Lifestyle

Hundreds of thousands of supporters travelled to north London to celebrate their team winning the Premier League. Here’s what they wore … ‘The only thing I haven’t got are the underpants. Everything else is Arsenal,” says Shane, a memorabilia and kit collector perched outside north London’s Clissold park with his daughter, Erin. Known online as Highbury Gunner JVC, the 47-year-old wore an Arsenal-buckled belt, a club tie in a player pattern and a club shirt with a red and white vintage-style duffel bag. The showstopper, though, was his bespoke jacket made from curtains by the designer Joe Brim, finished with an Arsenal medallion and watch, and yellow customised Dr Martens. A collector since the 1970s, he says: “I could complete a catalogue from the 90s; my house is like a museum.” Favourite shirt … Liv Samuels in his Arsenal badge Hawaiian top Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 5 hours ago

Always wondered what everyday stuff celebrities buy, where they shop for food and the basics they scrimp on? The former footballer talks Lego, Rich Tea biscuits and spending money on experiences with the Filter • Don’t get the Filter delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Karen Carney is England’s fourth most-capped football player, competing at four World Cups, four European Championships and the London Olympics before retiring in 2019. In 2022, she began leading a landmark government review into the Future of Women’s Football in the UK, the recommendations of which were successfully backed by the government in 2023. She was part of the first all-female punditry team for ITV at the men’s World Cup 2022, led ITV’s coverage of the men’s Euros in 2024 and contributed analysis to the women’s Euros in 2025. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 6 hours ago

While many young people are struggling to get work, an average date night costs north of $200. No wonder so many are resigning themselves to being alone Name: Solo-maxxing. Age: Newish. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 7 hours ago

Whether you’re grilling meat or veg, our panel agrees that the best accompaniments involve a balance of acid, fat, salt, aromatics and sweeteners What are the best marinades and sauces for a barbecue? Josie, by email “Good, well-farmed meat needs none of that nonsense,” insists Richard Turner, co-founder of butcher Turner & George in London. “I want to taste the meat and, if necessary, it should be tenderised by your chosen cooking technique.” For Josie, though, he’ll go with the flow. First things first, all good marinades have a few things in common: “You need a tenderiser, so citrus juice, vinegar, yoghurt, buttermilk, wine or enzymes [pineapple, papaya],” he says. “These acids work by breaking down the surface collagen and protein in the meat, which tenderises the exterior and lets other flavours penetrate more deeply, while enzymes break down connective tissue.” You’ll then want fat – olive oil, coconut milk, yoghurt – and seasoning – sea salt, fish sauce, soy sauce, miso. “Salt penetrates deep into the meat, breaking down muscle fibres and drawing in liquids, so increasing both moisture and flavour.” You’ve then got garlic, ginger, shallots, herbs, chilli and sweeteners (honey, maple syrup, treacle) to play with. Got a culinary dilemma? Email [email protected] Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 8 hours ago

A breadcrumb trail of secret messages spanning two years, dozens of puzzles and the Guardian’s leader column led solvers to a very special prize … Last time , we shared some old milestone puzzles in anticipation of Guardian cryptic No 30,000. That crossword has since been published : and here, in the order it happened (that is, how solvers experienced it but in reverse), is its tale. 29581 WELLDONE 29587 BRAVO 29599 HERE 29611 INCONCLUSION 29629 ISOURF 29633 INALCH 29641 ALLENG 29663 EAREYOU 29669 KEEPINGUPGREAT 29671 THEREWI 29683 LLBEAWON 29717 DERF 29723 ULPRIZ 29741 EBUTFIR 29753 STYOUM 29759 USTENT 29761 ERARAC 29789 ENOTAN 29803 ACTUALATHLETIC 29819 RACEOFC 29833 OURSETH 29837 ATWOULD 29851 BEWEIRD 29863 NOTTHAT 29867 ITSACER 29873 EBRALRA 29879 CEINTHE 29881 FORMOFA 29917 CROSSWORDPUZZLE 29921 ITSAGEN 29927 IUSPUBL 29947 ISHEDAT 29959 NOONBST 29983 TOMORROW 29989 GODSPEED LAST THIRTY-FIVE PRIMES Leader I tailored badly [ definition : leader ] [ wordplay : anagram (‘badly’) of ITAILORED ] Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 8 hours ago

