It’s time to swap your t-shirts for jumpers and pour yourself a large pumpkin spice latte – autumn is officially here!

Today marks the September Equinox, which is also known as astronomical autumn. 

The sun is directly above the equator and day and night are of equal length – roughly 12 hours each. 

For those of us in the northern hemisphere, today marks the start of autumn. 

Meanwhile, people living in the southern hemisphere will be waving hello to spring today.

There are two separate dates that could be said to mark the start of autumn – astronomical autumn and meteorological autumn. 

Astronomical autumn begins today and is defined by Earth’s axis and orbit around the Sun. 

‘During an equinox the Sun shines directly over the equator resulting in nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world,’ NASA explained. 

The only exceptions are the North and South Pole, where the Sun approximately straddles the horizon for the entire day. 

From today, the Sun will gradually continue to rise later and set earlier in the Northern Hemisphere, making the days shorter and night longer. 

The opposite is true for the Southern Hemisphere, where the days begin to last longer and the nights shorter. 

Meanwhile, meteorological autumn is guided by annual temperature cycles.

‘Meteorological seasons are derived by splitting the year into four periods made up of three months each,’ The Met Office explained. 

‘These seasons are split to coincide with our Gregorian calendar, making it easier for meteorological observing and forecasting to compare seasonal and monthly statistics.’

By the meteorological calendar, we’re already a month into autumn, with the first day of autumn always 1 September; ending on 30 November. 

While the changing of the season is always pretty, experts from Forestry England say that the combination of a rainy spring with the record-breaking temperatures in June has paved the way for a particularly ‘spectacular autumn show.’

Met Office data shows that this spring was particularly wet, with rainfall across Britain 55 per cent higher than average. 

While this rain may have dampened many Britons’ spirits, it did wonders for the growth of the UK’s trees.   

‘This abundance of rain has helped set the stage for a stunning display of colourful leaves in autumn,’ Forestry England explained. 

‘This is because the rain provided plenty of moisture to the soil, which helps to promote strong and healthy growth.’

Following this rainy spring, Britain basked in record-breaking heat in June, with temperatures hitting a daily average of 15.8°C – 2.5°C higher than average.

This sunny weather allowed Britain’s trees to flourish, according to Forestry England.  

‘Plenty of sunshine has meant a good growing season for the nation’s forests, helping them build up plenty of the sugars which produce the stunning autumn reds, golds and oranges as they are absorbed back into the tree,’ it explained. 

‘Instead of following the usual pattern, the weather experienced in early spring could lead to a more gradual and enchanting shift in leaf colours this autumn, creating a beautiful mix of colours that are truly one-of-a-kind.’

The arrival of the autumn colours could also be influenced by the hot start to this month.

‘If temperatures remain high, this can delay the onset of autumn and the subsequent colour change in leaves,’ Forestry England said.

The leaves change colour when days become shorter and temperatures cool, with the green chlorophyll starting to disappear, leaving yellow and orange hues. 

‘So, while the warm weather may slightly alter the beginning of autumn, it can also extend it, offering more chances for people to witness nature’s splendid transformation,’ Forestry England added.  

Model railways maker Hornby buoyed by online summer sales

• Internet sales from April to August jumped by over a third on the prior year
• The Margate-based group predicts ‘low double-digit’ annual sales growth
• Hornby sells Scalextric car racing sets, Corgi cars and Airfix model planes

By Harry Wise

Updated: 08:42 EDT, 13 September 2023

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Clubs in Europe breathed a sigh of relief on Thursday night when the Saudi Pro League (SPL) transfer window finally closed.

It will be hard to remember 2023 as anything other than the Saudi summer as a new footballing machine powered onto the scene and signed a whole host of world class and Premier League stars.

The next few years promise to be intriguing as we find out whether this summer was just a one-off or, as is more likely, the Middle East becomes a rival destination for top flight teams across Europe when courting players.

European chiefs continue to insist that the SPL recruitment drive doesn’t pose a danger to the continent’s footballing landscape, but the league was second only to the Premier League in spending this summer with an outlay of more than £750million.

In some ways, this has provided a rest bite for English clubs when battling FFP considerations, with the SPL almost acting as a ‘cash-cow’ – as demonstrated by Chelsea selling unwanted stars such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy to Saudi clubs for a combined £36m.

Much of the incessant spending was mainly restricted to four teams – Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli.

