Butter chicken has helped me at every stage of my life – and has always united my family

I grew up eating this comforting, warming dish and it remains just as important to me today

Why we all need to be a lot less hesitant about being kind

While researching a book on kindness, I found that being kind enhances the mood of not just the receiver – but the giver, too

The big idea: why we shouldn’t try to be happy

Happiness might seem like a noble goal – but striving for it can be counterproductive

I learned so much about life and love from my cat that when she died I had her freeze-dried…

She was with me through tough times and I craved her presence after she’d gone. Getting her memorialised was the best way I could keep her with me

I have never eaten cucumber, onion – or an egg. Can I cure my extreme food phobias?

I’ve always been a fussy eater. Could an expert show me a life beyond the kids’ menu?

‘I’m eternally fascinated’: confessions of a ghost writer

Storyteller, nosy neighbour, bad therapist… a friendly ghost must be all these things, says Alexandra Heminsley

Learning new skills can be daunting. Here are four ways to embrace being a beginner

Many of us find grappling with unfamiliar demands anxiety-provoking. Try these steps to ease yourself in

Why yoga at home is simple, fun and rewarding

Push back the sofa and roll out your mat for Hatha yoga sessions in your front room, says Lucy Greeves

I used to be ashamed of being a fangirl. Now I see how joyous and creative it was

Lady Gaga was my idol, but I didn’t dare tell anyone. Now a new wave of books and films shows us why female obsession is such an important part of growing up

Autistic scholar Temple Grandin: ‘The education system is screening out visual thinkers’

By favouring verbal thinkers, says the author and animal scientist, essential skills are being lost. Her new book aims to demonstrate the power of processing information in different ways