What was your first Instagram post? Mine was a fresh-faced selfie. A 28-year-old me is peering up at the camera from my sofa. There is no caption – seemingly, I had nothing to communicate. Yet Instagram ignited an irresistible urge to share something with the world, and the world shared …...Read More

Tempted to snitch on Covid rule-breakers? With locals like these, says Flic Everett, the decision gets so much easier to make… 1 THE CAR PARKERS The family with two cars – or three, including ‘the little runaround’ they bought for their eldest’s 17th. They mark their unofficial parking areas like …...Read More

Later in life women may be more financially independent, have more time, their children have left home – and with age comes confidence, being less bothered about what others think Forget fast cars and affairs. The midlife crisis has had a makeover. Eimear O’Hagan meets the women who have finally …...Read More

Try these for an alcohol-free kick: Susannah road-tests the new zero per cent spirits It’s not too late to join me for Sober October (it’s day four but, hey, who’s counting). I made a decision when I got fit, aged 36, not to drink alcohol from Monday to Thursday, which …...Read More

Fettucine with Mushrooms, Rosemary & Spinach by chef and TV presenter Gino D’Acampo Fettucine means ‘little ribbons’ in Italian and they are thinner than tagliatelle. Typical of the Roman and Tuscan areas of Italy, fettuccine is one of my favourite pastas. Pecorino is a hard sheep’s cheese and the better …...Read More

Cook’s tip: In Japan nabe dinner often ends with adding plain boiled rice into the remaining tasty stock in the pot to make risotto. Nabe, or hotpot, is very popular in Japan, where each region, family and even sumo stable has its favourite recipe using a variety of seasonal and …...Read More

Moroccan lamb by broadcaster Andrew Marr So far, I have enjoyed a lucky, materially easy life: I have never been homeless. When I was about 18, I did follow an unsuccessful love affair in Spain by travelling with almost no money. That meant living outside, using town squares and scraps …...Read More

Bakewell Pudding by Michelin-starred chef Shaun Hill Bakewell tart is evidently known as Bakewell pudding in the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, so call it what you will. Cooks know the base mixture by its French name of frangipane in any case. Stone fruits such as cherries, apricots and plums work …...Read More

Brown Butter, Apple and Fig Flapjack by chef and Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite Flapjack is a perfect example of balance: a sweet treat that conveys a decent amount of nourishment. While the sugar and butter signal that this is a treat to be enjoyed only occasionally, there …...Read More

Baked apricots with marsala ice cream by cook and food writer Diana Henry Baked apricots are one of the best summer desserts, at the same time tart and honeyed. They’re good with a dollop of crème fraîche but are even better with marsala ice cream (which is basically Italian zabaglione …...Read More