That is because they were all taken over by the country’s Public Investment Fund in June – the same backer that also owns Newcastle – and all four have strengthened significantly.

Former Liverpool favourite Sadio Mane joined Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, while they have also added other stars including Croatian midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, former Man United left back Alex Telles, Aymeric Laporte, Otavio and Seko Fofana.

Last year’s champions Al-Ittihad – who are coached by ex-Tottenham and Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo – look like the early favourites for the title again having brought in Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema along with N’Golo Kante and Fabinho.

Newly-promoted Al-Ahli signed Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez, Mendy, Franck Kessie and Allan Saint-Maximin and have already shown their mouthwatering attacking credentials with 10 goals in five games.

Meanwhile, the most decorated Saudi club is Al-Hilal and they made an early splash in the market by securing deals for Koulibaly, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ruben Neves.

However, they also secured what could be the biggest move in the window by adding Neymar from PSG for £78m before handing the Brazilian an eye-watering £260m two-year deal, while Aleksandar Mitrovic also arrived from Fulham.

Of the £750m-plus outlay, more than £680m was splashed by the four PIF-owned clubs which is not surprising given they are backed by a fund worth an estimated £538bn.

Deals were still taking place right up until the transfer deadline, with Luiz Felipe’s £21.5m move from Real Betis to Al-Ittihad and Demarai Gray’s £8m switch from Everton to Al-Ettifaq the major deals on the final day.

For Al-Ettifaq, while they aren’t owned by the PIF, they have still managed to lure some big names this summer due to their backing from Saudi Arabia’s Basic Industries Corporation, which is the kingdom’s second-biggest petrochemicals company.

They added Jordan Henderson, Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry on mega wages, with Henderson reportedly earning £700,000 per-week.

They also managed to entice Steven Gerrard to the Middle East, before adding Gray and Georginio Wijnaldum in the final throes of the window as they look to improve upon last season’s seventh-place finish.

In what is looking like an increasingly positive outlook for the league and it’s appeal, there has also been a move over the summer towards a younger profile of recruits.

An early criticism of the transfer drive was that Ronaldo is 38, Henderson is 33, while Kante, Mahrez and Koulibaly are all 32, with a limited number of stars arguably in their peak.

However, the arrival of Saint-Maximin, Malcom, Neves and Felipe – with the quartet all 26 – shows the league’s strength, while the signing of 21-year-old Spanish starlet Gabri Veiga despite interest from some top European clubs was a statement of intent.

It is hard to look past the four PIF-owned clubs when examining who came out of the window best, particularly when viewing the top 10 net spenders across the world.

Al-Hilal were ranked first, just ahead of PSG, with Al-Ahli third, Chelsea fourth, Arsenal fifth and Al-Nassr sixth. 

In truth, the summer transfer window is the latest evidence of Saudi’s global footballing profile being transformed over the past 12 months.

While it has always had a long and rich tradition as a football nation, with the kingdom having reached six of the past eight World Cups, the addition of Ronaldo and their victory over Argentina in Qatar last year, along with the plethora of star names plying their trade in the SPL has taken their reputation to new levels.

The only blot on the success of their window is perhaps that they failed to lure three main targets – Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah – with the trio either remaining at their clubs or in the case of Messi, choosing to move elsewhere to a rival league in the MLS.

However, with Salah, is does feel as if he will inevitably end up in the Middle East, with Mail Sport reporting how Al-Ittihad believe their pursuit to sign the Egyptian is merely on hold after the Reds rejected a £150m offer for their talisman last week.

We’ll have to wait and see how the SPL develops in the coming years and whether it follows in the footsteps of the Chinese Super League or, as league executive desire, truly becomes one of the best leagues in the world and ends the dominance of European football.

But, whatever their ambitions, European chiefs will seemingly continue to ignore the perceived threat the SPL poses.

‘I don’t think there is a danger,’ European Club Association chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said this week.

‘We believe in ourselves. We have the best and biggest competitions and the best players. It is not for me to judge what is happening outside of Europe. But listen, most of the clubs sold players to them. If we are not happy, why do we sell our players to them? That’s the truth.

‘Is it dangerous? I told you my opinion. If there is a danger, the European clubs will not be quiet. So far, I don’t see any danger.’