In 1971, Bianca Jagger entranced the fashion world with the skirt suit she wore to marry Mick Jagger. Now, in a nod to that style, Lipa is ushering in a new era of nonconformity Fifty five years after Bianca Jagger shocked onlookers when she wore a Yves Saint Laurent skirt-suit to marry Mick Jagger, her alternative wedding look has become a firm favourite among a new generation of brides. On Sunday, pop star Dua Lipa became the latest celebrity to endorse the trend when she married actor Callum Turner during an intimate ceremony in London. Photos of the couple on the steps of Old Marylebone town hall showed them grinning under a flurry of confetti, Turner in a navy suit, Lipa in an ivory skirt suit ripped straight from the pages of the Jagger stylebook complete with a wide-brimmed hat. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 8 hours ago

The face looking back at me in the mirror is familiar – because it is my father’s. The worst part? It’s all my own fault On a day as hot as hell last week, the only thing I had left to take off without causing offence was my fringe. So I went into a barber and asked him to do me this simple favour, and he said, “Not really – barbers are for men,” and I said that was a risk I was prepared to take, and he said, “Men’s hair and women’s hair are completely different,” and I said, “That cannot be true – it doesn’t make biological sense,” and he said, “It is true,” and I said it was the least true thing I had ever heard and he said, “Fine,” and it took about a tenth as long as my regular haircut and cost about 17 times less. I’ve had a fringe this short before, for reasons of fashion, and I remember that era well because every time I saw my late mother, she started whistling ballads from the medieval times. Her repertoire was amazing. They say you’ll miss them when they’re gone, and I do not miss this . Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 10 hours ago

You might think tropical plants would love a warm shower, but even in summer the UK’s weather is unpredictable The problem Indoor plants accumulate dust on their leaves, mineral deposits on their soil and a general staleness that comes from living in the same spot, in poorly ventilated air, for months at a time. The hack Spending time in warm summer rain is said to give houseplants a spa day: soft water reaches their roots, dust is washed from their leaves, and they get a rare dose of the outdoor conditions they may be best suited to. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 11 hours ago

In the 1990s, there were hundreds of authentic balti restaurants in the English city. Now, there are about 20. Will a big campaign bring back the boom times? ‘Curry might have come from India, but balti was born in Birmingham,” says Zaf Hussain. The 40-year-old’s family business, Shababs, has been on this site on the bustling Ladypool Road in south-east Birmingham since his father opened it in 1987. Settled in between the Indian sweet shops and south Asian bridal boutiques, Shababs is one of the last remaining restaurants in the city that still makes an authentic balti curry – a dish that, if Hussain and other campaigners have their way, could be officially certified as an element of Britain’s living heritage inventory , a preservation scheme established in 2025 by Unesco and the British government. The problem, says Hussain, is that “people don’t know what the real thing is any more”. True balti, he says, is all about “the bowl in which it’s cooked and served”. The dish is cooked in a steel bowl on a high heat and served straight away, sizzling on the table for the customer. “Lots of people say they do balti, but they actually cook it in a frying pan before dumping it into a bowl,” says Hussain. “The proper thing is fast and it’s very flavoursome.” Balti has become a catch-all term for anything vaguely resembling curry flavour, from curry-flavoured snacks to mass-produced bottled sauces . Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 11 hours ago

A few lucky runners can look forward to ‘an orchestra of neurochemical changes’ when they lace up their trainers. Why do the rest of us just get sweaty? And do other forms of exercise have the same effect? The runner’s high, where pavement-pounding drudgery turns into something like a chemically enhanced experience, is an elusive state to pin down. Some people seem to get it during most of their runs; others rarely, or barely at all. A few lucky Couch to 5kers claim to experience it within their first few sessions, while some professional athletes doubt that it even exists. This is partly due to individual differences in brain chemistry, and partly because the way you train has a significant effect on how likely you are to experience it. If you’re on the verge of throwing away your trainers, though, there’s good news: runner’s high is real, and there are ways to maximise your chances of experiencing it, even if you’d rather hit the pool or the river than the trail. On your marks, then … Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 13 hours ago

I love exploring Poland by rail. When I heard about a new back-to-the-80s service, I booked a retro seat … Trainspotters jostled on platform 2 as sunshine lit up the polished olive-green carriages of the 11:07 from Warszawa Główna (Warsaw main station) to Poznań. As I was readying to board, a man, sporting bow tie and braces, zipped past me, making it to the steps first. Excitement was palpable. But then this was no ordinary train, but rather an event. A throwback in time. The Polish parliament had declared 2026 as the Year of Polish Railways, and there is a double jubilee under way: the 25th anniversary of the long-distance operator PKP Intercity and the centenary of Polish state railways. To celebrate, a series of retro rail journeys called Nieśpieszny (“Unhurried”) has been launched. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 14 hours ago

