Viewing all items in Resource Category: Looking at You

You know what they are: those things you never knew you needed until you saw one in an advert. Then suddenly you felt that life would never be complete without one. And so, you brought home the spiraliser that makes vegetables look like spaghetti. And the pasta maker that you can’t quite figure out how...

66% per cent of UK adults are now overweight or obese. That is according to recent NHS England figures.  Around 30% of these are officially obese, with a Body Mass Index of 30 or above. It is affecting our chairs, our ambulances, and even our coffins. Furnishing companies are getting orders to provide bigger chairs....

If you sleep with your bedroom window open, you will know all about the dawn chorus around now. The birds are busy establishing their territorial rights, and the ‘early birds’ have probably already selected a nest site and started building. The blackbird builds a solid cup of twigs, plant stems and leaves, lined with a...

Sadly, red squirrels are now so rare in Britain that many of our children are not even sure what they are. A recent study found that one in 10 children are unable to even identify a red squirrel when shown a picture of one. And a third of British children do not know that red...

When women become mothers… tracing a pregnancy The secret life of a busy mother Granny retired?  You’ve got to be kidding…. Dog walkers now face unlimited fines if pets chase livestock Why big, wet licks from a dog can help a teenager’s mental health Afternoon tea, anyone? ** Editor: With people thinking about mothers this...

March brings us not only Mothering Sunday, but also the Annunciation of the Incarnation -when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would become pregnant with the Christ child. (25th March, exactly nine months before Christmas). Mary was overwhelmed with joy and love, as are millions of women when they realise their child is on...

Not many years ago lonely mothers would head for each other’s homes or to the local toddler group for coffee, sympathy, advice and general camaraderie. These days, most also switch on the computer. For many busy mums, parenting forums and communities have long been their best friend/mother-figure/health visitor/schoolteacher, all lumped into one. One young mum...

The idea that grandmothers retire into an unburdened world of gardening and tea-drinking, golf and knitting is no more than a pleasant fantasy these days. Instead, nearly 63% of grandparents provide some sort of childcare to their under-16-year-old grandchildren. That amounts to around seven million older people, aged mostly between 55 – 74. As many...

 As of the 18th of this month, The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 will become law for England and Wales. This means that police officers can seize dogs which pose a risk of repeated attacks on farm animals. It also means that dog walkers now face unlimited fines if their pets chase livestock....

Teenagers who kiss their dog or are occasionally licked by their pet are happier, according to a recent study. They have even been found to have better mental health than those who do not have a dog. Why should this be? It seems to all come down to the gut. Research has found that teenagers in...

Do you take afternoon tea? Ever wondered where it started? The custom seems to date back to the mid-19th century, and the seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Russell. The Duchess got hungry at about 4pm each day, calling it “that sinking feeling”. As it was still four hours until dinner (at 8pm), she began to...

Shrove Tuesday – Pancake Day – 17th February Looking for romance? Ideas for Valentine’s Day Eating Disorders Awareness Week: 23rd Feb to 1st March A religious upbringing helps your health in later life Can you get across the pedestrian crossing in time? Children’s pocket money on the rise Five good reasons to eat Greek yoghurt...