligence, but I was panicked and not thinking clearly. I climbed down into the window well to try to motivate Gandalf to fly out of the well to no avail. He wouldn't budge. I started to sweat, sick with worry. I grabbed a chair and sat by the well to try to sweet talk him out of his predicament. It wasn't working.

All day long, I watched him from my basement with periodic visits up to the well outside to try to coax him out. I didn't want him to die. I stepped back down into the well to bring him a bowl of water and bread crumbs. He didn't drink or eat. I desperately watched him in growing despair as I felt helpless in his rescue. Then, out of nowhere, as my last shred of sanity seemed to be on the verge of disappearing, a young robin swooped down into the well with a worm in his mouth, sat next to Gandalf, and fed him. I couldn't believe it. It was one of the most beautiful moments I had ever witnessed. The young robin swooped down 3 more times to feed Gandalf his hard-earned worms from his young mouth. It seemed incredulous that this happened not only one time, but four. I couldn't believe the care and compassion the young robin had for his much older counterpart. I knew animals had feelings, but I had no idea a creature so small could have such capacity for the emotional depth he displayed through his compassion and generosity.

Eventually, my fiance came home, got down into the window well and easily saved Gandalf by getting him to jump into a box. (Why couldn't I have thought of that?) Gandalf was free at last after a day full of fretting and worry, but also a day full of learning and beauty. I will never forget that day, and I will never forget the love and selflessness the young robin showed his elder.

Facebook page: Facebook.com/HeadAboveWaterLifewithMoodDisorders
Blog Site: LifewithMoodDisorders.blogspot.com

Image: Canadiannaturephotographer.com, Google Images

When Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the Health Minister of India endorsed morality as a substitute for condoms, Indian youths were embarrassed, I was embarrassed. The ignorant chatter of combating sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) with moral practices, from none other than the Health Minister of a country is a hint at an abysmal state of affairs.

India is not unaccustomed to such appraisals. Indian politicians are vocal in extending malice towards folks who deviate from their culture, overtly those who are promiscuous, freely express themselves and refuse to be dictated in the matters of clothing and lifestyle. This steadily growing number is a cause of concern for socio-cultural pundits. In desperate attempts, therefore, yoga is pitted against sex education and fidelity against condom.

While Dr Harsh Vardhan was rebuked for his callous and uncalled-for remarks on an issue of national importance, the greater questions is whether India is essentially regressive on matters of sexuality.

It is peculiar that repressing sexuality is a relatively recent phenomenon in India, sexuality was not a taboo always! The first literature on the science of sexuality, the nude artistry in Ajanta caves in South India and the erotic 9th century Hindu temples, are profound evidence in favor of sexual expression, found in both sculptures and scriptures in India. In the recent past, the widespread erotica and sensuality through cinematic representation reflected the mood of the century. The period of sexual liberation was cut-short with British occupation of India.

As authors of "Indian concepts on sexuality" put it, "Victorian values stigmatized Indian sexual liberalism. The pluralism of Hinduism, and its liberal attitudes were condemned as "barbaric" and proof of inferiority of the East." Over the period of 200 years of British regime, India broke ties with its legacy and denounced values that did not conform to modernization.

An incessant lack of ingenuity is what we observe till date. Those ideas that west discarded long ago, continue to thrive in India. The regressive British rules such as section 377 of penal code to social code of conduct, the colonial hangover is far from cured. Trouncing people on Valentine's Day, closing night clubs and bars, and chastising women who dress-up "indecently"; India transgressed a dangerous path of moral policing, restricting public discourse on sexuality.

The result of uninformed sex or contraceptive unawareness was catastrophic. While the first case of AIDS was reported in 1986, India currently has third largest population of HIV infected - 2.1 million, of which more than 85% are a result of unprotected sex.

As sexual crimes increase, STD cases aggravate and the stigma attached to virginity bolsters, one cannot so much as entertain views that tend to dampen the morale of organizations like National AIDS Control, to carry out the herculean task of educating men/women across caste, region and religion on the use contraceptives.

