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Halloween is nearly upon us which means most of us are enjoying a season of spooky horror films. And when we’re listing the classics, of course Hocus Pocus is one of them

The spookiest time of the year is nearly upon us, AKA Halloween, and it’s the season for pumpkin spiced lattes, dressing up and of course, scary horror movies. But luckily for those scaredy cats among us, there are some Halloween films which aren’t so terrifying.

If you know your stuff, then Hocus Pocus has definitely been on your watchlist in the past, but have you ever noticed this teeny-tiny detail in the movie? The 1993 film is a fantasy comedy film, released by Walt Disney, which follows the Sanderson sisters who are resurrected from the dead after Max Dennison lights the black-flame candle three centuries later.

These three witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, are on mission to suck the souls of children in order to keep themselves young.

Just three years ago, the film released a sequel which then follows on from the iconic 90s movie. Now the TV detective, known as Ivan Mars, couldn’t help but notice one detail about the two storylines.

Posting with his 961,000 Instagram followers, he said: “It took me 30 years to realise this in Hocus Pocus…

“So we know back in 1693 the Sanderson sisters brew their potion to steal a child’s life… And after adding everything, the spell calls for a piece of each witch’s tongue, that’s why all three become younger.

“Now check this out… centuries later in 1993 the witches reunited to do the same with Dani but something’s off… this time only Winnie adds her piece of tongue to the potion and she doesn’t tell her sisters to add theirs…

“So according to the book the potion would have worked for her alone. Does it mean it was Winnie’s plan all along as she never meant to share eternity with anyone else?

“That’s why the second movie focuses on the importance of a Coven as she finally realises she’s nothing without her sisters!”

The post racked up 24,500 likes and hundreds of comments from people who were equally amazed. One said: “Does make sense a lot.”

Another added: “Yeah this makes sense. Winnie was never really about her family, but in the second one she does have a moment of growth.” While a third chimed in: “Good observation.”

And a fourth chimed in: “And they could have waited and released the second one in 2023 to mark 30 years later.”

Chelsea Clinton is already running for a second term — as a mom!

“Next summer, Charlotte is going to be a big sister! Feeling very blessed & grateful this holiday season,” the former first daughter said Monday on Twitter. She and husband Marc Mezvinsky had their first child, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky, in late September 2014.

The announcement featured a picture of Charlotte eyeballing a book titled “Big Sisters Are the Best.” (Perhaps the little one’s next read will be her mom’s book “It’s Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going”? OK, we’ll give her some time …)

Grandparents Bill and Hillary Clinton were quick to jump in with official congratulations.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.

JENNIFER Lopez’s first husband has accused her of cheating on him after she claimed she had never been loved by any of her exes.

Personal trainer Ojani Noa, 51, hit out after US broadcaster Howard Stern asked four-times wed J-Lo if she had ever “truly been loved” and she said “no”.

She added: “What I learned, it’s not that I’m not lovable. It’s that they’re not capable. They don’t have it in them.”

But Ojani, who was married to J-Lo from 1997 to 1998, hit back on social media, saying: “Stop putting us down.

“Stop putting me down with your victim card. The problem is not us. Not me.

“The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.

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“You have been ‘loved’ a few times. You have been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between.

“You’ve had good relationships. Me for example. I was in love with you. I moved out of state to support, protect and care for you.

“I’m an amazing, loving person, great human being.

“Honest, faithful to you, never lied, never misbehaved, never cheated on you. I was too good for you. I’m too good of a man for you.

“You decided to lie, to cheat on me. Tell the truth for once. Let people know that you are the problem.”

J-Lo marked the release of her new film Kiss of the Spider Woman by posting pics on Instagram of herself on set in costume.

Snorkelling is an enjoyable underwater activity, but when you make a cool sighting, it’s even more exciting. One woman recently couldn’t believe her luck during a dive in the Maldives

A trip to the Maldives can be unforgettable but when you come across a rare sighting, it really can be the cherry on top of a fantastic holiday. There’s so much to do on the islands, from water sports to dolphin cruises and even luxury spa breaks.

Now one woman couldn’t believe her luck when a snorkelling trip turned into a truly memorable experience. Snorkelling is a great way to enjoy marine life and explore underwater world, while it’s suitable for most ages, you’ll need strong swimming skills for it.

The travel influencer, known as Tasha, was recently on a snorkelling trip in the Maldives when she came across a hammerhead shark. They can be quite rare to spot and are sometimes only seen on much further islands.

Tasha was just off Thulusdhoo when she made the sighting. On top of her video, she said: “Rich because I saw one of the most rare sightings in the Maldives with my own eyes.”

Her caption read: “Still not over that we saw a HAMMERHEAD SHARK on a snorkel trip off Thulusdhoo with @Say Yes! Adventures.

“These are super rare and only sometimes seen on much further islands!!!! And I didn’t even see them in the Galapagos!”

Since she posted the clip where she gasped at the sighting, her video scooped 169,100 likes and hundreds of comments.

One said: “I lived there for 2 years and snorkelled every day and never saw a hammerhead! This is insanely lucky.”

Another added: “Craziest moment ever, will never get over this.” A third chimed in: “I would cry for days on, that’s so beautiful.”

Someone else posted: “Omg at Thulusdhoo, that’s sooo lucky!” And a fifth wrote: “This would be the highlight of my year.”

Spotting a hammerhead shark can be quite exciting and these are not considered dangerous to humans.

While the large great hammerhead is a powerful exception and potentially dangerous, these encounters are rare.

Meanwhile, the few documented attacks are typically attributed to surprise or fear, and humans are not a natural prey for hammerheads, who have a diet which consists mainly of stingrays, crustaceans and bony fish.

Average flight prices to the Maldives from the UK vary greatly, but you can expect to pay around £500-£700 for a round-trip economy flight.

Also prices range from under £300 to over £1,800 depending on the season, airline and flexibility. The average flight time is around 10 hours and 18 minutes to 12 hours and 44 minutes, but this can be longer with layovers.

HELLMANN’S has stepped in to cover the cost of repairing a Spanish café set ablaze by an angry customer who couldn’t get mayonnaise with his sandwich.

The mayo giant pledged to foot the bill after the shocking arson attack at Cafetería Las Postas near Seville, Spain, last month.

