https://www.theguardian.com/uk/lifeandstyle Food, homes and lifestyle news, video and pictures from the Guardian en-gb Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2019 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 17:48:07 GMT 2019-11-15T17:48:07Z en-gb Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2019 https://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.png https://www.theguardian.com https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/i-dont-approve-of-my-daughters-girlfriend-should-i-ban-her-from-my-house <p>She’s manipulative, flouts my house rules and has my daughter at her beck and call. Should I tell my daughter how I feel and risk damaging our relationship?</p><p>My 19-year-old daughter recently started her first serious relationship. She and her girlfriend are very intense and are together as much as possible. Initially, I liked her, but I’ve since seen another side to her. She’s manipulative, flouts my house rules, claims to have health issues and has my daughter running around after her. My daughter is very protective of her, blind to her behaviour and argues with me if I raise the broken house rules. I don’t want her girlfriend in my house but I’m worried that if I tell my daughter how I feel, and how dysfunctional her relationship is, I’ll alienate her.</p><p><em>• When leaving a message on this page, please be sensitive to the fact that you are responding to a real person in the grip of a real-life dilemma, who wrote to Private Lives asking for help, and may well view your comments here. Please consider especially how your words or the tone of your message could be perceived by someone in this situation, and be aware that comments that appear to be disruptive or disrespectful to the individual concerned will be removed.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/i-dont-approve-of-my-daughters-girlfriend-should-i-ban-her-from-my-house">Continue reading...</a> Parents and parenting Family Life and style Relationships Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:00:07 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/i-dont-approve-of-my-daughters-girlfriend-should-i-ban-her-from-my-house Composite: Posed by models; Guardian Design; Igor Ustynskyy/Getty Images Composite: Posed by models; Guardian Design; Igor Ustynskyy/Getty Images Guardian Staff 2019-11-15T12:00:07Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-life-in-sex-man-who-cant-finish <p>I often lose my erection due to the stress of knowing I won’t orgasm</p><p>I envy men who have premature ejaculation: at least they can finish. I’ve always had difficulty ejaculating during sex; when I lost my virginity, my partner didn’t believe it was my first time because I lasted so long. The problem has only got worse as I’ve got older, and these days, I often lose my erection after about 10 minutes due to the stress of knowing I won’t orgasm. In my whole life, I’ve only had sex five or six times without this being an issue. </p><p>At 35, I discovered the term traumatic masturbatory syndrome online. I think this is at the root of my problems; my early experiments with masturbation may have reduced the nerve function in my penis. I also worry that my 5in penis is smaller than average. My first girlfriend told me it was inadequate, and in my 20s, another girlfriend laughed about it in front of several mutual friends at a party.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-life-in-sex-man-who-cant-finish">Continue reading...</a> Sex Life and style Relationships Fri, 15 Nov 2019 10:00:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-life-in-sex-man-who-cant-finish Illustration: Lo Cole/The Guardian Illustration: Lo Cole/The Guardian Anonymous 2019-11-15T10:00:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/experience-i-was-arrested-by-a-swat-team-by-mistake <p>The officer helped me into my underpants, handcuffed and at gunpoint</p><p>We were a small group of actors, on our way to perform at a corporate press launch for a Fujitsu printer. I’d written something for them a year before in the style of It Ain’t Half Hot Mum – four actors camping it up as military officers – and they loved it. This time, they wanted me to ramp up the drama. On their advice, I rented two fake SA80 assault rifles, black balaclavas, full camo flak jackets and boots for the four of us. It was the late 90s – more innocent times, when it was easy enough to rent imitation firearms.</p><p>I was 23 at the time. I’d been a successful child actor on television and then moved into corporate entertainment. I was full of confidence; this was just another gig. The client had booked us to stay overnight at the Danebury Arms in Andover, a military town in Hampshire. We decided to bring the guns in from the car as we were worried about theft.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/experience-i-was-arrested-by-a-swat-team-by-mistake">Continue reading...</a> Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 10:00:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/experience-i-was-arrested-by-a-swat-team-by-mistake Photograph: Bradley Meinz/The Guardian Photograph: Bradley Meinz/The Guardian Anthony Davis 2019-11-15T10:00:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-daughter-hates-me-since-i-met-the-man-of-my-dreams <p>Look at this from your daughter’s point of view, says Annalisa Barbieri. This must be hard enough for her to take in, without catching you in bed with him</p><p><strong>I am 32 </strong><strong>and have a 15-year-old daughter. It’s always been me and her. I’ve never brought home random guys, or even let her know </strong><strong>I was </strong><strong>talking to anyone. </strong><strong>But last year, I met the man of my dreams. We dated a couple of months before I introduced them. Things were going OK (</strong><strong>apart from a few bad days</strong><strong>) until last week, that is, when she burst in on us in bed together and began screaming about how disgusting we were and how much she hates me.</strong></p><p><strong>We did end up talking, and I thought things were better</strong><strong>. But today </strong><strong>she came home unexpectedly and saw us lying naked together. We got into a </strong><strong>screaming match </strong><strong>and she wanted me to leave. So I did. I came back a few hours later. We tried to talk, but it </strong><strong>didn’t go well. I am lost on what to do</strong><strong>, and</strong><strong> don’t know where </strong><strong>to go from here. </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-daughter-hates-me-since-i-met-the-man-of-my-dreams">Continue reading...</a> Family Parents and parenting Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:00:11 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/my-daughter-hates-me-since-i-met-the-man-of-my-dreams Illustration: LO COLE/The Guardian Illustration: LO COLE/The Guardian Annalisa Barbieri 2019-11-15T15:00:11Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/day-off-need-others-to-share-it-with-oliver-burkeman <p>A society can’t flourish if its citizens can’t make a plan to meet for a beer</p><p>Ninety years ago this year, Joseph Stalin unveiled an ingenious new scheme to transform the Soviet Union into an industrial powerhouse: the end of the seven-day <a href="https://www.historytoday.com/archive/stalins-topsy-turvy-work-week" title="">week</a>. Much of the workforce switched to a four-day week, plus one day off – but they were divided into five cohorts, each resting on a different day, so factories could run without stopping. The propaganda, according to the historian Clive Foss, was that “workers would get more rest; production and employment would increase [and] leisure time would be more rationally employed, for cultural activities (theatre, clubs, sports) would no longer have to be crammed into a weekend, but could flourish every day, with their facilities far less crowded.”</p><p>It proved massively unpopular, though, not least because it made communal life impossible: families and friends with different rest days couldn’t coordinate social time together. (“That’s no holiday, if you have to celebrate by yourself,” one worker complained.) Stalin didn’t mind – undermining the centrality of the family was part of his plan, after all – but the new week didn’t boost production as planned, either, so it was phased out. Yet, as the writer Judith Shulevitz pointed out in the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/11/why-dont-i-see-you-anymore/598336/" title="">Atlantic</a> recently, the social chaos of unsynchronised schedules has returned. It’s just that these days it’s imposed not by the state, but by unpredictable work patterns. Employees subject to “on-demand scheduling” and zero-hour contracts get the worst of it. Meanwhile, plenty of fancier jobs require staying late at short notice, or scrapping a weekend plan to plough through emails.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/day-off-need-others-to-share-it-with-oliver-burkeman">Continue reading...