Pork is an underrated barbecue meat, and this taste of Thailand pairs perfectly with a fiery mango salad I tend to start grilling food the second I catch a glimpse of the sun. After all, even if the temperature drops or the clouds threaten, I can always resort to my griddle pan indoors. Pork is an underrated meat for the barbecue, and a slow-cooked shoulder or loin is a wonderful thing. When I’m short on time, however, I often go for mince: it’s reasonably priced and has enough fat for a deliciously juicy skewer. Here, I’ve infused it with Thai seasonings that take me back to the heady experience of eating grilled street food in Bangkok. A feisty mango salad and some rice on the side are all you need for a feast. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 15 hours ago

Click here to access the print version. Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 21 hours ago

Need a pair of grown-up shorts? A summer sandal that works with everything? Or perhaps just a really cute bag? Our expert’s monthly edit is here to help • 52 women’s summer wardrobe updates for under £100 Weddings! Wimbledon! It’s June, which means that summer has well and truly arrived. The May heatwave may have flagged some gaps in your warm-weather wardrobe, so here are some of this month’s juiciest style updates. Read on for everything from the season’s most chic capri pants to bikini bottoms for under £10, plus some tips on under-the-radar brands to keep an eye on. Keep cool out there, comrades. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

The acronym ‘FOH’ for ‘Fuck off home’ was used beside the names of expectant mothers. Senior midwives advised others not to be ‘too kind’. But as this and other shocking evidence is brought to light, sexism is only one part of the story It’s said to be mother nature’s stunning con trick, the single most helpful move in the propagation of the species – that childbirth might be the worst thing ever to happen to anyone, but once you are through it, you instantly forget how painful it was. And that is true, up to a point, although you can often remember enough of the surrounding detail – swearing at strangers, wishing you were dead – that you can infer the rest. What you don’t forget, however, is what the midwives were like, and nor, even in moments of extremis, do you fail to notice if they’re treating you scornfully. Panorama tonight is about the maternity unit run by Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust, the subject of the largest maternity inquiry in NHS history, spanning 13 years from 2012, and covering 2,500 families. The details are hair-raising : “FOH” written next to women’s names on a whiteboard, which stood for “fuck off home”; accounts of senior midwives advising others not to be “too kind”; gut-wrenching individual cases of women being warned off coming in to hospital for so long that, when one finally arrived, her baby was dead and her perineum and vaginal wall had collapsed. And every one of those women will have known, on some level, even if she was in no state to ask for her notes or read them, that someone wanted her to “fuck off”. You get a superpower in a life-and-death situation, though it’s unclear how helpful it is: you can tell pretty fast who’s on your side and who isn’t. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

More and more people are looking for love when they’re abroad, and consider themselves better placed to do so. But there are potential pitfalls ... Name: Wanderlove. Age: Originally coined by the dating app Bumble in 2022 to describe a trend predicted for 2023 . Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

This yoghurty-crunchy sharing dish brings classic street food vibes with no need to fire up the barbecue While souvlaki and other Greek meat grills are staples in our house, their appearance definitely increases in the warmer months. And if I’m going to the effort of lighting the barbecue, I will always cook more meat than I need, so I can enjoy it on subsequent days. As a result, I have a new appreciation for turning this much-loved street food into more of a sharing plate. You can, of course, barbecue the chicken, if that is how your day is going, but this is just as delicious made in a pan, quickly and simply, with all that charred flavour. Throw in a little sunshine and a glass of cold wine, and you’ll find yourself instantly transported to a waterside taverna, paper tablecloth and all. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

Tell us about your best coastal boltholes that won’t blow the budget – the top tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays break Finding affordable hotel accommodation in Europe’s coastal hotspots in summer can be a challenge, especially if you’d rather not settle for a soulless budget chain or youth hostel. Whether it’s a grand old hotel on the French Riviera that oozes faded glamour or a charming guesthouse on the Amalfi coast, we’d love to hear about European seaside hotels that feel special without blowing the budget. The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