High Street is battered by summer downpours

• ONS said retail sales fell 1.2% in July, far worse than the 0.5% slide expected
• High Street slump came as FTSE 100 rounded off its third week of losses in a row
• Investors have been spooked by a cocktail of worries about the global economy 

By Hugo Duncan And Sean Poulter

Published: 16:50 EDT, 18 August 2023 | Updated: 16:56 EDT, 18 August 2023

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Never-ending NHS strikes have sent the waiting list for routine ops to another all-time high as the health service battles its busiest ever summer.

England’s backlog, for procedures like hip and knee replacements, now stands at 7.6million, official figures revealed today. 

It means roughly one in seven people across the country are currently stuck in the system awaiting care. More than 380,000 patients have gone a year without being treated, often in agony.

Months of walk-outs by junior doctors, nurses and other NHS workers demanding inflation-busting pay rises have dented efforts to tackle the record backlogs which built-up during Covid.

Hundreds of thousands of procedures and appointments have had to be cancelled, heaping extra pressure onto struggling hospitals. 

Junior doctors, seeking a salary hike of 35 per cent, will tomorrow stage their fifth strike in the ongoing dispute, walking out for four days from 7am.

Consultants, who earn in excess of £100,000, on average, will take to their own 48-hour picket line from August 24. 

Further action is planned for September if the Government ‘refuses to agree to pay talks’.

Experts today said the NHS is battling an ‘eternal winter’ and urged for ministers to break the deadlock with unions so the backlog can finally start shrinking. 

Summer months usually offer hospitals a break ahead of the usual busy spell, when seasonal pressures like flu and norovirus typically kick in. 

But NHS England said this summer is ‘on trajectory to be the busiest in NHS history’.

Some 4.42million attendances in A&E were recorded over June and July.

This is a rise of 42,500 on the previous high, when 4.37 million were recorded in 2022. 

Monthly performance data released today shows the overall waiting list has shot up from 7.47million in May. 

It marks the highest total since NHS records began in August 2007. 

Around 4.4million were stuck in the system when the pandemic reached the UK. 

More than 7,000 patients had been waiting for more than 18 months in June – down slightly from 11,000 figure logged the previous month.

The Government had set the target of eliminating this backlog by April, apart from those who have exceptionally complex cases or had chosen to wait longer.

Rishi Sunak made cutting waiting lists one of his 2023 priorities, pledging in January that ‘lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly’.

However, he has acknowledged that strikes across the health service are making the task ‘more challenging’.

As part of the plan to tackle the backlog, health chiefs announced yesterday patients will be matched to hospitals further from their home. 

People waiting for diagnosis or treatment on the NHS will be given a profile detailing their symptoms or treatment needs and how far they are prepared to travel.

These would be reviewed by managers at 650 private and NHS providers around the country who can take over their care if they have spare capacity.

Some consultations may be performed remotely by doctors hundreds of miles away from the patient.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS England’s national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘Today’s data is a reminder of the significant pressure on staff with this summer currently on trajectory to be the busiest in NHS history, all while industrial action continues to disrupt services.

‘Despite this, hard-working staff are delivering improvements in urgent and emergency care waiting times while also tackling the backlog by doing more tests and checks than any July on record and seeing record numbers of people with suspected cancer.

‘While tomorrow the NHS will see a fifth round of junior doctor strike action with thousands of appointments and procedures likely to be postponed, the NHS will need to prioritise emergency care once again.

‘So please continue to use 999 if it is a life-threatening emergency and 111 online for any other health concerns, while GPs and pharmacies are also unaffected by strikes.’

Separate A&E performance data for July shows emergency departments faced their second busiest July ever, with 2.1million attendances.

Three-quarters of emergency department attendees (74 per cent) were seen within four hours.

NHS standards set out 95 per cent should be admitted, transferred or discharged within the four-hour window.

Meanwhile, 23,934 patients who sought help in emergency departments were forced to wait more than 12 hours. 

Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the figures show urgent and emergency care and ‘the NHS as a whole’ remains ‘under immense strain’. 

He added: ‘It is pleasing that the number of patients waiting 12 hours in emergency departments have reduced compared to this time last year. 

‘This all comes at a time of the year previously associated with some respite for staff but, as we have said before, the eternal winter that now exists in the NHS is again putting hard- working staff at risk of exhaustion.

‘Along with the failure of the Government and the BMA to reach a settlement and seeming intransigence that this will be the “final” offer, the situation is deeply alarming.

‘The consequence of this in particular will almost certainly mean a continuation of strikes with inevitable disruption to patient care and an inability to implement urgently needed plans to prevent the similar appalling scenes witnessed last winter being seen again this winter.’ 