</a> Health & wellbeing Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:00:10 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/day-off-need-others-to-share-it-with-oliver-burkeman Illustration: Michele Marconi/The Guardian Illustration: Michele Marconi/The Guardian Oliver Burkeman 2019-11-15T15:00:10Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/nov/14/the-rise-of-the-vsco-girl-and-how-to-spot-one <p>They wear oversized T-shirts, scrunchies and ugly shoes and have a language all their own</p><p>This week, the New York Times published an article advising on <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/12/well/family/VSCO-girl-tween-parenting-advice.html" title="">what to do when your tween wants to be part of the “VSCO girl” trend</a> – a sure sign that parents have cottoned on, and the trend will be “ovah” by Christmas. Until then, here is what you need to know:</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/nov/14/the-rise-of-the-vsco-girl-and-how-to-spot-one">Continue reading...</a> Fashion Life and style Young people Society Thu, 14 Nov 2019 12:00:38 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2019/nov/14/the-rise-of-the-vsco-girl-and-how-to-spot-one Composite: Posed by model; Guardian Design; Carol Yepes/akiyoko/Getty Images/iStockphoto Composite: Posed by model; Guardian Design; Carol Yepes/akiyoko/Getty Images/iStockphoto Leah Harper 2019-11-14T12:00:38Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/chekhov-georgia-okeeffe-beauty-of-autumn-leaves-hannah-jane-parkinson <p>Their colour provides solace as we struggle to adjust from summer to darker nights and rain</p><p>The colours of autumn are abundant: the cool blue of the sky, the silver frost on the grass, the fuchsia of an early sunset. But the true riches are the leaves. The deep reds; the fierce oranges. The ochre of those curled at the edges. The shrivelled ones; the pale yellow of fading bruises. The combination of these colours against those crisp skies is majestic.</p><p>While the adjustment from summer to autumn can be tough – the reacquaintance with relentless rain and walking home from work in darkness – the colours are a solace. Walking around parks in October conjures <a href="https://www.vincentvangogh.org/autumn-landscape-with-four-trees.jsp" title="">Vincent Van Gogh’s Autumn Landscape With Four Trees</a> (1885); the sienna, veiny delights of <a href="https://www.georgiaokeeffe.net/autumn-leaves.jsp" title="">Georgia O’Keeffe’s Autumn Leaves</a> (1924); <a href="https://www.gustav-klimt.com/Birch-Forest.jsp" title="">Gustav Klimt’s Birch Forest I</a> (1902). But best of all, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/jan/22/david-hockney-bigger-picture-review" title="">David Hockney’s huge studies of Woldgate Woods</a> (2006).</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/chekhov-georgia-okeeffe-beauty-of-autumn-leaves-hannah-jane-parkinson">Continue reading...</a> Autumn Trees and forests Health & wellbeing Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:00:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/chekhov-georgia-okeeffe-beauty-of-autumn-leaves-hannah-jane-parkinson Photograph: Jupiterimages/Getty Images Photograph: Jupiterimages/Getty Images Hannah Jane Parkinson 2019-11-15T07:00:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/sexting-men-women-differences-why-how <p>When you think of sexting, you usually think of men sending unsolicited pictures. But what about the relationships that thrive on it – and the women who love it?</p><p>Madeleine Holden has three simple tips for taking a good dick pic. First, zoom out. Second, clear the background of clutter. Third, experiment with angles. Then, for extra credit, consider tone, narrative, aesthetics and the desires of the recipient. “It was always those that elevated a dick pic from – to use my scale – a C- to an A+.”</p><p>As founder of Critique My Dick Pic, a popular Tumblr blog that ran for five years from 2013, Holden wrote thoughtful reviews of photographs of about 500 strangers’ genitals, from almost 10,000 submissions. (It was brought to an end in December last year by Tumblr’s ban on explicit visual content, a move widely decried as a blow to the diversity of sexual imagery online.)</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/sexting-men-women-differences-why-how">Continue reading...</a> Relationships Sex Life and style Thu, 14 Nov 2019 07:00:32 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/sexting-men-women-differences-why-how Illustration: Francisco Navas/Guardian Design Illustration: Francisco Navas/Guardian Design Elle Hunt 2019-11-14T07:00:32Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/how-to-wear-a-big-easy-coat-jess-cartner-morley <p>It works best when the supersized volume is offset by minimal styling – a neutral colour and not too much detailing</p><p>A coat that you love is the best fashion investment you can make. Your coat is what you put on as you leave the house on a cold morning. It is what stands between you and the outside world when the outside world is at its least friendly. A great party dress for a fun night out is the icing on a cake – but cake is delicious anyway. A great coat, on the other hand, is a cup of tea and a jaffa cake when you are cold and tired and hungry.</p><p>It goes without saying that practicality is paramount. But a great coat isn’t just a coat that keeps you warm, it’s a coat that makes you <em>feel</em> great. It is this that differentiates a great coat from a perfectly serviceable coat. The days when life feels a bit as though you are walking uphill into the wind are the days when you most need a reminder of the poetry to be found in a slice of blue sky, a free Pret coffee, or the comfort of a soft collar flipped up against the elements.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/how-to-wear-a-big-easy-coat-jess-cartner-morley">Continue reading...</a> Women's coats and jackets Fashion Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 13:00:08 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/how-to-wear-a-big-easy-coat-jess-cartner-morley Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian Jess Cartner-Morley 2019-11-15T13:00:08Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/bag-it-up-the-10-best-totes-in-pictures <p>Practical and kinder to the planet if reused again and again, there’s a totes amaze bag here to suit every taste</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/bag-it-up-the-10-best-totes-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a> Fashion Life and style Handbags Fri, 15 Nov 2019 09:00:04 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/bag-it-up-the-10-best-totes-in-pictures Photograph: PR Photograph: PR Melanie Wilkinson 2019-11-15T09:00:04Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/the-best-winter-dresses-for-all-ages-in-pictures <p>If effortless winter dressing is at the top of your sartorial wishlist, invest in a long-sleeved dress, whether wrapped, shirt style or a simple tunic. Layer over a polo neck or style with knee-high boots</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/the-best-winter-dresses-for-all-ages-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a> Fashion Life and style Dresses Women's shoes Women's coats and jackets Handbags Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:00:02 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2019/nov/15/the-best-winter-dresses-for-all-ages-in-pictures Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian Photograph: David Newby/The Guardian Styling: Melanie Wilkinson Photography: David Newby 2019-11-15T07:00:02Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/designer-dogs-face-masks-fashion-trends <p>What’s hot and what’s not in fashion this week</p><p><strong>Designer dogs</strong> “Belly rubs are modern couture”, according to @dogsinrick, an <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/46427/1/instagram-dogs-wearing-rick-owens-dogsinrick-haute-couture-fashion%0D" title="">Instagram account </a>dedicated to pooches wearing Rick Owens.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/designer-dogs-face-masks-fashion-trends">Continue reading...</a> Fashion Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:00:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/15/designer-dogs-face-masks-fashion-trends Photograph: FXQuadro/Getty Images/iStockphoto Photograph: FXQuadro/Getty Images/iStockphoto Guardian Staff 2019-11-15T07:00:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/14/the-ecstatic-rise-of-rainbow-hair-i-have-one-life-im-going-to-live-it-colourfully <p>In a world laid low by Brexit, you see them at school gates and in supermarket queues: ordinary women with wildly multicoloured hair. We ask five colour converts why they have taken the leap</p><p>We are facing the prospect of a few gloomy grey months ahead, with a general election on the horizon, and no end to the Brexit impasse in sight. But one trend has emerged to brighten up these damp winter days.</p><p>Not long ago you would see rainbow hair only on celebrities such as Katy Perry or Nicki Minaj, or people in the cosplay community. Not any more. What was once a wacky trend is now beloved of ordinary women. Look around your local coffee shop, or observe mothers on the school run, and you may see the rainbow hair trend for yourself. It’s certainly hard to miss.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/14/the-ecstatic-rise-of-rainbow-hair-i-have-one-life-im-going-to-live-it-colourfully">Continue reading...