In HBO docuseries Bring Me the Beauties, a lesser-known, image-obsessed cult from the 80s is put under the spotlight Documentary film-maker Chris Smith made the seminal 1999 film American Movie, about an indie director’s struggle to complete a horror film, which he hopes will then finance the completion of his dream project. More recently, he’s profiled well-known subjects in projects for Netflix about Jim Carrey and Andy Kaufman, the bands Devo and Wham!, and the disastrous Fyre festival, among others. His new HBO miniseries Bring Me the Beauties is similarly connected to popular culture, but through a story with far less immediately available background material: the rise and fall of Eternal Values, a cult started in the 80s by the eccentric Frederick von Mierers, consisting largely of models. “What was odd about this story,” Smith said, “is that there was very little about it online.” He met Hoyt Richards, sometimes referred to as the first male supermodel and a former Eternal Values member, on another project, “and as we started talking, hours went by”, Smith said. “It was one of those situations where I just became more and more curious about his life.” Richards became the backbone of the series, sitting for many hours of interviews, but wasn’t sure if Smith and his collaborators would be able to coax anyone else into participation. As seen in the series, not everyone’s account of their experience with Von Mierers is the same; not everyone is even convinced they were involved with a cult in the first place. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

Like many first-time pet owners, I was overprotective when we adopted her during the pandemic. But this affectionate creature showed me that love can mean letting go In July 2021, after a few beers on a summer evening, my flatmate, Lew, answered an internet ad. By 5pm the next day, we had a kitten. She was a swirl of tortie-and-white fluff, with a small pink snoot, and huge ears that made her look more bat than cat. We called her Mush, pronounced like “smush”. From the moment the result of our drunken decision arrived and hid behind the sofa in our south London flat, we were in love. Like many first-time parents in their 20s, Lew and I were fussy and overprotective. Neither of us had ever been responsible for a living creature before. When I held her tiny body against my chest, I felt anxious. Any little thing sent us running to the vet. A crusty eye. A single flea. Was she too small? Was she eating enough? “She’s in perfect physical condition,” the vet assured us during one of her many checkups. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

A bucket list for the summer of slowing down. The post 30 Simple Delights to Add to Your June Calendar appeared first on Camille Styles .

Camille Styles • 1 day ago

Endless swiping has left a generation of singles burned out. But get real: dating assistants and AI-aided chats will never recreate the friction of real romance After years of shrinking usage and tumbling stock prices, the dating app Bumble is teasing a major change to its product. But in solving one problem, it might be walking right into another. The company told Axios this month that it’s getting rid of a dating app mainstay: the swipe. The feature made it easy for people to carelessly flick through photos, said CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, leading to a user experience with too many dead-end conversations. Going forward, Bumble will focus on features that make for deeper, more meaningful connections, she said. Namely, an AI assistant named “Bee”. While it’s still unclear exactly what Bee will do, its responsibilities will include punching up users’ profiles by suggesting better options for their photos and personal blurbs. Bumble says it will also use AI to chat with people about their dating preferences and help them find others with similar “values”. Tatum Hunter is a technology journalist based in Brooklyn. She writes on Substack at Bytatumhunter Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

There is no evidence that ovulation affects muscle-building, but you may feel stronger at certain times It’s an idea that’s been enthusiastically embraced on social media: women should sync their training to their menstrual cycle. That means lifting heavier weights around ovulation, then switching to gentler movement such as yoga in the second half of the cycle – because as their hormones fluctuate so does their strength. But there’s not much proof that this is useful, says Dr Marianna Apicella, a researcher at the University of Leicester specialising in female physiology. “High-quality evidence supporting that is seriously lacking,” she says. “There’s not really much concrete evidence for it.” Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

Piòle are the Italian city’s working-class neighbourhood taverns. Of the few that survive, many have gone upmarket – but I was looking for the real deal and affordable home cooking Turin is one of Italy’s most serious food cities, shaped by the culinary legacy of the House of Savoy and, more recently, the slow food movement – a reputation reflected in its historic cafes and restaurants, where meals can feel refined. But that’s only part of the picture. As a local, I’m drawn to something far less formal: the piòla . Piòle were never quite restaurants. They were places for a glass of barbera (poured at the counter from a cylindrical, quarter-litre carafe, the tubo ) in rooms worn smooth by decades of use. Regulars played cards, argued about football or politics, and lingered without ceremony. Food, if it appeared, was simple and to the point: anchovies in green sauce, hard-boiled eggs, cold cuts, perhaps a plate of agnolotti (stuffed pasta). Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