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A Hellmann’s spokesperson said: “Cafetería Las Postas, we’re sorry we weren’t there. From now on, you can count on us.”

The brand promised to restore the premises and ensure the condiment will never be missing from its shelves again, Euro Weekly News reported.

Owner José Antonio Caballero called the incident completely “surreal” and said there was “no explanation for what he did.”

He explained: “First one waiter and then another the second time this gentleman asked for mayonnaise gave him the same answer which was that the bar didn’t have a kitchen and the sandwiches came ready-prepared and we didn’t have sauces.

“At that moment he walked to the garage opposite, returned to the bar with a bottle in his hand which we discovered afterwards had petrol inside, and asked the first waiter: ‘Are you sure there’s no mayonnaise?’ without giving him time to reply.

“There’s no explanation for what happened. It was awful.”

Horrifying CCTV shows the suspect storming inside, splashing fuel over the counter, and setting it alight with a lighter.

As flames shot towards the ceiling, terrified customers – including children as young as four – scrambled to safety while staff fought the blaze with an extinguisher.

Caballero said the fire left damage of up to £7,000 but praised “quick-thinking workers” for stopping it spreading.

He added: “The important thing is that nobody was injured. There were young children and elderly people around. Imagine if someone had been hurt.”

The 50-year-old suspect was arrested within minutes in a nearby square after burning his hand.

Police said he was taken to a health centre under guard and is due in court.

Investigators are probing why he started the blaze, with reports suggesting he was with two others at the time.

The mayo-fuelled attack has since divided opinion online after Hellmann’s public response.

Some hailed the move as clever marketing, while others blasted it as insensitive.

One local fumed: “Hellmann’s, it’s a little in bad taste, no? Will you get noticed? Yes. But at what cost? I don’t think a brand like yours needs to do this.”

Another said: “What happened is not a joke.”

A third remarked: “Taking advantage of someone’s misfortune to do marketing.”

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HE was the golden boy of Hollywood.

Men envied his obvious friendship with Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and almost all his female co-stars adored him.

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In fact, Jane Fonda admitted she couldn’t keep her hands off him on set, while Meryl Streep said he was the “best kisser ever”.

Robert Redford, who yesterday died in his sleep aged 89 at his ranch in Utah, was rejected for 1967 movie The Graduate because no one would ever believe he was a loser with women.

But the handsome star was haunted by nerves and self-doubt that caused him to be endlessly late on set.

As the greatest names in showbiz paid tribute to the blond-haired icon, his representative revealed Redford was “surrounded by those he loved” when he passed away. She added: “He will be missed greatly.”

‘Love of pranks’

In blockbusters such as Barefoot In The Park, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Great Gatsby, The Horse Whisperer, Indecent Proposal and Up Close And Personal, Redford was box office dynamite.

But the Oscar-winning actor was terrified stardom might turn him into a product for Hollywood studios to sell. He moaned: “Films to them are just like vacuum cleaners or refrigerators. The approach sickens me.”

The megastar even refused to make sequels to his biggest hits, Butch ­Cassidy and The Way We Were with Barbra Streisand.

He hated franchises, but appeared in Captain America: The Winter ­Soldier to please his grandkids.

And he became a champion of independent film-makers, founding the annual Sundance Film Festival to showcase their work.

Born Charles Robert Redford Jr in Santa Monica, California, on August 18, 1936, the actor’s mum was Martha and his dad Charles, a milkman.

His first taste of Hollywood was breaking into a studio as a teenager and trashing the place. He once said: “There was a strong dividing line with a railroad which ran near our house.

“Those who lived on the south side of the tracks, like us, helped to service the big houses on the north side as gardeners, cleaners, whatever.

“My dad would get up to go to work at 2.30 in the morning, come home late afternoon and go to sleep.

“It wasn’t his fault, but it was an inspiration [for me] to do something else with my life.”

Redford’s first plan was to be a baseball star, and he won a sports scholarship to Colorado University.

But he told showbiz writer Garth Pearce: “I was asked to leave because I was drinking too much.”

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His mother Martha had recently died and he turned to alcohol.

After being thrown out of college, he ­travelled to Europe. Redford recalled: “I became a pavement artist in ­Montmartre, Paris, and felt my life had begun at last. I had found my calling.

“Then I moved to Italy, where they openly laughed at my art. Eventually, I was told flatly that I would never make it or sell any paintings.”

So he moved back to New York and tried his hand at acting classes, enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

He said: “Suddenly, I was getting A-grade reports for the first time. I had failed at school, failed at university, failed as an artist. I thought, ‘There could be something in acting for me’. It was as simple as that, with no great calling.”

He couldn’t play a loser because of the way he looked

Director Mike Nichols

He began to get work, first on stage in New York and then in a succession of small-screen shows, such as ­Maverick, Perry Mason and Dr Kildare as TV boomed across America.

His movie breakthrough came opposite Jane Fonda in 1967’s Barefoot In The Park. She remembers: “I couldn’t keep my hands off him. I was ­constantly forcing myself on him.”

Redford auditioned for The ­Graduate, alongside Anne Bancroft as middle-aged Mrs Robinson.

But director Mike Nichols turned him down, recalling: “He couldn’t play a loser because of the way he looked.

“I told him so and he was dispirited. I said, ‘Look at it this way, ‘Have you ever been turned down by a woman?’. He replied, ‘What do you mean?’. I said, ‘My point precisely’.”

But his next part, The Sundance Kid, alongside Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy, would change Redford’s life forever. As they filmed the 1969 hit movie, he and Newman became best mates — bonding over Mexican beers and a love of pranks.

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Redford was a terrible time-keeper and, at the end of filming — during which he did his own stunts — ­Newman presented him with a tapestry cushion that read, “Punctuality is the courtesy of kings”.

For Newman’s 50th birthday, Redford sent him a wrecked Porsche wrapped in a bow. Newman had it crushed and sent back to his pal. Redford then had it turned into a garden sculpture and returned it.

Despite their 40-year friendship, Newman admitted he never really came to know Redford.

Even though Butch Cassidy was a huge success, Redford, a keen environmental campaigner, was still gripped with doubts about his ability.

He admitted: “I actually quit in the late Sixties, after appearing in some big films. It was not reported at the time but I took my family to a remote part of Spain. I attempted once again to make my living as an artist. But I was not good enough.”

