I’m a big fan of seasonal bakes – there’s something special about a treat reserved for a short window of time. Their rare appearance makes them something to look forward to, and to relish. Supermarkets like to push the limits of these seasons, though, and these days hot cross buns are available for a surprisingly … Read more
Nima Bank was meant to be on the plane soaring overhead in this image. Unfortunately, he had been daydreaming in Istanbul airport, enjoying a coffee, and lost track of time. Once he realised his error, and that he would be stranded in the airport for the rest of the day, he says, “I found myself contemplating how … Read more
Easter is a time for family and reflection, yes, but it’s also a time when all things sweet, including pudding, are the main event. Although there are many recipes in the world for tiramisu, it is in the Top Three Sodha Family Puddings and will therefore always have a place on our table. Given that … Read more
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/picture/2025/apr/12/a-new-passport-photo-is-a-once-a-decade-opportunity-to-dazzle-edith-pritchett-cartoon
The questions 1 Emilio Palma was, in 1978, the first person to be born where?2 Which series of tasks were imposed by King Eurystheus?3 What gen Z retort to the old was popularised by journalist Taylor Lorenz?4 “For Gallantry” and “We Also Serve” are written on which medal?5 Which province of Pakistan has a population … Read more
I wake up suddenly and early, the dog lying so heavy across my legs that my feet have gone numb. I extract myself and hobble across the bedroom until circulation is restored. Then I throw open the curtains to introduce my wife to the new day. “Ugh,” she says. “I was just having this dream,” … Read more
Secateurs are the single most valued tool in the gardener’s trug, an implement as personally prized as the bricklayer’s trowel. With time, their weight and shape wear familiarly into the hand, becoming a companionable tool for all garden tasks, from pruning woody shrubs and cutting back perennials to slicing twine and preparing cut flowers. The … Read more
Not long before the Covid pandemic, my dad threw out my cardboard box of mementoes that I had stored in his garage for “safekeeping”: years’ worth of personal journals, Polaroids and photos with no negatives, love letters, all of my degree essays, reams of teenage poetry, etc – the classic priceless time capsule stuff that … Read more
Dusk in Tavira is a masterclass in seduction. On my first evening in the Algarve’s most easterly city – just 18 miles from the border with Spain – tangerine skies smudged by pillowy clouds unfurl above the old town, with its jumble of church towers and terracotta roofs. For such a romantic spectacle, the best vantage … Read more
Are you going to be handing over more cash for less Easter egg this year? You’ll need to have your wits about you to bag a bargain – or at least not get ripped off – as the surging cost of cocoa has pushed up the price of popular Easter eggs from many big brands, … Read more