DEAR DEIDRE: I’M convinced my girlfriend sleeps with her ex whenever she goes to stay with her dad.

She denies it, saying she no longer loves him, but I know her dad wants them to get back together.

I’m 30 and she’s 27. We’ve been together for two years.

Before we met, she had a long relationship with a guy she met at school. 

Her father liked him so much that he became part of the family. He offered him a job in his family’s shop, and even let him live with his daughter at his house.

When my girlfriend split up with him, her dad said her ex didn’t have to leave, but could become his lodger.

This means that whenever my girlfriend goes to visit her dad, her ex is still hanging around. 

I know he wants her back because after we got together he besieged her with messages. 

She assured me she wasn’t interested, but I found it hard to believe her. They had so much history.

What’s more, her dad isn’t very nice to me. He thinks the ex is wonderful, and that I don’t measure up.

A couple of weekends ago, my girlfriend went to see her dad. 

Ever since she came back, she’s been on her phone a lot, messaging someone, even in the early hours.

I asked her who she was talking to and she said she was helping a friend in distress.

But I am so suspicious that she’s actually talking to her ex, and that they got closer when she went to stay.

I’m finding it so hard to trust her. What should I do?

DEIDRE SAYS: This is an unusual situation, and it’s not surprising you’re feeling insecure.

But you need to remind yourself that despite her dad’s fondness for her ex, your girlfriend has chosen to be with you, not him.

It must be tricky for her to have to have him hanging around like a bad smell whenever she visits her dad, especially if he wants her back. 

The only way to get over this is to communicate with her about your feelings, let her know you are worried, so she can reassure you. 

When you talk, if she gives you no reason to worry, you need to learn to trust her.

My support pack, Looking After Your Relationship, should help you both.

Perhaps you could invite her dad down to stay with you next time, so he can start to appreciate your relationship on your turf.

SNOOKER is back and while it’s not quite the Masters, the world’s top players are in Leicester for the Championship League – but Ronnie O’Sullivan is struggling badly.

O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson are among the snooker stars in action for the non-ranking event.

The Championship League is a non-ranking event and has a small prize pot but players see it as the perfect warm-up after the Christmas break.

• TV channel: Not shown on UK TV
• FREE live stream: Matchroom Sport YouTube

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YOUR iPhone has four easy-to-miss modes with a dizzying array of perks – from boosting battery life to upgrading your bedroom.

I’m The Sun’s tech expert, Sean Keach, and I’ve got all the details on how to unlock each one on your iPhone.

Apple / The Sun

Your iPhone has some powerful modes that you might’ve missed[/caption]

The Sun

Low Power Mode is a great way to instantly boost your iPhone’s battery life[/caption]

‘Yellow Mode’

The first one is easy and tremendously useful if you regularly struggle with battery life.

It’s a special mode that massively extends your charge – and turns your battery icon yellow to show that it’s working.

The effect takes place instantly, making it a valuable tool if you’re far from a charger.

Its official name is Low Power Mode, and it’ll limit performance and certain features to save on battery life.

 “Low Power Mode reduces the amount of power that your iPhone or iPad uses when the battery gets low,” Apple explains.

“Low Power Mode temporarily reduces background activity like downloads and mail fetch until you can fully charge your iPhone.”

Some features might take loner to update or complete – and others might not work at all.

The official list of what Low Power Mode might affect includes:

• 5G (except for video streaming) on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models
• Auto-Lock (defaults to 30 seconds)
• Display brightness
• Display refresh rate (limited up to 60 Hz) on iPhone and iPad models with ProMotion display
• Some visual effects
• iCloud Photos (temporarily paused)
• Automatic downloads
• Email fetch
• Background app refresh

To turn it on, just go into Settings > Battery and then hit the Low Power Mode toggle.

You can also add it to your Control Centre (the quick settings unlocked by swiping down from the top right – or up from the bottom on a Home Button iPhone) by customising it.

And if you don’t like either of those options, you can also just ask Siri.

Your iPhone should prompt you to activate Low Power Mode if your battery drops to 20% anyway.

And it will also deactivate automatically once your iPhone gets back up to 80% charge.

The Sun

You can also turn Low Power Mode on through the Control Centre[/caption]

Look for your iPhone’s battery icon returning to its normal colour to make sure that it’s off.

Extreme Lockdown

Another handy feature to know about is Lockdown Mode.

It’s described as an “extreme protection” mode that Apple says “hardens your iPhone from a cyberattack”.

The feature was added in 2022 with the iOS 16 update and is totally free – although even Apple admits that it’s so powerful “most people” won’t ever need to turn it on.

The Sun

Lockdown Mode is a powerful way to prevent cyberattacks[/caption]

“Lockdown Mode is optional and should be used only if you believe you might be targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack,” Apple says.

“Such as by a private company developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.

“Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”

It makes a number of changes to how your iPhone works.

The Sun

You can find Lockdown Mode in the Security section of your iPhone Settings app[/caption]

For example, most message attachment types will be blocked – and links and their previews in texts won’t work either.

Some websites will stop loading properly, and FaceTime calls will be blocked unless you’ve called that person before.

