A chilly Saturday morning on the Astroturf pitches at Coram’s Fields in central London and several youth football matches are under way. I’m watching an under-11s game. The sound is the thud of boot on ball, the shrill interruption of the referee’s whistle, and a whole lot of shouting. From the players (“Mine!”, “Here!”, “Pass!”, … Read more
Smartphones contain the entirety of our modern lives, from photos, messages and memories to credit cards, bank accounts and all life admin, so when one gets lost or stolen it can be far worse than the cost of the actual handset. Here’s what to do if the worst happens. Quickly taking these steps will help … Read more
Lunchtime in Copenhagen, Denmark. The place is packed and staff are talking customers through the menu. Would we like the slow-roasted pork with pearl barley and mushrooms? How about the rye pancakes with salmon, cream cheese and avocado? I decide on the beetroot tartare with horseradish and rye toasts, and a spelt side salad. This … Read more
High on the ridges of the Pennines, somewhere between the waters of Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales and Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders, a 31-year-old woman stands amid a group of mainly male walkers. She’s wearing bell-bottom jeans, a fitted long-sleeve top and an Alice band to keep her hair out of her … Read more
Gather round, faithful quizzers, for another adventure is at hand. Dare you tackle our 15 questions on topical news, general knowledge and pop culture trivia? If you do, you will be excited to find you are being treated to a brand new regular feature. The quiz is also, as ever, littered with a few silly … Read more
A grey pube. There was no denying it. If I hadn’t been contorted into what felt like an advanced yoga position trying to do up fiddly press studs on the crotch of the teddy I was wearing to a party, I would never have seen it. The party was for a novel I had written … Read more
Did you know Popeye the Sailor Man was a wellness influencer? When the US needed a Depression-era population, depleted of iron and coin, to eat meat-free, they turned to everyone’s favourite monochrome superhero. As Popeye downed tins of spinach, up went sales; canned spinach experienced a 30% increase, becoming a top-three food for US kids, … Read more
Name: Cardio Age: 64 Appearance: Sweaty and red-faced; prevalent from 1961 to 2025. What happened in 1961? The famous London busmen study, which showed that bus conductors had a lower incidence of coronary heart disease than bus drivers, thanks to the protective effect of moderately vigorous physical activity. So everyone started applying to become bus … Read more
Hi Ugly, My brother and I have big teeth with gaps. He recently found out he could get them “done” in an affordable way, and now I am doing it, too. There is nothing wrong with my teeth or smile – it’s just gappy, and I think I will look somewhat prettier with the new … Read more
Armed with gloves and pruners, my friend and I are near Pythara waterfall above Chora – the capital of the Greek island of Andros – and we are cutting back thorny and overhanging vegetation. We’re helping out the local volunteer association, Andros Routes, which has been restoring a network of ancient mule tracks, from the … Read more