It takes a while for the eyes to adjust to the darkness inside the shed. Slowly, the shapes of hundreds of pale stalks emerge from the gloom like an alien species, visible only by the glow cast by a handful of candles. This candlelit ritual is the harvest of Yorkshire forced rhubarb, being carried out…
My wife derives grim satisfaction from buying dog toys that advertise their indestructibility, and then watching as the dog destroys them, often within hours of their purchase. “That came with a one-year guarantee,” she says, pointing to the fragments littering the rug. “What was it?” I say. “I can’t even remember now,” she says. “A…
What European leaders have said since the meeting Circling back to European leaders throwing their support behind Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his clash with Donald Trump, here are some of the political reactions from across the region, care of Agence France-Presse. European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa assured Zelenskyy that he was…
1.Luke, 9, asks: why do I have one of everything down the middle of me (nose, belly button), but two of the things on each side (eyes, arms, feet)? Reveal 2.Griffin, 6, asks: why do bubbles rise to the surface of fizzy drinks? Reveal 3.Isy, 6, asks: how is rain made? Reveal 4.Esther, 7, asks:…
The questions 1 Which sleuth’s middle name was Death?2 What game is played on a Riley Aristocrat?3 Who declared, “You like me!” in her 1985 Oscar acceptance speech?4 Lancashire Blues is which TV programme’s theme tune?5 Which marine mammal can grow a tusk up to 10 feet long?6 The Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda…
Microsoft is finally hanging up on its longtime calling and messaging app Skype, which it acquired 14 years ago, signifying the end of an era for one of the oldest internet communications apps. For users, Skype will go offline on May 5, when Microsoft replaces it with a free version of Microsoft Teams. Teams has…