Your iPhone won’t automatically join “non-secure” Wi-Fi networks, and location info will be removed from any photos that you share.

The list of features that Lockdown Mode affects includes:

• Messages
• Web browsing
• FaceTime
• Apple services
• Photos
• Device connections
• Wireless connectivity
• Configuration profiles

And all of these features will stop working:

• SharePlay
• Shared Albums
• FaceTime Live Photos
• FaceTime Continuity Handoff

If you feel like you do need to turn Lockdown Mode on, it’s very easy.

The Sun

Lockdown Mode affects several features on your iPhone[/caption]

Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode, and then follow the prompts to switch it on.

Keep in mind that your iPhone will need to restart to activate Lockdown Mode.

‘Red Mode’

If you liked “yellow mode” then you’ll love “red mode”.

It’s a featured called StandBy that turns your iPhone into a useful bit of furniture.

Apple

StandBy turns your iPhone into a useful display that serves a purpose even when you’re not holding it[/caption]

“You can use StandBy to turn your iPhone into a bedside clock, a photo frame, a display for viewing widgets or Live Activities in full screen, and more,” Apple explains.

You might not have seen it as it was only added with iOS 17 in 2023 – and triggering it requires an odd process.

Go to Settings > StandBy and make sure that it’s turned on.

Then connect your iPhone to a charge and set it down on its long side (so the screen is landscape).

If the phone isn’t properly standing or connected (or it’s moving) then it won’t work.

Press the side button and StandBy should activate.

It’ll also work if you have a fancy MagSafe wireless charger that lets your iPhone “float” in a landscape position – like these clever iPhone chargers.

You can customise it very easily just be swiping up and down or left to right.

The Sun

StandBy can be toggled on in Settings, and then activated by laying the iPhone on its side while it’s charging[/caption]

It’s a better experience if you’ve got an Always-On iPhone model where the screen can stay active. Those models include:

• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max

For other iPhones, you’ll need to activate StandBy by tapping the screen, or nudging the surface that the iPhone is on.

So why is it “red mode”?

Well if you’re using it at night – and you really should – then the iPhone screen will turn red.

“When Night Mode is turned on for StandBy, the screen adapts to low ambient light at night,” Apple explains.

“And displays items with a red tint so that it’s not intrusive while you’re sleeping.”

Clever!

Apple

If you use StandBy in the dark, the screen will tint to a comfortable red[/caption]

Stolen Phone Protection

The last entry on this list is Stolen Device Protection, which is meant to hinder phone-snatching thieves.

Specifically, it’s meant to protect you from pilferers who have seen you type in your iPhone password.

“You can use Stolen Device Protection to protect against the rare instance when someone has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode,” Apple said.

“Stolen Device Protection prevents the person from performing critical device and Apple Account operations (like changing your device passcode or Apple Account password).

The Sun

Stolen Device Protection is a must-have if you’re worried about phone-snatchers[/caption]

“It does this by requiring biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID. There is no passcode to fall back on.”

It’s a location-based feature that is meant to kick in when you’re away from familiar locations like your home and work.

So if someone steals your device while you’re out, they can’t make any “critical” changes.

That means they’ll need to use Face ID or Touch ID rather than a passcode to access your stored passwords or credit cards.

There’s also a Security Delay that means you’ll have to wait an hour to change your Apple Account password – performing a second Face ID or Touch ID scan to make it happen.

That way, someone can’t steal your phone, unlock it with your face or finger on the spot, then run off and change the passcode.

They’d need to stay with you for an entire hour to reset your Apple Account password.

“In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” Apple explains.

The Sun

Toggle Stolen Device Protection on in Settings to activate it[/caption]

This change normally won’t kick in if you’re at home or work – although you can set it up to happen anywhere, if you prefer.

To use it, make sure that your Apple Account has two-factor authentication turned on.

You’ll also need:

• An iPhone passcode
• Face ID or Touch ID
• Significant Locations turned on in the Location Services part of your Settings
• Find My switched on

The Sun

You can edit the feature to make it so Security Delay works at all locations – not just familiar ones[/caption]

Then just go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode to turn Stolen Device Protection on.

You can tweak the setting as you prefer.

IT’S one of life’s greatest mysteries: the infamous sock saga. 

Every time you do a load of laundry, it feels like a sock has mysteriously vanished into thin air. 

Getty

Many people are all too familiar with the frustration of constantly losing socks[/caption]

Getty

No matter how careful you are, it always seems like a sock is destined to go missing[/caption]

But one homeowner may have finally solved the case.

Brittany Spurlock was astonished when her husband discovered the unexpected hiding spot for their missing socks. 

Posting on TikTok under the handle @brittanyspurlock627, she shared a video of the surprising find, revealing a collection of socks that “almost all have a pair.” 

She captioned it: “When my husband called me in to show me this, I couldn’t believe it. 

“We have a pile of missing socks that almost all have a pair.”

In the video, her husband is seen carefully using the end of a knife to slide through a slight gap at the top backside of the washing machine. 

He taps it in, causing the back of the washing machine to clip off. 