</a> Women's hair Beauty Life and style Fashion Thu, 14 Nov 2019 06:00:32 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/14/the-ecstatic-rise-of-rainbow-hair-i-have-one-life-im-going-to-live-it-colourfully Photograph: Image provided by Amina Mucciolo Photograph: Image provided by Amina Mucciolo Sirin Kale 2019-11-14T06:00:32Z https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/13/rise-of-the-topknot-why-big-buns-are-everywhere <p>From off-duty models to Instagram yogis, and Rihanna on the red carpet, the messy ’do is a celebrity and influencer staple. Of course you can blame the internet</p><p>How did a hairstyle that once signified “off to the garage for some milk” become a fashion phenomenon? Because that’s where we are at with the high bun – or topknot – a hairstyle that is popping up everywhere.</p><p>The ’do is fast becoming a red-carpet staple, seen on stars from Jennifer Lopez to Katy Perry to Rihanna. At the People’s Choice awards on Sunday, Zendaya wore an unstructured version, while her 16-year-old Euphoria co-star Storm Reid wore a towering bun topped with a star-shaped pin. Last month, when the British women’s team competed at the World Artistic Gymnastics championships in Stuttgart, <a href="https://www.british-gymnastics.org/news-and-events/news/latest-news/8707-british-women-s-team-6th-in-world-final" title="">all six wore the hairstyle</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/13/rise-of-the-topknot-why-big-buns-are-everywhere">Continue reading...</a> Women's hair Fashion Men's hair Beauty Life and style Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:59:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/nov/13/rise-of-the-topknot-why-big-buns-are-everywhere Composite: Getty/REX Composite: Getty/REX Hannah Marriott 2019-11-13T11:59:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/decimo-restaurant-london-wc1-review-grace-dent <p>Are you hip enough to book a table at this achingly chic new Spanish-Mexican joint?</p><p><a href="https://www.decimo.london/" title="">Decimo</a>, a Spanish-Mexican restaurant by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/26/casamia-jay-rayner-restaurants" title="">Peter Sanchez-Iglesias</a>, has opened at the top of The Standard Hotel in London. Decimo, as in Spanish for 10th, is the floor that it lives on. The capital was, to my mind at least, not pining for any more fancy restaurants at the top of tall buildings, yet still they come. I could write a hospitality MA thesis on how cooking standards plummet the more floors one ascends to the pretty view. No sane person has ever thought that duck with waffle sounded like a delicious idea, but add the chance of vertigo to the recipe, and there’s a lemming stampede towards the lifts.</p><p>That said, I was curious about Decimo. The rest of The Standard, including two other restaurants, <a href="https://www.islalondon.com/" title="">Isla</a> and <a href="https://www.standardhotels.com/london/features/standard_london_double_standard" title="">Double Standard</a>, opened in the summer, but this vast mezcal and aguachile palace took its time to reveal itself. Meanwhile, the hotel itself quickly became my go-to recommendation for travellers in search of fun. It is, in parts, a David Lynch-style dreamscape of fractal carpets and flickering hearth fires, and in others a party palace on a Quentin Tarantino set. The yearningly gorgeous suites have minibars with full bottles of Patrón silver tequila and baths out on the balconies in the open air, so you can be stark naked and clutching a loofah, yet just out of view of the commuters at St Pancras.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/decimo-restaurant-london-wc1-review-grace-dent">Continue reading...</a> Food Restaurants Mexican food and drink Seafood Spanish food and drink Fri, 15 Nov 2019 09:30:04 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/decimo-restaurant-london-wc1-review-grace-dent Photograph: Karen Robinson/The Guardian Photograph: Karen Robinson/The Guardian Grace Dent 2019-11-15T09:30:04Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/cocktail-of-the-week-the-bow-barracks-gimlet <p>Gunpowder London’s take on the classic gin-and-lime combo, with added ginger for some warming spice</p><p>Bow Barracks was an army mess built in my home town of Kolkata during the first world war. This is a pretty simple, classic gimlet, but it’s made with ginger syrup to give it some spice – if you don’t want to make your own syrup, use the syrup from a jar of stem ginger instead.</p><p>Serves 1</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/cocktail-of-the-week-the-bow-barracks-gimlet">Continue reading...</a> Cocktails Spirits Food Indian food and drink Fruit Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:00:12 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/cocktail-of-the-week-the-bow-barracks-gimlet Photograph: Dan Matthews/The Guardian Photograph: Dan Matthews/The Guardian Harneet Raweja 2019-11-15T16:00:12Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/a-big-galaxy-with-few-sugar-free-options <strong>Prof Jack Winkler </strong>says<strong> </strong>chocolatiers are evading their responsibilities when it comes to the nation’s number one public health problem<p>Nothing if not trendy, Mars has introduced three vegan versions of its mainstream chocolate brand, Galaxy (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/13/mars-to-launch-vegan-galaxy-bar" title="">Report</a>, 13 November). At twice the price of normal Galaxy.</p><p>But there is no sign of a sugar-free Galaxy, even in response the UK’s world-leading policies to reduce sugar consumption and obesity. The problem is not technical, it is timidity. Sugar-free chocolate has been technically feasible for decades. It is widely available in Spain, Germany and Singapore. But Britain’s big three chocolate makers – Nestlé, Cadbury and Mars – are frightened that introducing sugar-free chocolate here might endanger sales of their dominant brands.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/a-big-galaxy-with-few-sugar-free-options">Continue reading...</a> Chocolate Food Obesity Society Health NHS Nestlé Food & drink industry Business Cadbury UK news Fri, 15 Nov 2019 17:09:17 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/a-big-galaxy-with-few-sugar-free-options Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA Letters 2019-11-15T17:09:17Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/independent-wine-shops-supermarkets-compare-fiona-beckett <p>A specialist will likely stock a better, more interesting range of wines, with some quite spectacular choices that sneak under the radar of the supermarkets</p><p>Even the most curmudgeonly and Scrooge-like among you has probably started to give some thought to the necessity of ordering food for Christmas, especially if it’s something in limited supply such as a rare-breed turkey or a goose. While you may normally shop in the supermarket, it may be a time of year when you feel you want to patronise your local butcher or buy direct from the producer. But do you feel the same about wine?</p><p>If not, and if you care about the continuing presence of independent wine shops on the high street, you should. In fact, you should give them some of your custom year-round, not least because they have far more interesting wines than the supermarkets, as well as staff who can help match them to your personal taste. I’m not saying buy everything from an independent – well, not unless you’ve got deep enough pockets to – but rather to use them to source your most interesting bottles. I’ve yet to find a worthwhile supermarket barolo, for example, and top-end, own-label bordeaux is generally underwhelming, but supermarkets absolutely deliver on party wines such as cheap prosecco and cut-price sauvignon blanc.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/independent-wine-shops-supermarkets-compare-fiona-beckett">Continue reading...</a> Wine Food Christmas Christmas food and drink Fri, 15 Nov 2019 14:00:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/independent-wine-shops-supermarkets-compare-fiona-beckett Photograph: Denia Fernandez/Getty Images Photograph: Denia Fernandez/Getty Images Fiona Beckett 2019-11-15T14:00:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/anna-jones-winter-salad-recipes <p>Two substantial winter salads: roast pumpkin with honeyed breadcumbs and a traybake with winter roots at its heart</p><p>For me, it’s OK to eat a salad in winter if it has carbs in it. Namely, bread: torn craggy pieces or golden crumbs with soft, roast winter roots and herbs. Today’s recipes are a great way to make the most of any stale or leftover bread, and are halfway between a salad and a traybake – equally good eaten piping hot from the oven or at room temperature a little later. Winter means carbs in my house – even in a salad.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/anna-jones-winter-salad-recipes">Continue reading...