After Sarah Geeson-Brown’s husband had three strokes, she began looking after him. Suddenly her world shrank and expanded in unexpected ways When Sarah Geeson-Brown retired in 2022, she had a rough idea of how the next few years would go. She and her husband, Michael, planned to travel. But six months later, Michael had a stroke, then another. His third, after falling and breaking his hip, meant he became a wheelchair user, and by the time he came out of hospital, Geeson-Brown was his full-time carer. They had meant to be Interrailing, but now the end of the garden was far-flung, and even upstairs was out of bounds. Geeson-Brown, then 67, endlessly looped the ground floor of their home in Oxfordshire, England. “We both had to deal with a lot of grief,” she says. “There was lots of saying goodbye to things … Being out and about. And, of course, sharing a bed.” Tell us: has your life taken a new direction after the age of 60? Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

Fresh, light, vibrant vegetable dishes that capture the changing of the season and Scandinavia’s long summer days Summer is a beautiful season in Scandinavia, and the word that embodies it is “abundance”. The midsummer night doesn’t really get dark, the light is beautiful and it is only the sound of the blackbirds singing that indicates the day is ending. In stark contrast to the dark winter months, summer is all about the light, so your temperament is different and you long for different things: to be outside, to eat lighter meals and to enjoy as many fresh vegetables as possible. These two recipes would make a perfect summer’s evening meal (beach house optional but recommended): cold cucumber soup followed by a fresh and tasty tart with raw tomatoes on top of a smooth cream and crusty pastry. Velbekomme! Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

‘Brash, disingenuous, lethal’: that’s how the 67-year-old actor describes his younger self. He lied to his partners, disrespected his audiences, betrayed his friends. Has this indiscreet, unreliable heartbreaker finally grown up and settled down? Rupert Everett is struggling with the heatwave. It reminds him of the summer of 1976, when he was 17, basking in the sun, serene as a sloth, his future spread out ahead of him. It’s so different now. “When you were young, hot weather was nice. But when you’re chubby like me now, it’s not so nice,” he says. “You’re not chubby,” says his publicist, with reassuring brio. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

Click here to access the print version. Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 1 day ago

I incorporated these beauty devices, sunscreens and serums into my new skincare regimen, which helped with fine lines and skin protection Can I pop this? 18 common skincare questions, answered by dermatologists Sign up for the Filter US newsletter, your weekly guide to buying fewer, better things For me, turning 50 was not just a milestone birthday – it was a chance to reassess how I could better care for myself, from health and style to beauty. But with fine lines deepening around my eyes and mouth, a sagging neckline and some annoyingly droopy jowls, I felt the most urgent need to change my daily skincare routine. While these changes are natural and age isn’t an ailment we need to treat, I personally wanted to take practical steps to help slow some of these effects and feel my best. As women age, their estrogen and testosterone levels decline, which accelerates collagen and elastin loss, said Dr Sachin S Parikh , a Palo Alto-based plastic surgeon. “The result is loose skin or skin that sags, particularly along the jawline, neck, and under the eyes,” he said. “Sun damage that accumulated over decades can also become increasingly visible in your 50s. Age spots, hyperpigmentation and broken capillaries that were quietly developing beneath the surface now appear.” Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

I heard the ambulance siren getting closer. And then a voice: ‘Where do you live? We’ll take your bike home for you’ Read more in the kindness of strangers series I was coming down a mountain bike trail when I became aware of an odd ache in the middle of my chest. At the time I was working as a specialist anaesthetist, and also had a history of working in intensive care medicine, so I immediately knew the significance of such a sensation. Which is: I was having a heart attack halfway down a mountain, somewhere an ambulance wouldn’t be able to reach me. I knew that to have any shot of making it out alive I had to get myself down to the car park, so I coasted on my bike to the bottom of the trail, all while gripped by central chest pain. I made it to my car, got my phone and called an ambulance. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

From digital twins to models ‘sculpted’ by programmers, generative AI has been popping up all over the fashion industry. When an Australian e-commerce retailer started using AI-generated models to sell products, lifestyle editor Alyx Gorman had to see if the garments were more than mere pixels. The Iconic, which sells the dress worn in this video, said in a statement: ‘Where AI-generated imagery is used to advertise products for sale on our platform, our expectation is that it is clearly labelled and that the product itself is represented as accurately as possible for customers.’ Meanwhile, Atoir, the designer, said: ‘The Australian fashion industry is highly competitive, particularly for independent brands. We believe that when used responsibly, tools like this can help smaller businesses to operate with greater agility while still maintaining the creative standards and product integrity that matter to both the brand and the customer.’ Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

