WEIRD STUFF

Brits blow holiday days on chores

Brits are wasting several days of precious annual leave just to mow the lawn, sit in waiting rooms, and tackle the dreaded "life admin".

New research has revealed that the staggering nine-figure number of days off are being used up every year on mundane chores -- working out at around six days per person spent doing anything but relaxing.

Despite carefully plotting time-off months in advance, 66 per cent of Brits admit that they use their holiday allowance for things like doctors' appointments, gardening, and visiting relatives rather than actually switching off or heading abroad.

Six in 10 say they feel like they need another day off after using leave to tick items off a to-do list while 27 per cent confess that they have effectively thrown away their entire allowance.

Altogether, that adds up to a full month of the year spent doing things British workers would rather avoid instead of lying on a sun lounger with a cocktail in hand.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, 80 per cent regret how they have used their annual leave.

The most common reasons for booking time off include resting at home (33 per cent), spending time with family or a partner (31 per cent), having personal time with no plans (21 per cent), and visiting relatives (21 per cent).

Meanwhile, 14 per cent are using leave to recover from burnout, 10 per cent for DIY, nine per cent for decluttering, and eight per cent for dreaded "life admin".

The research, commissioned by holiday firm On the Beach, has prompted experts to urge Brits to stop sacrificing holidays to everyday chores.

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Singer Jenny Lewis has officially tied the knot -- and the groom has four legs, a wet nose, and zero concept of anniversaries.

The former child star, singer-songwriter, and actress celebrated turning 50 by marrying her beloved black cockapoo, Bobby Rhubarb, in a tongue-in-cheek ceremony that instantly sent social media into meltdown.

Sharing four Polaroid snaps on X, the Rilo Kiley frontwoman wrote: "I married my dog for my 50th birthday... BLESS!"

Three of the pictures show Lewis in a full bridal gown while the final snap features Rhubarb -- who Lewis wrote 2021 track Puppy and a Truck about -- sitting dutifully beside her as she faces away from the camera in her wedding dress. Because what's a wedding without a loyal plus-one?

Also pictured were two rainbow-coloured cakes -- one marked "JL50" and another boldly declaring: "For BETTER or for WORSE I do!"

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