</a> Food Vegetables Salad Italian food and drink Bread Fruit Winter food and drink Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:00:08 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/anna-jones-winter-salad-recipes Photograph: Matt Russell/The Guardian Photograph: Matt Russell/The Guardian Anna Jones 2019-11-15T12:00:08Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/richard-berman-convince-america-beef-healthier-meatless-burgers-impossible <p>Richard Berman is running a campaign to educate the public on plant-based meat burgers such as Impossible and Beyond Beef</p><p>The food industry has a “weapon of mass destruction”. His name is Richard Berman. And he has his sights set on destroying the growing appetite for meatless burgers and plant-based meat substitutes.</p><p>Berman has form in this line of work. A longtime Washington DC lobbyist and PR strategist, he has advised – and tried to shield – some of America’s most powerful industries from criticism.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/richard-berman-convince-america-beef-healthier-meatless-burgers-impossible">Continue reading...</a> Food Beef The meat industry Meat Environment Fri, 15 Nov 2019 07:00:01 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/15/richard-berman-convince-america-beef-healthier-meatless-burgers-impossible Photograph: Luke Sharrett/The New York Tim​es/eyevine Photograph: Luke Sharrett/The New York Tim​es/eyevine Jessica Glenza in New York 2019-11-15T07:00:01Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/pickle-juice-and-marmite-the-11-best-hangover-cures-by-pub-landlords <p>They serve up the hangovers in the first place, but what do they recommend to take them away?</p><p>As party season approaches, so does the likelihood of waking up with a hangover – unless you don’t drink, or you are one of those elegant types who can decline an offer of more wine without yelping: “Oh, go on then!” a millisecond later.</p><p>Obviously, we’re still waiting for science to come up with a cure. Some swear by food or drink to sort themselves out. But which is best? We asked people who work with booze, from pub landlords to sommeliers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/pickle-juice-and-marmite-the-11-best-hangover-cures-by-pub-landlords">Continue reading...</a> Hangover cures Food Health & wellbeing Life and style Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:00:37 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/14/pickle-juice-and-marmite-the-11-best-hangover-cures-by-pub-landlords Composite: None Composite: None Gwendolyn Smith 2019-11-14T11:00:37Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/13/the-female-problem-male-bias-in-medical-trials <p>Centuries of female exclusion has meant women’s diseases are often missed, misdiagnosed or remain a total mystery</p><p>From the earliest days of medicine, women have been considered inferior versions of men. In On the Generation of Animals, the Greek philosopher Aristotle characterised a female as a mutilated male, and this belief has persisted in western medical culture.</p><p>“For much of documented history, women have been excluded from medical and science knowledge production, so essentially we’ve ended up with a healthcare system, among other things in society, that has been made by men for men,” Dr Kate Young, a public health researcher at Monash University in Australia, tells me.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/13/the-female-problem-male-bias-in-medical-trials">Continue reading...</a> Women Life and style Health Health & wellbeing Health policy Healthcare industry Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:08:52 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/13/the-female-problem-male-bias-in-medical-trials Composite: Getty Composite: Getty Gabrielle Jackson 2019-11-13T17:08:52Z https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/13/now-i-can-sleep-more-soundly-im-less-likely-to-feel-tatt <p>It took fellow snorer Dom Joly to convince me of my condition and the benefits of treatment. But after sleeping serenely, I tear off the contraption and go back to my troubled slumber</p><p>I read somewhere of a handy acronym GPs often use. Tatt: tired all the time. And I’ve been extremely Tatt for a while now. I just thought it was the way of things, what with getting older. I never feel as if I sleep particularly well, but rarely do I lie awake all night, either.</p><p>But then a couple of months ago my night-time antics were described to me thus: “First there’s lots of snoring, then it’s like you can’t get your breath, and you’re struggling, gasping and grunting. And then your body seems to go into a sort of spasm, quite violent (especially hands), then you finally take a big desperate breath which is very loud, and everything shudders.” An attractive picture, I’m sure you’ll agree.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/13/now-i-can-sleep-more-soundly-im-less-likely-to-feel-tatt">Continue reading...</a> Health & wellbeing Sleep Sleep apnoea Life and style Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:03:35 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/13/now-i-can-sleep-more-soundly-im-less-likely-to-feel-tatt Photograph: Adrian Chiles Photograph: Adrian Chiles Adrian Chiles 2019-11-13T16:03:35Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/11/i-thought-i-could-never-love-my-large-nose-but-then-i-had-my-portrait-painted <p>After commissioning an artist to paint me, I see the profile I’ve always hated very differently. The experience has shifted my whole perspective on beauty</p><p>I never thought that, one day, I would proudly show off my nose, captured in all its crooked glory, on a canvas on my living room wall. As a teenager, I couldn’t stand seeing a photo of my nose in side profile. I hated how big it was and, if people complimented me about my looks, I always felt it was in spite of the most noticeable feature on my face.</p><p>Insecurities about my nose have always haunted me – throughout relationships, career successes, failures and everything in between. Last year, I tried to change this, by sharing my journey to attempt to love my nose on social media with the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sideprofileselfie&amp;src=typed_query" title="">#sideprofileselfie</a>. It ended up inspiring thousands of others to share their insecurities, but I felt like a fraud. While I was trying to spread the big nose love, I cringed every time I saw a photo of my own.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/11/i-thought-i-could-never-love-my-large-nose-but-then-i-had-my-portrait-painted">Continue reading...</a> Health & wellbeing Life and style Mon, 11 Nov 2019 06:59:58 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/11/i-thought-i-could-never-love-my-large-nose-but-then-i-had-my-portrait-painted Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian Radhika Sanghani 2019-11-11T06:59:58Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/why-the-families-of-organ-donors-would-love-a-thank-you <p>Liz Houghton’s son was 20 when he died, and his organs were donated to 12 people. She heard from two of them, but would love to have been in touch with more. Could a new initiative help relatives like her?</p><p>Liz Houghton’s son Will was living his best life when his world stopped. In 2016, the superfit 20-year-old was flying through the Hampshire countryside on his bicycle when he was knocked down by a car.<strong> </strong>He died of his injuries.</p><p>At the Houghtons’ house in Buckinghamshire, a tall and handsome Will smiles out of family portraits. The bright red racing bike he bought but never rode – it arrived a fortnight after his death – hangs on a wall.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/why-the-families-of-organ-donors-would-love-a-thank-you">Continue reading...</a> Health & wellbeing Organ donation Health Bereavement Sun, 10 Nov 2019 16:30:41 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/why-the-families-of-organ-donors-would-love-a-thank-you Photograph: Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi/The Guardian Photograph: Alecsandra Raluca Dragoi/The Guardian Zoe Wood 2019-11-10T16:30:41Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/my-partner-30-years-wants-leave-how-can-i-get-her-stay-mariella-frostrup <p>Turning things around will depend on how much you can both forgive, says Mariella Frostrup</p><p><em><strong>The dilemma </strong>After a happy relationship lasting 30 years and bringing up two beautiful children, my partner says she hasn’t felt supported or been able to talk to me for the </em><em>past three years. During this time, we’ve suffered several tragedies – the death of my stepdad, the death of my partner’s mother</em><em> and the sexual assault of our daughter at a party last year</em><em> – which le</em><em>d to me taking time off from my highly stressful work environment as I struggled to cope.</em></p><p><em>I’ve discovered texts to her old male college friends where she talked about not loving me any more and not finding me sexually attractive – and I’m heartbroken. The woman I love more than anything in the world wants to leave me. We’ve had several counselling sessions and now live day by day in the “grey zone”, </em><em>at least until our daughter goes to university next September.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/my-partner-30-years-wants-leave-how-can-i-get-her-stay-mariella-frostrup">Continue reading...