He said: ‘There is, without doubt, more trouble ahead in the NHS. It is still possible to change the trajectory for the upcoming winter, but the window of opportunity is growing more narrow by the second.

‘Urgent action is needed to ensure winter plans are implemented effectively and in full. 

‘If not we will inevitably be back in a situation where we face calls for national major incident type plans. We simply cannot wait to hit that scenario again.’

Rory Deighton, director of NHS Confederation’s Acute Network, also said: ‘Given the difficulties the NHS is facing it is unsurprising but regrettable that the overall elective waiting list has increased to 7.57million, with activity levels dropping lower than pre-pandemic levels.’

He added: ‘Imagine where the NHS could be now if industrial action had not been allowed to rumble on.’

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive at NHS Providers, added: ‘Trust leaders’ efforts to recover urgent and emergency care – and to bring down the waiting list – must be backed nationally with proper support. 

‘This includes better government funding in workforce and capital, including beds and vital equipment, and a solution for the challenges in social care. 

She added: ‘The strikes divert trusts’ resources from bearing down on backlogs to managing the disruption they cause. 

‘It’s vital the government and unions talk to find a resolution to the pay dispute. There can be no delay.’

NHS data on cancer waiting times also showed just six in ten cancer patients were seen within the two-month target. 

Almost 6,600 patients were left waiting more than 62 days to start treatment for surgery, chemo and radiotherapy, after an urgent referral from their GP. 

NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this time-frame. This target has not been met nationally since December 2015. 

Professor Pat Price, leading oncologist and founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, said: ‘These figures confirm that cancer treatment performance remains around record low levels and that deadly delays remain baked into cancer treatment with over four in 10 cancer patients waiting far too long. 

‘The Government need to break this drumbeat of monthly and quarterly failure and take decisive action to boost treatment capacity. 

‘It’s ominous that in the vital cancer treatment area of radiotherapy, performance actually worsened. 

‘This isn’t just a red flag for cancer, it’s a siren blaring the need for immediate action to tackle the crisis.’

Latest ambulance figures for July also show waiting times fell significantly. 

This is despite ambulances services facing their busiest month since May 2022, with 707,000 calls last month.

Heart attack and stroke patients in England, known as category two callers, had to wait an average of 31 minutes and 50 seconds for paramedics to arrive, shaving five minutes off the previous month. 

The NHS target is 18 minutes, however.

Ambulances took an average of eight minutes and 21 seconds to attend the most life-threatening category one calls, such as cardiac arrests. The NHS target stands at seven minutes. 

Holly Willoughby has found solace in crystals and PDAs with her husband after jetting off to Portugal for a summer break following a tumultuous year.

The TV presenter, 42, often takes a summer holiday from This Morning with her husband Dan Baldwin and children Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and Chester, eight.

But this year, the ITV stalwart is clearly focused on healing after a tough 12 months that saw her co-host Phillip Schofield embroiled in scandal that forced him to step down from his role.

The presenter headed to the Iberian peninsula to enjoy a two-month break at a £2million mansion in the sunshine, with Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond stepping in to cover her on This Morning.

Since the star has  put on a brave face making appearances in the very sunny Algarve shopping in a gorgeous yellow dress, having a dip in the sea and heading out with her family.

While the star usually keeps her family life very private she’s shared snaps online  of a PDA with her producer husband, while also penning insights into their marriage on her lifestyle blog Wylde Moon.

Holly has also shared how she’s used aura cleansing and meditation crystals to feel better during the tough time. 

The TV presenter set up her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon has in September 2021 and she often promotes crystal energies and meditation in blog posts and social media videos.

In May, Wylde Moon has shared a video of healer Emma Lucy Knowles speaking about ‘tuning’ your aura’ and ‘cleansing meditation’ after Holly’s co-star Phillip quit ITV.

In the video, shared to Holly’s brand’s Instagram page, Emma spoke about the importance of meditation and ‘cleansing’ energies. 

She said: ‘If you’re ready to work with us to go into that lovely meditative space where you can feel your aura or work out how best to tune into your aura, then join us over on the website.’

While a caption added: ‘Ever wondered how you can see your aura? Join Emma Lucy in a guided aura viewing and cleansing meditation. 

‘Tune in to the colour, texture and vibe of your own unique energy.’

Last week Holly also gave a rare insight into her marriage to TV producer Dan, 48, ahead of their 16th anniversary – hinting that he’s helped her heal from the difficultly of the last year.

