I once discovered a small tear in the seat cushion of my favourite armchair just as guests were arriving. My instinct was to panic — the chair has a cosy, lived-in look I love, and I didn't want an obvious repair or to be stuck with needle and thread mid-afternoon. Over the years I've learned a...
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Recipes
I keep a jar of tomato passata in my pantry almost always — it’s one of...
DIY
I have a soft spot for small, satisfying makeovers — the kind that don’t...
DIY
When I moved into my narrow, slightly gloomy hallway last autumn, I knew I...
Recipes
I love a good Sunday roast — the slow-cooked joint, the caramelised veg, the...
When I moved into my narrow, slightly gloomy hallway last autumn, I knew I couldn't afford — or needed — a full renovation. What I did have was a budget (£50), a small Ikea runner (the sensible, machine-washable kind), a couple of spare picture...
I love a good Sunday roast — the slow-cooked joint, the caramelised veg, the gravy that somehow makes everything feel like home. But I also hate wasting time and food. Over the years I've learned to think of a roast as more than a single meal:...
Even on the busiest days, there's a simple ritual that helps me close the kitchen with a sense of calm: the four-minute declutter. It sounds almost too good to be true, but after I started treating a brief, focused tidy as a non-negotiable part of...
Some nights, when the house finally quiets and the adrenaline from the day fades, I still find my mind racing. As a parent I’ve learned that tiredness isn’t just physical — it’s a jumble of undone tasks, small worries about the kids, and a...
I started thinking seriously about sustainable swaps in the kitchen when I realised that “eco-friendly” and “save money” don’t always go hand in hand — at least not straight away. Like many of you, I wanted changes that felt doable,...
There’s something quietly magical about carving out a tiny corner of the house that exists only for reading. I’ve made a habit of turning awkward nooks and narrow alcoves into cosy retreats, usually with things I already have at home. If...
Keeping a pantry that changes with the seasons has quietly changed how I cook, how much I throw away, and how calm my weeknight evenings feel. If you’ve ever opened the cupboard and found mystery jars, limp herbs, or a whole packet of forgotten...
I remember the afternoon I locked the door behind me after a meeting that hadn’t gone well, walking home through a drizzle and feeling that heavy, familiar fog of doubt settle in. Small mistakes and disappointments can pile up, and confidence...
Some days arrive heavy without warning — a sudden wave of sadness, a panic flare that tightens my chest, or a weariness that makes even making tea feel impossible. Over the years I’ve learned that having a small, ready-to-go self-care emergency...
There’s a special kind of quiet that comes after the last box is carried through the door — equal parts relief and a little wobbliness. The first weekend in a new place is where the house stops being just a collection of rooms and begins to feel...