Thursday, March 5

Life Style

Why Whistler could actually be better in the summer
Life Style

Why Whistler could actually be better in the summer

Hopping back on Whistler Gondola, this time we rode all the way to the high alpine (picnic box in tow). This is where the mountain magic really kicks in: soaring peaks, thawing glaciers and gem-like turquoise lakes provided the backdrop for a day of mountain-top hikes and a few prime Insta posts from the top of the world. We carried on up the vertigo-inducing Peak Express chairlift, as it climbed sheer cliffs to the summit, jagged rocks exposed from underneath their winter blanket. Not so many years ago this was the preserve of skiers, snowboarders and a few hardy hikers, but with the opening of the Cloudraker suspension bridge a few years back it’s become a mountaintop must. If you passed on the adrenaline hit of the bike park down below, this will get your heart racing, dangling above a ...
“What’s the deal with Taylor Swift?” Win at Christmas family discussions
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“What’s the deal with Taylor Swift?” Win at Christmas family discussions

Do not, repeat not, attempt an analogy with an icon from times past, ie ‘She is my/this/our generation’s Bob Dylan’. This way only madness and mulled wine-fuelled vitriol lie. Plus, if a song-for-song, head-to-head challenge is initiated you’re definitely going to lose: if only because you’ll be lucky to get through the first two-and-a-half minutes of ‘All Too Well’ before it gets swapped out for the whole of ‘Blonde On Blonde’. Instead, rather than showing them the TIME profile, just steal and fire off a bunch of the zingers from the TIME profile – “She’s the last monoculture left in our stratified world” is my current fave – and move on to the next convo topic, because… well, how would you respond to that? Source link
Where to stay, what to do and how to give back in Jamaica
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Where to stay, what to do and how to give back in Jamaica

A functioning community and home to several families, the Rastafari Indigenous Village serves to preserve, protect, and promote the traditional Rastafari way of life. As many of these practices are disappearing from modern Jamaica, the village invites a limited number of visitors each year to learn about and experience their often misunderstood nature-based ethos. Wade across the Montego River to see the traditional skills of the community first-hand, including drum making, sculpting, regenerative gardening, natural carpentry, and master foraging.  Source link
From separate duvets to worry dolls: Sleep tips from around the world
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From separate duvets to worry dolls: Sleep tips from around the world

First though, it's important to know what the cornerstones for sleeping well are. Sophie Bostock, a sleep scientist, explains, that regular exercise, darkness and most importantly: consistency are key. "If you wake up at the same time each day, this anchors your circadian rhythms on the same time zone, making it easier to fall asleep at the same time, and enhancing the depth of sleep." On top of this, Kirsten says we should consider the temperature of our sleep space and ensure we get as much natural light as possible. "Going outdoors and in bright light in the morning isn't going to confuse the brain;" in fact he says it helps it know that when it gets dark it's time to sleep, and when it should be producing more melatonin (the sleep hormone). Source link
Weirdest Christmas traditions from around the world
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Weirdest Christmas traditions from around the world

After learning of Greenland's alternative, you’ll find a few reasons to whine about sprouts. Kiviak is a super-niche foodie tradition practised mainly by the country’s indigenous Inuit community. It involves up to 500 auks, small black and white-feathered native birds, trussed up in seal skin and buried for a few months until they reach a ripe level of decomposition. When Christmas comes, it’s time to tuck into the delicacy, which reportedly bears a flavour similar to incredibly mature cheese. We'll stick to Stilton, thanks. Source link
Christmas tree decoration traditions from around the world: How other cultures dress their trees | London Evening Standard
Life Style

Christmas tree decoration traditions from around the world: How other cultures dress their trees | London Evening Standard

According to Polish folk tradition, fir and pine trees symbolise life. In the past, Christmas trees were decorated with candles, cakes, nuts, apples and handmade paper adornments. Small farmers up until the early 1900s, especially in the Upper Silesia and Lesser Poland districts, adorned their trees with candles, nuts, apples, paper decorations, and acorns. Source link
We’ve got this covered: a year of Evening Standard front pages
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We’ve got this covered: a year of Evening Standard front pages

They are the window into our world and we take pride in creating each and every one. A dedicated team of editors, designers, picture researchers, writers, photographers and illustrators — fuelled by copious amounts of early morning coffee – all seamlessly and effortlessly collaborating to bring you the most compelling and engaging front covers to the streets of London. Source link
Four Seasons, Hampshire: the best family Christmas escape in the UK?
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Four Seasons, Hampshire: the best family Christmas escape in the UK?

Our executive suite seemingly brought all of my children’s Home Alone fantasies to life. “Yeah, except we’re not home and we’re not alone,” retorted my son, to which I responded in a calm fashion, that I was referring to Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and wasn’t this room a similar space of huge beds, modernist stylings and a vast bath. “We’re not alone though,” he said, but I rose above that and chose to move on with my life. But the point is, the rooms are the kind that produce a sigh of contentment, an immediate donning of robe and slippers, and a solemn vow not to go outside during the entire trip. Source link
Leading London motorcycle training firm launches new trail-riding experience
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Leading London motorcycle training firm launches new trail-riding experience

Total beginners - as long as they hold at least an A2 motorcycle licence - are welcome, so are more advanced riders seeking to hone their skills. “We gauge riders’ ability first and tailor the days accordingly, over three different levels,” says Stig, “It’s important to make sure novices don’t lose confidence; we are, after all, trying to attract people into this, not put them off! If you want a more personal day, we can offer one-to-one experience too. Source link
How will the royals spend Christmas?
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How will the royals spend Christmas?

All the usual suspects will be at Sandringham, including the Princess Royal (who had to miss out on last year’s festivities due to a nasty cold), Zara and Mike Tindall and their kids, Mia, Lena and Lucas, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, Louise and James, and Peter Phillips and his daughters, Savannah and Isla. Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson and their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as well as their husbands and children, will also be joining for the festivities, and are reported to be staying at Wood Farm, which is a short drive from Sandringham House. The exiled Prince made a surprise appearance at the Christmas morning walkabout last year, so it’s thought he’ll be there again this year with his daughters. While all of his grandchildren are still too y...