The comedian on coming out at 20, discovering she was funny, and the special moment she marked with a tattoo Born in Portsmouth in 1986, comedian Suzi Ruffell trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London and began her standup career in 2008. As well as touring and appearing on Live at the Apollo, she hosts a podcast, Out With Suzi Ruffell, and co-hosts another, Like Minded Friends, with Tom Allen. She has also written a bestselling memoir, Am I Having Fun Now? Anxiety, Applause and Life’s Big Questions, Answered. She tours her show The Juggle until September. This was taken in the living room of the house I grew up in, in Portsmouth. All the curtains were heavily patterned, as were the carpets. I was 10 years old and deep in my Spice Girls era – especially Mel C, who was on the roster of my early crushes, along with Kate Winslet and Jennifer Aniston. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

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 If an alien landed and asked you: “What is this thing you call music?” what would you play for them? And why? Heather, Kent Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to [email protected] . A selection will be published next Sunday. Due to a production error, a new Notes & Queries question was not published on 24 May. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

These compulsively snacky salt-crusted spuds are a Canary Islands favourite – and an unusual but excellent way to cook our own early-summer crop If you’ve ever visited the Canary Islands, you’ll be familiar with papas arrugadas – often translated, somewhat unappetisingly, as “wrinkly potatoes” – which pop up on every menu there. And not, generally, as a side dish, but as a standalone snack to be enjoyed with drinks. I do love a place that takes the spud seriously, and perhaps it’s not that much of a surprise, given that the first potatoes to reach Europe passed through the Canaries on their way from Peru, which, along with the similarity between the rocky soils of the Andes and the islands, probably accounts for the long history of cultivation. Though many unusual early varieties are still grown for local sale, the Canaries imports both seed and fresh potatoes from the UK (king edward and arran banner have become quinegua and arambana ). Once upon a time, ships would leave the islands laden with winter tomatoes for the British market, and return full of tubers. For this recipe, however, you’ll need new season potatoes with thin, delicate skins, and small enough to cook whole. Cooked in salty water until the salt crystals cling to them like frost, they’re served with a fiery dipping sauce that reflects the strong Portuguese and African influences on Canarian cuisine: an unusual but excellent way to celebrate our own early-summer crop. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

The topic of global heating saw temperatures rise, but could they find common cause on asylum seekers? • Want to meet someone from across the divide? Click here to find out how Martyn, 44, Sheffield Occupation IT nerd/solutions architect Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

Sorting, wearing and even reworking some of Mum’s wardrobe has given me a way to keep her close Only my mum would insist on buying a designer swimsuit on her deathbed. She had always found emotional solace in clothes, but shopping for herself had become futile by that point. She was, after all, lying in a cancer hospital having been told there was no further treatment available for her relentless myeloma; she had exhausted all available options in the 11 years since her diagnosis. But my 37th birthday was coming up and there was no way terminal blood cancer was going to stop Rhona from buying me a present. She loved showering her family with gifts. I would reprimand her for spoiling us. “I can’t spend it when I’m dead, can I?” she used to respond. Of course, there was only one thing I truly wanted that birthday, but I was being forced to come to terms with that being a deluded fantasy. Despite my protestations that I needed nothing, my mum insisted: “Something nice for your holidays, perhaps?” Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

The cuisine is booming in the UK, with more places than ever to try bibimbap, bulgogi or tteokbokki. Here’s what to eat – and where to find it From sizzling bowls of comforting bibimbap to crispy, hot, sweet pancakes, Korean food is exploding in popularity in the UK. Demand is rising for the country’s bold and punchy flavours, which feature soy sauce, sesame oil, the tangy, fermented kick of kimchi, raw napa cabbage and gochujang, a sweet and spicy chilli paste that elevates dips and gives an umami boost to sauces. Last year, Waitrose reported that sales of gochujang had increased by 71% since 2024 . Jamie Oliver uses it to flavour his chicken burgers while Nigella Lawson adds it to her pasta sauce . In March, Korean fried chicken was named one of Just Eat’s top 10 takeaways of 2026 , while there were long queues this month at Jung, a Korean food festival in London. Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

It started as a hook-up, but before long they were parents. Now Sofia and León are finding new ways to be intimate • How do you do it? Share the story of your sex life, anonymously It just felt easy, like I’d already known him for a long time. I told León I loved him after two weeks Continue reading...

The Guardian Lifestyle • 2 days ago

The wellness benefit nobody's talking about enough. The post Why Sex Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Health appeared first on Camille Styles .

Camille Styles • 2 days ago