‘Let’s go fly a kite!’ urges a rejuvenated Mr Banks at the end of the 1964 film Mary Poppins, after he’s dismissed from his job and heads for the park. Whether on a windswept hilltop, city playground or on the beach with a fresh sea breeze, it can make the heart soar to see a …
Do you recognise the frustration of grinding to a halt in the middle of a project, when inspiration dries up and you just feel stuck? It might be a creative endeavour, like a painting or piece of writing, or an essay or presentation at work. You’re staring at a blank screen and nothing’s flowing. One …
In this issue: Feelings have a place – Go on, take a moment – ‘A carnival of sound’ – Fabric of film – Drift away – Mind games – Into the inky black abyss – Thereby hangs a tale – It’s on me – The joy of zero ‘We just pick up where we left …
Work, household chores, family, friends, exercise, meditation – life’s myriad demands, even the pleasant ones, often make the prospect of fitting in space to learn something new feel daunting. And even for those who do manage to find time, being able to focus for long enough for it to be rewarding can be tough. If …
You sigh as you get into bed and set your alarm for work the next morning. What you wouldn’t give for one more week off. Whether you’ve been away or just enjoyed time at home catching up with friends and family, annual leave is a precious chance to recharge your batteries, and gearing yourself up …
Maya Angelou, the great American poet and author, famously wrote: ‘Nothing can dim the light that shines within.’ However, when the sky is grey and the night draws in at about 4pm, it’s easy to start feeling lethargic and perhaps a little low in mood, too, especially if you’re nursing yet another winter sniffle. The …
Holkham National Nature Reserve, Norfolk, England Cool, crystalline sand slips under my bare feet as I weave between tufts of marram grass, swaying in the breeze. Reaching the top of the dune, I turn to gaze across a vast golden beach and the darker tidal flats beyond, the North Sea a shimmering sliver on the …
The spotlight picks out a podium on the stage. A hush descends over the audience. There’s the rattle of an envelope opening, a clearing of the throat. ‘And the winner is…’ A long pause. And then a name is spoken. Yours. If you’ve ever been in this position, it might have felt unreal. Or perhaps …
‘Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?’ exclaims the stern Malvolio to some high-spirited merrymakers in Act II of Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night. Known for his dislike of loud, drunken fun, Malvolio might be at the extreme end of party-pooper territory, but his preference for …
Maybe the scent of cranberries, oranges and cinnamon filling the room makes coming home feel like a warm hug. Or it could be the aroma of apple slices and vanilla extract, reminding you of baking a cake with the help of a favourite relative, that brightens up your day. Whatever the associations, there’s something about …