</a> Relationships Life and style Sun, 10 Nov 2019 07:30:29 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/my-partner-30-years-wants-leave-how-can-i-get-her-stay-mariella-frostrup Photograph: Alamy Photograph: Alamy Mariella Frostrup 2019-11-10T07:30:29Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/12/my-boyfriend-wont-have-sex-with-me-while-im-on-my-period <p>When I’m on my period, my sex drive goes through the roof, but he is unable to perform at the thought of the mess – it’s very frustrating</p><p><strong>I am a 24-year-old woman. My boyfriend and I have been together for ages and enjoy some amazing sex. However, there is one area we cannot seem to reconcile – the dreaded period. While I am on my period, my sex drive often goes through the roof, but he is unable to perform at the thought of the inevitable mess, particularly the blood itself. I find this highly frustrating and I’m sure he does, too, although he’s too polite to say it. Am I unreasonable to expect him to put up with a little mess? My previous boyfriend never had this issue. </strong></p><p>Different people have different views, feelings and boundaries regarding many aspects of physical intimacy and these are often non-negotiable. It is important to respect each other’s limits generally, and it would be very unwise to push for penetrative sex during menstruation since that is obviously a turn-off for him. But you could surely find creative ways to have highly erotic, non-penetrative sex that could avoid “messiness” and be comfortable and satisfying for you both. Examples might be erotic conversation, touching, massage, role playing and playing with sex toys. Reassure him that you will respect his comfort level, then reframe your menstrual period as an opportunity to explore new erotic options and fantasies. You may find that setting the necessary limits and embarking on daring experimentation could lead to thrilling rewards for both of you.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/12/my-boyfriend-wont-have-sex-with-me-while-im-on-my-period">Continue reading...</a> Relationships Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:00:33 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/12/my-boyfriend-wont-have-sex-with-me-while-im-on-my-period Composite: Guardian Design; AleksandarNakic/Getty Images; Mari/Getty Images/iStockphoto Composite: Guardian Design; AleksandarNakic/Getty Images; Mari/Getty Images/iStockphoto Pamela Stephenson Connolly 2019-11-12T08:00:33Z https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/15/five-film-highlights-kendal-mountain-festival-2019 <p>What’s better on a chill November night than watching inspiring adventures? We pick impressive, and moving, films from among more than 100 at this year’s event</p><p>From a <a href="https://filmfreeway.com/Portal_Baikal" title="">Siberian slackliner</a> who tiptoes across a line slung 100 metres above Lake Baikal to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnvQggy3Ezw" title="">champion free-diver </a>with seemingly superhuman breath-holding powers, the 2019 Kendal Mountain Festival – taking place this weekend (14-17 November) in the Lake District market town – features extraordinary tales of bravery and endurance. But, among the more extreme stories, there are also tales of the healing power of nature and inspiring stories of women adventurers, older athletes and disabled outdoors lovers.</p><p>Here are five highlights from the 103 films being shown over the weekend. Next year the film festival will go on tour, with <a href="https://www.kendalmountainfestival.com/on-tour" title="">Kendal film nights</a> running in 22 locations from February to June.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/15/five-film-highlights-kendal-mountain-festival-2019">Continue reading...</a> Festivals Lake District holidays Day trips England holidays United Kingdom holidays Travel Documentary films Film Festivals Fri, 15 Nov 2019 06:32:00 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/15/five-film-highlights-kendal-mountain-festival-2019 Photograph: PR Photograph: PR Isabel Choat 2019-11-15T06:32:00Z https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/uk-foreign-office-warns-against-travel-to-bolivia <p>Protests and political unrest following resignation of President Evo Morales, have led to FCO advising against all-but-essential travel</p><p>The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to avoid travel to Bolivia, after weeks of violent protests in the country.</p><p>The FCO updated its advice on 11 November to warn against all but essential travel to the entire country, saying the “political and security situation is very uncertain across Bolivia following the resignation of the president [Evo Morales] on 10 November … since the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/12/evo-morales-arrives-mexico-bolivia-power-vacuum">disputed elections in October</a>”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/uk-foreign-office-warns-against-travel-to-bolivia">Continue reading...</a> Bolivia holidays South America holidays Travel Bolivia Americas World news Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:20:19 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/uk-foreign-office-warns-against-travel-to-bolivia Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images Photograph: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images Antonia Wilson 2019-11-13T17:20:19Z https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/fairbnbcoop-holiday-rental-website-launches-help-social-projects <p>Fears about overtourism have prompted the new holiday rental website to ban properties owned by businesses and donate 50% of commission to community projects</p><p>Ethical holiday rental website Fairbnb.coop has launched its reservations system offering travellers a chance to book in at city apartments that support community projects. The site aims to be a marketplace for “authentic, fair and conscious tourism” and promises to donate 50% of its commission to social projects selected by local residents.</p><p>“In Amsterdam the money will go to a community gardening project in the north and an urban agriculture project for migrant women in the south-east – both poorer parts of the city,” said <a href="https://fairbnb.coop/" title="">Fairbnb.coop</a>’s Spanish founder, Sito Veracruz.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/fairbnbcoop-holiday-rental-website-launches-help-social-projects">Continue reading...</a> Travel websites Hotels Bed and breakfasts Self-catering Travel Sharing economy Airbnb Technology Europe World news Wed, 13 Nov 2019 06:30:03 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/13/fairbnbcoop-holiday-rental-website-launches-help-social-projects Photograph: Fairbnb.coop Photograph: Fairbnb.coop Renate van der Zee 2019-11-13T06:30:03Z https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2019/nov/12/beautiful-bradford-15-great-reasons-most-improved-city <p>From its justly famous curry houses to world-class museums, the West Yorkshire city has it all. Here’s a selection of some of its very best bits<strong><br></strong></p><p>Bradford’s new status as <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-50392377" title="">the UK’s “most-improved” city</a> will be a feather in the cap of a place that has never accepted its tag as “segregation city”. There has always been far more to the place – too much, in fact – so here’s our guide to the best things to see and do in Bradford:</p><p><strong>Prashad</strong><strong><br></strong>Bradford takes curry incredibly seriously (it has won the award for <a href="https://www.visitbradford.com/curry-capital.aspx" title="">UK’s curry capital</a> six times) and <a href="https://www.prashad.co.uk/menus/" title="">Prashad</a>, with its exclusively vegetarian menu, is still the pick for many Bradfordians. The restaurant’s Mayur Patel recently co-founded <a href="http://bundobust.com/" title="">Bundobust</a>, a chain of vegetarian Indian eateries that boasts an impeccable selection of beers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2019/nov/12/beautiful-bradford-15-great-reasons-most-improved-city">Continue reading...</a> Bradford UK news Yorkshire Yorkshire holidays Day trips United Kingdom holidays Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:17:35 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2019/nov/12/beautiful-bradford-15-great-reasons-most-improved-city Photograph: Ian Dagnall/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: Ian Dagnall/Alamy Stock Photo Lanre Bakare 2019-11-12T17:17:35Z https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/nov/14/take-a-trip-into-the-past-rare-australian-vintage-travel-posters-in-pictures <p>Early 20th century travel posters capture the era’s aesthetic sensibility. Two designers led the way promoting Australia to the world in the interwar period. James Northfield was best known for his work with the Australian National Travel Association, often spruiking the merits of train travel throughout the continent, appealing to the beauty of the Australian wilderness. Percival Albert Trompf painted thousands of posters for companies including Bryant &amp; May Pty Ltd and Palmolive Co Ltd, as well as the magazine Walkabout. His most popular designs depicted historical events, such as the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Works from both designers will be auctioned at <a href="https://www.swanngalleries.com/news/2019/10/fall-2019-rare-important-travel-posters/">New York’s Swann Auction Galleries</a> this week. Here’s a selection of the Australian offerings – and some international ones </p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/nov/14/take-a-trip-into-the-past-rare-australian-vintage-travel-posters-in-pictures">Continue reading...