Summer heatwaves are on the way, with temperatures predicted to jump into the mid-twenties this weekend and beyond. As lovely as this sounds though, as many of us have experienced year after year, sleeping in the heat can be challenging. So, why is sleeping harder when it’s hot? “Our bodies need to cool down in order to sleep” explains Theresa Schnorbach, psychologist and Emma sleep scientist. “As everyone’s bodies are acclimatised to different environments, there’s no hard and fast rule as to what temperature your bedroom should be, but it is recommended that your sleep environment be comfortably cool – usually this means between 15.5-19°C. If we are too warm, our core temperature is unable to drop, making it more difficult to fall asleep and causing sleep disturbances,” Schnorbach adds. So, how can you boost your sleep quality during summer heatwaves? 1. Ventilate wisely “Firstly, you should look to keep windows and curtains closed during the day to help keep your bedroom cool,” suggests Schnorbach. “During the night, you can open your windows and curtains to allow a fresh breeze in. A fan can also help to keep cool air circulating throughout the night, and the white noise produced by this can also have the added benefit of helping you to drift off.” Of course, only leave windows open if it’s safe and secure to do so. If that’s not an option, vents and fans may be your best friend for summer slumber! 2. Change your bedding if necessary “It’s also worth thinking about your mattress and bedding materials in warmer weather. Mattresses with open coil systems, for example, can allow air to circulate throughout,” says Schnorbach. “If you’re not looking to replace your whole mattress, a mattress topper can be a great alternative. When made from the right material, mattress toppers can keep you fresh and cool throughout the night by providing another breathable layer on top of your mattress, helping to regulate your body’s temperature and give you a comfortable sleep.” 3. Consider your pulse points It can be extremely frustrating when you’re tossing and turning due to over-heating. There may be additional steps you can take to boost that cool-down effect. “Utilise your body’s pulse points – areas where your blood flows closest to the surface of your skin, such as your wrists or the sides of your neck. Wrap an ice pack in a cloth or a towel – never apply ice directly to your skin – hold it against these pulse points to help you quickly cool off,” Schnorbach suggests. “Similarly, you can also use a hot-water bottle filled with cold water, a cool, damp flannel, or try splashing cold water on these pulse points. Your body’s blood vessels will react to the cool sensation and instantly bring your core temperature down. However, avoid your feet and hands, as this can prevent you from falling asleep.” 4. Take a lukewarm shower “While a freezing cold shower before bed may be what you’re craving to help beat the heat, I suggest opting for one that is lukewarm instead,” adds Schnorbach. “A shower that is too cold will actually cause the body to warm up again to re-balance the body temperature.” 5. Go nude or wear cotton “If you’re someone that can’t sleep without some kind of clothing on, wearing pyjamas of natural cotton is your best bet, as the material actually helps your skin breathe while absorbing your sweat during the night,” Schnorbach explains. 6. Munch on sleep-supporting fruits “A summer fruit that’s usually plentiful in the warmer months, cherries help to increase melatonin – a hormone that helps in promoting sleep. By producing more melatonin, your body can help better regulate its internal clock and you can doze off more easily at night,” Schnorbach explains. “Bananas are another fruit that can also help aid sleep. Bananas have high levels of magnesium and potassium, which can help to increase your sleep duration and promote relaxation.” 7. Have a cuddle And Schnorbach’s final tip? Have a snuggle. She says: “While it may feel counterintuitive, a cuddle before bed can help in reducing your core temperature by encouraging your blood vessels to dilate, thus losing excessive body heat.”

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The owner of a Chinese takeaway has become an internet icon for her fiery responses to disgruntled customers. Alice Cheung, the boss of Oriental Express restaurant in Pudsey, West Yorkshire has garnered 149 reviews on Just Eat – and she’s made a point of personally replying to every negative one. While most customers award the eatery five or six stars, Cheung refuses to pander to the complaints of some of the “sillier” reviews, she told Leeds Live. So when one woman complained that the food was “terrible”, she was having none of it. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter “You ordered a Vegetarian Munch Box and then called the shop to complain there was no MEAT in it,” Cheung wrote back. “We sent what you ordered and there was nothing wrong with it. The bad review is to cover your error,” she continued, before ending the response: “Please do not call again.” Another reviewer moaned that her meal was “not good, soggy and old” and that she “threw most of it away,” before condemning it for being much more expensive than her regular takeaway. Cheung, or rather Oriental Express, replied: “I suggest you stay with the other takeaway and take your false review with you.” Responding to a one-star reviewer, whose full comment has been deleted, Cheung wrote: “What sort of idiot orders ‘Salt & Pepper Chicken’ and then complains it has salt in it, our delivery record shows it was NOT late and it was NOT cold. “A fake review and derogatory too. Take your foul mouth and business somewhere else.” Another critic – who offered the restaurant a similarly measly two stars out of six – said her meal had been “totally ruined” by “small pieces of battered dry chicken mixed in with battered prawns.” The furious response read: “Will you please open your eyes and read the descriptions, you ordered the ‘Special sweet and sour’ which contains king prawns. You got what you ordered so how is this our fault? “The food was fresh and perfectly cooked. We are good but mind reading the stupid is not one of our skills.” Another two-star reviewer failed to write a justification for his low score. So Cheung replied sardonically: “Thank you Kyle, whay? Too much food, too hot, too tasty, delivered too quickly?” Speaking to Leeds Live, Cheung defended her tough tactics: “If you’re writing a review just be honest about the situation,” she said. "If we messed up, we’ll reply seriously. If not, expect some banter.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

It’s a tale as old as time: The moment the sun is high in the sky, we want our hair to look suitably sun-kissed. It could be something minimal like the trending “Scandi hairline” trick (a bleaching technique that brightens the baby hairs around the face) or something like “glow lights” (varying tones of blonde that add a natural luminescence to the hair). Wherever you land, the association between warmer weather and lighter blonde remains steadfast.