The Guardian

With its remarkable culinary heritage, every region of Italy has unique specialities to savour When it comes to great food and wines, few places match the sheer pleasure of travelling in Italy. The country’s delicious regional cuisine is based firmly on a Mediterranean diet, making the most of fresh, seasonal vegetables, plentiful seafood, local cheeses and charcuterie, exquisite dolci and amazin…

Buying refurbished tech might feel risky if you’ve never done it before – but we’re here to tell you, it’s the future. Here’s what you need to know ... Whether it’s eating less meat, swapping your car for a bike or saying no to single-use plastic, many of us are making lifestyle switches to live more ethically. However, fewer of us are aware of the huge environmental impact of something we use ev…

Thanks to its innovative payback scheme, the giffgaff community has raised more than £1m for good causes since 2010. Here, we spotlight three projects the mobile phone provider has supported so far Community projects around the UK are bringing vital relief and support to people and animals in need. There are thousands of community organisations, charities and groups across the country offering th…

When it comes to picking a mobile, there are many things that sway customers – from finding the best deal on the phone you want, to having full control of your bills every month. But now, consumers are increasingly looking to make a decision that considers their impact on the planet and society Unboxing a new mobile phone always feels like a thrill. But how often does getting a new phone or mobil…

Phone provider giffgaff has joined the UK’s fast-growing community of B Corps thanks to its responsible practices. Julianne Robertson takes a closer look at this badge of honour and asks: what difference does it make to me and my mobile? Did you know that giffgaff is an ancient Scottish word that means “mutual giving”? You thought it was a made-up, catchy brand name, didn’t you? Well, it turns ou…

Day-trippers will have to pay €5 to visit Italian city under scheme designed to protect it from excess tourism Authorities in Venice have been accused of transforming the famous lagoon city into a “theme park” as a long-mooted entrance fee for day trippers comes into force. Venice is the first major city in the world to enact such a scheme. The €5 (£4.30) charge, which comes into force today, is …

Do you love reading – but all too often find yourself just scrolling through your phone or watching TV? Here is how to get lost in literature again In the age of digital distractions, it is easy to struggle to find the time and headspace to get lost in literature. How can you get back into the habit? Librarians share the best ways to rediscover reading, make it a regular habit – and their tips fo…

It is perverse that adults are legally protected from violence, yet striking a child can be defended. Calls for a ban are getting louder When a child is scared of their parents, they can spend a long time plucking up the courage to talk. I learned this during a decade of volunteering as a Childline counsellor. There is a 20-second period, in between saying your name and waiting for them to share …

Replacing red meat with fish could prevent diabetes, reduce our carbon footprint and save lives. So who’s for spaghetti and fishballs? “What’s for supper?” my wife asks. We are watching the six o’clock news and the pause I leave before answering is longer than I mean it to be. I’m trying to find the words. “Fish wellington,” I say, finally. The silence that follows is longer still. Continue readi…

A Wild Weekend on the 42 Acres estate near Frome offers fresh air, cosy rooms, sumptuous food and a chance to get hands dirty with some land regeneration work The honk of the geese as they take off from the lake is comically loud, reeds quiver and the reflection of the clouds on the water is momentarily fractured. A butterfly flits by, landing on my boot. We’re on a guided walk at 42 Acres, a reg…

Nothing had changed for contents insurance on my London flat but it raised the renewal from £78 to £251 I am 92 and live in a fifth-floor flat. The block is very secure, with a concierge and fobs for access to each floor. Last year I insured the contents of my home against fire and flood only, with Saga, for £78 (the building is insured by Islington council for £10 a month). Nothing has changed; …

This favourite Mexican brunch dish may be only egg, tortilla, salsa and maybe a few beans, but it’s much more than the sum of its parts Huevos rancheros , or ranch-style eggs, is, according to the world’s most popular free encyclopedia , a tribute to the generous mid-morning meals served on Mexican farms; or, more succinctly, in the words of food writer Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz , “Mexico’s favouri…

Without the van, my husband and I had no urgent reason to live in Wellington. The short European adventure we had planned soon became much more One evening in 2008, a group of joyriders stole our van, named The Colombian, from a street outside Wellington, New Zealand. My sister-in-law was the first to notice and she alerted her husband, Ant, who immediately drove off in search of it. When he spot…

There can be a big gap between self-perception and how our loved ones see us. Is it ever a good idea to seek the truth? Name: Personality audit. Age: People have worried about what other people think about them since the beginning of time. Continue reading...

Our slow travel expert takes the train through the Rhône’s wine country, hoping for grand cru views and a glass of Condrieu Trains and wine make natural partners, be it a glass of crisp white over a leisurely lunch in a restaurant car while cruising through the Alps or a rail itinerary that meanders through a region noted for its fine wines. Many of Europe’s most prized wine regions lend themselv…