Garden light shows are giving this Christmas extra sparkle – and my goodness we need it …

This is the year for after-dark winter illuminations. That means carpets of stars, fiery fish, dancing fairies and much more as gardens, country estates and forests have ramped up their light shows – and all are well-organised with timed entries, one-way systems and social distancing along paths to make visitors feel safe and welcome. All … Read more

Angie Kent looks radiant as she enjoys a bit of ‘countryside goodness to fuel the soul’

Angie Kent looks radiant as she enjoys a bit of ‘countryside goodness to fuel the soul’ after split from Carlin Sterritt By Alisha Buaya For Daily Mail Australia Published: 16:44 BST, 26 August 2020 | Updated: 16:46 BST, 26 August 2020 Her split with Carlin Sterritt after 10-months together made headlines last month.  And on … Read more

Sarah Ferguson calls Princess Beatrice ‘a natural angel of kindness and goodness’

Sarah Ferguson has called Princess Beatrice a ‘natural angel of kindness and goodness’ as she shared an intimate birthday portrait of the royal. The Duchess of York, 60, posted an illustration of the Queen’s granddaughter on her Instagram page last night as the youngster celebrated her 32nd birthday. Shared a snap of the painting online, … Read more

DEBORAH ROSS: Goodness gracious me: why the Peter Sellers accents?

A Suitable Boy Sunday, BBC1  Rating: Prodigal Son Tuesday, Sky One Rating: A Suitable Boy is the BBC’s much-anticipated adaptation of Vikram Seth’s 1,349-page, 592,552-word novel, which is one of those big books I always said I’d read but never have. (I have, as it happens, quite a long list of big books I always … Read more

It’s easy to feel imprisoned under lockdown, so thank goodness for non-fiction books

With so many of us now prisoners in our own homes, trapped inside the same four walls and sick of the same old view from the same old windows, it’s tempting to brood about everything we’re missing. Other people, obviously: not just friends and family but colleagues, acquaintances, even strangers. Other places: long country walks … Read more