Social emancipation can be attained via open dialogue and discussion on issues such as STDs, child marriage, rape, abuse and more. Sexuality is indisputably an integral and central concept of Indian civilization and India shall not be governed by diktats of political parties or religious organization, when its cultural legacy speaks for itself.

Judy Murray has warned there are not enough young girls playing tennis as she launches a new grassroots programme, Miss Hits, to inspire female participation from an early age.

Judy is captain of Britain's Fed Cup side - the international team competition for women tennis stars - and fears the UK's grassroots set-up needs addressing.

Judy, who has been watching her son Andy Murray's progress at Wimbledon, said: "I loved all sports when I was young, I wanted my kids to enjoy sport so I was always playing actively with them, whatever they wanted to play."

judy murray

She adds: "But it's not every parent that does that with their kids anymore. It's much easier to hand them a DVD or a CD or something and sit and watch that.

"I think parents generally have less time - maybe more money and less time - so they are paying people to look after their kids and do the activity with them, rather than doing it themselves."

She went on: "The things that are trendy for kids to play with nowadays tend to be sedentary things, you sit and twiddle your thumbs or you watch something on a wide screen and that is just a fact of life."

Judy was speaking at the launch of a programme she has designed to encourage girls aged five to eight years old to play tennis.

The Miss Hits scheme uses sponge balls and plastic bats to make the sport more fun and easier to pick up, compared to the current set-up which is "too serious too soon".

SEE ALSO:

From Billie Jean King To Maria Sharapova, Why We Love Women In Tennis

Wimbledon Diets: What Are The Top Tennis Players Eating?

Judy also called for more female coaches, and praised her son's decision to hire former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo.

"It certainly raised awareness and became a huge talking point," she said. "It definitely shows that if you have the skills, the knowledge and there is a personality fit, there is absolutely no reason why women can't coach at the top end of any sport."

She added: "A lot of the coaches we have at entry level are young guys, they have no children of their own, no experience of it. Little boys are a whole lot easier."

When Judy was asked if the Miss Hits programme was her legacy to British tennis, she joked: "It's one of them, (I) think there has been a few."

The scheme will be launched in London, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Bristol this autumn before being expanded next year.

Here are some of the fiercest female tennis players on the court (past and present) and why we love them.

On Gay Pride I experienced a very interesting case of homophobia. I was in a spa with my boy friend. We snuck in for a coffee, a potter round the spa and a peak at the goings on in Trafalgar Square, the main rally of Gay Pride.

Whilst acting like teenagers in the thermal pool - swirling around and giggling - the duty manager came up to ask us to be careful of our proximity to each other. She stated that it might 'disturb' some of the more 'conservative' of spa visitors. It transpired that actually a 'conservative' visitor had complained. There were only three people in the place. My conversation went like this with the manager:

"Are there rules stating you cannot hug in the spa?"

"No."

"Was what myself and my boyfriend were doing overtly sexual or inappropriate?"

"No."

"Has someone complained?"

"Yes."

"A conservative man perhaps?"

"Yes."

"Why did you act on it?"

"I made a mistake."

I am have learned to be proud and confident as a gay man. I feel in this country the climate is one of acceptance, not tolerance, acceptance that there are different people with different sexual persuasions. I do not act inappropriately to the best of my ability. In a crowded pool or hotel you wont find me overtly canoodling and stroking my other half. I just am not like that. So what I am saying is this whiffed not of offensive, selfish sexual flouncing from my end rather than blatant discomfort and homophobia from the other. This dish of homophobia was served, piping hot, through the actions of the manager straight to my door.

The manager, may I stress, isn't homophobic but simply aided this unknown person's wishes and also may I stress I have cleared up this with said establishment. There is a definite toxic feel to prejudice as anyone who has experienced it will know. It feels, jarring, not quite right, not quite adding up or making sense. Luckily I have been extremely fortunate to never have experienced this before. I've had out and out chants and taunts but not low level insipid homophobia. A snake that slithers its way towards me. I am amazed by how I still feel some anger, sadness but mostly shame. I feel that I am the wrong one. I am the one doing something that is disgusting and bad. This is what prejudice does, it disguises itself through blame and shame.