‘It will be 16 years this year, which feels crazy in so many ways. I often think about us and the glue that binds us together. Every relationship is so unique and different; what works for one couple may not for another.

‘It’s a bit like developing your own personal recipe that you adapt together and personalise along the way.

‘I love nothing better than finding out what my friends/parents believe the secret to their relationship success is – and would love to hear your wisdom too!

‘Mine would have to be remembering to carve out real time for each other within the madness of everyday life; everything from making time to talk over dinner at home to date nights. Whatever you do to keep the spark alive, keep it up!’

Alongside the sweet message, Holly shared a photograph of herself and Dan kissing on the beach, as well as a shot of her walking down the aisle on her wedding day.

While the star clearly finds solace in Portugal, it will be a stark contrast to usual years as she is there without her former co-host Phillip. 

Holly often spends time at her Portuguese holiday home with her family and for many years, she has done so with former co-host Phillip at his adjacent villa. 

However, after he admitted he had an affair with a much younger colleague – the pair have fallen out.

Holly, who works Monday to Thursday, typically works a five day working week on her last week before her summer break.

While Phillip was still in good graces, the pair used the final show to sign off and give a goodbye message to fans before their six-week summer break.

In 2021 they knocked back eight wines during the show before heading abroad on a joint holiday to Portugal.

However in a break from tradition, the star signed off with her usual farewell message to viewers ‘see you, bye’, without mentioning her upcoming holiday last month. 

Things could be set to get even more awkward after Phillip has revealed will not sell his Portuguese home and will continue to enjoy sunshine breaks there.

Sources have claimed Phillip is planning a trip at his villa, which is situated on the exclusive resort despite his and Holly’s bust up – which began when he didn’t tell her about his paedophile brother’s court case, which saw him being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a three-year period.

When Holly returns from her long holiday in September, This Morning will be centred around the presenter, after ITV bosses decided not to make a big money hiring to replace Phillip Schofield. 

On Sunday, Charlotte Dawson was seen for the first time since giving birth to baby Jude, just one week ago.

The TV personality, 30, welcomed her second child, another baby boy, with her fiancé Matthew Sarsfield, last weekend. 

And Charlotte, who is already mum to two-year-old Noah, displayed her amazing postpartum figure in a chic summer dress as she took her boys for Sunday lunch.

The Ex On The Beach star looked fabulous in the white frock alongside her two sons, as they joined friends at Lytham House restaurant in St Annes, Lancashire.

Charlotte’s gorgeous midi dress boasted a sweetheart neckline and ruffled sleeves, and she teamed the garment with a pair of white slides.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, Charlotte shared a breastfeeding photo and gave fans a glimpse of how she was feeling as she opened up on her ‘hormonal’ first week with her newborn son, and admitted she ‘can’t stop crying’.

Appearing teary-eyed, she asked followers: ‘Guys is it normal to just cry… all the time? I can’t stop crying. I don’t know what’s up with me. 

‘I’m crying because I’ve not got Noah in my bed. I’m crying because I’ve not got Matthew in bed. I’m crying because I love Jude so much. 

‘I’m crying because I feel like I’ve not got enough time for Noah. I’m crying because I’m in pain. I’m crying happy tears, obviously. But it’s just mad isn’t it with your hormones just everywhere? It’s crazy.’

Sharing another snap with her two boys, Charlotte issued fans with another update about her ‘breastfeeding week’.

Charlotte looked happier than ever as she posed alongside her sons whilst she fed Jude, while she penned: ‘I just love this natural pic my friend captured yesterday.. me with both my boys. this is my life right now. 

‘As it’s breastfeeding week I’m loving my journey this time round with Jude, even though I forgot how bloody toe curling the first week is, nipples are cracked but I’m keeping going I did 8 months with Noah.. but not putting pressure on myself. 

‘But like I’ve said a fed baby is a happy baby whatever we choose to do.’

Charlotte revealed she had named her new baby boy Jude Dawson Sarsfield on Monday, as she told her followers he arrived just an hour after they reached the hospital.

Sharing a gallery of snaps following her speedy labour, Charlotte revealed she originally planned to have a caesarean section, but ended up having a natural birth without pain relief after her son’s head ‘came out on the theatre table.’

Charlotte and Matt already share son Noah, and welcomed their second child after suffering a miscarriage at 10 weeks in April 2022. 

