Cuba está mergulhada no caos após quatro dias de apagão generalizado, que levou milhares de moradores às ruas para protestar contra a falta de eletricidade, água e alimentos. A falha na usina termoelétrica Antonio Guiteras, a mais importante do país, deixou milhões de cubanos sem luz, e o furacão Oscar, que atingiu a ilha no...
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O Dia do Servidor Público, celebrado anualmente em 28 de outubro, é uma data que simboliza o reconhecimento aos profissionais que trabalham na administração pública no Brasil. Além de ser uma ocasião de celebração, também pode ser um ponto facultativo, resultando em dias de folga para os servidores. Em 2024, como de costume, a organização...
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Elon Musk anunciou que teve de reforçar sua segurança após ser rotulado como “Inimigo Público Nº 2” pela revista Der Spiegel, o que gerou uma onda de ataques direcionados ao bilionário. Conhecido por suas opiniões diretas e apoio a Donald Trump, Musk afirmou que o “ódio vitriólico” que vem recebendo da esquerda é alarmante e...
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Donald Trump protagonizou um momento inusitado ao cozinhar e servir batatas fritas em um McDonald’s da Pensilvânia neste domingo, 20, aproveitando para criticar a vice-presidente Kamala Harris. O ex-presidente, sempre afiado, fez piada com a vice, afirmando ter trabalhado “15 minutos a mais” que ela na rede de fast food, em referência a uma polêmica...
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THERE’S no doubt about it, school uniforms are pretty boring and certainly the last clothes most girls would choose to wear.
That is unless of course they are lucky enough to have their uniforms designed by Dawn Pritchard.
The single mum-of-three is the woman behind Pretty Pigtails, the childrenswear brand that has amassed millions views on TikTok thanks to her pretty approach to uniform.
Forget dull grey pinafores and boring book bags, Dawn’s school uniform designs look like they’re straight out of a fairytale thanks to their ruffles, bows and lace – all in school colours of course.
However, while the uniforms might be pretty, the comments on Dawn’s TikTok account can be extremely ugly with the mum admitting her designs have caused controversy.
“Those are horrific and extremely tacky,” writes one troll in the comments, while another says, “Kids would be bullied wearing those.”
“They go to learn, it’s not a fashion show,” another mum adds, while a fourth chimes in: “These are awful, are schools allowing these?”
And the answer is yes they are.
While not all schools will permit a customised uniform, Dawn says that she rarely has any of her designs returned by customers.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, she says: “I’m always very clear that some schools won’t allow the uniform.
“I ask them to check with their school because I don’t want them being sent home and that coming back on me.
“I do get some truly disgusting comments on TikTok but at the same the hateful and horrible messages bring my views up.
“Some of the videos where I have had the most criticism are where I have got the most customers from.
“So I’d encourage my trolls to carry on.”
While Dawn’s designs might be dazzling, it wasn’t style she was striving for when she first began making uniforms.
“My daughter had been struggling to find school uniform to fit right,” she explains.
“It was either uncomfortable or didn’t fit quite right and so I decided I would just make her some.
“My parents had given me a sewing machine for my birthday, I didn’t have any training and I can’t follow a dress pattern for the life of me, but I gave it a go.
“I soon had strangers stopping me in the street to ask where I had bought my girls’ clothes and I realised I might be onto something.”
Dawn, who had previously been claiming benefits, set up her Pretty Pigtails Facebook page in 2015 where she initially had just 60 followers, she now has more than 10,000.
Customers can submit orders to her directly will a full customised uniform set coming in at £45, but the mum says customers rarely stop there.
“My full set includes a dress, polo, socks, hair bow and cardigan is £45 but believe it or not the majority will buy seven sets,” she says.
IF you are struggling to afford the cost of school uniform or PE kit, you may be able to apply for a grant from your local council - but the criteria vary from council to council.
This is usually in the form of a one-off payment paid directly into your bank account. Some councils will reimburse payments made to approved retailers.
You can ask your local council what help is available and when you need to apply.
If you can’t get targeted help from your council, there are other options to get cheap uniform.
Speak to your school to see if they can offer you some clothing.