Shame is an insipid creature, that lurks and festers and can eat you up. I have had first hand experience of this and learnt to befriend it. Well, at least be on civil terms! So I am amazed how this incident turned the tables on me. By a manager getting it wrong I was left questioning myself, questioning my actions and questioning whether the man was actually right and that I should really watch myself being affectionate and playful with another man in public.
A bout of M.I.A. at Glastonbury and Brazil v Chile and my shame is alleviating, the taste still lingers. It lingers as a reminder that whilst I was pondering the relevance of Gay Pride that day, it is indeed more relevant than ever.

Gay Pride has changed largely due to the context it now operates in. Gay rights have evolved so much it is just wonderful to be a part of a country that celebrates difference. There are still prejudices to overcome. Young gay people can still not feel comfortable at school. With the word 'dyke' being used 1000 times a day on Twitter, 'faggot' 4,500 times a day. With 26% of young gay people attempting suicide and 52% self harming and the word 'gay' banded around as a pejorative description of something defunct and wrong, Gay Pride's message should be about sustaining what we have and looking to improve the lives of young gay people. To protect them through education and allow our young people to see that difference isn't bad, it is something to be celebrated.

Let us not forget also the 72 countries in the world where it is still ILLEGAL to be gay. With the imminence of the Commonwealth Games, 80% of these countries criminalise LGBTs.

London Gay Pride needs to grow into becoming a new type of rally and celebration. A rejoicing of the battles that have been won, a staunch rallying of all who support freedom to love, express, be different and adjoin through our differences and finally to show the world hope. To shine a beacon of light for those people without freedom. Those who are oppressed, beaten down and made to feel evil and wrong, unable to find their true authentic selves. This is about basic human rights. I believe this can be done through music. Gay Pride, I hope can become a globally recognised event in our yearly calendar which culminates in a huge pop concert, attended by musicians and audience members alike who want to stand up and be proud to show their support for a liberal global society. Celebrate the UK and light the path for people who are less fortunate in being able to express their individuality. It should become televised and a day that is a time out to just remind ourselves that we can all be whoever we want to be.

I like that... It could all take place in a thermal pool.

A Simple Blood Test Could Help Predict The Risk Of Breast Cancer, Study Finds

Wimbledon 2014: Female Tennis Players 'Play Bra-Less' After Organisers Ban Non-White Sports Bras

This Video Will Change The Way You Think About Acting 'Like A Girl'

Worst Gift Ever: Amazon Poo Soap Is Way Too Lifelike To Be A Joke

Olympic Athlete, Alysia Montano, Runs 800 Metres At 34-Weeks Pregnant

The Fleshlight LaunchPAD Is An iPad Case You Can Have Sex With

Last Few Days and Time to Decide Where to Help Next?

David Cameron Insists That Straight Civil Partnerships Remain Banned

Google LGBT Pride Month Easter Egg: Spreadsheet Tribute Appears In Google Drive

Lunch Recipe Ideas: Slow-Cooked Beef Buns And North-African Style Chicken Broth

Weekend Shopping: Summer Denim

Why Quinoa Is Favoured By Personal Trainers, Nutritionists And Those Trying To Get In Shape

Tried And Tested: How I Learnt To Dance Like Beyoncé At A Seen On Screen Dance Class

A New Word, and a New Philosophy

Crohn's Disease Model Bethany Townsend Reveals Colostomy Bags (PICTURES)

Stressed Parents: Why Are Women More Anxious Than Men?

Guess What...Animals DO Have Emotions

Tracing Sexuality in Indian culture

Judy Murray: 'Not Enough Young Girls Play Tennis'

Why I Believe Gay Pride Matters More Than Ever - And How Music Will Help It Grow