In her post, Charlotte wrote: ‘He’s here… our little rainbow Jude Dawson Sarsfield came into the world on the 30th July at 02:13am, weighing 8lb 8oz.

‘He made his speedy entrance in an hour of us getting to hospital.. I was adamant for a section but his head came out on the theatre table with no chuffin pain relief guys!!!

‘Everybody did warn me saying your second baby flies out… hahahaha I wish I did listen, well my birthing plan went completely the other way… 

‘I pushed nearly a 9 pounder out, but our little judey baby is a dream come true, happy & healthy and we are so in love.

‘I can’t wait for Noah to meet him & be the best big brother… special they had the same hats on when they were born, massive thank you to Blackpool midwives, nurses & doctors for being amazing & listening to me scream the hospital down.

‘Love you all thank you for all your messages, currently in our little baba bubble, crazy to think I was having contractions this time last night… 

But thought it was another false alarm, deffo wasn’t HES CHUFFIN ERE our boyo @matt_sarsfield our family is now complete.. the 4 musketeers.’

Charlotte also shared a gallery of snaps cradling her newborn son, including one taken mere seconds after he was born.

With the summer holidays in full swing, many of us are on the move. 

Whether that’s a staycation or heading to Europe and beyond, travelling isn’t always the smoothest of experiences. 

So here is our pick of the best travel products to keep your holiday on track from departure to arrival.

LOUNGING ABOUT

Travelling in pyjamas is all the rage with celebrities, from Game of Thrones actor Sophie Turner to footballer Erling Haaland sporting expensive varieties. 

A little more reasonable, though, is Desmond and Dempsey’s set. Made from breathable linen, it is designed to be worn 24 hours a day. For something a little louder go wild with Nologo’s jungle-print pyjamas (£55, nologo-chic.co.uk).

Details: Desmond and Dempsey Lounge Set from £210 at desmondanddempsey.com.

PEACE AND QUIET

Noise-cancelling headphones are a must when flying, and a great budget pair is the JBL Tune 760 NC (£59.99, currys.co.uk). However, for travelling in general, it might be worth trying the Shokz OpenFit open-ear headphones. They are comfortable, lightweight and offer the same immersive sound quality as traditional models while not shutting you off from the world outside.

Details: Shokz OpenFit from £179 at uk.shokz.com.

GLOWING SKIN

Travelling can be tough on the skin, and the liquids limit on our usual products at airports doesn’t get scrapped until summer next year. Worry not: the TheraFace Pro is a compact device which offers eight skincare treatments, including LED light therapy and a facial massage, and can be packed into a small bag for hand luggage.

Details: The TheraFace Pro is from £375 at therabody.com.

MUSICAL MAGIC

The Boomcube 15 is about as cheap as portable speakers get. The compact device is also water-resistant, has a 14-hour battery life, stereo-pairing for better sound quality and comes in two colours.

Details: The Kitsound Boomcube 15 is from £19.99 at kitsound.co.uk.

KEEPING COOL

Soaring temperatures in Europe and across the globe have been well reported this summer, so staying cool is more important than ever. One good option for this is a hanging, portable neck fan which directs a refreshingly cool breeze upwards.

Details: Jisulife Portable Neck Fan is from £31.99 at amazon.co.uk.

COMFORT ON THE GO

Vivo’s mission is ‘to help people connect with the world around them’, which might sound lofty for a shoe company. But its shoes are made to be wide, thin and flexible for comfort while also being as close to walking barefoot as possible. Some products (which range from walking boots to sandals) also roll up, making them easy to pack.

Details: Vivo’s everyday Geo Court III is from £105 at vivobarefoot.com.

STAY ENERGISED

Long-haul flights often leave us tired and jet-lagged, but Phizz’s effervescent, dissolvable tablets aim to combat this. The brand’s new caffeine boost is packed with vitamins, electrolytes, slow-release caffeine and helps the body absorb water three times faster.

Details: Three tubes of Phizz Caffeine Boost from £19.99 at phizz.co.

PACKED OUT

All good holidays start with packing, so a sturdy, secure and practical bag is a must. Antler’s Clifton medium suitcase is made to survive a plane’s hold – the wheelie bag is strong, light and easy to manoeuvre with handy compartment nets inside. Even better, the full range, which comes in a variety colours, is now 20 per cent off.

Details: The Clifton medium suitcase is from £168 at antler.co.uk.