Some charities offer help to families in need too. Charity Turn2Us has a free grants search tool on its website which you can use to find out what help is available to you.
Charity shops can also be a good place to find cheap school uniform.
“I’ve got a lady that ordered with me for next year and her total order is £2,200 just on school uniform.”
In an average month Dawn receives around 100 orders, all of which she makes at home on her own while juggling childcare.
And that means working very long hours.
“I just work around the school day, I’ll be sewing all day sometimes for up to 15 hours,” she says.
“I make around ten dresses a day typically, it can be more if we’re approaching a new term.
The main feedback I get from mums is how beautiful their daughters felt in their uniform
Dawn Pritchard
“It can be really chaotic, working from home is certainly not the easy option but I love my business and what it enables me to do for my girls.”
Dawn has ten designs that customers can choose from and then they can request adjustments accordingly.
While parents must send their children’s size for Dawn to make the clothes, she never includes a sizing label.
She explains: “Girls are so aware of their size from such a young age and I hate the thought of an eight-year-old being teased for wearing a size 12-13.
“I’m really passionate about positive body image because my daughter struggled to get a uniform.
“She’s ten and I couldn’t get any to fit her, she’s not overweight it’s just that these supermarket clothes fit so poorly.
“How heartbreaking is it to know that nothing fits and it isn’t your fault or anything to do with your size?”
Dawn says that her main objective in making the uniforms is to make sure the girls who wear them feel good.
“The main feedback I get from mums is how beautiful their daughters felt in their uniform,” she says.
“That’s my main objective to make children feel fantastic in what they’re wearing and to look back at pictures and remember how lovely they looked.
“And I believe that’s exactly what I achieve with my unique creations.”
THE phrase ‘normal marital hatred’ was coined by A-lister therapist Terry Real to sum up moments of domestic irritation that every marriage suffers from.
But one woman confesses that her annoyance towards her husband of 16 years has gone well beyond that.
In a searingly honest confession, cleaner and mum-of-two Natalie, 45, says her feelings border on hatred…
If my husband Dan, 49, ever looked through the WhatsApp messages between me and my best friend, Sarah, he’d be worried for his life such are the numerous references to joint graves for our spouses.
Now I don’t actually wish him dead – but that’s our short hand way of illustrating how loathsome our spouses can be.
I freely admit that on many occasions, I hate my husband.
On others, I view him as a slightly irritating colleague not pulling their weight, sometimes as a friend.
It’s rare that I see him as someone I still love and would walk up the aisle to marry again.
I know my best friend feels the same way.
Other friends sigh and roll their eyes at the mention of their husbands and I know of only three couples who I’d still describe as madly in love.
I think I stopped feeling madly in love when my first daughter, Clare, was born.
My husband spent the large proportion of my two-day painful labour, complaining that he was too hot, sighing, and looking at his watch – as if I wasn’t really up to the job.
Considering I didn’t feel up to it, I’d have rather liked someone by my side encouraging me when I felt so vulnerable.
And he didn’t step up to the plate once she’d arrived.
She was a very loud baby, who refused to sleep.
He was “too tired” after work to help me out in the evenings and “needed his sleep” during the endless crying at night so decamped to the spare room.
At the weekends he had to “go cycling.”
I was basically a single mum, with one very gorgeous but
unsettled baby, and a large, hairy 35-year-old toddler, demanding attention, food, and sympathy for how tired he was.
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That’s when I started to lose respect for him.
But I still loved him – enough to have a second baby with him two years later.
To be fair, by then he’d bonded with Clare – once she stopped shrieking and started cooing and saying “dadada” he was besotted.
He suddenly didn’t need to go on massive bicycle rides every
weekend.
And when our son James arrived he was brilliant – far more hands on, probably because James didn’t suffer from the dreaded colic and slept through serenely from about eight weeks old.
But I don’t think I’ve ever forgotten those first few difficult months with Clare.
If we were rich, I could certainly put up with him moving into the house next door, complete with his crunching, snoring, and dirty socks
And it stopped my unconditional love for my husband.
I didn’t trust that we’d always be a team and I didn’t feel “safe” in the knowledge that he had my back.