Once he has done this, he pulls the back down to get a clear view inside the machine – and there, he found 28 missing socks.

The couple add: “If your socks have gone missing and you’ve been wondering where they’ve been. Check your washer.” 

The area in which the socks were found is called the agitator, and it is a known place that people tend to lose their socks, according to Lake Appliance Repair. 

The agitator is the spinning part of the washing machine that helps clean your clothes.

If a sock gets stuck in it, it can be hard to spot and might go missing.

Socks can also often go missing between the inner and outer tubs of the washing machine, especially when the washer is overloaded.

Brittany’s video was a gamechanger for many people on TikTok as it got over 362,000 likes. 

tiktok.com/@brittanyspurlock627

He separated the back side of the washing machine to open it up[/caption]

Many also rushed to the comments section to share their thoughts. 

One wrote: “That’s crazy! Now we know.”

To which Brittany replied: “Yes girl! Years of socks under there.”

Another joked: “Noooooooo are you serious?! I was convinced it was that old man from Halloween town?!”

Whilst a third said: “No way so my socks don’t actually just disappear.”

tiktok.com/@brittanyspurlock627

The couple found 28 hidden socks inside the washing machine[/caption]

The House bill authorizes the DOJ block grants only for states and localities that allow judges "to consider the danger an individual poses to the community when determining bail or pretrial release conditions."

Nicole Kidman referenced the infamous milk scene in "Babygirl" at the 2025 National Board of Review Awards Gala.

  Часто ми вступаємо у відносини, щоб приховати невпевненість у собі або заповнити внутрішню порожнечу. Порожнеча при цьому залишається, а ми у відносинах перетворюємося на залежного партнера. У чому різниця між «потребувати» і «кохати»? Потреба у чоловікові виникає, коли ми перебуваємо у стані відчаю Бажання або кохання до чоловіка виникає із стану наповненості і сили. […]

0 У всьому винен фабінг — звичка відволікатися на безцільний скролінг стрічки під час будь-яких, навіть найінтимніших справ. Начебто “розумні” телефони мали з’єднувати людей, полегшувати їхню комунікацію. Ми повинні були навчитися домовлятися про зустрічі та важливі справи, використовуючи чати та швидкі повідомлення. Але вийшло те, що вийшло: тепер ми під час реальних зустрічей домовляємось «списатись […]

DEAR DEIDRE: HAVING a hairy back and shoulders is making me feel so self-conscious that I now avoid meeting women. 

I feel more  like a gorilla than a man. Is there any medication I could take to get rid of it?

I’m a 35-year-old man and started growing back hair in my late 20s. 

As I have fair skin and black hair, it’s really noticeable.

But it’s impossible to shave off myself. 

Chest hair is one thing, but people always joke about hairy backs, making it clear they’re seen as unattractive. 

And good-looking men invariably have hairless chests and backs. 

After being teased mercilessly by some mates, I no longer want to take my shirt off. I’ve stopped going swimming or to the gym. 

As for dating, I feel too shy to get undressed in front of a woman in case she is repulsed. 

So I’ve given up on that too. 

Can the doctor help me? It’s spoiling my life. 

DEIDRE SAYS: Having a hairy back and shoulders is very common in some ethnicities, and runs in families.

Unless you have extreme hair growth all over your body – a very rare condition called Hypertrichosis – there’s nothing you can do medically. 

Try not to let it get you down. Lots of women actually like hirsute men, and see it as a very masculine trait.

But if you can’t embrace your hair, there are various hair removal treatments available, from waxing to lasers – although they can be costly and painful.

See my support pack, Unwanted Hair for more.  

DEAR DEIDRE: MY long-term partner has moved into the spare bedroom because he’s fallen out of love with me. 

He now only sees me as a friend and wants to split, but I don’t understand what I’ve done to make him give up on our relationship.

I’m 36 and he’s 40. We’ve been together for 12 years.

I thought we were so happy and that we’d grow old together. 

Everybody saw us as the perfect couple. We’ve never even had an argument!

There were no signs anything was wrong. We’ve been having sex, talking, laughing, going out – like normal.

So when he suddenly announced that he wasn’t happy and it was over, even though I’d always be his best friend, I was totally blindsided. 

He cried and said it wasn’t what he wanted either, and it was destroying him, but we had to break up.

Afterwards, he held me, and we made love one last time. But it didn’t change his mind.

Now he’s planning to move out into his own flat. I am so confused and I still love him so much. 

I know I need to let him go, but I don’t know how. I don’t want to be alone. 

I never understood why he loved me, as I’m so fat and ugly. Now it feels like I was right all along, and he was too good for me.

DEIDRE SAYS: The sudden end of a long-relationship is devastating, especially if you didn’t see it coming.

It’s like a death –  you’re grieving for what you’ve lost and the future you anticipated. 

Your partner either doesn’t understand why he’s ended your relationship, or doesn’t want to hurt you more by telling you.

But you need closure. 

Perhaps he would agree to some relationship counselling, where you can talk honestly in a safe space.

See my support pack, How Counselling Can Help.

Also read Mending a Broken Heart and Raising Self-Esteem, as it sounds like your confidence is low.