In some of the most remote landscapes, it’s a source of wonder to find stone walls meandering for miles, almost stitched into the fabric of the hills and dales. Hunkered against the elements, they stand testament to the skill of those who laid them. The technique of building walls from locally available stone – without …
What do you think of when you hear the word obligation? For many, it can create an uncomfortable, often negative feeling, where you feel pressured into a commitment. Perhaps you feel a reluctance to show up and complete a task, which obligation has turned into an inconvenience. And yet, as an integral part of the fabric …
There is a part of the creative process that often goes unnoticed. It isn’t the spark, the initial idea that came into your head on a random Thursday afternoon. Or the rhythm of the making, or even the standing back and looking as the picture or piece emerges. It’s the quiet pause at the end …
In this issue: Perfectly imperfect – Don’t hold back – Windows of opportunity – Subtle sabotage – Just magical – Super natural – The subconscious home – Right from wrong – Between generations – Only connect Looking at the news, it can be easy to forget how connected we all are. Things that friends, family …
There’s nothing quite like pottering around the garden with your dog at your heels, watching them relax in the shade of a tree as you tend your flower beds or plant up containers. Many gardeners are also dog lovers – including famous faces like Gardeners’ World veterans Monty Don and Alan Titchmarsh – and spending …
It can feel as if you’re being told every day about the benefits of exercise and how it can help you on all levels, not least living a longer and happier life. But the truth is, as you age, your body changes. And even if you’ve worked hard at staying fit all your life, exercising …
You did it! You aced the interview, and the promotion you’ve had your heart set on is yours. But where you expected to feel elation, the ultimate sense of achievement, there’s a nagging voice in your head interrupting your celebrations. ‘What’s next?’ it says. ‘You can do better, you know.’ You’re not alone in chasing …
What do you think about the idea of visiting an art gallery? Perhaps it reminds you of school trips and reminders not to touch the paintings. Maybe they’re somewhere you only go while on holiday. You might visit on a whistle-stop tour of a city, ticking famous paintings off your list. They’re there to be …
As niche jobs go, don’t you think it could be compelling to be the researcher tasked with studying the gaze and brain activity of a group of readers as they embark on a novel? Would the data confirm that while some eyes dart and dance their way across the page, others linger and widen as …
In this issue: A mystical beginning – Quite contrary – Funny business – Clocking on – Finishing touches – Small gestures – Breaking bread – Through thick and thin – Helping hound – Feast on fibre There’s magic to be found in looking with fresh eyes at everyday places, objects and even ideas. Spring, with …
