When life is full and fast, it can be easy to put things you’d like to do to one side. You tell yourself you’ll get to it one day. Before you realise it, another year has passed and you're left wondering where the time has gone? As we enter the spring season, it’s a great reminder that the new year is not the only time to start new hobbies.

With just a few spaces remaining, guests have the opportunity to savour dishes from five of the Northwest’s award-winning chefs, who are coming together for an exclusive fundraising evening on Tuesday, 24th March from 6.15pm at Lancaster & Morecambe College. The event aims to raise vital funds for local charity CancerCare, which operates four centres across North Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Grooming donkeys and ponies provides a special time for bonding and should be stress-free. It should be time spent really getting to know your animal and for them to get to know you. It should happen often and be enjoyed by all. Most donkeys and ponies enjoy being groomed. It helps relax the animal and, of course, cleans its coat and skin.

Energy drinks are everywhere with the UK market dominated by the likes of Red Bull, Monster Energy, Rockstar and Relentless. Marketed to the public as a safe and effective way to combat fatigue, easy access and social norms have normalised their use.

My three miniature Mediterranean donkeys have caused me slight concern this week. Donkeys are very stoic animals and therefore it can sometimes be difficult to spot any signs of illness or discomfort however, when all three succumbed to diarrhea, the signs that something was amiss were easy to spot.

Scrolling through YouTube can be an oddly enlightening pastime. Amid the algorithmic noise, you sometimes stumble on something that sticks. In this case, it was Oscar-winning actor, Christoph Waltz describing his ideal last meal. No foam, no theatre. A proper Austrian schnitzel and a bottle of Ried Kremser Weinzierlberg Grüner Veltliner 2023.

Descending the path, worn smooth from centuries of feet, and gently curling from street level into the restaurant, I’m sat at a table that has been custom built round a pillar supporting the vaulted ceiling. I sense the warm, calm purposefulness of the team. It’s disarming. Reading the beginning of the menu I notice my post “tough week at work” snark has already de-escalated by a good 85%.

Restaurant Pine Retains Michelin Star And Michelin Green Star For Fifth Consecutive Year The team behind Restaurant Pine, Northumberland, celebrated retaining both their Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star for the fifth consecutive year, reaffirming the restaurant’s position as one of the UK’s leading destinations for exceptional and sustainable dining.

Our wine reviewer Nathan Lane uncovers a supermarket steal from the Barossa Valley and finds solace in a richly textured Mediterranean blend from Stellenbosch that proved the perfect antidote to an Edinburgh winter.

I have four dogs living on the smallholding. Two border terriers, Basil and Barney, and two border collies, Watson and Holmes. Watson and Holmes are brothers, and at seven years old, they are set in their ways and enjoy life with the animals.

Across the UK, the traditional rhythms of pub life are changing. Once defined by late-morning openings and evening trade, many pubs are now unlocking their doors earlier and keeping their kitchens running longer, responding to growing demand for breakfast, brunch and lunch as part of a genuinely all-day service. It reflects a broader shift in how people use pubs.

Choosing the correct winter bedding for the animals is essential if you are to ensure that the animals are kept warm and dry in the cold winter months. The British weather is unpredictable at the best of times, but in January it can be brutal on the smallholding.

With winter weather upon us and daylight hours limited, it can be difficult to find the time to enjoy Cumbria’s beautiful countryside. But even just a few hours outdoors can be enjoyable – and comes with the added benefits of boosting your fitness, your immune system and your mood.

Despite the wintery weather hitting the UK hard in the New Year followed closely by Storm Goretti, bringing more snow to the already struggling communities, I consider myself to be extremely lucky ….. so far.

The UK housing market is heading for a year of steady improvement rather than dramatic change in 2026. Falling interest rates, easing affordability pressures and new mortgage products are expected to support buyers. I warn against expecting a return to ultra-cheap borrowing or runaway house price growth. 2026 should be a great year to buy a property.

‘Blue Monday’ falls on Monday 19th January, it was largely created as a marketing gimmick by the holiday industry, but has been embraced by many of us and for good reason.

For the last few years I have bought Christmas trees with a root ball so that I can plant them outdoors once the festive season is over. Whilst this is great for the tree, it does have a downside from a smallholding point of view, as Christmas trees, fir, pine and spruce are an excellent source of healthy snacks for the goats.

This January is set to see UK consumers returning over £1 billion worth of Christmas gifts. Whether it is something you’ve purchased yourself, for a friend or loved one or it’s an unwanted gift, it can be a trying experience. If you’re trying to return something after Christmas, your rights depend on how and why you’re returning it.

Salford-based brewer Hydes has revealed its new ale line-up for 2026, a 12-month celebration of creative hairstyles brought to life through a series of characterful cask releases. Each monthly release delivers a carefully brewed style supported by bold pump clip designs that reflect the theme. Bar runners and posters feature the strapline ‘a style for everyone’.

For many of us in the UK, January often feels like a collective low point. The festive lights come down, routines snap back into place, and the optimism attached to a new year quickly meets the reality of dark mornings and mounting responsibilities.

It’s the day of the year when soaring numbers of people are looking to buy a home. For many, logging onto Rightmove on Boxing Day will be as important as tucking into the leftovers and getting in early for the High Street sales. Experts say we gravitate towards Rightmove and other property platforms as our mind begins to turn towards New Year aspirations.

Grasmere Distillery is delighted to announce that its Single Malt New Make Spirit has been awarded a Gold Medal by the prestigious Global World Whisky Masters, part of the Global Spirits Challenge. The Global World Whisky Masters is designed to identify the most notable whiskies currently available on the global market.