Sadhbh O'Sullivan

Teachers whose independent schools have closed describe financial stress, career uncertainty and difficulty moving into state-school roles. Marie, a PE teacher in the West Midlands, says her school deteriorated after the government introduced VAT on private-school fees and ultimately shut, forcing her through a highly competitive recruitment process to secure an academy job. Sam, a former independent-school teacher in South-East England, took a 33 per cent pay cut for a temporary role and is reconsidering whether to remain in education. The article links closures to VAT, higher operating costs, reduced charitable relief and falling pupil numbers, while noting that geography, qualification requirements, perceived stigma against private-school teachers and a preference for cheaper early-career teachers limit access to state-school vacancies. The disruption is pushing some teachers toward retraining, tutoring, international schools or leaving the profession, while smaller schools serving vulnerable pupils are portrayed as especially at risk.

Veterinary experts Dan O’Neill and Susan Little explain how owners can extend their dogs’ healthy, comfortable lives. They recommend assessing innate breed-related health risks, maintaining a healthy weight, prioritising dental care, addressing behavioural problems through training, monitoring gradual or sudden changes, adapting routines and the home for older dogs, and working closely with a vet. The advice also stresses realistic expectations about breed-specific life expectancy and compassionate end-of-life decisions.

Personal trainer Jacqueline Hooton explains how to turn ordinary activities into accessible exercise, particularly for older adults or people with limited time. She recommends taking stairs, carrying shopping and deliveries with controlled lifting movements, practising balance while doing chores, stretching while seated, standing while using a phone, walking or cycling for local journeys, and doing countertop push-ups while waiting for the kettle. She stresses adapting exercises to individual ability and beginning at a manageable level, noting that movement can support strength, balance, independence and healthy ageing.

People who experience more mosquito bites may be more visibly affected rather than bitten more often, because individual allergic reactions vary. Attraction is influenced by heat, carbon dioxide, body size, chemical cues, sweat and the skin microbiome; genetics and blood type may contribute, but evidence remains inconclusive. There is no proven food or soap that reliably makes someone less attractive to mosquitoes. Effective protection includes established repellents such as DEET, protective clothing and bed nets, with precautions tailored to the mosquito species and disease risks in the region.

Histon in Cambridgeshire has recorded the lowest rainfall in the UK in 2026, amid an exceptionally hot summer and a drought declaration covering the region. Residents and local organisations report cancelled activities, increased isolation and health risks for older people, damaged sports grounds, dust-related breathing problems and financial losses for workers and businesses. The drought has also harmed gardens and agriculture, raising concerns about future crops and food prices, although local tourism and hospitality have benefited from people holidaying in the UK. Residents and parish officials say the conditions mark a turning point, requiring long-term planning, improved cooling, water management and environmental measures such as ponds and vegetation to prepare for a hotter, drier future.

Guy Hanson describes converting a garden outbuilding in Northamptonshire into a £35,000 annexe for his elderly parents. The arrangement allowed his father to retain independence while receiving family support before his death, and now provides a home for his 92-year-old mother. Hanson highlights the financial advantages compared with residential care, while stressing the need to plan for declining mobility, arrange powers of attorney and update wills, and protect everyone’s independence, dignity and emotional wellbeing.

Women’s cardiovascular risk can be increased by polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (formerly PCOS), menopause, pregnancy complications, autoimmune diseases and type 2 diabetes. These conditions can contribute to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, chronic inflammation and blood-vessel damage. Menopause may nearly double heart-disease risk as protective oestrogen levels fall, while pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes can leave lasting cardiovascular effects. Doctors recommend strength and aerobic exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, healthier eating and regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Greater awareness of women’s sometimes atypical symptoms—including breathlessness, nausea, fatigue and pain in the back, jaw or upper abdomen—is also needed to reduce delayed diagnosis.

Dr Amir Khan challenges seven common myths about women’s health in mid-life. He explains that HRT is effective for some menopause symptoms but is not suitable or necessary for everyone; menopause can affect many parts of the body; osteoporosis and weight gain are not inevitable; cardio remains important alongside strength training; and vaginal symptoms can affect overall health as well as libido. He also argues that menopause should not automatically be feared, as some women experience few symptoms or welcome the end of menstruation and contraception.