By 1973, The Sting, in which he was reunited with Newman, gave him his only Best Actor Oscar nomination.

‘Not good enough’

His blond hair became his ­signature and he refused to have it cut in a 1940s style for 1977 war film A Bridge Too Far.

Director Sir Richard Attenborough asked him personally to get a short back and sides, but was forced to admit: “It’s no use. He just won’t have it touched.”

Redford once asked angrily: “What is it about my hair? I played Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby in 1974 and the director Jack Clayton wanted to dye my hair black.

“Even the studio wanted my hair black. I said, ‘Find me the part of the original book where it says that Gatsby’s hair is black. It’s not there’.”

Irritated by filmmakers, he decided to direct a movie of his own.

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Ordinary People, which came out in 1980, became one of the most acclaimed films of the decade and won him the only Oscar in his glittering career, for Best Director.

His hits dominated the Eighties and Nineties, with Out Of Africa alongside Meryl Streep winning seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

He directed A River Runs Through It starring a young Brad Pitt, Quiz Show and The Horse Whisperer, in which he also played the lead.

It was really hard . . . as a parent, you blame yourself. It creates a scar that never completely heals

Robert Redford

In between, he starred in Indecent Proposal as a millionaire who offered a married couple $1million if wife Demi Moore slept with him.

There was also romance in Up Close & Personal with Michelle Pfeiffer. But alongside great career success he suffered family tragedy.

His son Scott, who he had with first wife Lola, was a victim of cot death in 1959 at just two months.

The actor said: “It was really hard . . . as a parent, you blame yourself. It creates a scar that never completely heals.”

His second son, Jamie, who ­suffered constant ill health and underwent two liver transplants, died from cancer aged 58 in 2020.

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And eldest daughter Shauna ­witnessed the murder of her long-term boyfriend at university.

Redford told Garth Pearce: “All that personal stuff with my children meant some tough times. When you’re going through it, you lose part of yourself. I confess that I used work to prop me up.”

The Hollywood legend produced and directed films right into his 80s.

His final performance was an uncredited cameo earlier this year as a chess player in Dark Winds, a TV show he executive-produced. Redford officially retired from ­acting in 2018.

Redford is survived by second wife Sibylle, some 21 years his ­junior, who he married in 2009, and daughters Shauna, 64, and Amy, 54, from first wife Lola, who he divorced in 1985.

He said of his success: “The key to sanity in Hollywood is to have a life separate from movies and to never repeat yourself on film by doing a sequel.

“I lost my way and my focus ­several times. Having to deal with life, death, illness and catastrophe puts anyone to the test. Movies and acting was never my first love, but it was an enduring one.”

Blackpool is one of the UK’s most iconic seaside towns but just five miles away is a town that’s just as inviting yet totally different

With its tower, illuminated promenade and Pleasure Beach amusement park, Blackpool is one of the most well-known seaside towns in the UK, attracting around 20 million tourists every year.

But a smaller town, just five miles south, slips under the radar of holidaymakers. I visited Lytham St Annes, historically a fishing and shrimping harbour with a Victorian pier and golden beach, to see exactly how it was different to its famous neighbour.

I parked up close to St Annes Pier before having a stroll along the seafront and the first thing I noticed was how quiet and peaceful it was — a far cry from the hectic nature of a tourism giant like Blackpool.

“It’s a lot different here and it’s less frenetic,” Janet Ruanne tells me as she sits on a bench with her husband Martin. “We love it here. We’ve got the beach so close and there’s many nice places to walk. We come to the promenade basically every day, it’s lovely.”

The couple are from East Lancashire but moved to Lytham St Annes five years ago. They believe they have a beach worthy of rivalling any in the area, including Blackpool’s.

Mrs Ruanne, 67, says: “I think we’ve got one of the best beaches on this whole coastline. The people here are so friendly too which you don’t get everywhere else. It’s just a lovely place to come to.”

Mr Ruanne, 72, adds: “You’ll notice the beach here is really clean. They have a good group of volunteers who come and clean the beach regularly.”

From the South Promenade I walked towards and through the pier. It is located directly in front of the main high street, surrounded by a bandstand, Victorian shelters and seafront gardens.

St Annes Pier was built in 1885 and cost £18,000. Built from cast iron and wood, the structure was one of the first public buildings in St Annes.

It was restored in 2018 and now features a host of amusement games perfect for young families to enjoy. The open-air end of the pier boasts stunning coastal views across St Annes seafront and towards Blackpool.

It was here that I met Jenny Shaw who was visiting the area with her family. They are from Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, and visit Lytham St Annes most summers.

“We normally come in the summer holidays. It’s flat which makes it easy to walk around and enjoy,” she says. “The beach is lovely and there’s some nice parks. I think the town centre is underrated too – there’s plenty of places to eat and drink.”

While Blackpool can sometimes be tarred with a bad reputation for antisocial behaviour in its busiest months, Mrs Shaw says this is not the case with Lytham St Annes. “There’s no bad behaviour here. I think bits of Blackpool are quite grim but you don’t get that in Lytham. Everyone is really friendly and lovely,” she explains.

Lytham St Annes’ beach has miles of golden sand and is lined by iconic beach huts. It strikes me as a quintessentially British and timeless beach, perfect for leisurely walks and family activities.

Relaxing on the beach are Chris and Wendy Moden. The pair are visiting Lytham St Annes from Bolton and think it’s the perfect place to come for young families.

Mr Moden, 70, says: “We’ve got two grandchildren – aged six and four. We’d definitely bring them here, I think it’s perfect for a holiday.”

He tells me the family also enjoy visiting Fairhaven Lake, which is located between Lytham and St Annes. The saltwater lake offers a variety of activities, including boat rodes, nature walks, a play park and an area for bird watching.

He adds: “It’s a lot better than Blackpool. It’s a lot cleaner and less busy which I think people appreciate. Every time we come here we feel like we’ve had a good day out.”

Mrs Moden then chimes in: “Everyone is so friendly here. There’s never any trouble. We can come for a quiet walk along the beach and the views are beautiful.”

The promenade and pier are conveniently located close to the main high street. There are a number of shops and cafes on St Annes Road West including big name retailers and independent businesses.

Hazel, who did not want to give her surname, has lived in the town since she was five years old. She is sat in the town centre after doing some shopping.

