1 week ago I apologise too much, and it annoys everyone around me. How can I stop? | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

Changing such ingrained habits isn’t easy, but when you’re about to apologise try counting to 10 or substituting a different phraseI’m a woman in my late 30s who, since childhood, has thought it vital to be polite to those around me, including saying sorry when I feel I’ve done something wrong. While I have a happy and fulfilling life, I’ve always had very low self-confidence. This combination of wanting to acknowledge others appropriately and constantly doubting myself has turned me into a person who apologises a great deal. Often, it happens so fast I’m not even conscious of it. It is definitely coming from a place of anxiety and has affected my personal and professional life. It drives my loved ones and colleagues mad, and then it drives me mad that they point it out – only making me more anxious about it.It is a particular problem when it comes to public speaking or asking questions in front of others. I try to have everything written down so I stay conc...

Politics

2 w. ago Scotland Health Awards 2025: Glasgow nurse nominated for readers' choice award after saving colleague's life

It’s time to have your say on who has made an outstanding contribution to our health service this year

Events

3 w. ago Actors hate Tilly Norwood – but they are their own worst enemies | Catherine Shoard

The backlash against the AI actor has been fierce but with the rise of cosmetic surgery and navel-gazing releases, Hollywood needs to take a long, hard look at itselfGiven that she has appeared only fleetingly in a brief comedy sketch, backlash to AI actor Tilly Norwood has been swift and fulsome. The people, the industry and the critics spoke with united voice, all of them basically retching.Actors were especially fast out of the gate to condemn a concept that is – obviously – depressing, dystopian and (if the tech behind it has ripped off real-life faces) dodgy. It is also plain shonky: my colleague Stuart Heritage has said perhaps all there needs to be said about Tilly’s indeterminate dentistry, but there are clearly teething problems here that mean she’s far from ready for her closeup. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Man who fell to his death from hot air balloon after quitting job at top hotel died of multiple injuries, inquest told

Jesus Lato Garzon, 33, fell from the balloon in front of horrified passengers and landed in a field after recently quitting his job at one of Britain's top hotels.

Events

3 w. ago Man, 33, who died in fall from hot air balloon had quit his job at top hotel on outskirts of London

Jesus Lato Garzon told colleagues ‘I need to think about my life’, according to reports

Society

3 w. ago Man who fell to his death from hot air balloon had quit his job at top hotel as he told colleagues: 'I need to think about my life'

Jesus Lato Garzon, 33, worked in room service at The Grove, a five-star country retreat in Hertfordshire popular with celebrities, but he resigned mid-shift earlier this month.

Society

4 w. ago Former Loose Women star Penny Lancaster reveals how former ITV colleagues 'saved her life'

The broadcaster left her position on the ITV programme in 2023

Politics