‘Sleep is like love. If you have it, you take it for granted,’ reports Wendy Cooper in the Observer Magazine on 24 January 1971. If you don’t, it’s rhythmic rocking or counting sheep for you, though not for Charles Dickens: he made sure his bed faced north, better to boost his creativity as he slumbered. … Read more
The King’s Head Inn, Llangennith, The Gower The Gower peninsula is home to some of Wales’ most beautiful beaches, and the King’s Head makes an ideal base for Gower’s beautiful beaches, with hearty pre-walk breakfasts and evening feasts for refuelling. Dating to the 17th century, bedrooms– housed in adjoining modern buildings – come with all … Read more
Feb. 28: This article was updated to include an announcement on Thursday night from NASA about the status of the Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft. The moon is not bone dry, scientists now know. But how many drops of water will thirsty astronauts find? No one knows for sure. A robotic NASA spacecraft called Lunar Trailblazer, which … Read more
Starship — the huge spacecraft that Elon Musk says will one day take people to Mars — failed during its latest test flight on Thursday when its upper stage exploded in space, raining debris and disrupting air traffic at airports from Florida to Pennsylvania. It was the second consecutive test flight of the most powerful … Read more
Jill, 76 If it hadn’t been for walking the dog, we would have stayed in bed for a fortnight. That first touch was such a turn-on for us both Seven years ago, and three decades into our relationship, I was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, then bladder cancer, which resulted in urostomy surgery. I … Read more
Jordan Stephens (on left) and Harley Alexander-Sule of Rizzle Kicks, sitting on deckchairs on Brighton beach, UK, in 2011 and 2025Jordan Stephens (on left) and Harley Alexander-Sule of Rizzle Kicks in 2011 and 2025. Later photograph: Pål Hansen/The Guardian. Styling: Andie Redman. Grooming: Annabel Miller. Archive photograph: Finn Taylor/The Guardian Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sulé started … Read more
Lewis on Max What were you hoping for?To meet someone nice, and if it seems like there’s a mutual interest there, to try not to laugh it off, but go with it! First impressions?When the barman pointed Max to my table, I was quite happy. What did you talk about?Our dissociation with the wider queer … Read more
Our neighbourhood farmers’ market comes every Sunday, and brings with it a stunning range of seasonal fruit and veg, affordable fish, good-quality meat with cheap cuts galore, plus cheeses, breads and much more. For me, going there and chatting to and supporting the stallholders and farmers (many of whom I have now known for years) … Read more
Born in Canada, Charles Collingwood, 81, studied at Rada. He began his career in repertory theatre and moved into children’s television. He later worked on the 90s quizshow Telly Addicts and in Inspector Morse and Midsomer Murders. He is best known for playing Brian Aldridge in BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers, and this year … Read more
Plant milk is everywhere. Once a niche alternative, it now lines supermarket shelves in endless varieties – oat, almond, soya, hazelnut, coconut, rice, pea – and is often the product of choice in coffee shops. Whether for ethical, environmental or dietary reasons, more and more people are ditching dairy. But not all plant milks are … Read more