I felt that he’d run away if the going got tough.
Before Clare, who’s now 14, started primary school, I happily muddled through with him, occasionally feeling a pang of irritation at the dirty socks left on the bathroom floor.
But as they got older and he “couldn’t do children’s parties” and despite working in IT, apparently couldn’t fathom how to access the school calendar to find out term dates and parents evenings, the irritation levels grew and grew.
Now, I have taken on the entire mental load, from when we can go away on holiday, to what colour socks the children wear, and when his mother’s birthday is.
If he cheated on me I’d a) understand and b)
feel relieved it was a job that I could out source.
I’m sure I should sit down and talk about it with him – but he would pay lip service to my conversation for a week or so and then go back to being a “man-child.”
And the flip side is I suspect he hates me too – after all I constantly nag, sigh, or pretend I can’t hear him.
It’s not as if he’s getting much joy in the bedroom because I’m either too resentful or genuinely too tired.
Honestly if he cheated on me I’d a) understand and b) feel relieved it was a job that I could out source.
We did try counselling for a while – but it was a very expensive way of ensuring we were both on best behaviour so neither told tales on the other one to the counsellor.
When we stopped, our behaviour patterns reverted, him selfish, me boring and seething.
When he comes home tonight to our four bedroom house in Suffolk, I can tell you the first thing he will do is ask what’s for dinner, then take something out of the fridge and eat noisily, switching on a boring football match.
I can imagine people asking why we stay together.
Well, I sort of love him sometimes, he still makes me laugh, we can’t afford to run two houses and we have two gorgeous children
whose lives I have no desire to disrupt.
And I know I’m far from alone in having these reasons.
Equally I’m not convinced many men are much better.
A very good friend’s husband died two years ago, I asked her how she was feeling and she told me “guilty” then added: “I shouldn’t feel such a happy sense of freedom.”
Now as I said before, I don’t wish my husband dead, my children would be devastated because they think he’s incredible and I’d miss him.
But if we were rich, I could certainly put up with him moving into the house next door, complete with his crunching, snoring, and
dirty socks.
And then I could enjoy not feeling my skin itch with irritation at his presence.
MILLIONS of households face a £218 a year bill rise as part of a huge TV shake-up.
A new report has revealed that households currently reliant on terrestrial TV could face additional costs of £18.17 per month if forced to switch to internet-only TV.
Free-to-air, terrestrial broadcast TV, which millions watch daily using an aerial, is only secure until the early 2030s, when current licences expire, according to consultancy firm EY.
Some industry experts believe the government should actively phase out terrestrial TV to encourage a broader shift to online viewing which is provided solely via a broadband connection.
They argue that this approach is warranted, given that the share of total TV viewing via linear platforms (aerial and cable) has fallen below 50% for the first time.
And in a report released in May, regulator Ofcom said that broadcasters had “voiced concerns” about the commercial viability of maintaining the current terrestrial infrastructure beyond the mid-2030s.
However, EY said internet connections are generally less reliable than terrestrial TV, and millions remain disconnected.
The consultancy firm’s report estimates that in 2040, there will be 4.3million households without high-speed broadband.
A full switchover to internet-only TV viewing would cost £888million in additional annual fixed broadband subscription costs for these households who otherwise would not take it, equivalent to £18.17 per month per household, or £218 per year.
As well as the ongoing costs of a fixed broadband connection, millions of households could also face the upfront costs of new TV equipment and installation support.
David Coulson, partner, economic advisory at EY, said: “If a switch were made to distribute TV exclusively over the internet, even by 2040 approximately four million homes would still need broadband and set-top-box upgrades.
“This is forecast to cost government and consumers over £2billion to set-up, plus a further £900million each year to cover ongoing broadband fees and to support vulnerable users.”
Broadcast 2040+, a coalition of 35 organisations, is urging the UK government to publicly commit to safeguarding terrestrial TV and radio services until 2040 and beyond.
A spokesperson for the campaign said: “This report lays bare the hidden cost of any proposed switch-off of terrestrial TV.
“It would mean vulnerable people being asked to pay more, risk disconnecting millions from universal access to TV.