Claire Macklin recounts how her first husband unexpectedly left after 14 years together, leaving her to raise their two young children and rebuild her self-esteem. Support from family, friends and colleagues, along with focusing on what she could control, helped her recover and maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship. She later entered a second marriage before fully understanding her own needs; that relationship ended after tensions developed between her husband and the children. Coaching and self-reflection helped Macklin establish her values and approach a later relationship with greater confidence. She now works as a divorce coach and says she feels settled, content and grateful for the personal growth that followed both divorces.

Jessica Hayes describes how her relationship with Sam survived his confession that he had a one-night stand. Although she does not excuse his decision to cheat, therapy and relationship coaching led both partners to acknowledge the unhealthy communication patterns, emotional distance and controlling behaviour that had damaged their relationship. They rebuilt their partnership transparently, involving family and friends and accepting that reconciliation required creating a new relationship rather than restoring the old one. Relationship coach Alex Croxford says survival depends on accountability from the person who cheated and willingness from both partners to examine underlying problems. Hayes and Sam have now been together again for three years, have a six-month-old daughter and describe their relationship as healthier than before.

The piece satirises the proliferation of “maxxing” trends, in which people intensively optimise one aspect of their bodies, health or lifestyle. It describes proteinmaxxing, fibremaxxing, frictionmaxxing, adminmaxxing, sleepmaxxing, spermmaxxing, vaginamaxxing, Chinamaxxing and Judemaxxing, linking them to social-media culture, consumerism, anxiety about appearance and masculinity, and the desire to turn personal habits into searchable identities. While acknowledging legitimate benefits of protein, fibre, sleep and healthy living, it warns that extreme approaches can create discomfort, waste money or promote unsupported claims, and concludes with a self-aware joke about celebrity fixation and lifestyle obsession.

Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar describes how undiagnosed ADHD affected her education and employment, leading her to leave a pharmaceutical research job at 26 and avoid salaried office work for 24 years. She built a portfolio of self-employed careers, including web development, mortgage advising and counselling, while continuing to struggle with paperwork, study and workplace stigma. Diagnosed at 44, she says disability support improved her academic performance and believes earlier diagnosis and work coaching could have helped her identify suitable strengths, build confidence and navigate employment.】【。

Regular exercise does not fully offset the health risks of sitting for long periods, which include cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, poorer mental health and increased injury risk. Experts recommend “movement snacking”—particularly five-minute walks at regular intervals—to reactivate leg muscles, improve circulation, reduce fatigue and lift mood. Research indicates that hourly walking breaks can provide these benefits without harming productivity, and the writer’s workplace experiment improved focus, energy, mood and posture, although the effects were less noticeable during a heatwave at home. Even imperfect adherence appears beneficial.

Incorrect household recycling contaminates otherwise usable materials, creates safety hazards and increases waste-management costs that contribute to council tax pressures. Waste experts warn against placing batteries, vapes, electrical items, textiles, plastic film, paint, broken glass, toys, wood and other non-packaging materials in household recycling bins. They recommend focusing on clean packaging—bottles, pots, tubs, trays, paper, card, glass and metals—and taking other recyclable items to local reuse and recycling centres.

Dr Ezekiel J. Emanuel argues that ice cream can fit into a healthy lifestyle because it provides dairy, fat and protein, may produce a slower glucose response than some sugary foods, and is often eaten socially. He cites observational research linking dairy consumption with lower risks of type 2 diabetes and several diseases, while acknowledging that these associations do not prove causation. Emanuel also says fears about dietary fat were overstated and that excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods is a greater concern. He recommends traditional-style ice cream in moderation—such as two scoops once a week—and emphasizes balance, shared meals and social connection rather than restrictive diets.

Twelve practical habits are presented as ways to support healthier ageing: eating more fermented and high-fibre foods, reducing added sugar, choosing quality olive oil, limiting coffee to earlier in the day, maintaining a consistent wake time, checking hearing, building social connections, quitting smoking, undertaking heavy resistance training, incorporating cardiovascular activity, and managing stress through practices such as meditation. Experts argue that these relatively inexpensive changes can reduce inflammation, support the gut microbiome, protect sleep and brain health, preserve muscle and bone, lower chronic-disease risks, and help maintain independence later in life.

A £35 standing fan was tested with three cooling methods during a heatwave: facing it out of a window, placing frozen items in front of it, and hanging a damp towel nearby. The crosswind method worked only when outdoor air was cooler, while the frozen-item setup was effective but cumbersome and short-lived. The damp towel provided the best and longest-lasting cooling, although it required careful placement to avoid contact with electrical parts.

