Money & Work / Tips & Advice
Calling all over 55s to fulfil their bucket list wishes with help from Wiltshire Farm Foods
An adrenaline loving ninety-year-old who believes that life begins at 60 has encouraged others to not see age as an obstacle for going out of their comfort zone, as part of a campaign. Silver Surfers reports that Mercy Baggs, who is based in Wiltshire, has teamed up...
Why DIY is good for your emulsional health: Carrying out mundane tasks helps relieve stress and anxiety, survey shows
Watching paint dry used to be a synonym for the most boring activity imaginable. Now, it has been suggested, doing just that can be good for you because carrying out ‘dull’ DIY tasks - or even simply observing them - are an excellent way to relieve everyday stress and...
A belly full of laughs! Why the health benefits of laughter yoga will make you smile
We all know that nothing beats a good giggle, and research shows its physical and mental health benefits are huge, too. Dr Madan Kataria reveals how his ‘laughter yoga’ clubs are giving the world something to feel joyful about. Friends, I must tell you, laughter yoga...
Who ate all the pies? Snack bars galore and the wonder of football food
From hatches to huts, sheds to retooled vehicles, let’s hear it for our terrace tuckshops and their indomitable staff. A Thursday morning in July and tourists gather outside the birthplace of the Patron Saint of Football Snack Bars. There are seven such visitors in...
Green ‘healthy’ fingers: How gardening can save your life -from cutting isolation to mental health benefits
It’s amazing the calm that can descend when you are surrounded by greenery. All those problems suddenly seem manageable and your brain quietens right down. And actually putting your hands in the soil, can be life-changing. According to mental health charity Mind, more...
A new start after 60: ‘I became an adventure cyclist at 65 – and rode from Mongolia to Scotland’
Within months of retiring as a mental health nurse, Len Collingwood began a 13,000km solo cycle ride. But that wasn’t the feat that got him into Guinness World Records… The Guardian reports that Len Collingwood, a clinical nurse specialist in psychotherapy, retired on...
Success of experimental Alzheimer’s drug hailed as ‘historic moment’
Study shows cognition in early-stage patients on lecanemab declines by 27% less than those on placebo. The Guardian reports that an experimental drug has slowed the rate of decline in memory and thinking in people with early Alzheimer’s disease in what is being...
Oh wow! How getting more awe can improve your life – and even make you a nicer person
Whether it’s the immensity of the Grand Canyon or the beauty of an intricate spider’s web, feeling awestruck is good for you. Here are 10 ways to get awed. A few years ago I went on a solo walking holiday to Lanzarote. On day one, I walked up a coastal hill path and...
South American beauties: Vibrant cities, mind-boggling landscapes and ancient wonders
TV’s Simon Reeve had the trip of a lifetime criss-crossing the continent. Here are his highlights… Travelling through South America is an amazing privilege, each day rich with experiences. Covering more than 4,000 miles over many months, my journey for my new TV...
A fistful of flavour: ‘Herbs give a dish that extra zing!’
The parsley and coriander grown by Joe Cottingham bring a hit of freshness to some of Charlie Bigham’s most popular ready-to-cook dishes. Sophie Goddard hears about the blood, sweat and tears that go into growing herbs. Joe Cottingham’s day begins hours before most of...
Into the woods: How an old shed inspired hundreds of stories
A derelict property in Surrey has been transformed into a storybook haven for artists. The garden designer Anthony Paul has lived in the same black-and-white cottage in the Surrey Hills for more than 40 years. He is surrounded by villages that recall the trees that...
Sustainable gardening: Ways to be less wasteful in the garden
We’re all looking towards sustainability and not chucking garden stuff away, whether it be old tools, gluts of veg or clippings. As you start your great garden clear-up at the end of summer, spare a thought for what you may be throwing away. Old squeaky tools, blunt...