Lifestyle

Recently, I found myself in Surbiton, where I had arranged to meet an old friend who lives in deepest commuter-land. I had never visited the place before. Indeed, I have to confess that it was well into my adult life that I discovered it was a real place at all; previously, I had assumed it was a fictional entity, invented by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde for The Good Life. The name just seemed so apt, Surbiton, with its hint...

A mix of fussy eating and diverse family eating patterns is creating a mountain of food waste in Britain and making meal preparation increasingly taxing for British parents. Millions of parents are cooking more than four times a day, according to new research, with those from multi-generational and larger families cooking up to ten differing meals every day. A quarter of the 2,000 parents polled admit that in order to meet different family schedules they are forced to play chef several times...

When Ron had to give up work due to a rare form of dementia it was a difficult time and the impact of the diagnosis not only affected him but his partner of 25 years, Loraine. However, thanks to the support of The Royal British Legion’s Admiral Nurse service, they have been able to come to terms with Ron’s condition and learn to live positively with dementia. In 2007 Ron started to display erratic and obsessive behaviour that was completely...

A pet owner says she owes her life to her beloved pooch when she went to the doctors after falling over the dog and found out she had cancer. Pat Lacey, 73, had not visited her doctors for almost a year when she was tripped over by Staffordshire bull terrier Ice in her kitchen. The former civil servant went to her GP after feeling her hand start to swell up following the fall on January 17 last year. Doctors found...

A little boy has had his dreams of becoming an actor dashed despite landing a coveted part in a massive TV ad campaign - because his school refused to let him have the day off for filming. Ethan Solomon-Roberts wants to become a big Hollywood star and was over the moon to have beaten thousands of other children to land a part in a new advert for Sainsbury's 'Back to School' campaign. But the six-year-old is now devastated after his...

This adorable dancing father and son have become an online sensation thanks to their hilarious in-sync routines. Stanley Freeland, 25, and son Josiah, four, started working on their moves for their ‘#FatherLikeSon’ videos two years ago. They now regularly share updates of them jiving together online. The duo has even recorded and released a version of Josiah’s favourite track “The ABC Song”. The dancing dad said he hopes to inspire other dads to bond with their sons in fun ways....

A couple who refused to give up their social life after the birth of their daughter built a PUB in their garden so they could carry on partying- and hear the baby monitor. Eva and Phil Avery decided to accommodate parenthood in an unusual way – by building a pub in the yard. It allowed them to hear the baby monitor baby Millie arrived nearly three years ago. Phil said: “We bought the house when Eva was pregnant and our...

Young Brits are turning to alcohol to deal with mental health issues, with a third saying they drink alcohol when they are feeling down. New research has revealed men are likely to reach for a bottle compared to women when times get tough, with younger people more inclined to rely on vices such as booze rather than reliable fixes such as sleep, exercise and quality time with friends and family. Those aged 55 and over are more likely to stick to healthier methods...

If you’re seeking somewhere to settle down and raise a family, or simply looking to get away from the busy hustle and bustle of central London, you may have considered moving to Richmond. Not only has this tranquil borough been ranked London’s happiest area, it also boasts a wide range of amenities and attractions, along with some excellent transport links into the city centre. Restaurants and bars Richmond is home to some top rated London restaurants, with prices to suit...