After returning to strength training following surgeries and injuries, the writer completed a six-week progressive-overload programme at Virgin Active’s Lift Club. Their back squat increased from 37.5kg to 56kg, deadlift from 42.5kg to 72.5kg, bent-over row from 27.5kg to 32.5kg and bench press from 19.5kg to 28.5kg. The writer attributes the gains to consistent practice, gradually increasing loads, structured programming and group motivation, alongside improvements in balance, posture, sleep, energy and gym confidence.

Women with endometriosis describe substantial improvements in pain, inflammation, digestion and daily functioning after taking GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro and Wegovy off-label. Experts suggest the drugs’ anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects may help, but research remains early and it is unclear whether benefits are independent of weight loss. The medications are not licensed to treat endometriosis, carry potentially serious side effects and are generally accessed privately, highlighting the need for supervised treatment and formal clinical trials.

At 26, Gini Bhogal met Anita on the London Underground and learned that Anita’s fertility problems meant she needed eggs from a younger donor to pursue IVF. Gini agreed to donate, despite the physical and emotional difficulty of hormone treatment and egg retrieval, resulting in 17 eggs and 10 embryos. Anita later gave birth to Christopher, and the families maintained a close relationship for decades. When Christopher learned in 2022 that Gini was his genetic donor, he initially needed time to process the information but ultimately developed a strong relationship with her and her family.

St Lawrence College in Thanet closed unexpectedly during the Easter holidays after an initially proposed merger with Dover College was abandoned and the school entered administration. Laura Holden says the closure left about 500 pupils without a school place, more than 200 staff without jobs and many children distressed because they had no chance to say goodbye. Families faced limited alternatives after primary-school application deadlines, while community groups also lost access to the school’s sports facilities. Holden’s son, who had found St Lawrence a secure environment after a difficult nursery experience, moved to another school half an hour away but still misses his former school and friends. Parents are campaigning to buy and reopen the college, while Holden says the introduction of VAT on private-school fees may have contributed to the financial pressures behind the closure.

Carole Railton sold her Islington home in 2021 for £1 million after health problems, including Covid-related heart damage and loss of mobility, made its three-storey layout unsuitable. Having bought the property for about £65,000 and invested heavily in renovations, she chose to rent a £4,000-a-month accessible flat in Wapping with views of the Thames, the City and the Shard. She values the flexibility of using her capital to fund travel and a comfortable retirement, but is worried that the Renters’ Rights Act has reduced her tenancy security after her landlord indicated he may reclaim the property.

A tasting of nine supermarket milk and dark-milk chocolate bars finds that higher cocoa content alone does not guarantee better flavour. Waitrose’s No. 1 Fairtrade Dominican Republic bar narrowly takes first place for its fruity cocoa, velvety texture and balanced sweetness, while Tesco’s Finest single-origin bar is the writer’s personal favourite. M&S performs unevenly, with its hazelnut bar rated positively but its pricier dark-milk bar criticised, while Aldi, Lidl and ASDA’s standard bar score poorly for excessive sweetness, blandness or unpleasant textures. Rising cocoa, milk, sugar, energy and transport costs are identified as pressures contributing to reduced quality and shrinkflation.

Four people describe why they had affairs, commonly citing loneliness, emotional neglect, poor communication, loss of intimacy, feeling undervalued and the desire to feel wanted or alive again. Their stories show that affairs often clarified existing problems rather than creating them, but also caused significant harm to spouses, children, friends and other partners. The contributors reached different outcomes, including reconciliation, divorce and new relationships, while several regretted the hurt caused and wished they had addressed their unhappiness or ended their marriages earlier.

A first-person test examines mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry’s method for cooling a hot car by opening a diagonally opposite window and rapidly fanning the car door. The technique made the car somewhat more bearable, but its effectiveness was limited because the outdoor air was already hot and the physical effort warmed the tester. Mathematician Tom Crawford explains that the method works by creating low pressure and drawing hot air out, but requires fast door movement, a sufficiently open window and cooler outside air. The RAC additionally recommends directing vents downward, using the external air-conditioning setting and opening windows before switching to recirculation once the air has cooled.

