The streets of Addis Ababa pulse with energy. Blue and white Lada taxis weave their way through the traffic, the call to prayer rings out every few hours and sellers bustle around, proudly displaying their wares. Meanwhile, traditional music booms out from shops and street corners. Yet, if you step inside homes, offices and meeting …
Is there someone you always talk to at the end of a gym class, a neighbour you enjoy nattering with when you bump into each other on the street, or a colleague you chat to while waiting for the kettle to boil in the staff kitchen? Perhaps that someone makes you smile, and you feel …
Hands up who loves nettles. These hardy plants, which grow profusely in the wild, are far from the most favoured species. They’ve caused many a child’s tears and ruined country walks, not to mention being unpopular with gardeners. Yet there are numerous benefits hidden within their jagged leaves and prickly stems. Before modern medicine, nature’s …
For many, a holiday brings joy – whether it’s a city sightseeing break, a few days’ walking in the countryside or a fortnight on an idyllic beach. But there’s also excitement to be found in the weeks leading up to a trip, especially one that’s long in the planning or a childhood dream. ‘Anticipating a …
A long wooden table laden with fragrant foods and Mediterranean flora has been placed among the olive trees. Chairs of all shapes and sizes have been brought out in readiness for the long-held Italian tradition of dining as a family. Here, the Italian proverb, A tavola, non si invecchia, loosely translated as ‘At the table, …
How the right fragrance can help with self-realisation In the summer of 2005, on a visit to the French Riviera, I came across the beautiful village of Grasse, home to the almost 100-year-old Fragonard perfumery – a treasure trove of all things fragrant, where you can see the noses at work and even mix your …
Why tradition and attention to detail are so important to bao buns Few people understand the elevation of this traditional dish better than the founders of London’s Taiwanese BAO restaurants, where steamed buns are the signature dish. While the bao originated in Chinese cuisine, in Taiwan, it’s the ultimate comfort food, made with a twist …
Why building a compelling story is essential for a grassroots campaign Emily Cleary, a seasoned campaigner, strategist and chair of her local Parent Teacher Association (PTA), which is responsible for strengthening the school community and ongoing fundraising initiatives, believes it all starts with a great story. Based in Buckinghamshire in the UK, she says: ‘A …
When was the typewriter first invented? Typing instruments go as far back as the 16th century, but it’s widely regarded that the first typewriters were invented in the early 19th century. Initially developed as a device for those with impaired vision and hearing, some early incarnations were far from the models that were to become …
Why thinking about other people is the key to good manners ‘I hate that concept of etiquette as something archaic – rules to judge people,’ Deborah says. ‘That’s the opposite of good manners. I think manners is thinking about other people. With that, you can’t go wrong.’ Approached in this way, communal living – be …
