Living in London, you are constantly surrounded by whispers of the new cool bar, big font posters advertising the next gastronomic fad and QR codes that send you to a top secret party in the toilet of a disused warehouse. Buzz words and terms like “pop up” are so abundant, and...

Last weekend I had the joy of meeting two girls from Italy and Spain. Both of them said the thing they missed the most since coming to Edinburgh are outdoor markets. At home in their sunny countries, grocery shopping is not just something on their to-do list, it is a full sensory experience....

Late Summer is one of my favourite times of the year to be foraging in the fields and preserving all of my finds for days when good fruits are out of season. The hedgerow is laden with edibles right now including elderberries, blackberries, rowanberries, apples, rose hips, hawthorn berries,...

As the return to school looms you may be wondering what happened to all that coaching and homework you were going to do with your kids in order to have them go into their new classes as little geniuses. If, like me, even your kid’s reading books are still languishing in their book bags where...

This week, I spent some time working out with my sister, who I was visiting in the States. She just started exercising after some time off, and the hot weather meant that both of us needed a little push to get out the door. I encouraged her to try things she didn’t think possible, and she...

When my Mum gave me this recipe, along with some courgette’s from her garden, I was slightly dubious. However, don’t be alarmed! This cake tastes great and is the perfect way to use up any surplus courgettes from you garden or allotment or to just get one of your 5 a day whilst eating...

Most mornings are always rushed – get the kids ready, prepare a lunchpack for everyone, hurry to work. How many times have you gulped down your coffee and walked around the house with a piece of toast in your hand because you indulged in those 10 extra minutes of sleep?But weekends –...

You may be familar with some urban sports already – skateboarding, BMXing, free running. All these sports push the boundaries of space in the urban environment to its limit, and allow the participants to redraw boundary lines, subverting the intentions of town planners and angry council...

There are always new art installations to be seen, walls covered in graffiti, pop-up examples of artistic expression, and countless contemporary galleries to get involved with. But how about revisiting, or even seeing for the first time, some of the buildings that have been housing art for...

One weekend left, to catch the closing highlights of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Good luck!THEATRE: If That’s All There Is, Pleasence, till 29th August Following a sell-out run at The Traverse in 2009, Inspector Sands return to Edinburgh with their award winning show. The...

Why not end the summer holidays on a high with a family trip to the cinema? A cinema trip can be a great value treat, especially when you seek out a cut price kids club showing which many major cinema chains including Odeon and Vue offer. With tickets from just £1 taking the kids out to see a...

As a teacher, the end of Autumn brings with it an impending sense of a return to normality. Work is about to resume, so too will some sort of structure and, begrudgingly, an end to being able to jaunt about this fair city whenever I choose! In school there was one upside to the beginning of...

Looking out the window at the rain, and feeling the over-active air conditioning stiffening muscles, minds have begun to wander and tummies considered. On days like this, you just want to be next to a log fire, with a thick knit cardy on, filling your face with chunky soup and fresh warm...

Want to relieve stress, get a good workout, and see the world in a fun, eco-friendly way? Take a hike! Getting outside and seeing the world on your two feet is an almost-guaranteed way to accomplish all of the above, and the UK has some of the best hiking I’ve found yet.There are over...

The nights are drawing in, there’s a cooler nip in the breeze, stationery supplies, knit wear and new boots are appearing in the shops – that ‘new term’ feeling is in the air.  Whether you’re starting a new term at school, college or university, looking to save...