“I think I’ve had a great life here really. We’re so lucky to live in a place like this. I always like going to sit down at the beach. We’re just very lucky really.”

According to Hazel, Lytham St Annes is far quieter and more relaxed than its famous neighbour.

“Blackpool always get really busy and noisy. It was terrible last time I visited – it was far too much,” she explains. “It’s a lot quieter here which I like. It’s cleaner too as we get less tourists.

“There’s also less antisocial behaviour here I think, although we get some. Just like everywhere, you’ve got some nicer and less nice bits.”

If you’re after an action-packed seaside holiday with lively nightlife and entertainment, then Blackpool will remain your place.

But if you prefer a more relaxed and peaceful holiday, then Lytham St Annes is probably going to be a better option. It boasts charm and natural beauty, as well as a slower pace of life.

The British Pullman Belmond Train journey, which departs from London Victoria, allows guests to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day and be transported back to the 1920s through its art deco carriages

One American traveller has given her verdict of a luxury steam train trip to Bath, however there was one thing about the experience that had her online following stunned – the price of it.

Influencer Eryn Krouse took a trip on a British steam train adventure via the Belmond British Pullman service. The luxury vintage train carries passengers all over the country, including on a special day trip to ‘Historic Bath’. However, her fans have been left slack-jawed at the cost of a trip aboard the historic train.

The British Pullman is so fancy, it requires its own dress code that passengers must adhere to while enjoying four-course meals and bottomless brunches.

The train doesn’t just carry travellers to their destination, but whisks them back through the decades. This magnificent train provides sumptuous journeys throughout the nation, including visits to grand historical properties like Highclere Castle and Burghley House.

Excursions depart from London Victoria and sweep guests through Britain’s glorious countryside, showcasing varied terrain and breathtaking panoramas.

The compartments are absolutely remarkable, with travellers relishing every element, especially the Cygnus, designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson. Food lovers are treated to a feast as every train package features mouth-watering cuisine, from a five-course meal accompanied by champagne to delicate pastries and fragrant teas.

Passengers must follow a rigorous dress code, and can participate in various special activities on the train including a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea or a Murder Mystery Lunch. The service also ventures to the West Country on a distinctive ‘Historic Bath’ expedition, which is where one social media star travelled on the 1920s-style locomotive.

Content creator Eryn Krouse, originally from Southern California, filmed her journey on the British Pullman during a day trip to Bath. The social media personality revealed the excursion had “been on my bucket list for a while”.

Eryn and her friend were treated to a “beautifully set up” table and a brunch that kicked off with a Bellini, which she said was “kept full” by the attentive staff. The journey to Bath offered stunning views of “lots of lush, green countryside with beautiful flowers, quaint farmhouses and tons of cows and sheep”.

After savouring a “yummy” main course of smoked Scottish salmon with caviar, an English muffin and a poached egg, she took time to explore the cabin cars – including the one designed by Wes Anderson. Eryn noted that “even the bathroom is stunning” before she and her friend ventured out to explore Bath.

They had around two-and-a-half hours to wander around the city, visiting the Roman Bath Museum and Jane Austen Museum before returning to London. Once back on the train, she found her table prepared for an early dinner service featuring a lavish four-course meal.

She shared: “Our four-course meal started off with yet another champagne toast and a bottle of rose. This fried haddock ball was probably the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.

“The bread was warm and fresh and I definitely helped myself to seconds. The main course was this lamb, beautifully presented. I’m not the biggest fan of lamb, but I enjoyed it anyway.

“Then a cheese selection followed by a rhubarb pie was served and we got back to London full and very sleepy. It was an incredible experience and worth every penny.”

However, social media users were left gobsmacked by the hefty price tag of £620 per passenger. One user gasped: “Gosh that’s super expensive!”

Not all trips come with such a steep price, with a solo table starting at £560 for a trip to Bath in April 2026.

The thrilling murder mystery lunch begins at £485, while some journeys can rocket up to a staggering £1,280 per passenger for a private compartment for two.

Laura Angulo was visiting the Philippines as part of a four-month trip around South East Asia when she became ill

A teacher was left “unable to sit up” after falling ill with suspected dengue fever during a nightmare holiday. Laura Angulo was touring the Philippines on a four-month South East Asia adventure when she became unwell on Palawan Island.

The 29-year-old keen globetrotter initially suffered from “general malaise and fatigue”. However, Laura’s health rapidly worsened.

“I remember we were on a beach and I was lying down eating ice cream because I didn’t have the strength to sit up,” Laura, who lives on Australia’s Gold Coast, shared with What’s The Jam. “The moment I started vomiting, we decided to go to the doctor, since we knew that in the Philippines, as in many other tropical countries, you can get dengue fever.”

Laura, originally from Spain, underwent a blood test which revealed “a very low percentage of platelets”.

She recalled: “They told us that this is one of the symptoms of dengue fever and that I probably had it. At that moment, I admit I was terrified.

“I called my parents and they asked me to return to Spain. But, luckily, my sister and cousin were there for me when I needed them.

“Doctors then performed another test on me, which came back negative, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t infected. I was able to go back to my hostel, but I had to return over the next three days for further tests to see if my diagnosis had improved, since one of the possible symptoms of dengue is internal bleeding

“During those three days, the vomiting and diarrhoea worsened, but I didn’t have any other symptoms. I was drinking saline and eating small amounts of rice and chicken when my body allowed it.

“On the third day, we had to travel to another island where I felt ill for two or three weeks and I lost about 1.6 stone (10kg). It was never confirmed whether I was actually infected, but my platelet count suggests I was.”

Laura, who has more than 50,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, shared with her online audience that dengue is spread by mosquito bites.

She continued: “There are four different strains of the dengue virus and if you’ve had one of them and become infected again, your risk of severe symptoms increases. If you get bitten by two strains of dengue at the same time, internal bleeding and possibly death become more likely.

“But don’t be alarmed; the Philippines is a beautiful country that I highly recommend visiting. To prevent something similar from happening, my first recommendation is to go to a vaccination centre and always carry mosquito repellent and basic medicines as well as travel insurance. Remember to get informed beforehand, and travel responsibly.”

Penny Uro, who has travelled to the North African country several times before, came away from her latest holiday to Egypt feeling as if she’d been hassled and scammed

A Brit holidaymaker who claims Egypt is getting worse as a holiday destination with every visit said she “couldn’t wait to leave” the country.

