3 d. ago Yoko Ono's health battles and life now as family say she's living out final days

Legendary artist and widow of John Lennon, Yoko Ono is now 92-years-old and living a quiet life away from the spotlight after reports she had suffered a series of health battles

Society

3 d. ago Yoko Ono's family reveal how she's spending her final days saying she's 'in a happy place'

A new book on Yoko Ono examines the artist and widow of John Lennon's life as an activist and her work as a promoter of peace - but the final chapter reveals how she is now living her final days in upstate New York.

Politics

8 d. ago Inject some zing into your weary garden with electrifying euphorbias

In the doldrums of winter-spring these stunning flowering plants are a happy beacon of hope and promiseI’m fortunate enough to work from a posh outhouse in the back garden. Known as The Hut, it could grandly be called A Studio, but is, in reality, a large shed with better-than-average insulation, some bookshelves and a fan heater. I get to have a potter in the garden as part of the “commute”, but recent weather has meant my current options to get to work are: gingerly cross the patchy lawn (which I intend to reseed next week, before we go away, so it can germinate in peace) or take the less-direct gravel path. The latter would be the sensible option, except that my euphorbia is absolutely rocketing away, and offers a sort of thigh-high wash of its own.You’d probably recognise euphorbias even if you didn’t know what they were; in the final, bright days of winter they are a happy, often-neon beacon of hope and promise. My Euphorbia characias subsp. w...

Politics

1 week ago Happy St Patrick's Day! I've been to 1,000 pubs to find the best pint of Guinness. Here's the definitive guide to the top 50

While living in Dublin, I discovered that there is one measure, above all else, by which most Irish judge a pub: the Guinness. After ten years of searching for Britain's best pint, here's my list.

Politics

3 w. ago International Women’s Day: Five inspiring quotes from women throughout history

Happy international women's day girls!

Politics

3 w. ago Edwyn Collins: ‘Could an Orange Juice reunion ever be on the cards? No!’

The singer-songwriter on breaking up his band, recovering from a stroke, being too old to be a punk, and the chaos of recording with Mark E Smith In these deeply troubled, fractured, febrile times, why did you call the new record Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation? smileywombatIt was Grace’s choice [Grace Maxwell, his wife and musical collaborator]. Up in Helmsdale [in the Scottish Highlands], in my studio, I have an art deco radiogram speaker which has a sort of sunburst thing with that phrase written on it. For £60 on eBay – pristine! It was the BBC World Service motto. When we were casting about for a title for the new record, it seemed like a great expression. Grace said, if you’re going to call it that you have to write a song with that title. So I did.I very much enjoyed the new song Knowledge and the video, shot in Helmsdale. Do you like to travel much these days or are you pretty much happy at home? nogs09I like Helmsdale, and Grace loves it. When I was seven, eight years old, I...

Politics

4 w. ago Watch: Prince William speaks Welsh in new video to mark St David’s Day

Prince William has used his first message delivered in Welsh to wish Wales a “Happy St David’s Day.”

Politics

4 w. ago Even on my wedding day, my narcissist mother couldn't be happy for me. Everything had to be about her

For a bride, it is one of the big heart-stopping moments of her day. Long before she has gathered her skirts and taken her father's proffered arm.

Politics

last month Best kneeling chairs to improve posture for home office workers

Keep your muscles and spine happy all day with a kneeling chair

Society