A tester evaluates three cooling products in hot weather: a £9.99 traditional handheld fan, a £12.99 rechargeable neck fan and the £130 Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 fan. The traditional fan offers modest relief and flexibility, while the neck fan is judged bulky and ineffective. The Shark is expensive, noisy and cumbersome to prepare, but its InstaChill metal cooling plate provides the most immediate and convincing relief; the fan and mister attachments are less impressive.

Charity shop workers say donation volumes are rising while the quality of items is deteriorating, driven partly by the growth of fast fashion and resale apps. Around 60 per cent of incoming goods at one hospice shop is reportedly unsellable, including dirty clothing, damaged items, broken technology and unsafe kitchenware, placing heavy demands on staff and volunteers. Although valuable designer goods and collectibles can generate significant funds, textile waste now earns charities much less as rag, while sorting creates health, safety and operational pressures. Workers urge donors to give clean, usable, higher-quality items, separate rag from saleable goods where possible, and pay more than the marked price when they can afford to.

After his best friend Rob died by suicide at 29, Dean Perryman struggled with grief, guilt and anger over not recognising that Rob was suffering. He channelled those feelings into Empty Chairs, a campaign inviting men to meet in pubs and talk, which has expanded to hosts in 14 countries and filled more than 2,000 chairs. The experience has highlighted the loneliness many men face and the difficulty of discussing depression, while helping Perryman process his loss and become more open about his own emotions.

Psychotherapist and coach Susie Masterson says moving to a four-day working week, with Wednesdays reserved for exercise, meal preparation and recovery, helped her lose 10kg, reduce visceral fat, build strength and eliminate hip pain. After years of burnout, stress-related symptoms and unhealthy eating during long working hours, she found that the extra day improved her health and ultimately increased her capacity for creative work and paid speaking engagements, despite requiring a salary sacrifice. Research presented at the European Congress on Obesity similarly links longer working hours to higher obesity rates.

Baby-proofing expert Al Kola identifies common safety mistakes parents make at home. He advises against using pressure-fit gates at the top of stairs because their bottom bar creates a trip hazard, urges parents to secure furniture and keep windows closed or locked, and recommends hiding cables from baby monitors and countertop appliances. He also says UK socket covers are unnecessary and can create electrical risks, while cupboards containing hazardous items should be locked or kept out of reach. Excessive corner cushioning may limit children’s ability to learn about normal bumps and pain. Kola recommends Baby Dan gates for most situations.

Homeschooling in England has risen sharply, with the number of children in elective home education increasing by 55.7% between 2022 and 2025. Mental-health difficulties, school refusal, SEND pressures, long waits for specialist treatment, inflexible curricula, poverty and overstretched schools are identified as major drivers. Experts warn that homeschooling can deepen anxiety and social isolation when it replaces school without adequate educational and social support, while parents such as Kathleen Cornmell argue that child-led home education can help children who are poorly served by mainstream schools. Proposed legislation would create a register and give local authorities greater powers to intervene, but critics say monitoring alone will not address the failures pushing families out of school. The article concludes that schools, councils and mental-health services should provide earlier, less punitive support and repair relationships with families.

Net migration from England to other parts of the UK has reached its highest level in two decades, with 58,000 people moving to Scotland and 65,000 to Wales in the latest year. Meredith Gallop, who moved from London to Glasgow for university and stayed, attributes the decision to more affordable housing, a stronger sense of community and a better quality of life despite a lower salary. They highlight Glasgow’s diverse and supportive southside community, free prescriptions and relatively accessible home ownership, while noting problems including unreliable and expensive buses, colder weather, poverty, drug-related issues, overburdened GPs and years-long waits for gender-affirming care. Gallop says newcomers are generally welcomed when they contribute to local culture and the economy rather than moving solely because Scotland is cheaper.

Three workers describe how automation displaced their original careers and how they adapted. Former typesetter Nicola Wordsworth retrained in Apple Mac skills before moving into signage, graphic design, business ownership and brand strategy. Former automotive paint colour matcher Peter Fennell moved into printing inks and then helped build a family metal-polishing and manufacturing business. Former film printer Shawna Scott transitioned from photo labs to pharmacy work, photography and running a sex shop, and is now considering training as an intimacy coordinator. Their experiences suggest that technological change can eliminate specific roles without eliminating the value of workers’ skills, provided people remain willing to retrain, transfer their expertise and pursue new opportunities.