Penny Uro, who has travelled to the North African country several times before, says she found the “hassling for money and scamming culture so exhausting.” She claims she was bothered by Uber drivers, tour guides, street vendors, and airport staff—despite being in the company of four men and a child.

The 41-year-old shared a video on Instagram for her 22,000 followers titled “Reasons why I couldn’t wait to leave Egypt.”

Solicitor and travel influencer Penny said she felt that “nothing was done as part of general good service,” and instead every seemingly kind act was “just a way to extract extra cash.”

READ MORE: Brit expat in Benidorm warns ‘tourists are getting robbed’ because of one mistake

For example, arriving at the airport at 11pm with a child and suitcases, she was eager to get a taxi, but says she had issues with drivers pretending to be with Uber, and then demanding she pay them in cash.

She added that one driver allegedly “stopped just before the exit of the airport, threw my suitcases out of the boot, and drove off”.

Penny, from the Midlands, said it only got worse when she arrived at her hotel, where she claims her group was “constantly harassed for tips and constantly catcalled”.

The travel enthusiast said: “It was shocking. We were constantly harassed for tips and constantly catcalled. One of the men who cleaned the toilets actually followed me into the ladies and stood outside my cubicle.

“When I came out, he kept telling me I was beautiful and then asked for tips. Waiters would stand by the coffee machines in the morning, pressing the coffee button and asking for tips. They would also follow me around, asking if I had a husband.

Penny said she was also harassed on the street and when visiting famous landmarks. She said: “Even though I was travelling with four men, it seems that didn’t put the locals off. We arranged a private tour guide, but every time we stepped out of the van, locals would descend on us with various tidbits to sell.

“When we said no, they would start grabbing our arms or bags and then say things aggressively. We went to the Valley of the Kings, and around each tomb are various men who either take your photo or let you into the tomb, and every one asked for a tip.

“Our tour guide took us to three shops despite telling him that we had no interest in buying anything. When we tried to leave, someone would hold the door closed and another member of staff would try to take you to a different section of the shop.

“Rinse and repeat until we had to tip the doorman to let us out. The guide always waited outside, presumably because he knew what was happening.”

READ MORE: UK passport warning as hundreds of people lose out on holidaysREAD MORE: Wales green lights £33million tourist tax – how much you’ll pay

Penny also encountered problems at the airport when travelling home. She said: “Airport staff searched my handbag after it went through the security belt. When it came to retrieving it, the staff member refused to hand it over unless I paid him a fee.

“I told him repeatedly I had no more cash left and he said that I had to write down all my personal details and he would ‘find me.’ These details included address, passport number, age, email, phone number, etc. So I made up those details, grabbed my bag, and left.

“Going to the bathroom at the airport was a painful experience, with locals standing inside and withholding toilet paper and access to the sinks and hand dryers unless we tipped them. I’m an Amex credit card holder and have priority passes for airport lounges.

“We checked over seven times that lounge access was not subject to a fee, and a representative repeatedly confirmed that it would be free for passholders. When we got to the desk at the lounge, which was a considerable distance from where we were in the airport, they wanted to charge us $175 for access.”

One holidaymaker visiting a Spanish island admitted she ‘couldn’t wait to get home’ after heading there, as she shared a warning to other travellers in a video that’s gone viral

Most people look forward to their summer holiday all year after booking it. However, one holidaymaker visiting a Spanish island admitted she ‘couldn’t wait to get home’ after heading there, as she shared a warning to other travel fans.

Dannii, who is known on TikTok as @dannii_xo, took to her account to share her experience of visiting Playa Del Inglés in Gran Canaria with her 3,747 followers – and it wasn’t a very glowing review.

In her clip, Dannii can be seen filming herself while laying down as she looked glum. Overlay text read: “This is your sign to do your research before booking a holiday, we can’t wait to get home.”

The video clearly resonated with people as it went viral – racking up 29,000 likes and hundreds of comments. Many people admitted they’d had a similar experience in the area, as one person said: “We were there last week. First day was pure panic because we were in Playa Sel Inglés and went down to the beach and were like [crying emoji].

They added: “Catch a busy to Maspalomas, there’s lots of nice eating places. Bus to Puerto Rico and go to Amadores, the beach is so much nicer! And from Puerto Rico get the ferry to Mogán. It was honestly BEAUTIFUL!”

Another person added: “We had the same feeling,” while a third chimed in: “Yeah Playa is not the best at all, nothing there. Went down the Yumbo centre for a night out that was ok. Tenerife is my new go to!”

Someone else also claimed there was “nothing there”, but told Dannii to get the bus either way and “she’d be ok”.

Meanwhile, other people recommended she go to Puerto Rico or Meloneras and Maspalomas instead, however Dannii replied: “I don’t think I’ll be coming back because it’s really put me off, I love main Spain but this experience has been awful!”

Someone else reflected on how things had changed on the island, as they wrote: “That’s a shame because Gran Canaria used to be the place to be. Particularly Yumbo but we haven’t been in 4/5 years as people have been saying it’s getting worse.”

Despite a lot of people agreeing with Dannii, one person defended the area, writing: “Playa Del Ingles was literally one of my favourite vacations. So pretty. Some days just chilling at the pool or beach and other days going to see the nature. The dunes, the mountains.” While another simply said: “I love Gran Canaria.”

A third chimed in: “Playa Del Ingles? Mate. Get yourself to Sakura or Cafe Deutsche… El Chacho in Yumbo do amazing Mexican food. It isn’t as boring or bland as you think.”

Dannii later gave an update as she shared more insight to her holiday experience, writing: “FYI: I wasn’t talking about the whole island, just the town we’re staying in. The hotel’s awful, the locals have been incredibly rude for absolutely no reason, I can’t travel too far out as I’m with family members that are elderly and it’s too much for them.

“I did catch a bus to Puerto Rico which was beautiful and I’ve only booked one trip because everything is so pricey, I feel like I’m being scammed, inflation has increased massively which I get but my family came two years ago and the prices have doubled.”

Dannii’s post comes amid protests and demonstrations over mass tourism in the Canary Islands have taken place over the last year. Protestors took to the streets to demand limits on the impact of holidaymakers, claiming ‘tourism is killing the Canary Islands’.

