How to shop for ‘fine’ wines without breaking the bank

Lambson’s Connect the Dots Blended Syrah 2021, 13.5%, Lay & Wheeler, £21.81 But top of my list these days, when it comes to South Africa, is chenin blanc. I don’t buy it as an alternative to chenin blanc from the Loire, though. I love the glittering thrust and nervosity of acidity of Loire chenin blanc, […]

How to explore the ‘lost’ waterways of the Midlands

You should never be in a hurry on the canals. I had nowhere particular to be before nightfall, as long as it offered a pleasant rural view and relative peace. In the end I moored not far above the locks, the M1 a white noise in the background, with a view of fields and oak […]

How to stack your fridge and make food last longer

How to organise your fridge Have a clear-out Pick a day when your fridge is looking sparse and start with a good clear out, checking use-by dates and looking under lids for signs of mould. Whether food is still safe to eat once mould has appeared depends on the food – for example, if a hard […]

How to avoid being a victim of crime, by the world’s top security expert

Kate Bright pickpocketed her friend on a Tube escalator recently, just to see how long it would take her to notice.  “She couldn’t believe how easy it was for me to do it,” says Bright.  Six-foot, blonde and the founder of Umbra International, Bright is one of the 6.8 per cent of women out of […]

How to talk to your children about sex

Almost every parent will inevitably have faced the question about ‘where babies come from’ from their child. So if, like me, you were given very little in the way of sex education when you were a child, it can be a little daunting to know where to start. However, doing it sooner rather than later […]

How to eat ham without it damaging your health

Ham sandwiches are a favourite for a reason. They’re simple, cheap and a crowd-pleaser.  But they may pose a risk for our health. A study from Cambridge University this week found that eating 50g of processed meat per day – the equivalent of two thick slices of ham – raises the risk of developing Type 2 […]

The health benefits of seeds and how to add them to your diet

Few would argue with the oft-repeated health advice to eat more nuts and seeds, and while grabbing a handful of nuts is an easy snack, seeds are often overlooked. Even science is guilty of this. A 2022 review called for more nutritional research to be focused on seeds to understand their unique health benefits, because […]

How to keep Taylor Swift safe

Taylor Swift’s fame and fortune – 14 Grammys, a record-breaking tour, the first musician to reach billionaire status solely from her music – make her a possible target for anyone from ambitious criminals to deranged extremists. She has endured multiple stalkers and crazed fans over the years and her security has resorted to controversial methods […]