</a> Posters Art and design Culture Art Australia news Design Travel Australia holidays Australasia holidays Thu, 14 Nov 2019 00:37:59 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2019/nov/14/take-a-trip-into-the-past-rare-australian-vintage-travel-posters-in-pictures Photograph: Courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries/Supplied Photograph: Courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries/Supplied 2019-11-14T00:37:59Z https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/12/car-free-somerset-bus-train-west-country-cider-weston-taunton <p>Buses and trains make it easy to explore the coast and countryside around Weston-super-Mare and Taunton, and the only way to go to indulge in the West Country’s famous cider</p><p>The train glides west. Uncompromising-looking grey clouds are shedding icy raindrops on to Bath’s spires and crescents and Bristol’s colourful terraces. But I’m hoping at least three things will warm this wintry West Country jaunt: cheese, cider and the scenery of Sanditon. Several scenes in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/25/sanditon-review-every-period-drama-box-ticked" title="">ITV’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s unfinished “beaches-and-ballgowns” novel</a> were filmed in Somerset and, arriving on the sandy seafront in Weston-super-Mare, I recognise the green slopes of Brean Down, a regular backdrop.</p><p>Brean beach, one of Sanditon’s star locations, is a few miles south, and a <a href="http://www.breandownway.uk/" title="">cycle route from Weston opened in 2017</a>. Given the weather, I opt to hop on the <a href="https://travelwest.info/bus/services-information/x5-weston-super-mare-uwe" title="">X5 bus (£7 Avonrider ticket)</a>, heading north to Clevedon, an elegant coastal town whose sea wall and marine lake also featured in the series. As I stroll by the sea, past the 150-year-old pier, rays of late-afternoon sunlight spill out of a rift in the clouds above Steep Holm, one of the distinctive islands in the Bristol Channel.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/12/car-free-somerset-bus-train-west-country-cider-weston-taunton">Continue reading...</a> Somerset holidays Short breaks Food and drink Rail travel England holidays United Kingdom holidays Travel Cider Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:30:31 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/nov/12/car-free-somerset-bus-train-west-country-cider-weston-taunton Photograph: olliemtdog/Getty Images/iStockphoto Photograph: olliemtdog/Getty Images/iStockphoto Phoebe Taplin 2019-11-12T06:30:31Z https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/15/secret-beaches-sacred-sites-and-sidra-the-10-best-things-do-in-asturias <p>Spain’s northern Asturias region is blessed with astounding natural beauty, ancient architecture and exceptional, idiosyncratic cuisine – and beloved by Iberophiles in the know. Never heard of it? Start here</p><p><strong>Ponga<br></strong>The <em>concejo</em> (council) of <a href="https://www.ponga.es/" rel="nofollow">Ponga</a>, south-west of the <a href="https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/descubre/naturaleza/reservas-de-la-biosfera/parque-nacional-de-los-picos-de-europa" rel="nofollow">Picos de Europa national park</a>, is a protected natural area recently singled out for <a href="https://www.turismoasturias.es/en/descubre/naturaleza/reservas-de-la-biosfera/parque-natural-de-ponga" rel="nofollow">biosphere reserve</a> status by Unesco for its stunning landscape and fascinating rural traditions. Lovers of wild nature are drawn here by the beech woods of Peloño, the mountain peaks of Tiatordos and Pierzu, and the river gorges of Viboli – one of Spain’s top spots for canyoning. Connoisseurs of rural life, meanwhile, head for off-piste villages like pretty Sobrefoz, or check out the Ecomuseum in San Juan de Beleño, Ponga’s diminutive capital. Whatever you’re into, Ponga is quintessential Asturias.</p><p><strong>Pre-Romanesque architecture in Oviedo</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/15/secret-beaches-sacred-sites-and-sidra-the-10-best-things-do-in-asturias">Continue reading...</a> Spain's secret coast Tue, 15 Oct 2019 14:28:12 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/15/secret-beaches-sacred-sites-and-sidra-the-10-best-things-do-in-asturias Photograph: Tourism Asturias Photograph: Tourism Asturias Paul Richardson 2019-10-15T14:28:12Z https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/16/viva-verde-discover-asturias-spains-ultimate-ecotourism-destination <p>From nature reserves and eco-retreats to sustainable cooking and, er, clogs, why this autonomous community in north-west Spain is the ultimate green getaway</p><p>It’s known as the Costa Verde, the green and rugged province wedged between Galicia and Cantabria on the north coast of Spain. It’s also been hailed as one of Europe’s leading eco-regions, thanks to its impressive sustainability focus. With Unesco-listed nature reserves, including Spain’s first national park, as well as empty beaches, eco-lodges and lakes, Asturias might be one of the country’s best-kept secrets.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/16/viva-verde-discover-asturias-spains-ultimate-ecotourism-destination">Continue reading...</a> Spain's secret coast Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:39:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/16/viva-verde-discover-asturias-spains-ultimate-ecotourism-destination Photograph: Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Photograph: Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Kate Wills 2019-10-16T15:39:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/pilgrims-progress-walking-spains-camino-primitivo <p>The oldest of the historic caminos that snake through Spain, France and Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Camino Primitivo – the ‘original way’ – takes modern-day pilgrims on a breathtaking journey along Spain’s rugged northern coast. Here’s what to expect<br></p><p>The Primitivo is the camino, but not as we know it.</p><p>This camino is quiet, subdued, a little rough around the edges even. It is far from the madding crowds that occasionally mar the Camino Frances – the most popular pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, and therefore occasionally chock-a-block with walkers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/pilgrims-progress-walking-spains-camino-primitivo">Continue reading...</a> Spain's secret coast Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:59:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/pilgrims-progress-walking-spains-camino-primitivo Photograph: María Izkue Photograph: María Izkue Peter Murtagh 2019-10-23T15:59:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/culture-nature-and-cachopo-why-asturias-is-spains-best-kept-secret <p>Secluded beaches, gothic monasteries, glaciated summits, ethereal forests, world-class restaurants and a buzzing capital – all this in a region half the size of Wales? Welcome to the enchanted principality of Asturias</p><p>Forget the stereotypical scenes of Spain and save the flamenco dancers, paella restaurants and sherry bodegas for another holiday: Asturias is a place apart. Stretching along the Atlantic coast, some 300 miles north of Madrid, the region could be mistaken for Switzerland with its snow-capped Picos de Europa range and bovine traffic jams, or for Ireland with its quiet fishing ports and shamrock-blanketed hills, were it not for its distinctive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asturian_language" rel="nofollow">singsongy language</a> and palpable Spanish <em>alegría</em>.</p><p>Spaniards have long been enamoured with Asturias – the Spanish press has never stopped cooing about its nature or beaches or cuisine – but only recently has the rest of the world started to catch on to this secret Eden, hiding in plain sight.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/culture-nature-and-cachopo-why-asturias-is-spains-best-kept-secret">Continue reading...