Mortgage holidays can offer valuable breathing space, but those taking one need to understand the true cost, a leading mortgage expert has warned. A mortgage holiday can be a genuinely useful tool for the right circumstances, so long as borrowers go in with a clear picture of how the debt, and the interest it accrues, will be repaid afterwards.

Edward Bennett freely admits he gets pleasure from cooking and making meals. “I’d love to do more of it, but unfortunately pressure of work doesn’t allow me the time," says Edward, who is currently playing Captain Von Trapp in Opera North’s production of The Sound of Music. “That’s why I really appreciate staying in an apartment during the run of the show.

The Flower Belt lies between the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Howardian Hills Natural Landscape) and the North York Moors National Park. It’s just a 40-minute drive from York, a region rich in cultural, historical, and natural attractions, and only a couple of minutes’ drive from Helmsley.

There are few more atmospheric wine experiences than descending into the Sandeman cellars on the banks of the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. Behind the famous silhouette of the caped Don logo lies a labyrinth of granite tunnels where port has matured for generations, surrounded by bottles dating back well over a century. The first thing you notice is the coolness.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week rightly encourages important conversations about difficult births and traumatic deliveries, but as both a midwife and a neurodivergent woman, I believe we also need to pay greater attention to what happens long before labour begins.

Steven Nesbitt is a fourth-generation farmer. His grandfather lived to 96, and his father is 93, so he was confident his healthy lifestyle of exercise and fresh air would see him through to a ripe old age. That was until April 2025, when, to his astonishment, he was diagnosed with heart problems and told he had to change his lifestyle immediately.

Summer party drug use among young people peaks over the warmer months with end of exam celebrations, parties, festivals and increased socialising with peers. So what should parents and young people be aware of? Party drugs are psychoactive substances used in social settings to heighten energy, mood, and sensory perception.

Visitors to Kendal Farmers' Market are invited to discover the stories behind their food when the popular Food School returns on Friday 10th July, featuring a packed programme of guest speakers with an interactive question-and-answer session led by two experienced nutritionists.

Just when you think you’ve settled in to a nice routine, things change again. It might happen with warning or unexpectedly. Summer is one of those times routines change for a lot of people. It can be easy for your crafting hobby to fall by the wayside whether you have children or grandchildren off school, demands shift at work or you’re planning your own holiday, for example.

Regular readers of my column will know that, with my husband’s help, I sowed wildflower seeds in one of our paddocks towards the end of last year. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much this year, as sowing seeds in a grassy area can be notoriously difficult. Given that we had decided to sow just two patches in a paddock of almost an acre, I thought I might be asking for too much.

This Alcohol Awareness Week (6th-12th July), Mental Health Expert Noel McDermott looks at how alcohol is costing us more than just money. Alcohol is a drug, and one that creates physical dependency, and drinking too much creates health problems. Everyone knows this, and many people tell themselves they will stop drinking if they experience negative health consequences.

There is a particular kind of Saturday lunch that announces itself before you've even sat down — the kind where the sun is doing something uncharacteristically Mediterranean to a British city centre, and the diners on the terrace have already decided the working week is somebody else's problem.

Nick Hayes admits he is “a giant foodie”. “I regard food as not just sustenance but a form of entertainment." Nick, who is playing the role of Felicia/Adam in the tour of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, admits this is a very demanding role.

Property expert Sam Fox, founder of the UK Mortgage Centre, says a new wave of rate cuts is likely before the end of June, driven by falling funding costs, intensifying competition between lenders and the start of the busy summer moving season. However, he is urging borrowers not to let optimism tip into complacency.

Whilst pot-bellied pigs are extremely affectionate and endearing, it is important to remember that caring for these small-breed pigs requires understanding and dedication. Pot-bellied pigs have wonderful personalities and are very clever animals; in fact, they are thought to be among the top five most intelligent animals in the world and are often considered much smarter than dogs.

Whilst most owners of horses and ponies are aware that spring grass and frosty paddocks can be dangerous to their animals, some are unaware that the problem persists year-round and is simply exacerbated in spring, as grass is high in sugar and fructans.

In 1917 The Ivy first opened its doors on West Street in London’s West End, and since then it's become synonymous with exceptional service and food. I remember when I worked in London meeting with colleagues for a quick bite to eat before going on to review a West End show.

Workouts can sometimes feel repetitive or uninspiring, and many people are turning to martial arts to reignite their motivation and transform their fitness routines.

This Men’s Health Week (June 15th-21st) our mental health expert Noel McDermott looks at the pressures fathers face balancing work, family responsibilities, and societal expectations, and what men can do to support their mental health.

Jess Evans had hoped to have a homebirth. What happened next led her on a journey that is now transforming how expectant mothers across the region approach labour — and the results are remarkable. When Jess Evans was pregnant with her first daughter in 2019, she had a plan. She wanted a homebirth — calm, familiar, on her own terms.

Your home is more than simply the place you live; it can have a direct impact on the way you think, feel, and move through daily life. It can lift your spirits and support your needs or drain you the moment you walk through the door. Sometimes, different areas in your home can affect you in different ways.

Dry eye disease is one of the most common conditions seen in eye clinics, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood. There is a difference between the occasional dry eyes and chronic dry eye disease – the first will go away after a break from screens and a good night's sleep, the latter can severely impact your quality of life.

As temperatures rise across Europe and the UK braces for more hot weather, consumers are being warned that heatwaves can quietly take a serious toll on household budgets as well as personal wellbeing.