Despite this, National Statistics Institute (NSI) figures showed the number of tourists visiting the Canary Islands has continued to grow, even with price hikes.

A new patio in the UK typically costs between £80-£150 per square meter, but it depends on the materials and layout.

So a typical homeowner could end up paying a few hundred, to thousands to get a new one.

Amy on Facebook didn’t have that kind of money to sort her patio out.

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Instead, she came up with a genius idea to transform her wonky slabs, into an area she would love.

Posting in the Facebook group Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget, she said: “On a very tight budget, I couldn’t stretch to funding a new patio.

“So, last year, I bought some ground covering seeds and planted them between some of my wonky pavers.

“I’m thrilled with how they now look but, the amount of bees that have been collecting the nectar from them is incredible. I’m so pleased.”

She added a photograph of the results, showing her wonky patio slabs covered with gorgeous purple, white and blue flowers.

As for what flowers she sowed, replying to a comment, Amy said: “Mixed ground cover,” and said it “will bring new life to your garden/patio”.

She “added a little sand to the compost” which she was advised to do so by her local garden centre because “the sand stabilises the wonky pavers”.

Her post has received 11,000 likes so far and hundreds of comments.

One replied: “I absolutely love this idea! I have a horrible concrete area that I cover with benches and pots! Also have an old paved area all sunken forever taking out the weeds in between! Thank you for the great idea x.”

Someone else wrote: “I think that looks lovely & far nicer than a new boring patio, it looks how nature would have intended it to look with plants tumbling out if cracks & crevices.”

One comment read: “It looks so pretty! Love your solution and how nice that it’s attracted pollinators too.”

Another said they make a great replacement for pesky weeds: “Oh I love this. I’m going to pulled out those weeds and put in seeds.”

Someone else was keen to know if any weeds grew amongst her flowers. They asked: “That looks lovely. Do you have any problems with weeds pushing through too?”

Amy replied: “I have had a couple yes, but by and large, the flowers are winning the ‘cosy’ and limited space.”

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How to grow flowers between your patio slabs

1. Clean the area

Remove any weeds or debris from the cracks between your patio slabs. A weeding tool or a stiff brush can help with this. 

Make sure the holes are at least six inches deep to help roots develop.

2. Fill with soil and compost

Use a mix of soil and compost to fill the cracks.

3. Choose your plants

Opt for low-growing, spreading plants that can tolerate foot traffic. 

Some good choices are: thyme, chamomile, creeping speedwell, dwarf mondo grass, daisies.

4. Plant

If using seeds, mix them with a little compost and sand and push them into the cracks. 

For plug plants, carefully remove and gently plant them into the cracks. Fill any surrounding gaps with compost.

5. Water

Water the seeds thoroughly and continue to water regularly, especially during dry spells, until the plants are established. 

June gardening jobs

The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the tasks you should take this month.

Stake out leggy perennials

With all the dramatic weather we’ve been having, it’s definitely time to stake out your leggy perennials (the ones that come back every year). Heavy rain and growth spurts, can make them collapse and flop.

Picking out the slugs and snails

Hopefully as we move into summer they  will do less damage as the plants get bigger.  The best way is still to go out at night with a head torch to find them. 

Pick elderflower heads

You can use them to make your own cordial, or add to cakes, champagne or even fry them in batter. 

Get on top of weeds

It’s around now that weeds really ramp up in the garden, so keep on top of them with hoe-ing – or just the traditional ‘on your knees with a hand fork’. Try and avoid chemicals – remember weeds are just plants in the wrong place. 

Up the mowing

You’ll need to mow your lawn weekly now – if you’ve got time, weed it beforehand as once you mow you chop off the leaves and its harder to see them. 

Check on your tomatoes

Your tomato plants will need attention – water, feed and regularly and pinch out the sideshoots. 

Chelsea Chop

There’s still time for the Chelsea Chop – plants like Rudbeckia’s, Asters, Penstemons, Sedums and other perennials can be cut back by a third to help them get a bit more bushy, and prolong the flowering period.

Sort out your tulips

If you can be bothered and have space – lift and story your tulip  bulbs to ensure colour next Spring. 

Deadheading your roses

Take them down to the first set of healthy leaves – which will ensure more flowers for longer. 

Enjoy your space

Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outside space – it’s great for your mental health. Even just a few minutes a day can make a big difference. 

British pensioners tell how they feel ‘lucky to be alive’ after escaping horrific blaze at their hotel during a holiday in Turkey. They didn’t think they would make it back to the UK in one piece

Daniel and Christine Steel, who are both nearly 70, had been enjoying a break at a five-star resort in Turkey when a terrifying fire broke out.

The pensioners were among six people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and Daniel said at one point during the nightmare, he phoned his daughter because he didn’t think they’d be coming home alive.

Daniel from Bradford told his local paper the Telegraph & Argus: “We feel lucky to be alive. We were woken up after hearing screams of ‘fire, fire’ and ‘help, help!’ Our room became dense with smoke – we couldn’t breathe.

READ MORE: ‘I was urged to go to hospital by workmates – it was the start of a nightmare’

“We were on the top floor and had to make a decision about what to do. Put it this way, if it wasn’t for the balcony, we wouldn’t be here now telling you this story. Below us was a 250ft drop and it was pitch black – all the electricity went off because of the fire.”

The couple climbed over the balcony rails onto a roof and held onto the rails for ‘dear life’. But pensioner Daniel pulled a nerve in his leg and is still in a lot of pain.

“Most of the hotel was evacuated but we came across some other guests who found themselves in the same position as us,” he continued. “At that point, there were 11 of us screaming for help. We were eventually rescued by firefighters after what felt like a lifetime.”

After leaving hospital, they were moved to alternative accommodation before later returning to the hotel to collect their belongings.

But Daniel said all their holiday things were ruined. And although the couple are glad to be back home, Christine is still struggling to forget about their hellish experience.

She added: “We keep reliving what happened – and thinking what might have happened if we hadn’t had a balcony. It was certainly a holiday from hell – but we’re grateful to be alive.”

READ MORE: £13 pop-up stool that folds into small bag is a must-have for Glastonbury goers

Cara was hoping to get a break in New York, but it won’t take her quite as long to get to her holiday ‘resort’

A student was left gutted after buying a Wowcher mystery holiday and discovering she’s paid to go to Edinburgh – the city where she lives. Cara Piper splashed out £129 on it and had high hopes for a weekend away in New York.

