Most of us are used to checking expiry dates on food, toiletries and medicines. But what about all the other things around the home that need checking, cleaning or replacing? From carbon monoxide alarms and water filters to kitchen sponges and sunscreen, there are plenty of everyday household items that can easily be overlooked. Some … Click here to keep reading
I’ve exercised in some form for most of my adult life, and I’ve still fallen off the wagon more than once. Sticking to a workout routine isn’t about having endless willpower. It’s about building something that survives busy weeks, tiredness and the odd stretch where life gets in the way. These days I do yoga … Click here to keep reading
In recent years, my nails have never had the chance to be long and glamorous, and that’s entirely down to how I spend my time. Between gardening and climbing, long nails simply don’t survive in my world. So my approach to nail care has become less about growing them out and more about keeping them … Click here to keep reading
When people hear “zen garden”, they usually picture something strictly Japanese: raked gravel, a single perfect maple, maybe a stone lantern. Our garden isn’t that. It’s a mix of styles built up over years, but it does the same job. It gives us somewhere to properly switch off. I think that’s really what a zen … Click here to keep reading
Our garden turns into a food jungle every summer. We have ten vegetable patches filled with all sorts from garlic and tomatoes to figs and sweetcorn, several pots filled with fruits such as strawberries and blueberries, and arches covered in climbing plants such as cucumbers, grapes and beans. This year we’re growing more than 30 … Click here to keep reading
We’ve been using our Megahome water distiller every single day since January 2018, so if anyone’s qualified to write an honest review of one, it’s probably us. This isn’t a quick unboxing after a week of use. This is what happens to one of these machines after eight and a half years of daily, sometimes … Click here to keep reading
We always have bananas on our banana stand at home. They’re a staple in our house and one of the most useful fruits going. But sometimes they ripen faster than we can eat them, and suddenly you’ve got a bunch of very spotty, very soft bananas that nobody wants to grab as a snack! The … Click here to keep reading
If you’re scared of the dentist, I completely understand. Not in a vague, theoretical way – I mean I genuinely avoided going to the dentist for over ten years because of how frightened I was. I’m writing this as someone who has been exactly where you might be right now: knowing you need treatment, knowing … Click here to keep reading
Every year from around July onwards, our walks through the alleyways and lanes of Newquay in Cornwall become a lot more exciting. The blackberries start appearing on the brambles that line almost every path near our home, and within weeks the kids are picking them straight off the bushes and into their mouths before we’ve … Click here to keep reading
Hot weather and “heatwave” mean very different things depending on where you live. In the UK, anything above 25°C (77°F) triggers dramatic red weather maps on the news and wall-to-wall heatwave coverage – temperatures that most of southern Europe would consider a pleasant summer’s day. Meanwhile, parts of Spain, Portugal, and the wider Mediterranean are … Click here to keep reading