Take the slow approach — I was fortunate as a child. I had parents who bought me lovely books — mostly the classics, hardbacks with beautiful illustrations. My Dad used to do his book shopping at Foyles in London when he was there for work: https://www.foyles.co.uk/shops/london-charing-cross-road One of the books I was given, probably aged…

Tips for owners to improve the guest experience and pitfalls to watch out for When I travel to countries I know, especially with other family members, I usually choose Airbnb because, at its best, it’s a home-from-home. I don’t mind hotels for very short stays, but I’m happier where I…

I'm a Terrible Traveler! — Discombobulation (a beautiful, onomatopoeic word!) sums up how I've felt for the past week. When you are out of kilter with your usual routine, and your sleep and digestive patterns are mixed up, coping with everyday life can become a struggle. …

What can we learn from people who live apart from the 'normal' world? — In my earlier piece, I talked about four reality TV experiments where participants left their everyday lives to partake in community living for a short period: How can we Increase our Happiness? Four Experiments With Simple Living The TV reality shows that changed lives for the bettermedium.com All the communities they joined were faith-based, but most participants had no religious upbringing or belief in a Christian God. …

How to be genuinely British It’s late Autumn turning to Winter in the UK. Casual conversations are changing from the ubiquitous subject of the weather in all its variations (‘Not too bad considering the time of year, is it?’ or ‘We needed that rain, but I wish I’d remembered my…

The TV reality shows that changed lives for the better — Simplicity is arguably the holy grail of 21st-century life. Whether young, old, or in our prime, many of us yearn for less clutter and impedimenta: physical, mental, and emotional. Successful businesses have been built around fulfilling that yearning, whether to help us cut down on our possessions or acquire peacefulness…

What happens to the money? — My hairdresser is an excellent source of gossip. I'm sure it's his way of keeping life interesting for himself as he trims yet another head of hair or applies highlights. Like a tabloid newspaper, his stories are always colourful, usually slightly unbelievable. …

Why the Queen matters to so many of us — If you live in the UK, you will know that we have just come to the end of a four-day weekend celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. We had an extra Bank Holiday so we could all join in. It will undoubtedly be a very long time before we celebrate on…

Oh, the luxury! I've written before about how I don't have a perfect record of looking after my dental health: Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth! Habit # 27: A good dental hygiene routinemedium.com As my husband likes to joke, all my teeth are my own — I know that because I paid for them! I have finally gone down the path of dental…