Lifestyle

Council chiefs who were shown a video of a mum struggling to carry her disabled son up 30 stairs still refused her priority housing - because she made it to the TOP. Sharon Arkell, 38, and Richard Mikkelson, 37, live with Tommy, four, and his little sister Susie in a second-floor flat. Tommy cannot reach it unaided as he suffers from muscular dystrophy, a progressive illness which means he'll soon have to use a wheelchair permanently. So mum Sharon carries...

Marie Curie, esteemed physicist, chemist and isotope enthusiast has been named the most inspirational women of all time in a recent poll. Curie, who was the first woman ever to win the Nobel Prize (twice in fact, and in two different sciences, pub trivia fans) bested Florence Nightingale and Anne Frank, who took 2nd and 3rd in the countdown. It's great to see that Curie's contribution to science is still recognised by modern Brits. The inroads she made in the...

Dale Hoyland, Strategic Development and Affordable Warmth Manager, National Energy Foundation For most households, energy is an expensive necessity – but not keeping yourself warm enough in the winter can have dire consequences. According to the most recent Government figures, there was an estimated 43,900 excess winter deaths (caused by cold weather) in England and Wales in 2014/15; the highest number since 1999/00. The majority of these deaths occurred among people aged 75 and over. So, it’s very important to...

Welcoming London’s First Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare Challenge, Joanne McCartney to discuss the London Childcare Challenge. Have you ever considered childcare to be part of the infrastructure? Well in my book, it’s very much part of a modern economic strategy enabling parents to work, children to learn and thrive and families to be part of local community connections. In London, providing and accessing childcare is challenging. For parents it is cost and accessibility especially when fewer than 20%...

First dates have sort of become a big deal of late. I mean, there's an entire programme dedicated to them which captures their essence thanks to a wise maître d, a savvy barman and a restaurant full of endless possibilities. But what's the key to making them a success? Well, according to new research, it's not so much about what you do as it is about what you don't do. Talking about ex-partners, being rude to waiting staff and having dirty fingernails are...

Are online medical consultations the way of the future? Is it possible to just fill in an online form and receive both a diagnosis and prescription in a couple of minutes? If this is true, it means that you will no longer have to join long queues just to see a general practitioner. You will be able to consult with a general practitioner online and receive your prescription medication the next day. This seems almost of unimaginable. How can it be...

Set atop the White Cliffs of Dover with panoramic views of the Channel, the Bluebird Cafe boasts the best cafe view in the country. And now it's up for sale. The historical building, which was built in the 1920s, has gone up for sale with an eyewatering price tag of £3.5 million! But you won't just be buying into the view, you'll be purchasing a colourful history too. The cafe played a key part in World War Two, and its secret...

Alison Rooks leads Macmillan Cancer Support’s Energy Advice Team, who offer help to people with cancer with energy worries. Whenever I tell people I work for a cancer charity, they immediately assume I’m a nurse. Everyone knows the terrific work nurses do, yet less well known is the fact that people with cancer need a wide range of support. You wouldn’t think it was the case but people are much more likely to call our support line about financial worries...

I’ve got a friend who, despite being one of the most lethargic people I know, has got calves the size of tree trunks. To the innocent bystander he’s a physical anomaly. This is a man who has spent the best part of his life on a diet of cheese toasties and Walkers crisps, who would struggle to ride a bike without stabilisers and thinks squats are what you do when you can’t get to the toilet, and yet he can...