The 23-year-old opened an email from Wowcher and discovered the trip was to Edinburgh, the city where she’s lived for the past four years. “I saw the Wowcher master holiday on social media and impulsively decided to do it for a cheap holiday,” said Cara.

“I was honestly happy with anywhere as long as it wasn’t the UK. I opened it in Edinburgh because that’s where I’ve been living for the past four years.”

Cara, originally of Derry, Northern Ireland, filmed herself revealing where she was going to jet off to. In the clip, Cara shouts “no” as she discovers that she’s paid to go to the city where she goes to Queen Margaret University and studies education.

She said: “Me and Ethan decided last night to book a Wowcher mystery holiday. It’s £129 each if we want to go during the summer months. We want to go in July I think and we’re redeeming it right now.

“The only problem is, we have to travel from Belfast. We’re limited on where we can go. We don’t think it’s going to be New York or anything like that. We’re happy with anywhere. I’m nervous.”

Cara is on the phone with a friend as she anxiously opens the email from Wowcher. She said: “No, no, no, no. We got Edinburgh. I’m in Edinburgh right now. We did not just pay £130 each to go where I go to uni for the past four years.

“For f*cks sake. We can ring up and change, I think. I literally live here. I actually can’t believe that.

“I was saying if we got somewhere in the UK I’d be fuming. I’m going to see if I can change it.”

Cara shared the video on TikTok where it racked up more than 126,000 views. Morgan Mcsherry said: “I’m not joking, as soon as you said Wowcher I was like ‘they’re either getting Belfast or Edinburgh’“.

VIDEO CONTAINS LANGUAGE SOME MAY FIND OFFENSIVE

Claire Ferguson added: “I honestly would have ended it right at that minute. Devastated for you.”

Keisha Deane said: “This is heartbreaking.”

Another viewer added: “No, literally, out of everything I would be fuming. Bless you.”

A fifth person said: “Oh my God, I’d be raging.”

Anna MacAuley added: “I’m dying. What are the chances.”

FLORIAN WIRTZ reportedly chose Liverpool over Bayern Munich after being given an irresistible promise by Arne Slot.

The highly-rated German star was courted by both clubs but in the end the guarantee of the No10 role tipped the scales in the Reds’ favour.

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According to Caughtoffside, Wirtz revealed that the decision was ultimately made after Slot assured him he would be THE playmaker in his Liverpool team.

While Bayern offered him the prospect of competing in their world-class side, the path to regular first-team football was far from clear.

Jamal Musiala’s rapid rise at the Allianz Arena and the presence of more established players such as Joshua Kimmich meant that Wirtz would have had to fight for his place in the midfield.

But at Liverpool, it is a different story – he would be the main man at Anfield.

The creative hub of the team, controlling the game from midfield and leading Liverpool’s attack.

Slot promised Wirtz full control of the No10 role, a position that would be his alone.

This clear-cut offer of a starring role was a far cry from the uncertainty Bayern offered.

In the end Wirtz made his choice opting for the chance to be Liverpool’s attacking leader.

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The fact that Liverpool have won the Premier League in Slot’s first season is also contributing factor as it has highlighted the manager’s ability to bring the best out of young players.

The Dutch manager has been able to get the best out of both old and new faces with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk enjoying stellar campaign as well as Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo

How close are Liverpool to a deal?

The Premier League champions have submitted a second improved bid for the Germany midfielder.

Liverpool’s latest offer for the 22-year-old is about £109m, including add-ons.

Wirtz is a key target for the Merseyside club and has made his wishes clear about wanting to join Liverpool before next season.

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Staycee Dains was about a month into her job overseeing the Los Angeles city animal shelters when an employee openly defied her.

Dains asked the employee to clean a kennel. Instead, the employee picked up a hose and sprayed a dog in the face, Dains said.

Dains thought the employee should be fired, but she said the city’s personnel department recommended five days of leave.

Mayor Karen Bass hired Dains in June 2023 after promising to make L.A. “a national model for animal welfare” by turning around its troubled shelters, where dogs may live in overcrowded and dirty kennels and volunteers have complained that animals sometimes don’t get food and water.

But in an interview with The Times, Dains said she felt powerless to solve entrenched problems that included severe understaffing and employees who mistreated or neglected animals.

She said she was repeatedly told by the personnel department, which functions like a human resources department at a private company, that she couldn’t fire problem employees. She also clashed with one of the unions that represents shelter employees.

At one point, Dains even reached out to L.A. County prosecutors for help.

Meanwhile, as the overcrowding worsened, more dogs and cats were euthanized in city shelters under her watch than in the preceding years.

“We need to tell the unfiltered, unvarnished truth about what is happening in the shelters,” Dains said.

In August, after a little more than a year as Animal Services general manager, Dains went on paid leave. A few days later, a top Bass advisor told Dains that her last day would be Nov. 30 and that she was free to resign before then.

Zach Seidl, a Bass spokesperson, pushed back on Dains’ accusations.

“Many of these characterizations are misleading and some are just plain inaccurate,” he said in an email.

Dains, in a series of interviews, said the city does not provide enough funding to meet the basic needs of the animals in its six shelters.

During Bass’ first year in office, amid critical reporting by The Times and others about conditions in the shelters, the mayor offered an 18% budget increase — far less than the 56% the Animal Services department had requested. The following fiscal year, her budget proposal slightly lowered the department’s funding.

Last week, in passing a budget that closed a nearly $1-billion shortfall, the City Council spared Animal Services from major cuts.

Dains, who previously held top shelter jobs in San José and Long Beach, said her employees were desensitized to the suffering of the animals after witnessing it day after day. The understaffing was so bad that three people were responsible for 500 dogs: cleaning kennels, setting up adoptions and working with the medical team, she said.

“I couldn’t sleep knowing that animals were just in those hellholes suffering,” said Dains, who now works at a shelter system in Sacramento. “It was awful.”

Dains, who made about $273,000 a year in L.A., said she witnessed some of her employees “terrorizing” dogs by banging on their kennels, or spraying them with water to move them back. She told the employees to stop the behavior, but some said they had been trained to treat the dogs that way, she said.

To ensure that animals were fed and their enclosures cleaned, Dains suggested starting a schedule that tracked when each task was done. But a union representative worried that the information could be used to punish employees, Dains said.