</a> Spain's secret coast Wed, 23 Oct 2019 15:59:50 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/spains-secret-coast/2019/oct/23/culture-nature-and-cachopo-why-asturias-is-spains-best-kept-secret Photograph: María Izkue Photograph: María Izkue Benjamin Kemper 2019-10-23T15:59:50Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/14/level-airline-flights-change-compensation <p>We can’t make an insurance claim for compensation unless it gives us the reason</p><p><strong>My fiance and I travelled to Martinique in the Caribbean, flying from Leeds to Paris and then onwards </strong><strong>to Fort-de-France. We were having a lovely holiday until I received an email from our airline, Level, saying our return flight to France had been put back four days. I spent hours trying to </strong><strong>find out why and what assistance it could offer us as </strong><strong>it meant we had to book another flight </strong><strong>from Paris to Leeds and find accommodation for another four days. Level appears to be owned by Iberia so </strong><strong>its helpline</strong><strong> bounces you between call centres in different countries. We were offered no help </strong><strong>and it turned into a very expensive four days. </strong><strong>Level </strong><strong>claimed it </strong><strong>was entitled to change flights under its terms and conditions. Our insurance firm said it could process our claim for the costs incurred but only if Level provided email confirmation of the dates of the flights and the reason for the change. </strong></p><p><strong>I have sent numerous emails requesting this but it replies with a standard email saying we are not entitled to anything. </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/14/level-airline-flights-change-compensation">Continue reading...</a> Money Consumer affairs Consumer rights Travel & leisure Travel Flights Airline industry Thu, 14 Nov 2019 07:00:33 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/14/level-airline-flights-change-compensation Photograph: Rawpixel Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: Rawpixel Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo Anna Tims 2019-11-14T07:00:33Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/13/amazon-choice-reviews-fraud-five-star We were offered a voucher in return for posting a five-star review<p><strong>I ordered a key finder from Amazon and found a card in the box offering a $10 voucher in return for a five-star rating provided I did not mention this “rebate activity”! </strong></p><p><strong>Now I understand why it got such good reviews. </strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/13/amazon-choice-reviews-fraud-five-star">Continue reading...</a> Money Amazon Online shopping Wed, 13 Nov 2019 07:00:05 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/13/amazon-choice-reviews-fraud-five-star Photograph: Anna Berkut/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: Anna Berkut/Alamy Stock Photo Anna Tims 2019-11-13T07:00:05Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/12/oyo-hotel-bed-bugs-complaint-budget It offered budget deals but my daughter got more than she bargained for<p><strong>In August my daughter and a friend</strong> <strong>stayed at </strong><strong>an OYO hotel in Belgravia. On the second day they noticed bites and saw little bugs on the floor, wall and on their pillow, which appeared to be bed bugs. They went to the front desk to notify them and get a different room. The staff member said they couldn’t do anything and gave them a clean set of sheets. My daughter said the sheets would not change the issue as the bugs were in the room. They got no help and the person did not go upstairs to see the bugs.</strong></p><p><strong>We have been trying to get a refund</strong><strong>, and even have pictures of the bugs and bites, with time and location stamps to prove they were at the Belgravia hotel. They say they would only give us a 30% refund</strong><strong>. </strong><strong>They boast that they are the fastest growing hotel chain in the world. What a farce!</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/12/oyo-hotel-bed-bugs-complaint-budget">Continue reading...</a> Money UK news Consumer affairs Consumer rights Travel & leisure Travel Hotels Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:00:33 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/12/oyo-hotel-bed-bugs-complaint-budget Photograph: M4OS Photos/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: M4OS Photos/Alamy Stock Photo Rebecca Smithers 2019-11-12T07:00:33Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/virgin-trains-single-return-ticket-delay-refund Our train was delayed but the train company would only refund the outward journey, not the whole return trip<p><strong>My wife and I recently travelled by Virgin Trains (West Coast) from Glasgow to London after buying return tickets via Trainline. Our outward journey should have taken less than five hours but turned into a nightmare </strong><strong>10. The apologetic conductor repeatedly announced that, as the journey had been delayed by </strong><strong>more than two hours, there would be a full refund on </strong><strong>return tickets bought at the point of purchase. Rather than getting into Euston at 6.05pm it was after 11pm. We had to get across London (including two trips on the DLR) and arrived at our accommodation at midnight.</strong></p><p><strong>I received confirmation that my online refund application had been received and that I would hear back within 30 days but probably within 15. On the 14th day an email stated £98 had been refunded to my PayPal account – the cost of the outward journey</strong><strong>.</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/virgin-trains-single-return-ticket-delay-refund">Continue reading...</a> Money Consumer affairs UK news Consumer rights Virgin Trains Travel Travel & leisure Mon, 11 Nov 2019 07:01:14 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/virgin-trains-single-return-ticket-delay-refund Photograph: Chris Dorney/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: Chris Dorney/Alamy Stock Photo Rebecca Smithers 2019-11-11T07:01:14Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/i-got-a-home-with-help-to-buy-can-my-dad-buy-it-for-less-than-market-value <p>I’m hoping my parents can give me the balance between sale price and what the property is really worth</p><p><strong>Q</strong> I have a property which I bought with an equity loan under the help-to-buy scheme. This means that if I sell my property I will pay back a proportion of the significant value growth to the help-to-buy agency.</p><p>Can my father’s property company purchase my property at lower than market value – thus reducing the proportion of profit transferred to the help-to-buy agency – and then my parents give me the balance between sale price and market value to assist in purchasing a new home? <br><strong>UP</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/i-got-a-home-with-help-to-buy-can-my-dad-buy-it-for-less-than-market-value">Continue reading...</a> Help-to-buy scheme First-time buyers Money Mortgages Property UK news Mon, 11 Nov 2019 07:01:13 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/11/i-got-a-home-with-help-to-buy-can-my-dad-buy-it-for-less-than-market-value Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Virginia Wallis 2019-11-11T07:01:13Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/is-it-worth-buying-a-pricey-electric-toothbrush <p>I’ve seen models for almost £300, but I’m not sure if they’re a lot better than the basic ones</p><p><strong>Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.</strong></p><p>I’ve seen electric toothbrushes in Boots and there’s a huge price difference. There are Philips ones for £299, Oral-Bs for £140, but other Oral-Bs for £35, and a Colgate for £18. I need to know what’s the difference between all the models particularly as they all look much the same?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/is-it-worth-buying-a-pricey-electric-toothbrush">Continue reading...</a> Money Retail industry Consumer affairs UK news Sat, 09 Nov 2019 07:01:10 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/is-it-worth-buying-a-pricey-electric-toothbrush Photograph: Alamy Photograph: Alamy 2019-11-09T07:01:10Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/i-give-away-half-to-three-quarters-of-my-income-every-year <p>Allan Saldanha, 41, on how he achieved financial security and now hopes to help save lives</p><p><strong>Name:</strong> Allan Saldanha<br><strong>Age:</strong> 41<br><strong>Occupation:</strong> Audit manager<br><strong>Income:</strong> £125,000 (salary plus investment income)</p><p>From a young age I’ve believed in giving to charity. Visiting family in India and witnessing the poverty there encouraged me to donate to charities active in developing countries. At work I organised annual matching fundraisers for developing world charities such as WaterAid and Sightsavers and would offer to triple my colleagues’ donations. I knew that I could and should donate more, but always felt like I lacked the knowledge about the impact of my donations.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/i-give-away-half-to-three-quarters-of-my-income-every-year">Continue reading...</a> Charitable giving Savings Money Charities Society UK news Sat, 09 Nov 2019 07:01:10 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/09/i-give-away-half-to-three-quarters-of-my-income-every-year Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian Suzanne Bearne 2019-11-09T07:01:10Z https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/07/why-am-i-happy-to-spend-20-on-four-pints-of-beer-but-not-on-a-bottle-of-wine <p>We all have strange rules about what we will and won’t splash out on. Blame the way we were brought up – and our fear of death</p><p>Before the financial crash, people used to explain behavioural economics with the example of the rich man mowing his lawn. “Why are you doing that boring task when you’re so minted?” the hypothetical economist would ask him. “Because it costs £10 to get your lawn mowed.” “OK. If I give you a tenner, will you mow my lawn?” “Of course not.” Money, far from being a fixed, fungible quantity, changes value depending on how you feel about what you’re spending it on. After the crash, “behavioural” got to be shorthand for “Why did all those people behave so crazy?” But actually the pre-crash question – “Why are some tenners worth more than others?” – was more interesting.