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Why your candle is tunnelling, and how to fix it
A tunnelling candle wastes most of its wax. Why it happens, how to burn a candle properly from the first night, what can be…
The archive
Journal
109 pieces on clothes, rooms, books, food and the ordinary business of taking up space.
Life
Slipping out of a party is not rude
The long goodbye can cost a party more than a quiet exit. When slipping out is the considerate choice, when it is plainly rude,…
Style
How to remove pilling from clothes, and stop it coming back
Take the bobbles off gently with the right tool for the fabric, then deal with the friction that caused them. And what pilling really…
Books
Should you write in your books?
The pristine copy is not the most respected one. Why a book with your pencil in its margins is worth more to you, and…
Food
How to keep bread fresh for longer
Crusty loaves, sourdough and sliced bread each want something different. Where to keep them, why the fridge is a mistake, and how to freeze…
Notes
In defence of the gift card
The gift card is supposed to be the lazy present. But a drawer of unwanted candles says more about the giver than the receiver.
Life
Why do people clap when the plane lands?
The applause on touchdown is rarely about the pilot. It is relief, made public for a moment, by strangers who will never see each…
Food
How to store fresh herbs so they don’t wilt
Soft herbs like a drink, woody herbs like a damp wrap, and basil hates the cold. How to keep a bunch fresh for days…
Beauty
How to clean your makeup brushes
Lukewarm water, a gentle cleanser, bristles pointing down and patience while they dry: how to wash brushes and sponges properly, and how often.
Books
How to organise your bookshelves
Alphabetical, by subject, by colour or by size: how to choose a system that matches the way you actually use your books, and keep…
Notes
Some people are always five minutes away
“Just parking.” “Almost there.” Why chronic lateness feels like a judgement about whose time matters, why it is rarely arrogance, and why uncertainty is…
Confidence
How to accept a compliment without brushing it off
“This old thing?” Why so many of us argue with kindness, what it does to the person offering it, and how to let a…