Ultimately, Dains said, she dropped the proposal because of the opposition from the union, Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 300. A representative from the union declined to comment.

Dain said that personal entanglements and gossip among employees sometimes made it hard to hold them accountable.

Some supervisors had had sexual relationships with their subordinates, which led them to overlook the employees’ poor work performance, according to Dains. Others used the “dirt” they had on co-workers to protest when confronted about their own behavior, she said.

Dains said she suspected that some employees were sleeping during night shifts instead of cleaning cages or doing paperwork. She showed The Times a photo of dog beds arranged on the floor of a staff room like a “nest.”

She said she also witnessed employees watching videos on their phones, rather than working. Others ignored people who walked into the shelter looking to adopt a pet, she said. Some employees told her that colleagues failed to give food or water to cats and dogs.

At the same time, Dains said, other employees went “above and beyond constantly” to make up for those who didn’t pull their weight.

“There’s a significant portion of staff that just aren’t doing their jobs,” she said. “I saw this constantly.”

Dains put some of the blame on supervisors, who were “not requiring them to perform.”

When she tried to discipline supervisors, she faced pushback, she said.

After she put a supervisor on leave who was accused of bullying people, Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 300 filed a grievance against her, Dains said.

A spokesperson for the personnel department declined to comment.

At the same time, Dains acknowledged that she should have been tougher on some of the assistant general managers who reported directly to her. But she said she wanted to maintain working relationships with them.

It is a “tricky thing to do to start writing up executive-level managers that you are trying to work with,” she said.

A shelter employee, who requested anonymity because he didn’t have permission to talk to the media, agreed with Dains’ assessment.

“There’s no accountability, there’s no repercussions,” he said. “And the staff who do work have to work twice as hard.”

A report last year by Best Friends Animal Society, which highlighted the poor conditions in the shelters and suggested possible solutions, criticized Dains as the “biggest barrier” to improvement.

The shelters lacked written protocols, and the euthanasia policy “changed five times in the last year” without communication about the changes, the report said.

According to a Times analysis, the number of dogs euthanized at city shelters from January through September last year increased 72% compared with the same period the previous year. The number of dogs entering the shelters increased each year since 2022, but the number put to death far outpaced the population gain.

In the crowded conditions, animals started behaving poorly and suffered “mental and emotional breakdown,” according to the Best Friends report. That made them less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized.

Dains, in her interview with The Times, defended her euthanasia decisions, arguing that it wasn’t safe for the animals, staff, volunteers or the public to “warehouse” dogs in kennels for months or years.

She said that there was no euthanasia policy when she arrived and that the department was creating one during her tenure.

Bass was Dains’ boss, but Dains’ main contact was Jacqueline Hamilton, deputy mayor of neighborhood services. Dains said she spoke often with Hamilton and told her about the personnel problems and other issues. But Hamilton didn’t offer any meaningful help and didn’t want her to publicize the poor conditions at the shelters, Dains said.

“I am not getting any movement or traction,” Dains told The Times, describing her work experience.

Seidl, the Bass spokesperson, said Dains “was given support to succeed, including assistance in communicating the status of the department to the public and decision makers.”

Dains said that shortly after she became general manager, she asked Deputy Dist. Atty. Kimberly Abourezk, who worked on animal cruelty cases, to send a letter to the mayor about poor conditions at the shelters.

Venusse D. Dunn, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, said Abourezk didn’t send the letter because she visited city animal shelters and didn’t find evidence of any crimes.

The office “is not in a position to tell another agency how to operate their facility,” Dunn said.

Annette Ramirez, a longtime Animal Services staffer, is now interim general manager. The “severe overcrowding crisis,” as the department described it in news release this month, continues.

Most of us have been sunburnt, however one holidaymaker suffered an extreme reaction to ‘sun poisoning’, leaving her family members referring to her as ET. She is speaking up about her experience to warn others of the risks of sun exposure

Sunshine, Caribbean heat and cocktails – that’s what Ashlei Bianchi expected from her family getaway. But just two days in, her dream holiday quickly turned into a nightmare.

The 23-year-old had spent the afternoon soaking up the scorching Punta Cana sun while chilling by the pool with family. But hours later, she noticed a strange change – her forehead and head were swollen.

She’d used protection and assumed it was just a mild reaction to the heat – nothing to stress over. “I did use sunscreen, but I still got a little red, which was going to happen either way since I’m not used to the sun down there, and we were in the pool all day,” she said.

Trying to nip it in the bud, Ashlei wiped her face with aloe vera gel and hoped it would clear up naturally. “My face started getting worse, and that’s when the swelling on and under my eyes happened.”

By the final morning of the trip, one of her eyes was completely swollen shut – and things got even more alarming when she phoned her mum. “I FaceTimed my mom, and she said I didn’t even look like myself, then the family I went with said I looked like E.T.”

If her own mum couldn’t recognise her – how would she get through customs? “I had to go on my flight and go through customs looking not like myself, and I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to get back home. I’m so thankful I made it through,” she said.

“I wore my sunglasses the whole trip home, even when it was dark out, because I was so embarrassed.” And it wasn’t just her appearance drawing reactions, “When I went to the pharmacy, the lady working had wide eyes and went, ‘Oh my.’ Then, when I went through customs in Boston, the guy was like, ‘Too much sun?’ and I was like, ‘Yep!’”

Ashlei stopped at a Dominican airport pharmacy and picked up anti-inflammatory medication. While still abroad, she reached out to her doctor, who prescribed her an oral steroid but she couldn’t begin the course until landing back in New York on March 25.

It took four full days of steroids for her face to finally return to normal.

“My doctor wasn’t sure if it was sun poisoning, but I work at a hospital and asked a rheumatologist. She said it was sun poisoning, so that’s what I have been telling people it is.” she said

Now fully recovered, Ashlei is speaking out to warn others about how dangerous sun exposure can be – even when you use protection. “I would say the dangers of sun exposure are real. I’m lucky my sun poisoning affected my face and not anything else, and I had no symptoms besides swelling.”

“It’s very important to use your sunscreen and wear hats. I think that’s where I went wrong. I really should have had something besides sunscreen protecting my face.”

“But all in all, the sun is no joke, especially in the Caribbean where it’s much more potent.”

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