Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Columns

A father's perspective

A friend of ours recently announced that they’re expecting their first child. As a father of four, they thought I might be able to offer them a bit of advice on what to expect because I’ve been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

It started me off reminiscing on my initial experiences of fatherhood and I suspect my friend got his eyes opened a little! As I told him, apparently it’s natural. You wake up one morning to find ...

Dad's the word

Boy O Boy

Time was, you wouldn't have got most blokes near a bottle of moisturiser or an under eye treatment, but today's liberated males have learned the benefits of proper skincare and the size of the market in male skin treatments is growing all the time.

This month, we're taking a look at some of the wonderful range of male products that are currently available - and with Christmas just around the corner, what better time to introduce the man in your ...

E. Jane Dickson

Make a joyful noise…

“Lulla, lullay”, trills Clara as she sets the table, “a little tiny child…”. She has been practising the tricky descant for her school choir’s carol concert at Great Ormond St. Children’s Hospital.

Con and I have consequently heard a great deal about the emergency accommodation of the Holy Family “on that glad (deep breath for the top note ) CHRISTmas dayyyy!”. “Imagine”, says Con, feeli...

Editor's Letter

Cold comfort..!

It’s usually around this time of the year that I begin struggling to remember what it actually feels like to be outside and warm at the same time.

And having cleared snow from the car and the driveway this morning for the third time since Christmas, I’ve been forced to the conclusion that those people who say they love the stuff, don’t actually ...

Family Finance

Finding money you never knew you had

So here I am on the eve of going to Paris and Ryan has 60 euros spending money. An eight-year-old with 60 euros! Not sure what’s he going to do with it all though I’m sure he will try and spend every penny (sorry, cent!).

How does an eight-year-old accumulate 60 euros you ask? Well, very easily in the end. He did save some and he worked for some as well. And then he decided to work for other people who he discovered...

Helen Braden

Many hands make light work

Today is Shrove Tuesday and I should be writing a column about how we all spent the evening happily tossing pancakes together, good family fun....

However, one of Lucy and Jude’s new favourite hobbies is baking. Especially if it’s also a social event involving their best friends in the street, Annie and Fin. So, yesterday, after a wet walk in t...

Stephanie Berkeley

Style counsel

I have written and rewritten several intros this month. First I started musing over a new season of style offerings, then came the tragic news of the untimely death of Lee McQueen, founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen label.

Then cam along the mindless fluffy but instantly addictive Glee - a sort of High School Musical for evil people! And although my Jim (and countless other husbands out there) may disagree, I, for one,...