Home & Garden / Features
Floating home: Narrow boat living could be an option for downsizing
Each year, many people enjoy the tranquil, unhurried life of the inland waterways of the UK, spending their holidays on rented narrow boats or on their own narrow boat. But a growing number of people are electing to live on a narrow boat on a rather more...
Spruce up for Spring! The Top 5 world Spring cleaning traditions
For many of us, spring cleaning doesn't have much to do with culture, religion or spirituality. We've been cooped up in our stuffy dwellings all winter, which can be such a downer that we sometimes let the clutter and dust pile up. Now that the weather is warm,...
Spring is in sight! What jobs to do in your garden in February
February already! Wonder what the weather will bring this month? It can prove a busy time of the year for gardeners and all of a sudden there are a thousand and one things that can be done now, such as early sowings of flower and vegetable varieties being started so...
Trendsetters: 10 gardening trends set to blossom in 2018
‘Mindful gardening’ promises to continue to grow, as more and more Brits turn to tending their allotments, herbaceous borders and houseplants as a way of boosting mental health and wellbeing, while cacti and succulents look set to adorn all the coolest shelves and...
A history of decorating your home for Christmas
It’s that time of year again when we scramble around in the loft, trying to find the Christmas tree, lights and boxes of decorations. But why do we do it and what does it all mean? Very few homes in the 21st Century escape from the phenomenon of having...
Trick or treat? How to grow your own prize pumpkins
Versatile. If you could use only one word to describe the mighty pumpkin, versatile would surely be it: in colour, in taste, in use, in shape, in myth and in goodness. Pumpkins may well be the ultimate food and, the best thing is - it’s not a trick, it’s a treat! ...
Glorious gardening: The benefits of having ‘green fingers’ over 50
Glorious gardening: The benefits of having ‘green fingers’ over 50 For older adults, staying active and finding fulfilling hobbies to pass the time are important and beneficial to their physical and mental health. After all, no one wants to spend their...
Holiday homes swap: would you let a stranger stay in your house?
Holiday homes swap: would you let a stranger stay in your house? A luxury home in an exotic destination for free is the dream... but does the reality ever match up? As if she doesn't have enough to do before she goes on holiday next week, mother-of-three Liz Green is...
A guide to downsizing after retirement
A guide to downsizing after retirement When approaching retirement, many people consider downsizing and moving into a smaller property. Perhaps your kids have “flown the nest” and no longer live with you. If you have a relatively large home with three or...
The 22 best retirement property counties and towns in the UK
The 22 best retirement property counties and towns in the UK Are you thinking of spending you’re retirement years somewhere nice? Well we can help you choose with our pick of the best places. Kent Kent offers everything from ultra-modern art galleries to...
The 10 best places to retire around the world in 2017
The 10 best places to retire around the world in 2017 The best places to retire have been outlined in a report, listing the very best countries in the world to head to when you hit 66. Spent your whole life dreaming of living abroad when you finally get...
Why gardening is the best fitness for elderly women
The over 50s guide to buying a property overseas Whether you are looking for an easy-care apartment on a managed resort or a rustic farmhouse surrounded by vines, you need to make a checklist before committing to buying a holiday outside the UK. Here are things...