THE SAFE BET

There’s nothing worse than being slapped with a fine for having luggage that’s too big. And extra bags are only getting more expensive. So it’s handy that Anode’s rugged 30l underseat cabin bag is guaranteed to fit below the seat in front and keep you out of trouble.

Details: Anode’s 30l Twinwheel Underseat Case is £44.95 at cabinmax.com.

WARM EMBRACE

Activity-based holidays are being embraced by travellers across the UK. But it’s not all scuba diving and waterskiing – wild swimming and cold-water therapy workshops are on the rise. To keep you warm after these activities, the Dryrobe is a great option. It is insulated and has a loose fit to make changing easier. It’s not the easiest thing to pack, but it’ll be of use in cooler climes.

Details: Dryrobe Advance Change Robe from £160 at dryrobe.com.

Maralee Nichols on Sunday shared pictures from an outing on a farm she enjoyed with her 19-month-old son Theo, her son with Tristan Thompson.

‘A day on the farm with my best friend!’ the 32-year-old influencer captioned a post of a carousel of clips to her 261,000 followers documenting the summer day.

The fitness professional added, ‘We had soo much fun.’

The mom and son matched in denim blue short overalls and brown straw hats on the summer day at the farm setting, where Theo had fun at a petting zoo.

Nichols wore brown sunglasses and a white tank top with white sneakers on the outing, using a baby carrier in the outdoor outing on the sunny day.

Theo, whose face Nichols leaves out of the photos for privacy reasons, was seen having a good time up close with goats at a petting zoo; and pulling, and riding in a red wagon his mother was seen pulling.

The mother and son were seen walking uphill in a grassy area on the farm grounds. 

Nichols last week shared a photo on the same day that the professional basketball player posted a pair of shots featuring his baby son Tatum, he shares with his former partner Khloe Kardashian, 39.

Thompson, who has past played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls, flashed a wide smile as he posed for the snaps with his youngest child also placed a pair of sunglasses on his son before they spent time in front of the camera.

The reality television figure penned a short message in his post’s caption to publicly express his love for his child.

He wrote: ‘Happy birthday my son! You are a reminder of what life represents to me. You have taught me every loss comes a lesson and you are my gift. You are my reminder of all of God’s messages.’

Thompson continued: You are the reason that I began my story. The mistakes along the way are lessons not failures. There is no expiration date to reinventing yourself. Tatum your sweet soul reminds me of God’s grace.’

The professional basketball player concluded by writing that ‘I am so blessed to be your DaDa!’

Several Instagram users took to the post’s caption to express that the athlete was publicly favoring his youngest son over Theo.

Nichols previously named Thompson in a paternity lawsuit in December of 2021.

According to Page Six, the athlete subsequently demanded that a DNA test be performed in order to establish Theo’s parenthood. 

However, it was eventually confirmed that the professional basketball player had, in fact, fathered Nichols’ child. 

The reality television personality went on to issue a lengthy apology via his Instagram Story, in which he publicly acknowledged his status as Theo’s father.

He wrote that he was looking ‘forward to amicably raising’ his son with Nichols.

Thompson also added a special apology for Kardashian whom he felt was particularly hurt by the revelation.

‘Khloe, you don’t deserve this. You don’t deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you, You don’t deserve the way I have treated you over the years,’ he wrote. 

A long-overdue mix of innovations, inventions and improvements are set to transform holiday options for disabled travellers this summer. 

Better still, it’s not just planes, trains and (off-road) automobiles promising easier access and more comfortable journeys.

Hotels, beach resorts and cruise ships are also unveiling radical changes as travel bosses wake up to the size of the disabled travel market.

‘A lot of challenges remain for disabled people and their families, but the travel industry is moving in the right direction. The world is slowly opening up to everyone,’ says Angus Drummond, of Limitless Travel, which specialises in disability-friendly and accessible holidays.

BEST FOR BEACHES

Greece is leading the way with a clever scheme to help wheelchair users reach and swim in the sea. New wooden decks help disabled visitors avoid the ‘sand trap’ of rolling wheelchairs across a beach, while at the deck’s edge, solar-powered seats lower users into waist-high waters.

Tobea, the local company behind the scheme, has already installed more than 200 of its Seatrac chairs in Greek resorts and is expanding into Italy and Cyprus this summer. Spain, Croatia and the Caribbean are next on the list. There’s a directory of locations at seatrac.gr.

Sand traps have also been smoothed out at a series of Inclusive Beaches in Northern Ireland.