“The report also makes clear that this costly disruption is not necessary.
“The UK’s current hybrid model of TV, with terrestrial operating alongside online streaming as complementary services, works well and gives us the best of both worlds.”
SWITCHING contracts is one of the single best ways to save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills.
But if you can’t switch mid-contract without facing a penalty, you’d be best to hold off until it’s up for renewal.
But don’t just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you’re currently paying.
Take a look at your minutes and texts, as well as your data usage, to find out which deal is best for you.
For example, if you’re a heavy internet user, it’s worth finding a deal that accommodates this so you don’t have to spend extra on bundles or add-ons each month.
In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with what deals are available.
It’s a known fact that new customers always get the best deals.
Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider.
This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.
However, if you don’t want to switch and are happy with the service you’re getting under your current provider – haggle for a better deal.
You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you’re given after your deal.
If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time.
Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning.
This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won’t have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels.
It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers.
Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider.
If your provider won’t haggle, you can always threaten to leave.
Companies don’t want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you.
It’s also worth investigating social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
Watching live TV without a licence can land you in hot water, but you could be entitled to a discounted – or even free – licence.
The price of a TV licence rose from £159 to £169.50 a year in April.
This fee can be paid in one sum or in quarterly or monthly instalments.
You must have a TV licence if you watch TV as it is broadcast – live TV – on any channel, or watch programmes on catch-up on the BBC iPlayer.
You don’t need a TV licence to use streaming services or to watch any other channel’s catch-up service.
You can claim a free TV licence if you’re 75 or older and either receive pension credit yourself or live with a partner who gets the benefit.
You can apply for a free licence when you’re 74, but will still have to pay until the end of the month before your 75th birthday.
You can apply for your free licence online or by calling 0300 790 6071.
Other individuals could also be eligible for a discounted TV licence if they live in residential care or sheltered accommodation or if they’re registered blind.
If you live in sheltered accommodation or residential care and are over 60 or disabled, you can get a licence for just £7.50.
If you’re registered blind or live with someone who is, you’re in line for a 50% discount.
The licence must be in the name if the person registered blind, but if your existing licence is not in their name you can make an application to transfer it.
You can apply for the discount online by visiting tvlicensing.co.uk/reducedfee.
THERE are a number of ways you can watch TV for free without having to pay the licence fee.
Pluto TV
Pluto TV is another free streaming service with more than 100 channels.
Anyone can access Pluto TV for free on the web or on your iPhone and Android device.
Virgin Media has just made it available via some of its boxes – but bear in mind you’d need to pay a TV licence and take out a contract with Virgin to take advantage of this.
Amazon Freevee
Amazon Prime Video may be the first thing you think of but the retail giant also has a growing free alternative.
Freevee is home to exclusives like Judy Justice.
It’s the new home of Neighbours too, which is set to return later this year.
But there’s some classic on-demand content too.
The L Word, Nashville and Parks and Recreation are among the shows available.
All4
All4 is the main source of on-demand programmes from Channel 4, E4, Film4 and More 4.
The service is free to use and funded by advertisements.
All4 offers a free and extensive library of both classic shows and more recent programmes, including complete box sets of some of our most popular series like Gogglebox.
UKTV Play
If you’re a fan of Dave, Drama, W and Yesterday then the UKTV Play is the place for you.
The latest featured shows include Meet The Richardsons, Annika and Great British Railway Journeys.
You’ll have to sign up to start watching – and there are ads.
ITVX
ITVX launched in November, replacing the old ITV Hub.
ITV now drops many new and exclusive shows online before they’re shown on ITV1.
There’s also a load of other shows, including more niche interest like anime.
Free trials
You should take advantage of free trials to keep more of your hard-earned cash.
Some trials are as short as seven days, while others last an entire month.
For example, Amazon Prime Video offers newbies 30 days streaming for free.
Now TV also offers weekly free trails for Sky Cinema and Entertainment packages.
But any savvy savers must remember to unsubscribe to any subscriptions before the end of the trial period or risk incurring further charges.
Customers can also nab a free trial of streaming services when buying new technology.
Some Apple technology purchases will include a free trial of Apple TV+.
