Life Style

As 2026 kicks off, expectant parents will be looking forward to welcoming their bundles of joy in the coming months. While those who haven't yet chosen a name will be cracking open the baby name dictionaries in search of the perfect pick. 2025 saw some interesting trends in baby names, with some classic choices experiencing a notable decline in popularity.For girls' names, Elodie, Gracie, and Nova all dropped 64 places, landing in 59th, 62nd, and 64th, respectively, according to babycentre.co.uk. Similarly, in these rankings, Amara dropped 57 places, and Hazel ended up 33 places lower than in 2024, while Evie and Penelope dropped 30.Meanwhile, for boys' names, the biggest fall was seen in the name Aiden, which dropped 49 spots to land at 95. While the classic Thomas dropped 39 spots, an...

When did you last receive a phone call from someone you actually wanted to speak to? I can’t remember when a friend last rang “for a chat”. As a consequence, my voicemail is full of messages, not from old acquaintances but from scammers and annoying utility companies begging me to switch to a smart meter – when will they get the message?As we march ever deeper into the digital age where even texts and emails will be supplanted by some new form of AI communication, I for one will be glad to see the back of the old “dog and bone”. This March 10 marks 150 years since Graham Bell made the first successful, intelligible call, famously telling his assistant: “Mr Watson, come here – I want to see you.”Ironic then that at a time when phones have never been more ubiquitous we are using them less...

The government has published bank holiday dates for 2026, announcing on X that there will be between eight and 10 days designated as official bank holidays. England and Wales will enjoy eight days off work, Scotland, meanwhile, will benefit from nine bank holidays, whilst Northern Ireland receives the most with 10.Whilst England and Wales observe traditional holidays such as Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Easter, Scotland receives an additional day off on 2nd January. Northern Ireland enjoys two extra days - 17th March for St Patrick's Day and 12th July, commemorating the Battle of the Boyne, reports the Mirror.Nevertheless, some dates have attracted criticism for creating an excessive gap during the summer period. Whilst Northern Ireland residents receive a day off for the B...

UK towns and cities are facing challenges as high street shopping changes, with online shopping, retail parks, inflation and mass bank closures among the reasons behind declining customer numbers. As the Christmas shopping period draws to a close and sales begin, stores such as Poundland ha announced it’s set to close several shops in various locations in 2026.Fashion retailer River Island has also announced it will be pulling out of some locations, attributing the issues behind their shop closures to online shopping along with the high costs of running a high street store. But while it may seem doom and gloom for many towns and cities, some are bucking the trend of decline and still drawing in shoppers and visitors. Some shopping areas are bustling, lined with shops and restaurants wit...

The Range and Wilko have confirmed that all of their UK stores will close for a short period over the Christmas season. The decision will apply across the entire UK. The temporary closures are intended to give workers a longer and well-deserved break during one of the busiest times of the retail year. Both shops are part of the CDS Superstores family of brands. Below, we have explained the full details of the store closures. What days are the stores closed?On Christmas Day, all stores operated by The Range and Wilko will close nationwide, giving employees the opportunity to spend the day with their families and loved ones.The closures will continue into Boxing Day, with all stores remaining shut to give teams a longer festive break. A spokesperson said the decision reflects the group’s ...

A film enthusiast is urging Netflix viewers to watch 'one of the best films of the year' before spoilers begin doing the rounds online.Eccy Reviews, who shares recommendations for series and films on TikTok, insists Train Dreams deserves a spot at the top of everyone's viewing queue.The 2025 film, helmed by Clint Bentley, adapts Denis Johnson's acclaimed novella.It presents the "moving portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly-changing America of the early 20th Century."Featuring Joel Edgerton, Clifton Collins Jr., and Felicity Jones, the film has secured three awards and garnered 22 award nominations.Taking to social media, Eccy Reviews revealed: "It has been one of my most anticipated films of the year.""It...

We've picked a range of festive Christmas knits to suit all budgets (Image: M&S / Next ) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Christmas jumper season is officially here, and whether you’re after something quirky and fun, a classic knit, or a chic, glamorous option to see you through the festivities, there’s plenty to choose from right now. And since we’re already into December, demand is only going to surge, so it’s a great time to get ahead of the crowds and pick yours up early.Of course, prices vary, and you probably don’t want to splurge on a jumper that gets worn once on Christmas Jumper Day (which falls on December 11 this year) before spending the rest of the year tucked away at the back of your wardro...

As we approach winter, a good jumper is a must-have for every winter wardrobe, adding both warmth and style to any look. M&S has a wide range of jumpers to fit all tastes and budgets, but there's a way to snap one up for under £6 by combining two deals.The retailer's Textured Crew Neck Jumper with Wool is already on sale, down from £26 to £20.80, but new members to TopCashback can get it for much cheaper, reports the Manchester Evening News.The money-saving website is offering new members and new Marks and Spencer shoppers a free £15 sign-up bonus as well as cashback on any purchase of £15 or more. This reduces the price of the jumper to just £5.63. All shoppers need to do to unlock the reduced price is to make their purchase through this unique link.The versatile jumper comes in li...

Dusting isn’t a fun task as it can take a lot of time, however it’s a chore that you do need to keep on top of, otherwise you’ll soon be dealing with piles of dust that are inches thick over your most treasured possessions.Dust is made of a lot of things from inside and outside of your homes, and none of them are particularly pleasant. "It's mostly made of dead skin cells, dust mites, dead insect particles, soil, pollen, tiny plastic particles, bacteria, hair, and clothing fibers," says Natalie Barrett of Nifty Cleaning Services.Cleaning TikToker @KleanKrish has now shared “how to eliminate dust from any room” so you don’t have to struggle with the best ways of doing it.First, Krish says that you should get an “extendable duster,” and “dust all corners of the room” you’re focusing on.Th...

I love Aldi's middle aisle and often visit my local store throughout the week to look for Specialbuys. One of my favourite purchases at this time of year is candles. The middle aisle is usually filled with winter-spiced, gourmand, and pine-scented candles that smell divine. However, some of the candles in Aldi can be a little disappointing. What smells good in-store doesn't always translate when they're burning at home.Recently, while doing a quick food shop, I picked up a pretty floral candle from the middle aisle, which was a part of Aldi's Hotel Collection. Priced at just £6.99 and with a pretty floral design on the front, I decided to give it a quick sniff to see if it smelled as good as it looked.There were several scents available but I was drawn to the Rose & Clove scent as I...