The Mae Murray Foundation, a charity, ensures the beaches have disabled access and parking, toilets with hoists and adult-sized changing benches plus wet suits and equipment to rent including new sit-down surf boards, floating chairs and thick-wheeled beach walkers. Check the facilities at maemurrayfoundation.org.

IN THE SKY

A new airline seat is planned by Delta Airlines that will allow passengers to stay in their own wheelchairs on board.

When installed, the back cushions of an economy seat near an exit and toilet are removed and the lower part flipped up to create space for a chair.

It means travellers won’t have to check their own chairs into the hold, get on board in a narrow ‘aisle chair’ and slide into an ordinary seat for the flight. Safety testing means the new cabin’s first flight is around 18 months away — but the good news is that Delta’s design partner plans to licence it to other airlines in the meantime.

Another innovation is on the horizon in Germany. Revolve Air is a foldable chair for travellers (described as the Brompton bike of wheelchairs). Even the wheels fold small enough to fit into a plane’s overhead locker, with production due to begin this winter.

ON SAFARI

New accessible vehicles with ramps for powered wheelchairs are opening up the game reserves of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia for trips with 2by2 Holidays, where experienced staff have been offering disabled-friendly holidays for more than two decades.

Holidaymakers who travel in manual wheelchairs and can transfer into the front seat of a 4×4 safari vehicle can also look at the company’s safaris in Botswana and tours to the Victoria Falls.

At each destination a tailor-made mix of accessible hotels and lodges are on offer while airport assistance and accessible transfer vehicles can be booked alongside flights.

Holidays include a seven-night wheelchair-friendly break in Cape Town and the winelands of Stellenbosch from £1,995 pp plus flights (2by2holidays.co.uk).

PARK LIFE

Some of America’s most rugged landscapes are more accessible this year as all-weather, off-road wheelchairs are ready to rent from the visitor centres of beauty spots from Colorado to Lake Michigan. Described as ‘the Land Rover of wheelchairs’ the Minnesota-built Action Trackchair can tackle modest slopes while moving safely over rocks, tree roots, streams and sand.

America can be particularly friendly to disabled travellers and villas with fully-adapted bed and bathrooms can be good accommodation choices.

Four-bed villas near the theme parks of Florida with outdoor ramps, hospital-quality beds plus overhead gantry hoists in main bedrooms and hoists by a private pool can be rented from £2,100 per week. Compare villa choices at enableholidays.com and disabledholidays.com.

ON THE HIGH SEAS

Exhilarating attractions will be accessible to all when Sun Princess begins its inaugural Mediterranean cruises in February. Clever modifications mean thrill-seeking disabled guests can try the top-deck Rollglider, a cross between a rollercoaster and hang-glider.

Passengers also get a choice of wheelchair-friendly cabins with roll-in showers, accessible desks and easy-access, pull-down rails in the wardrobes.

Chair hoists on the pools and whirlpools of P&O ships help every guest enjoy the water on board, while cruises with UK departures remove the stress of taking wheelchairs through airports. A no-fly, 14-night and fully accessible Mediterranean cruise on P&O’s Arvia with specialist staff on hand from Limitless Travel starts at £4,059 pp (limitlesstravel.org).

While raised door thresholds can be a problem in some corridors, the fact that decks are all served by lifts makes ocean cruises a good choice for many wheelchair users. Equipment unavailable in cabins can be hired from Mobility At Sea and other firms (mobilityatsea.co.uk).

PERFECT PACKAGES

This summer Tui is teaming up with research group AccessAble to ensure travellers know exactly what to expect on their journeys and at their destination. AccessAble staff have been carrying out in-person examinations of hotels, attractions, restaurants, pubs, stations and more in the UK for years.

Its expansion overseas will include a similar treasure trove of facts, figures and photographs of everything from steps to showers in holiday resorts.

Tui also employs an in-house Assisted Travel Team who can ensure customers with visible or non-visible disabilities have smooth journeys (including vital but easy to overlook transfers) and the most suitable hotel rooms and in-resort support.

ACCESSIBLE ROOMS

In Britain, the Bespoke Hotel chain is taking a fresh approach to accessibility by seeking interior design advice from the Blue Badge Style group.

The aim is to ensure accessible rooms are as chic as every other. Bespoke has also created an Accessibility Charter for its properties to ensure staff know how to help guests with special needs (bespokehotels.com).