I’ve never seen a Twilight movie but I do like the sound of Robert Pattinson. In an interview with Ben Machell in The Times this week R-Patz comes across as unassuming, modest and – yes, refreshingly normal. But the detail that convinced me that he must be a lovely human being was his admission that he and most of his family are all “terrible at getting a barman’s attention.” “With the exception ...keep reading
Another day, another survey – only this time round I reckon that researchers have got it just about right. A new study by estate agents Hamptons International declares that if you want to combine affordable living with high levels of happiness then Allerdale in Cumbria, which covers the area around Keswick, is the place to go. Close behind in the happiness and affordability stakes is the Ribble Valley in Lancashire – ...keep reading
One of the loveliest presents I’ve ever received is this pen and ink drawing of London by my daughter. There are loads of maps of the capital but this one is very special. Why? Because it’s a record of all the places in London that have meant something to me over the years – from Lavender Hill, where I used to hop on the 6.30am bus for the early shift ...keep reading
I loved the story of the little girl who adores reading so much that she has whizzed through 364 books in just seven months. Nine-year-old Faith Jackson, who lives in Ashley, Cheshire, shuns TV and computer games, preferring to curl up with a book by Roald Dahl or JK Rowling instead. Her reading has just earned her a certificate of achievement from How To Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell. ...keep reading
The road from Sandbanks Ferry winds its way along the edge of Poole Harbour, past scores of palatial-looking houses. I drive along Panorama Road a lot and it always makes me think of John Lennon’s beloved Aunt Mimi. She lived in a bungalow called Harbour’s Edge that her famous nephew bought for her in 1965. Lennon often visited with his first wife Cynthia and their son Julian and much to Mimi’s annoyance ...keep reading
I’ve never been a particular fan of the comedian Rory Bremner but he made a lot of sense in a Sunday Times profile this week. Interviewed by the talented Margarette Driscoll, he talked about the house in the Scottish borders where he and his artist wife and their daughters of 12 and 10 decamp during the school holidays. “My wife and I both had childhoods in Scotland and my daughters ...keep reading
“It’s all kicking off out there,” grinned my teenage son when he returned from buying croissants with his dad. By “kicking off” he meant that every inch of the roadside was lined with massive campervans, the majestic tower of Crest, one of the highest keeps in Europe, was draped in the Tricoleur and the road surfaces had been chalked with everything from Champion to pretty pink and blue hearts. As ...keep reading
I was staggered when I read that the average family keeps in touch via 1,768 texts, 520 emails and 68 hours of phone calls a year. It sounded like an awful lot so I scrolled through my phone to see how my own family measures up. I didn’t think we’d be in the same league so it was quite an eye opener to discover that in the past week me ...keep reading
Not long to go now. After a year in Paris studying at the Sorbonne my daughter will be home in two weeks time – and I can’t WAIT to see her. The last 12 months have been an amazing experience for her – and I’ve enjoyed it vicariously, via emails, texts, very long Skype calls and yes, quite a few trips across the Channel. And one thing is for sure, ...keep reading
If you’re after a picture book that will have under-fives hooting with laughter then the latest story from Oliver Jeffers is perfect. It Wasn’t Me is the second title in his series about the Hueys, a fabulously quirky group of characters who look a bit like multi-coloured eggs on pin legs. Their name is inspired by the artist’s grandfather, who could never remember the names of his grandchildren so called ...keep reading