A new start after 60: I learned to surf – despite the alligators
Kerrie Houston Reightley has always been athletic, and thought she would be able to pick up surfing. Months of ‘crashing and burning’ ensued, but her competitive nature kept her going
Should I worry that my hot drink will give me cancer?
How hot should a hot drink be? And is it time to dilute your herbal tea with some cold water?
Readers reply: why do so many people drink very hot tea – and how do they do it?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts
The openness of talking to strangers – and the intimate stories they share
The stories people tell me about their lives can be funny, surprising, tragic or shocking – and some stay with me for years
Fitness fads come and go, so why not walk away from the pressure to count your daily steps?
A 22-minute brisk daily walk is the new magic number, but when I’m not watching the clock, I lose track of time – in the best possible way
A home help for eight days after giving birth? Why Dutch maternity care is the envy of the world
Everyone who gives birth in the Netherlands has the legal right to a kraamzorg to help with everything from breastfeeding to laundry. How do these new mums find it?
My drive to improve others makes me a never-pleased father figure. Is there a way out?
Knowing you want to change is a good sign, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. It might help to remind yourself of the pain judgment can inflict
My grandmother’s support – and Creole cooking – helped me to love myself when I didn’t know how
When I felt lonely growing up, my grandmother’s company and cuisine were a soothing balm
Fika, four-week holidays – and zero overtime: Sweden’s stunningly healthy work culture
From wellbeing allowances to generous parental leave to a bonus in your pay packet when you take a break, the Scandinavian country has a lot to teach the rest of the world
Pregnant in Gaza with no clinics: ‘I have no idea where I will give birth’
As one of 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, Noor Hammad faces a traumatic birth and fraught start in life for her first baby