Lifestyle

British parents only spend 44 minutes a day talking to their children, according to new research. The findings emerged in a study of 2,000 parents of kids aged four to 16, which shows that despite spending more than eight hours a day together, families chat for less than 10 per cent of that time. Conversations between mums and dads and their children will last for just nine minutes before it’s time for school. A further 14 minutes of chat will...

To anyone who has worked in an office, or indeed, had a boss, it's a clear truth that teamwork really makes the dream work. Your manager knows this. They are also aware that, if you're a negative force in the office rowing against the tide, they're tired of your rubbish. A new study has confirmed this, with employees with a negative attitude, bad manners and an addiction to social media most likely to land in trouble with the boss. Gossips, poor...

With the sun shining, Wimbledon underway and the first test at Lords nearing its halfway point it is safe to say that summer is finally here - and what a let down it is going to be. According to a new study millions of Brits feel ‘let down’ by the British summer – with hay fever, insect bites and hearing about other people’s ‘great’ holidays among the biggest bugbears. Research revealed most of us start the summer with good intentions,...

Do you love your girlfriend so much yet you can’t seem to express it in words? Have you had a hard time searching for that perfect gift that would make her go gaga? I know how daunting it could get in this quest, whether you’re seeking for the complete full list of anniversary gifts for her or just ideas to get you going. Read more to find out the tips that will help you a great deal in getting the...

Last Saturday was the tenth anniversary of the introduction in England of a ban on smoking in enclosed public workplaces. I had a walk-on part in the drama of the ban: as a clerk on the House of Commons Health Committee, I drafted its report on the Government’s proposed legislation, which made a number of recommendations, largely for a more comprehensive and draconian ban, without the exemptions the Government had intended to enshrine in the law. Initially, while of course I...

THE world’s first scan using twin growth charts has taken place in the UK today at St George’s Hospital in south west London – marking a monumental moment for multiple birth families across the country. The charts mean twins can be accurately measured in the womb so health professionals can instantly recognise whether they are growing appropriately. It means hundreds of tiny lives could be saved when, previously, growth issues were misdiagnosed and inappropriately managed. The £25,000 research project to...

A damning report has described meat consumption as a "major public health concern". The 'Meat the Truth' report unveils how harmful eating meat really is and claims if people knew the facts, they wouldn’t take the risk. It includes ground-breaking scientific evidence that shows meat offers no health benefits and is linked to Britain’s biggest killers – heart disease and cancer. The risk of early death increases rapidly even at low intakes of red and processed meat. An 85g serving (a...

If you find commuting by car stressful and expensive, or if you’re spending a fortune on tax and insurance but hardly using your four-wheeled friend, then maybe it’s time to give up the motor and make the most of the alternatives on offer. Stress in the city There’s no denying driving is the most stressful way to get to work. The newspapers might focus on the plight of rail passengers, but it’s car commuters who suffer the most. According to...

Carers Trust, the UK’s largest charity for unpaid carers, is today launching a £2 million project to help unpaid carers in London to access work, training and education. Working for Carers will encourage local employers to adopt carer-friendly policies and to recognise the benefits of employing carers in their workforce. The new programme will help some of the capital’s 689,000 unpaid carers to return to work or education whilst juggling care for a family member or friend who is sick...