</p><p>Nowhere is this more obvious than with food and drink. I will think nothing, for instance, of having two pints with my mister on an average midweek evening, which is (quick maths) four pints, or 20 quid. I would no more buy a £20 bottle of wine on a Wednesday than I would go to Hawaii for a mini-break. I don’t mind at all going out for a fancy kebab irrespective of whether or not it’s my birthday, yet when a butcher casually lifted £5.95 off me for a lamb shank, I was still talking about it days later (I’m still talking about it now). I would never look at the cost of a main course and think: “How was it possible to get to 17 quid for a mackerel?” – I merely accept the restaurant’s decision. Yet the tag on side dishes sets off my daylight-burglar alarm: £4.50 for spring greens? No, really though. There had better be a tonne of them. At those prices, I want enough spring greens to put me off spring.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/07/why-am-i-happy-to-spend-20-on-four-pints-of-beer-but-not-on-a-bottle-of-wine">Continue reading...</a> Food Money Thu, 07 Nov 2019 09:00:51 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/07/why-am-i-happy-to-spend-20-on-four-pints-of-beer-but-not-on-a-bottle-of-wine Photograph: Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images/iStockphoto Photograph: Wavebreakmedia/Getty Images/iStockphoto Zoe Williams 2019-11-07T09:00:51Z https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/07/buy-electric-cars-charging-tariffs-cost <p>Should I do my research into tariffs before I get the car or get the car first?</p><p><strong>Like a lot of car owners, I’m thinking about replacing my diesel car with one powered by battery. I’ve identified a model that I’d like, but I’m puzzled by the infrastructure I’ll need. As far as I can tell, it’d be cheapest to charge the car overnight, using a suitable tariff like Economy 7. But I’m reluctant to commit to installing a charger until I’ve worked out what to do next. </strong></p><p><strong>Should I check with my energy supplier first to see if it has a suitable tariff, or go ahead and get the charger installed in the hope that I can find a suitable tariff afterwards. Or should I just buy the car and sort out </strong><strong>charging issues later?</strong><strong> <em>SP, London</em></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/07/buy-electric-cars-charging-tariffs-cost">Continue reading...</a> Consumer affairs Household bills Electric, hybrid and low-emission cars Money Environment Energy Energy bills Energy efficiency Energy industry Thu, 07 Nov 2019 07:01:09 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/nov/07/buy-electric-cars-charging-tariffs-cost Photograph: William Edwards/Alamy Stock Photo Photograph: William Edwards/Alamy Stock Photo Anna Tims 2019-11-07T07:01:09Z https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2019/nov/12/cryptic-crosswords-for-beginners-playing-cards <p>Continuing our series for those tempted or daunted by the cryptic crossword: jacks and aces, east and west</p><p><em>In the example clues below, I explain the two parts of each: the definition of the answer, given in </em><strong>bold type</strong><em>, and the wordplay – the recipe for assembling its letters. In a genuine puzzle environment, of course, you also have the crossing letters, which will greatly alleviate your solving load if you have them. The explanations contain <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/cryptic-crosswords-for-beginners">links to previous entries in this series</a> on such matters as spelling one word backwards to reveal another. And setters’ names tend to link to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog+series/meet-the-setter">interviews</a>, in case you feel like getting to know these people better.</em></p><p>If you see a word in a clue that can be represented by a single letter somewhere in the world, that may be just the toehold you need.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2019/nov/12/cryptic-crosswords-for-beginners-playing-cards">Continue reading...</a> Crosswords Tue, 12 Nov 2019 15:59:35 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2019/nov/12/cryptic-crosswords-for-beginners-playing-cards Photograph: Alamy Photograph: Alamy Alan Connor 2019-11-12T15:59:35Z https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27979 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27979">Continue reading...</a> Crosswords Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:04 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/27979 Paul 2019-11-15T00:00:04Z https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/15452 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/15452">Continue reading...</a> Crosswords Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:04 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/quick/15452 Guardian Staff 2019-11-15T00:00:04Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/sudoku-4608-hard <p><a href="https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2019/11/07/SU-4608_P_H_copy.jpg">Click here to access the print version</a>.</p><p>Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/sudoku-4608-hard">Continue reading...</a> Life and style Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:01:04 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/15/sudoku-4608-hard 2019-11-15T00:01:04Z https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/prize/27974 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/prize/27974">Continue reading...</a> Crosswords Sat, 09 Nov 2019 00:00:48 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/prize/27974 Paul 2019-11-09T00:00:48Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/12/kakuro-1586-hard <p>Fill the grid so that each run of squares adds up to the total in the box above or to the left. Use only numbers 1-9, and never use a number more than once per run (a number may reoccur in the same row, in a separate run).</p><p>Buy the Guardian tomorrow or subscribe to our <a href="http://guardian.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx">Digital Edition</a> to see the completed puzzle.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/12/kakuro-1586-hard">Continue reading...</a> Life and style Fri, 12 Jan 2018 00:01:14 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/12/kakuro-1586-hard 2018-01-12T00:01:14Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/observer-killer-sudoku <p><a href="https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2019/11/07/KS-1115_P_copy.jpg">Click here to access the print version</a>. <br></p><p>Normal Sudoku rules apply, except the numbers in the cells contained within grey lines add up to the figures in the corner. No number can be repeated within each shape formed by grey lines.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/observer-killer-sudoku">Continue reading...</a> Life and style Sun, 10 Nov 2019 00:00:19 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/10/observer-killer-sudoku 2019-11-10T00:00:19Z https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/09/what-is-it-illegal-to-wear-in-parliament-weekend-quiz <p>From animal dung to UK motorists, test your knowledge with the Weekend quiz</p><p><strong>1</strong> Who lives in Villa Villekulla with her monkey and a horse?<br><strong>2</strong> What is it illegal to wear in parliament?<br><strong>3</strong> Which animal’s dung is known as spraint?<br><strong>4</strong> Ethelbert of Kent was the first English king to do what?<br><strong>5</strong> Which archaic human was discovered by the Düssel River?<br><strong>6</strong> What began on 2 November, 1982 with TNEMARHIB?<br><strong>7</strong> Which band are named after Linda from the Manson family?<br><strong>8</strong> Dresden is a suburb of which English city?<br><strong>What links</strong><br><strong>9</strong> White Clay Creek Park, Delaware and Brown’s Hill, West Virginia?<br><strong>10</strong> Cerberus; Orthrus; Ladon; Chimera; Hydra?<br><strong>11</strong> Railway guides; Leviathan; Eboracum; taekwondo queen?<br><strong>12</strong> Vava; Pelé; Breitner; Zidane?<br><strong>13</strong> Annuitymatures; doctor’s fee; bank error; birthday?<br><strong>14</strong> Port wine; bride; Ant; UK motorists?<br><strong>15</strong> Amenhotep IV; Gandhi; Columbus; Einstein; Disney?</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/09/what-is-it-illegal-to-wear-in-parliament-weekend-quiz">Continue reading...</a> Life and style Sat, 09 Nov 2019 07:01:11 GMT https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/09/what-is-it-illegal-to-wear-in-parliament-weekend-quiz Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Thomas Eaton 2019-11-09T07:01:11Z